Arabian Peninsula Media Roundup (January 8)

[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on the Arabian Peninsula and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Arabian Peninsula Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week's roundup to ap@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every week.]

Reports and Opinions

UAE busts cell ‘linked to Egypt Brotherhood’ A news report on the arrest of ten people belonging to Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, accused of threatening the stability of the Gulf state, on Al-Jazeera English.

Wealthy London residents clash with millionaire Arab boy racers Martin Evans reports on the rising tensions between wealthy young men from the Gulf countries who drive recklessly through the Knightsbridge area and the local residents, in The Telegraph.

Saudi Arabia’s riches conceal a growing problem of poverty Kevin Sullivan examines the under-reported problem of poverty in the oil rich kingdom, on Guardian Weekly.

A Facebook Downfall for Yemen’s Tawakkol Karman Jamal Jubran discusses problematic statements made by the Yemeni activist who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011, on Al-Akhbar English.

Crisis in Yemen

‘Senior al-Qaeda figure’ killed in Yemen A news report on the death of Moqbel Ebad al-Zawbah in a drone strike in the providence of Al Bayda, on Al-Jazeera English.

A New Green Zone in Sanaa Sheila Carapico writes on the implication of the management of the Sanaa Sheraton by the US Department of State for the role of the United States in Yemen, on the Middle East Research and Information Project.

Saudi Arabian jets ‘aiding US strikes on Yemen’ A news report on the role of Saudi Arabia in the drone strikes in Yemen, in The Telegraph.

Saudi Says Its Air Force Has not Struck Al Qaeda in Yemen A news report on the Saudi Foreign Minister’s rejection of this report, in The New York Times.

Repression in Bahrain

Bahrain upholds activists’ life sentences A news report on Bahrain’s highest court’s decision to uphold the prison sentences against twenty opposition figures, including Abdulhadi al-Khawaja who is sentenced to a life in prison, in The Guardian.

Protests in Kuwait

Kuwaiti court jails man for insulting emir on Twitter A news report on the two-year prison sentence of Rashid Saleh al-Anzi.

Kuwaiti forces disperse protesters with stun grenades A news report on protests against the changes in the electoral laws, in The Guardian.

Human Rights Watch

Bahrain: Charges Against Rights Defender Raise Concerns A statement by the organization calling on the Bahraini authorities to release the activist Sayed Yusuf al-Muhafadha who was arrested last month.

Letter to Bahrain on the Pre-Trial Detention of Sayed Yusuf al-Muhafadha A letter by Joe Stork addressed to Bahrain’s Attorney General on the unlawful arrest of al-Muhafadha.

Al-Jazeera’s Acquisition of Current TV

Al-Jazeera buys Current TV in bid to expand in US A news report on the purchase of Al Gore’s cable channel by Al-Jazeera in an attempt to reach the American audience, in The Guardian.

Even owning Al Gore’s Current will not make al-Jazeera current on US TV Michael Wolff argues the American media industry’s hostility to al-Jazeera and the Qatari networks’ boring programs pose serious challenges to reaching the American audience, in The Guardian.

Welcome to America, Al Jazeera Rory O’Connor argues Al-Jazeera’s new acquisition will impact the American cable news scene, on Al-Jazeera English. 

A tale of two Als: Why Al Gore sold out to Al Jazeera Nikhil Kumar analyzes the paradoxes in Al Gore’s move and the challenges facing Al-Jazeera in the United States, in The Independent.

Once called ‘terror network,’ Al Jazeera America dares to enter U.S. cable market Michael Martinez reports on the acquisition of Current TV by Al-Jazeera, on CNN.

Markets and Business

Dubai’s renaissance: Edifice complex An article on the structural challenges that can jeopardize the new building and investment boom in the Gulf emirate, in The Economist.

Arabic

المشهد السياسي الخليجي بعد قمة المنامة
Said al-Shihabi reflects on the political scene in the Gulf following the Gulf Cooperation Council summit, which was held in Manama last month.

المطلوب منتدى سنوي خليجي إيراني يخدم أمن الخليج العربي
A. D. Ali al-Hail calls for a forum that includes Iran and the Arab Gulf states in order to protect the security of the region.

اليمن: هادي يفرج عن رفات حسين الحوثي
Ali Jahiz writes on the Yemeni president's release of the remains of Hussein al-Houthi, the founder of Ansar Allah, who was killed in 2004.

الإمارات تعتقل ١١ قيادياً من "الإخوان"
A news report on the arrest of eleven members of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood in the United Arab Emirates.

عريضة تطالب بالافراج عن الكاتب تركي الحمد
A news report on a petition signed by five hundred figures requesting the release of the Saudi writer, Turki al-Hamad, who was arrested last month for tweets that were considered insulting to Islam.

شباب السعودية: الى أين؟
Maddawi al-Rasheed writes on Saudi youth and the prospects of political activism.

اليمن ومجلس التعاون الملكي: شر البلية ما يضحك!
Abdulaziz al-Qubaisi writes on the exclusion of Yemen from the Gulf Cooperation Council.

اليمن: مخاوف سياسية من إعادة هادي لسيناريو "الحكم العائلي" بعد تعيينه لنحو ١٨٢ قائدا عسكريا من المقربين منه خلال ١٠ اشهر
Khalid al-Hamadi writes on fear of the return of "family rule" in Yemen after the appointments of generals who are close to the Yemeni president.