Lawmakers insist on enjoying immunity

Source: Kuwait Times (Read full story)

The court order annulling the 2012 parliament and reinstating the 2009 one has greatly impacted investigations at the Public Prosecution Office where some MPs’ bank accounts are under scrutiny over millions-worth cash deposits. This is, of course, a procedure that requires lifting the parliamentary immunity of the lawmakers under scanner. A number of accused MPs’ lawyers made official requests to Public Prosecutor Dherar Al-Assousi, asking him to stop investigations and contact the National Assembly, requesting that parliamentary immunity be lifted before proceeding with the investigation.

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Al-Kharafi invites 2009 MPs for July 31 meeting – Opposition, youth launch “nation is source of powers” charter

Source: Kuwait Times (Read full story)

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The new move comes amid reports that the government was contemplating either amending the electoral constituencies by an “emergency decree” or referring the electoral law to the constitutional court to rule on whether or not it breaches the constitution.
Opposition MPs insist that any change to the electoral law will be done in such a way as to enable the government to influence the outcome of any parliamentary election, which would effectively prevent the opposition from controlling a majority in the house as it did in the scrapped 2012 house.

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Kingdom backs Arab League efforts to end Syria bloodshed

Source: Saudi Gazette (Read full story)

The Council of Ministers on Monday commended resolutions adopted by an extraordinary meeting of the Arab League Ministerial Council on the situation in Syria.

The meeting, held in the Qatari capital Doha Sunday night, underscored the importance of providing the necessary support to the Syrian people and intensifying efforts to end the continuing bloodshed in the Arab Muslim country.

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Time to reflect, reinvigorate

Source: Saudi Gazette (Read full story)

 King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Defense, congratulated the Saudi people on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan – the month that all hearts and souls longed for so as to seek Allah’s reward and mercy.

In a speech to the people of the Kingdom delivered on their behalf by Dr. Abdulaziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, the King and the Crown Prince said Muslims should recall the overwhelming happiness when the Holy Qur’an was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) on a blessed night, a night better than one thousand months.

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UAE, US authorities investigate shooting by a US navy ship in waters off Dubai

Source: Gulfnews (Read full story)

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Authorities in the UAE and the US Navy are investigating a United States navy oil-supply vessel’s firing on a fishing boat off the coast of Jebel Ali, killing an Indian fisherman and critically injuring three other men, officials said.

“The UAE’s authorities are investigating [the incident],” Wam quoted Dr Tareq Ahmad Al Hidan, political affairs assistant to the Foreign Minister, as saying.

According to a US military official a US navy vessel fired upon a small motor vessel on Monday off the coast of Dubai after the motor vessel “disregarded warnings and rapidly approached the US ship.

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Habshan-Fujairah pipeline inaugurated today

Source: Gulfnews (Read full story)

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The new pipeline can carry three-quarters of the UAE’s oil exports if needed. Until now, the UAE, like Qatar and Kuwait, had been entirely dependent on Hormuz to export its crude and the pipeline ends its dependence on a shipping artery that Iran has increasingly threatened to block as Western sanctions on its oil exports have tightened.

The US and its allies in Europe have been saying Iran’s nuclear programme is aimed at building nuclear weapons. Iran denies the charge, saying its nuclear programme is meant for peaceful purposes and if its oil exports are threatened, it will close the Strait of Hormuz.

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Saudis boost security in Eastern Region amid tension

Source: Reuters (Read full story)

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Saudi Arabia may be further worried about Tehran’s reaction after a European Union oil embargo, widely expected to hurt Iran’s vital energy exports, went into effect on July 1 over its disputed nuclear programme.

Iran has threatened to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway at the mouth of the Gulf where about a third of sea-borne oil exports pass, if it came under attack over its disputed nuclear programme.

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At least 22 dead in Yemen police academy suicide bombing

Source: Reuters (Read full story)

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That attack – claimed by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) – along with Wednesday’s bombing – showed quite how far the Yemeni government is from defeating the Islamist insurgents despite a U.S.-backed military offensive which drove them out of their southern strongholds.

The insurgents have vowed to carry their fight across Yemen.

Theodore Karasik, director of research and development at the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis, said AQAP appeared to be adopting methods used in Iraq.

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