[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 to ap@jadaliyya.com.]
Regional and International Relations
Israel expects $220 million in non-defense trade with Bahrain in 2021 – Israel foresees $220 million in non-defence trade with Bahrain in 2021. Bahrain’s minister for industry, commerce and tourism, Zayed bin Rashid al-Zayani, said he saw an “immense opportunity to even develop (ties) further, not just in terms of business - in terms of culture, sport, exchange, tourism”. The Economy Ministry trade forecast anticipated growth in Israeli exports to Bahrain of diamonds and refined metals for chemicals, and of imports of oil and aluminium from Bahrain.
Kuwait condemns killing of Iranian scientist – Kuwait’s foreign ministry on 27 Nov, condemned the assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist. “The ministry expressed ... its rejection of anything that would increase tension and undermine stability in the region,” the statement said, adding condolences to Iran.
Kuwait's KPC signs deal to store 3.14 mln barrels of oil in Japan – State-owned Kuwait Petroleum Corp signed an agreement to store 3.14 million barrels of crude oil in Japan. The agreement is part of KPC’s efforts to secure storage abroad and increase its market share in the Far East.
Al Jazeera journalist sues Saudi crown prince and UAE leader over phone hack – Ghada Oueiss, an anchor for Al Jazeera, has filed a lawsuit in the United States alleging that her phone was hacked using commercially sold Israeli spyware and that intimate photos and videos were leaked to stifle her reporting on Saudi Arabia. Ms Oueiss’ phone was infiltrated using a vulnerability in WhatsApp, that allowed operators of Israel-based NSO Group’s hacking tools to inject spyware into a device simply by making a missed call, the lawsuit said.
Qatar says stopped Bahraini cruiser in its waters, second incident in a month – Qatar’s coastguard stopped a Bahraini cruiser that was fishing in its waters – the second incident in a month. The authorities arrested three people including one Bahraini national.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar Near U.S.-Brokered Deal to End Lengthy Rift – Saudi Arabia and Qatar are nearing a preliminary deal to end its rift that’s dragged on since June 2017, after a final push by the Trump administration in its last few weeks in office and through Kuwait playing a mediating role. The tentative agreement does not involve the three other Arab countries (UAE, Bahrain, Egypt). The rapprochement is likely to include reopening air space and land borders, an end to the information war Qatar and Saudi Arabia have waged and other confidence-building steps as part of a detailed plan to gradually rebuild relations.
Saudi Arabia agrees to allow Israeli commercial planes to cross its airspace – Saudi Arabia agreed on 30 Nov to let Israeli airliners cross its airspace en route to the UAE after talks between Saudi officials and Jared Kushner. The agreement was hammered out just hours before Israel’s first commercial flight to the UAE was planned the next morning, which was at risk of being cancelled with no overflight agreement.
Saudi foreign minister sees "significant progress" towards resolving Gulf rift – Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said on 4 Dec he was hopeful a deal could soon be reached to resolve a long-running dispute among Gulf nations after recent progress in talks led by Kuwait and the United States.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt stress maritime freedom in the Gulf – Saudi Arabia and Egypt stressed on 1 Dec the importance of guaranteeing maritime freedom in the Gulf, Bab al-Aandeb strait, and the Red Sea.
Saudi Arabia says it’s ready to end Gulf crisis with Qatar ahead of Biden presidency — but it’s not a breakthrough yet – Analysts say the development is not a massive breakthrough but a moderate sign of progress sometime in the making, with a long way still to go. And its timing is important — just weeks before a Joe Biden administration takes the helm in the U.S.
Senior Saudi royal launches tirade against Israel – Prince Turki al-Faisal, a former Saudi intelligence chief who is close to King Salman, launched a stinging attack on Israel in comments that hinted at tensions in the kingdom over whether it should begin to formalise relations with the Jewish state. Prince al-Faisal, accused Israel of being the “last of the western colonising powers in the Middle East” in a speech delivered at a regional conference in Bahrain. His comments came two weeks after Saudi Arabia was embarrassed after details were leaked to the Israeli press of a secret meeting in the kingdom between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Top Saudi diplomat on 1st Sudan visit since al-Bashir ouster – Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, arrived in Khartoum on 8 Dec, the first visit by the kingdom’s top diplomat since Sudan’s military overthrew former autocratic President Omar al-Bashir last year. The visit would “activate deals” between Khartoum and Riyadh.
UAE, Saudi Interested To Acquire BhahMos Missiles As India Deepens Ties With The Arab World – The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia could be interested to acquire Indo-Russian BrahMos Missile, as New Delhi looks to bolster its defense ties with the Arab World news. This comes just before the Indian Chief of Army Staff General M M Naravane’s visit to the UAE and Saudi next week, during which he would meet many officials apart from his counterparts. This Is the first-ever visit by any Indian Army Chief to Saudi Arabia, General Naravane is expected to address the Saudi National Defence College. It is reflective of the deepening military ties with these countries.
Abu Dhabi-based airline launches Beijing route – Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways will start a weekly passenger service to Beijing from December 7, underscoring both China’s and the UAE’s control of the coronavirus pandemic. Etihad resumed services between Abu Dhabi and Shanghai in July after a suspension of international travel in March. The airline will be the sole Middle East carrier operating non-stop passenger flights to and from both Chinese cities.
Army chief General Naravane holds talks with UAE's Land Forces Commander on defence cooperation – India’s Chief of Army Staff Gen. MM Naravane has met Commander of the UAE's Land Forces and Staff Major General Saleh Mohammed Saleh Al Ameri and discussed key issues of mutual interest and defence cooperation. Gen. Naravane is currently on a six-day tour of the UAE and Saudi Arabia, in a first-ever visit by a head of the Indian Army to the two strategically important Gulf countries.
Emirati investor acquires half of Israeli soccer club known for anti-Arab fan base – In a sale worth roughly $92 million, Abu Dhabi businessman and member of the Emirati royal family has become a 50 percent owner of an Israeli professional soccer club, known for its anti-Arab fan base and reluctance to field Muslim players, an early example of the new kind of investment driven by thawing relations between Israel and some of its Arab neighbors.
Human Rights
Motor racing-Hamilton says Bahrain 'death row' letter hit home – Lewis Hamilton said he had been moved by a letter from the son of a man facing the death penalty in Bahrain and assured activists he would not let rights issues go unnoticed. Hamilton said he had hoped to meet Bahrain’s Crown Prince but testing positive for COVID-19 had ruled that out.
Kuwait's new all-male parliament is a blow for women's rights – Although none of the 29 female candidates of the 326 candidates won a seat in Kuwait's elections for the 50-member legislature, they are far from stopping their efforts. But analysts fear calls for quotas and women's political leadership are falling on deaf ears.
Saudi court sentences American citizen to six years in prison despite appeals from the U.S. – A court in Saudi Arabia on 8 Dec sentenced Walid Fitaihi, a doctor with dual American and Saudi citizenship, to six years in prison on charges that included illegally obtaining US citizenship without official permission, and posting messages on Twitter supporting the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings. The sentencing came despite the Trump administration's repeated appeals to release Fitaihi, who was arrested in November 2017. He was held for nearly two years without trial and tortured while in custody. Fitaihi was released from custody last year but he and his family remained under a travel ban with their Saudi assets frozen.
Finance
Oman to enact labour, taxation and subsidy reforms – Oman plans to amend labour laws, introduce new taxation and end some “long-standing” subsidies while ensuring that low-income families are protected, Sayyed Badr Al Busaidi, Oman’s Foreign Minister, told the IISS Manama Dialogue summit in Bahrain. Significant changes to labour policy would include abolishing a requirement that expatriate workers need permission to transfer to a new employer.
Oman’s Fiscal Plan Faces Large Implementation and Funding Risks – Oman’s economy and public finances are likely to underperform significantly against the fiscal consolidation targets set out in the government’s new medium-term fiscal plan, Fitch Ratings says. Partly as a result, asset drawdowns are expected, and external support are to play an important role in assuring the country’s continued smooth funding. Fiscal deficit is expected to double to 18% of GDP this year, narrowing only to 7% of GDP by 2024. The security and social stability concerns that constrained fiscal consolidation in the past remain, and there remains a risk that the authorities will not be able to carry out in full the rapid, large-scale reforms envisaged.
Billions in the bank, yet Kuwait is squeezed for cash – Low oil prices has put Kuwait’s economic forecast deficit close to 40 per cent of GDP, higher than it was in the aftermath of the first Gulf war when Iraq invaded Kuwait. While other Gulf states have turned to global debt markets to fund themselves through the pandemic, Kuwait is hamstrung by parliament’s refusal to renew a debt law that elapsed in 2017. Any attempt to tap into the country’s large sovereign wealth fund is also opposed by lawmakers as it would undermine its function as a nest egg for future generations. Analysts doubt the new parliamentary intake will agree with the cabinet and the ruling family on the hard choices needed to tackle the fiscal crisis.
Qatari stocks up in early trade after progress on Gulf rift – Qatari stocks were up in early trade on 6 Dec after weekend news that a resolution to a dispute with some of the country’s Arab neighbours seemed within reach. The Qatar main index was up 1% in early trade, Refinitiv data showed.
Abu Dhabi wealth fund in talks with KKR over Italian grid deal – Abu Dhabi’s biggest sovereign fund is in talks with United States firm KKR to invest in Telecom Italia’s (TIM) last-mile network in a deal that has drawn scrutiny from Italy’s government – who holds special vetting powers to block unwanted bids in industries of strategic importance. Abu Dhabi could hold up to 11% of TIM’s last-mile grid.
Dubai's Emaar appoints new chairman as founder takes managing director role – Dubai’s largest listed developer Emaar Properties has named Mohamed Alabbar, founder of the company and previously chairman of the board of directors, as managing director, and appointed Jamal Bin Theniyah as the new chairman. The decision was taken to comply with regulations that prohibit combining the position of chairman of the board and any executive position.
Gulf banks take lead role in companies’ bailouts – Prior to the pandemic, the Gulf states were already struggling with budgets tightened by falling crude prices. In April, oil futures turned negative for the first time in history. The response has largely come from monetary policy, channelled through the region’s commercial banks, with only limited fiscal support. Liquidity injections and easing capital requirements have put lenders on the front line of mitigating the blow for regional companies dealing with the coronavirus fallout.
Gulf states turn inward as they face diminishing resources – As global markets plummeted, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund went on a spending spree, buying stakes in a host of US and European blue-chip stocks in the first three months of the year, worth collectively at least $7.7bn. But Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, last month signalled a potential shift in focus, saying the $347bn fund would pump about $40bn into the Saudi economy annually in 2021 and 2022, up from $15.5bn last year.
Investment banks stick with Gulf despite falling fees – Top global investment banks say they have no intention of pulling back from the Gulf, despite falling fees, low oil prices, and the region’s economies are under threat. Regional fees from M&A, loans, debt and equity issuance fell 7 per cent in the 10 months to the end of October. Globally, meanwhile, fees rose 17 per cent in the same period as companies in the US and Europe raised cash to deal with the impact of the pandemic. The outlook for 2021 is less clear, as the pandemic spurs activity in certain areas, such as cash raises for relatively healthy companies and restructuring of balance sheets for struggling ones, while stifling other activities, such as fundraising.
Yemen in Crisis
Yemen pushes polio immunization in bid to stem outbreak – As the world focussed on COVID-19 this year, the United Nations in August declared an outbreak in Yemen of the virus that can cause permanent paralysis, with children most at risk. Wild polio today is found only in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Yemen 'one step away from famine' as donors dry up amid Covid, UN warns –The window to prevent the return of famine to Yemen is rapidly closing, UN agencies have warned, with a new assessment showing millions could head further into hunger in the coming months. The alert came as a food security survey, known as an IPC assessment, showed thousands of people are slipping into famine – a number that is predicted to triple in the first half of next year.
Unchecked violations ‘may amount to war crimes’, Security Council hears – UN experts called on the Security Council on 3 Dec, along with the international community at large, to put an end to the “surreal and absurd dimension” of human rights violations in Yemen, where abuses continue unchecked.
Window to prevent famine in Yemen is narrowing, UN agencies warn – New figures reveal record highs of acute food insecurity in Yemen, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF warned. New Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis for Yemen indicates that pockets of famine-like conditions IPC (Phase 5) have already returned for the first time in two years, and warns that the number of people experiencing this degree of catastrophic food insecurity could nearly triple from 16,500 currently to 47,000 people between January and June 2021. At the same time, today’s IPC analysis warns that the numbers of people facing Phase 4 food insecurity– the Emergency phase – is poised to increase from 3.6 million to 5 million people in the first half of 2021 – putting them too on the precipice of falling into catastrophic conditions and – without a change of course – possibly famine.
Saudi-led coalition in Yemen intercepts two explosive-laden boats south of the Red Sea – The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said on 9 Dec it intercepted and destroyed two explosive-laden boats south of the Red Sea. The coalition added the boats were launched by the Houthis from Hodeidah.
Yemeni government, separatists start executing Riyadh pact, says coalition – The Saudi-led coalition said that implementation of the Riyadh pact, would start on 10 Dec with a troop redeployment in the south ahead of announcing a new power-sharing government.
Domestic Affairs
Kuwait votes for parliament amid economic, virus challenges – Kuwait voted on 5 Dec for its National Assembly, the first election since the death of its longtime ruling emir, Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, and as the nation faces serious economic problems under the coronavirus pandemic. The country’s voters selected lawmakers for 50 seats in the parliament, in the freest and most-rambunctious assembly in the Gulf Arab countries.
Kuwaiti opposition make gains in first parliamentary vote under new emir – Opposition candidates made gains in a parliamentary vote in Kuwait in which two thirds of MPs lost their seats and no women were elected, a result that could hamper government reform efforts to address a severe liquidity crunch.
Kuwait election sees two-thirds of parliament lose seats – Kuwaitis elected a new parliament, with an over-60% turnout of the country’s more than 560,000 registered voters, in an election that saw two-thirds of lawmakers and the country’s only female legislator lose their seats. The direction that the new 50-seat National Assembly will take remains unclear as 21 of them will become first-time legislators.
Qatar rules out normalization of Israel ties for now – Qatar’s foreign minister said that his country remains committed to the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative with the creation of a Palestinian state with its capital in east Jerusalem, and any progress on that front would need to be “at the core” of any agreement to normalize relations with Israel. “Right now, I don’t see that the normalization of Qatar and Israel is going to to add value to the Palestinian people,” Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said at Italy’s annual Mediterranean Dialogue.
Saudi Aramco says pump malfunctioned at petroleum derivatives distribution station in Jazan – Saudi Aramco announced on 2 Dec that a malfunction in one of the pumps at the petroleum derivatives distribution station in the Jazan region. The state oil giant said “its technical teams are working around the clock to fix the technical malfunction, as soon as possible, and provide the petroleum products that the Jazan region needs from the station, without interruption, as the supply of petroleum products has gradually returned.
Bahrain plans free shots, Saudi Arabia approves Pfizer jab – Bahrain has announced plans to give the public free coronavirus vaccines, as Saudi Arabia said it approved an inoculation by Pfizer and BioNTech to fight the pandemic. Bahrain plans to inoculate everyone 18 years and older in the kingdom at 27 different medical facilities, hoping to be able to vaccinate 10,000 people a day. Saudi Arabia’s Food and Drug Authority said it had registered the Pfizer vaccine based on information given by Pfizer on 24 Nov, and would announce plans on how it would distribute the vaccine in the kingdom.
UAE target of cyber attacks after Israel deal – The UAE has been the target of cyber attacks after normalising ties with Israel, the UAE’s cyber security head, Mohamed Hamad al-Kuwaiti. Kuwaiti said the financial sector was targeted but did not elaborate. He did not say if any of the attacks were successful or provide details on who the perpetrators were.
A Chinese vaccine wins its first approval in the U.A.E., which says it is 86 percent effective – The United Arab Emirates approved China-based Sinopharm’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate citing preliminary data showing that it was 86 per cent effective.
Reports and Opinions
Gulf regulators must clarify their cross-border responsibilities – In the past three years, some of the Gulf’s leading companies, including Abraaj, Drake & Scull, Arabtec, Al Mojel, and most recently NMC Healthcare, have experienced problems that highlighted unaddressed governance risks. These occurred after an increase in corporate governance regulations, introduced after a domestic equity-market crisis in 2005. However, the spirit of these regulations and corporate practice differ. The resulting gap has implications for economic stability and even the delivery of essential services. Regulators must clarify and enforce the rules for companies operating across jurisdictions. They must also agree on their respective oversight and enforcement obligations.
A Resolution of Qatar Boycott Looms, But Can It Last? – The incoming Biden administration has strongly indicated its desire not to inherit the standoff among key US partners in the Gulf. Kuwaiti mediation appeared to bring Riyadh and Doha very close to a limited bilateral reconciliation early in December, which has given way to what appears to be a broader GCC rapprochement. Yet many of the outstanding disagreements may persist, suggesting an uncertain future. Most notable is Qatar’s relations with Turkey and Iran.
A Saudi-Israeli rapprochement? – The entire Gulf, under Trump, has become increasingly important to advancing his policy of maximum pressure toward Iran, even bringing Israel into the fold to complete Iran's alienation. One more deal – either linked to normalisation or to ending the GCC crisis – facilitated by the Trump administration and within the framework of a transactional US-Saudi relationship, could facilitate ties between the Gulf and Israel or between the states of the Arabian side of the Gulf more broadly. However, is hardly sufficient to address the Biden administration's concerns about Saudi Arabia as long-term partner.
The Moment to Rethink U.S.-Saudi Ties – The opinion letter expresses how President-elect Joe Biden’s should go beyond rhetoric, and his policy toward Riyadh should adopt a more cleared-headed look at what the kingdom is, and, crucially, what it is not. Mr. Biden should base the US-Saudi relationship on first-order principles: cooperate when possible and deviate when US and Saudi interests don’t match up. For Washington, that means understanding when Saudi requests for help are counterproductive; removing itself from a war in Yemen; and all the while continuing a pragmatic intelligence sharing on terrorism. Ultimately, Saudi Arabia needs the United States more than the United States needs Saudi Arabia.
Missiles, bullying claims, a tragic death: what’s going on at Saudi Aramco? – Five whistleblowers — including current and former Saudi Aramco employees — warn that treatment of expatriate staff has deteriorated markedly in recent years, threatening morale and the safety of projects. These whistle-blowers believe the company squeezed by an oil crash and under pressure to accelerate Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s plans for the “Saudisation” of the kingdom’s workforce — has taken to pushing out key staff and cutting corners on projects such as the Jizan development. They also paint a detailed picture of a company culture troubled by perceived mistreatment of experienced expatriates, from bullying and mismanagement to racism and allegations of neglect.
Diversity in technology must go beyond gender – On February 9, the UAE Mars Hope Probe is set to end its seven-month journey to Mars that will measure its weather systems. The UAE will become only the fifth entity to reach the planet, and is a big achievement for the nation as a relative outsider to space exploration. Sarah Al Amiri, UAE’s minister of state for advanced technology and chair of the UAE Space Agency, highlights how at the heart of achieving success in technology and innovation, there needs to be true diversity, one that is inclusive of different genders, ages, nationalities and backgrounds.
UAE’s oil expansion gives it new weight within OPEC – The UAE’s resistance at OPEC meetings to extend deep supply cuts into 2021 is the start of a more assertive policy stance that could make it harder for the group’s de-facto leader, Saudi Arabia, to balance global oil supply, and effectively delaying the group’s latest strategy decision. Until recently, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait, moved together on supply policy. They even, at times, cut more supply than they had agreed to compensate for other OPEC members who did not reduce as much as they had pledged.
The significance of Indian Army chief’s visit to the Gulf – The chief of the Indian Army General MM Naravane is making a four-day trip to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, highlighting the increasing strategic partnership and cooperation. The visit comes as a boost to the already aggressive diplomacy New Delhi has orchestrated in the Middle East, particularly with the Gulf, over the past few years. It is also significant as it opens an avenue of defence cooperation, specifically when it comes to joint exercises and training in land warfare, particularly with regard to closer cooperation on issues such as counterterrorism. New Delhi is also using its closeness to the Gulf block for multi-layered geopolitical reasons, such as taking the advantage of the fissures developed between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
Yemen: inside the ‘world’s worst humanitarian crisis’ – On top of the COVID-19 crisis, the six-year war, the famine and widespread poverty, as well as the dengue fever and malnutrition killing more children than bullets or COVID-19 – Yemen is also dealing with difficulties accessing much-needed fuel due to a blockade imposed by the coalition on the north of the country.
علاقات إقليمية ودولية
سفير الإمارات في واشنطن: هناك “بذور تقدم” نحو حل الخلاف الخليجي
كشف سفير الإمارات في واشنطن يوسف العتيبة عن تطورات تشير إلى أن هناك رغبة وتعهدات لتخفيف حدة الأمور للوصول إلى حل لإنهاء الخلاف مع قطر.
صرّح وزير الخارجية الكويتي أن هناك تطورات إيجابية بشأن الأزمة الخليجية وجميع الأطراف حريصة على التضامن والاستقرار الخليجي والعربي، وعلى التوصل إلى اتفاق نهائي.
الأزمة الخليجية.. مصر ترحب بجهود التسوية والإمارات تثمن الدورين الكويتي والأميركي
تسعى مصر لحلحلة الخلاف الخليجي وعلقت على أنها ملتزمة لإيجاد حل شامل للأزمة المستمرة منذ أكثر من 3 سنوات.
وجبة عشاء “الشابات” تجمع إسرائيليين مع إماراتيين وبحرينيين
نشط تداول على وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي بشأن تجمع إسرائيلي إماراتي بحريني لعشاء تقليدي لتعزيز الحوار بين الثقافات المختلفة وتأتي هذه التبادلات الودية عقب اتفاق التطبيع بين إسرائيل والإمارات والبحرين.
للمرة الثانية في أقل من شهر.. قطر توقف طرادا بحرينيا انتهك مياهها الإقليمية
أوقفت السلطات البحرية القطرية طرّادا بحرينيا انتهك مياهها الإقليمية. وقالت الداخلية القطرية إنه تم اتخاذ الإجراءات اللازمة بحق الأشخاص الذين كانوا على متن الطراد.
ترصد كافة التحركات في الخليج.. طهران تهدد بالرد بعد تحليق قاذفتين أميركيتين في المنطقة
قال العميد قادر رحيم زاده نائب قائد القوة الدفاعية الجوية التابعة للجيش الإيراني، إن أي خرق للأجواء الإيرانية سيواجَه برد صارم ومدمر من القوات المسلحة الإيرانية.
موقع إسرائيلي: السعودية لعبت دوراً في اتفاق التطبيع بين المغرب وإسرائيل
يتكهن الخبراء أن السعودية تلعب دورا غير مباشر في اتفاق التطبيع من أجل تشجيع بعض البلدان وذلك لتمهيد الطريق لبلدها.
اقتصاد
أرامكو السعودية تواكب الثورة الصناعية الرابعة
تسعى أرامكو السعودية لتصبح رائدة في الثورة الصناعية الرابعة وذلك من خلال الاستثمار في المشاريع التكنولوجية المتقدمة وحرصا على الابتكار والاختراع في مجالات النفط والغاز بهدف تقليل الانبعاثات واستهلاك الطاقة الأمر الذي سيؤدي إلى منتجات أكثر تنافسية واستدامة.
أبوظبي تستأنف الأنشطة الاقتصادية والسياحية والثقافية خلال أسبوعين
أعلنت أبوظبي أنها ستستأنف جميع الأنشطة الاقتصادية والسياحية و الثقافية ويأتي هذا القرار بعد فترة حيث فرضت الحكومة إجراءات احترازية صارمة في هذه الإمارة بهدف تخفيف انتشار فيروس كورونا.
قطر تصعد بقوة وتقود مكاسب بورصات الخليج بعد تقدم بملف المصالحة الخليجية
ارتفعت حركة الأسواق الخليجية الرئيسية وسط تقارير تظهر مدى التضافر لجهود حلحلة الأزمة الخليجية.
سياسة
مباحثات قطرية هندية لتعزيز العلاقات
بحثت قطر والهند هاتفيا عدد من القضايا ذات الاهتمام المشترك والعلاقة الثنائية بين البلدين ومناقشة الوضع السياسي داخل الهند.
جبهات لم ينتصر فيها ولي العهد السعودي محمد بن سلمان
تواجه السعودية عددا من القضايا الشائكة التي تسعى إلى تسويتها بما يضمن لها حفظ ماء الوجه أمام المجتمع الدولي.
السفارة الإسرائيلية في أبوظبي ستكون بحجم نظيراتها في واشنطن ولندن وموسكو
كشفت مصادر دبلوماسية في تل أبيب أن السفارة التي ستفتتح في أبو ظبي ستكون من أكبر السفارات الإسرائيلية، وقد زار جهاز المخابرات الإسرائيلي في الأسبوع الماضي الإمارات، بغرض التأكد من مستوى الإجراءات الأمنية عشية تدشين السفارة الإسرائيلية فيها.
قوات تركية قطرية تجري تدريبات عسكرية في الدوحة
أجرت القوات القطرية والتركية تدريبات عسكرية في الدوحة بالذخيرة الحية بطلقات مدفعية العاصفة "هاوتزر"، و الجدير بالذكر أنه عقب اندلاع الأزمة الخليجية في 2017 تعززت العلاقات على المستوى العسكري بين تركيا وقطر.
صفاء الهاشم: تباين بعد خسارة النائبة الوحيدة في مجلس الأمة الكويتي
شهد مجلس الأمة الكويتي تراجعا في تمثيل المرأة في السنوات الأخيرة. فمن 4 نساء في مجلس 2009، تقلص العدد إلى 3 في 2012، ثم لنائبتين عام 2013، فنائبة واحدة في 2016، لتشهد الانتخابات الأخيرة سيطرة رجالية على المجلس.
وزير خارجية السعودية يزور السودان لبحث تعميق العلاقات
ستعقد السعودية والسودان اجتماعا في العاصمة الخرطوم لبحث عدد من القضايا ذات الاهتمام المشترك والعلاقات الثنائية بين البلدين ومناقشة الوضع السياسي داخل السودان، علما بأنه لم يزر وفد سعودي على هذا المستوى السودان منذ توقيع الوثيقة الدستورية لتكوين الحكومة الانتقالية بالسودان.
عباس يزور الدوحة الإثنين لمقابلة أمير قطر
أعلنت وكالة الأنباء القطرية الرسمية أن أبا مازن سيزور قطر الإثنين، حيث سيلتقي بالشيخ تميم بن حمد آل ثاني ويناقشان آخر التطورات على الساحة الفلسطينية.
انتخابات مجلس الأمة الكويتي: التصويت في ظل كورونا
يتناول هذا المقال قضية إدلاء الناخبين الكويتيين بأصواتهم في انتخابات برلمانية ودور حملات المرشحين حول مكافحة الفساد والإصلاحات الاقتصادية وإدارة أزمة فيروس كورونا.
ملك البحرين يصدر مرسوماً بإنشاء قنصلية في مدينة العيون المغربية
أفادت الأنباء البحرينية أن ملك البحرين أصدر مرسوما لإنشاء قنصلية للبحرين لدى المغرب في مدينة العيون بمنطقة الصحراء. كما نوه بالجهود التي بذلها الرئيس الأميركي دونالد ترامب لتسهيل التوصل إلى هذا الاتفاق.
الحرب في اليمن
استهداف التراث.. جرائم مسكوت عنها في حرب اليمن
لقد تعرض المدنيون في اليمن إلى مجاعة، ونزوح سكاني، وقصف جوي ولا تقتصر هذه الكارثة على الإنسان بل شملت تدميراً تام للمواقع العريقة كالقلاع، والحصون والحارات القديمة مما أدى إلى استنزاف تاريخها وتراثها.
إشادة خليجية بجهود المملكة في استكمال ترتيبات تنفيذ الاتفاق
تسلط هذه المقالة الضوء على التطورات بشأن اتفاق الرياض بين الحكومة اليمنية والمجلس الانتقالي الجنوبي وأشاد مجلس التعاون الخليجي بالجهود الرامية إلى حل هذه الأزمة والتي بذلتها السعودية.
كنز شبوة.. الإمارات وحرب الغاز في جنوب اليمن
لقد انخرطت الإمارات في الحرب في اليمن لسنوات بهدف صد هجمات الحوثيين في الحرب بالوكالة التي تدور هناك، مستهدفة مصادر النفط والغاز سعيا للاستفادة من هذه الموارد الطبيعية.
فيروس كورونا
الكويت ترخص الاستخدام الطارئ للقاح فايزر - بيونتك
منحت الكويت الموافقة على الاستخدام الطارئ للقاح فايزر وجاء هذا التصريح عقب إعلانات من الحكومات في دول الخليج فيما يتعلق باللقاح الذي يخططون للحصول عليه.
البحرين توافق على تسجيل لقاح «سينوفارم» الصيني
أعلنت الهيئة الوطنية لتنظيم المهن والخدمات الصحية في البحرين موافقتها على التسجيل الرسمي للقاح المضاد لفيروس كورونا من إنتاج شركة سينوفارم الصينية للأدوية.
الصحة السعودية: أولوية لقاح «كورونا» لكبار السن وأصحاب الأمراض المزمنة
أعلنت السعودية أنه ستكون هناك عدة مراحل للحصول على اللقاح ولكل مرحلة أولوياتها، والأولوية في أخذ اللقاح ستكون لكبار السن وأصحاب الأمراض المزمنة وأوضح المتحدث أن أخذ اللقاحات سيسهم في حفظ الحياة وحماية المجتمع.
فن وثقافة
الرواية النسوية اليمنية في الألفية الجديدة.. سيرة المأساة
يسلط هذا المقال الضوء على مسيرة السرد النسوي اليمني الذي يكشف سيرة مأساة حياة المرأة في المجتمع اليمني المحافظ.
قانون
بينهم مجموعة بن لادن.. محكمة سعودية تبرئ 13 متهما في قضية سقوط الرافعة بالحرم المكي
قضت المحكمة الجزائية في مكة المكرمة ببراءة 13 متهما، بينهم مجموعة بن لادن للمقاولات، في قضية سقوط رافعة ضخمة بالحرم المكي بسبب عاصفة مفاجئة عام 2015.
آراء وتقارير
سجل مضاوي: مناصرة للمرأة الكويتية في السياسة
عززت الكويت دور وتقدم المرأة في المجتمع في السنوات القليلة المنصرمة بغض النظر عن هذه الإنجازات فإن المرأة في الكويت لا تزال تواجه العديد من التحديات والحواجز في السياسة المحلية لاسيما في مجلس الأمة.
أدلى المواطنون الكويتيون أصواتهم في الانتخابات البرلمانية حيث دعا الشباب لإصلاحات من أجل حلحلة أزمة البطالة، اعتمادا على موارد النفط ومكافحة الفساد.