Gulf in the News – February 4, 2014

Posted on February 5, 2014 by Byron Lewis

Al Qaradawi’s allegations against UAE false, provocative: GCC chief

GCC Secretary-General Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani on Monday strongly condemned accusations levelled by Yousif Al Qaradawi in his Friday sermon on January 24 against the UAE. Al Zayani slammed the accusations as unacceptable provocation and false allegations that only raise sedition and serve enemies of the Islamic Nation. Al Zayani, in a statement to Wam, expressed his sorrow for such provocative charges from Al Qaradawi against the UAE, which is always known for its principled, honourable stances and supportive initiatives towards the Islamic causes as well as its assistance for Muslims regardless of their place.

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Intensive Arabic Language Programs at the Center for International Learning in Oman

Posted on February 3, 2014 by NCUSAR

The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations is pleased to offer students a partial scholarship opportunity for intensive Arabic language study with our partner organization in Muscat, Oman, the Center for International Learning (CIL). Partial scholarships are available for intensive Arabic or study abroad, and thus can be used at virtually any time of the year. Scholarships are issued on a rolling basis throughout the calendar year.

Center for International Learning in Oman

CIL will host you to study in the Sultanate of Oman, an Italy-sized nation on the Arabian Sea. For years students have found this an ideal setting for their international study, a nation of warm and welcoming people who practice a form of Islam — Ibadhism — that practices tolerance and acceptance of others. CIL provides students with the learning experiences needed to become world citizens.

Gulf in the News – February 3, 2014

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Byron Lewis

Shoura clears 40-hour week for private sector

Source: Arab News (Read full story)

The Shoura Council has endorsed a proposal to reduce the weekly working hours for employees in the private sector from 45 to 40 with a two-day weekend. The Shoura members, who met on Monday, adopted a number of amendments to the Labor Law and agreed to reduce total weekly working hours from 45 to 40. They also agreed to make the working contract unlimited if it is renewed three times and if the total employment period had touched four years.

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Gulf in the News – January 31, 2014

Posted on January 31, 2014 by NCUSAR

‘Ice is breaking’ in Syria talks: UN mediator

Source: Arab News (Read full story)

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“The ice is breaking, slowly, but it is breaking,” Brahimi told reporters after a fifth day of talks in Geneva, which both sides described as “positive.”

He acknowledged he did not expect “anything substantive” to come out of the initial round, which is set to conclude Friday.

But he stressed that simply getting the parties talking for the first time since the conflict erupted in March 2011 was an important step forward.

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Gulf in the News – January 30, 2014

Posted on January 30, 2014 by NCUSAR

Syria has shipped out less than 5 percent of chemical weapons

Source: Reuters (Read full story)

Syria has given up less than 5 percent of its chemical weapons arsenal and will miss next week’s deadline to send all toxic agents abroad for destruction, sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

The deliveries, in two shipments this month to the northern Syrian port of Latakia, totaled 4.1 percent of the roughly 1,300 tonnes of toxic agents reported by Damascus to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“It’s not enough and there is no sign of more,” one source briefed on the situation said.

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Gulf in the News – January 29, 2014

Posted on January 29, 2014 by Byron Lewis

Qaradawi calls on Saudi to stop backing Egypt’s army regime

Source: The Peninsula (Read full story)

The prominent Qatari-based scholar Yousuf Al Qaradawi called on Saudi Arabia to stop backing Egypt’s military-dominated authorities, accusing them of using Saudi money to kill Egyptians protesting at the overthrow in July of an elected Islamist president. Most US-aligned Gulf Arab monarchies, rattled by the rise of Islamists in the Middle East, were relieved when the Egyptian military stepped in to topple president Mohamed Mursi after mass protests against his rule. But Yousuf Al Qaradawi said the strong backing that Saudi Arabia had provided military-backed Egyptian authorities which had crushed Islamist opposition since Mursi’s removal was wrong and should be withdrawn.

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Gulf in the News – January 28, 2014

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Byron Lewis

Interim Syria govt must be free of Assad regime: KSA

Source: Arab News (Read full story)

The Cabinet on Monday reiterated the Kingdom’s stance that Bashar Assad and his regime should not have any role in the interim Syrian government. It also denounced the terrorist bombings in Egypt. The Cabinet, chaired by Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, said the Geneva 2 conference should form the interim Syrian government, which should be allowed to work without any external interference.

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Gulf in the News – January 27, 2014

Posted on January 27, 2014 by Byron Lewis

Widespread support for Sheikh Khalifa who is recovering from stroke

Source: The National (Read full story)

The international and local communities have expressed their support for the President, Sheikh Khalifa, in his recovery from a stroke. … Sheikh Mohammed assured [well-wishers that] Sheikh Khalifa was in a stable condition and thanked them for their concerns.