position:minister of state

Saudi Arabia suspends oil exports through Red Sea lane after Houthi attack | Reuters
▻https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-yemen-security/houthis-target-saudi-warship-off-yemen-coast-al-masirah-tv-idUKKBN1KF0WN

Top oil exporter Saudi Arabia said on Thursday it was “temporarily halting” all oil shipments through the strategic Red Sea shipping lane of #Bab_al-Mandeb after an attack on two big oil tankers by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement.

Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said in a statement sent by his ministry that the Houthis had attacked two Saudi Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) in the Red Sea on Wednesday morning, one of which sustained minimal damage.

“Saudi Arabia is temporarily halting all oil shipments through Bab al-Mandeb Strait immediately until the situation becomes clearer and the maritime transit through Bab al-Mandeb is safe,” the statement said.

#Bab_el_Mandeb

Jordan releases memorandum about violations against Al-Aqsa
July 22, 2018 5:15 P.M. (Updated: July 22, 2018 5:19 P.M.)
▻http://www.maannews.com/Content.aspx?ID=780479

http://www.maannews.com/Photos/475462C.jpg

AMMAN (Ma’an) —Jordanian Minister of State for Media Affairs, Jumana Ghneimat, condemned in the strongest terms the ongoing Israeli violations and provocations against Al-Aqsa Mosque/ Al Haram al-Sharif, especially the provocative incursions of extremists and settlers that took place today into the courtyards of the holy site.

Ghneimat, who is also the Government Spokesperson, said according to “Official News Agency Petra” "those condemned and rejected" practices, which are conducted under protection of the Israeli police, violate the sanctity of this holy place, provoke sentiments of worshipers and Muslims all over the world, and constitute a violation of Israel’s obligations as an occupying power under int’l and int’l humanitarian laws.

The minister affirmed those practices also breach all int’l norms and charters, which stress the need to respect the places of worship for all religions. (...)

Abu Dhabi Ports Signs 30-Year Deal with MSC to Build Terminal – gCaptain
▻http://gcaptain.com/abu-dhabi-ports-signs-30-year-deal-with-msc-to-build-terminal

http://gcaptain.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/shutterstock_760560643.jpg

Abu Dhabi Ports has signed a 30-year concession agreement with Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) to build a new container terminal at its Khalifa Port.

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has spent billions developing the port, which opened in 2012, as part of ongoing efforts to diversify its oil-rich economy.

Khalifa Port is on a man-made island roughly half-way between the centres of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and about 60 kilometres (37 miles) south from Dubai’s huge Jebel Ali port.

Construction of the new terminal will include deepening berths to make Khalifa Port capable of handling the world’s biggest bulk cargo vessels, state-owned Abu Dhabi Ports said in a statement on Monday.

Swiss-based MSC will invest 4 billion dirhams ($1.1 billion) over the life of the concession in operational equipment which will include increasing the number of ship-to-shore cranes from 12 to 25, it said.

“We are confident that with this investment we will continue to ensure a high level of service for our customers and have the capacity to grow the scale of our operations in the UAE,” MSC’s President and Chief Executive Officer Diego Aponte said.

Abu Dhabi Ports expects the overall capacity of Khalifa Port to increase to 8.5 million TEUs from 2.5 million TEUs in five years. ($1 = 3.6728 dirham)

Kuwait’s New Cabinet Takes Oath - ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English
▻http://english.aawsat.com/2016/12/article55363692/kuwaits-new-cabinet-takes-oath

The Cabinet comprises of the following ministers: Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Mohammad Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Anas Nasser Al-Saleh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Sheikh Mohammad Al-Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, Sheikh Salman Sabah Al-Salem Al-Humoud Al-Sabah, Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Hind Barrak Al-Sabeeh, Minister of Social Affairs and Labor as well as Minister of State for Economic Affairs, Yaser Abul, Minister of State for Housing Affairs and Minister of State for Utilities, Jamal Mansour Al-Harbi, the Minister of Health, Khaled Nasser Abdullah Al-Roudan, the Minister Commerce and Industry, Abdulrahman Abdulkareem Al-Mutawa’, the as Minister Public Works, Essam Abdulmohsen Al-Marzouq, Minister Electricity and Water as well as the Minister of Oil, Faleh Abdullah Al-Azeb, Minister Justice and the Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs, Mohammad Abdulatif Al-Fares, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education, Mohammad Nasser Al-Jabri, Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs as well as Minister of State for the Municipality.

India’s New Reforestation Law Ignores Indigenous People, Analysts Say
▻http://www.voanews.com/content/indias-new-reforestation-law-ignores-indigenous-people-analysts-say/3440041.html

A new Indian law to boost reforestation across the country ignores the importance of indigenous people in conserving land and tramples on their rights, analysts and activists said.

India’s upper house of parliament passed a bill late on Thursday that would give state governments more than 60 billion rupees ($895 million) a year to conserve and protect forests and wildlife.

“It is a good bill,” Minister of State of Environment Anil Madhav Dave said in a statement, adding that the new law would help to focus reforestation efforts in a concerted way.

Most of the funds under the Compensatory Afforestation, Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) law would be used to restock denuded forests, Dave said.

The law would also help to create employment, especially in poor regions and areas that are traditionally home to indigenous communities, he said.

However, critics of the law said the money would be better spent on helping local communities who are already engaged in conserving their habitats.

#Inde #reforestation #plantation ? #peuples_autochtones

Bahrain denies ‘inaccurate’ Syria remarks | GulfNews.com
▻http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/bahrain/bahrain-denies-inaccurate-syria-remarks-1.1666836

The ambassador stressed that these remarks were inaccurate and reiterated the Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment to fighting terrorism alongside its allies. Bahrain is ready to commit ground troops to Syria as part of a US-led coalition against Daesh, the country said on Friday, a day after its larger neighbour and close ally Saudi Arabia announced a similar pledge.

On Friday, Reuters published comments attributed to Shaikh Fawaz that Bahrain would commit troops to operate “in concert with the Saudis” under what he called a unified military command of Gulf Arab states.

According to the statement, he added that the UAE was also ready to commit troops, echoing an assertion made late last year by UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash.

Le nouveau truc diplomatique fashion dans le club du CCG, déclarer "moi aussi je suis prêt à envoyer des « ground troops » contre Da’ich". Après l’Arabie saoudite, les Emirats arabes unis :
▻http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/02/uae-ready-send-ground-troops-syria-160207103946820.html

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is ready to send ground troops to Syria as part of an international coalition to fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group, a top official has said.
The announcement comes just days after Saudi Arabia expressed the same position, saying that it was prepared to deploy troops to fight ISIL in Syria if the US-led coalition were to agree.
“Our position throughout has been that a real campaign against [ISIL] has to include a ground force,” the UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash said at a news conference in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
Gargash added that “US leadership on this” would also be a prerequisite for the UAE.
He did not elaborate about how many troops the UAE could send - but added: "We are not talking about thousands of troops" .

Bon, on est d’accord, hein, on en enverra pas des milliers. Mais bon, deux trois gars qui pèlent les oranges tandis que les boys américains font le match, c’est déjà ça, non ? Alors Barack, on y va ou pas ?

Qatar announces major government reshuffle | Middle East Eye
▻http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/qatar-announces-major-government-reshuffle-610406420

Seven ministerial changes were announced by the official Qatar News Agency.
 
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, a member of the royal family, replaced Khalid al-Attiyah as foreign minister, the QNA said.
 
The 35-year-old is a senior official who was previously in charge of international cooperation in the foreign ministry.
 
Attiyah, whose father was the founder of Qatar’s armed forces, was appointed minister of state for defence. The emir himself holds the post of defence minister. 
 
And Issa bin Saad al-Naimi Juffali was awarded the new position of minister for administrative development and labour and social affairs.
 
He replaces labour minister Abdullah bin Saleh al-Khulaifi at one of the country’s most high-profile cabinet posts because of international criticism of Doha’s record on migrant workers’ rights.
 
As notable as the announcement of new faces was the fact that several departments would be merged, which some see as a cost-cutting measure.
 
Among the newly combined ministries is not only administrative development and labour, but also the departments of culture and sports, transport and communications, and municipality and the environment.
 
Previously, these were separate departments.
 
“No doubt this has to do with reducing spending and preventing sagging,” Jamal Abdullah, Head of Gulf Studies at Al-Jazeera Centre, told AFP. 
 
“Especially as a number of ministries intersect tasks and responsibilities, such as communications and transportation, municipal and environment.”
 
Qatar has already forecast a budget deficit of more than $12 billion in 2016 — and that could increase as it was calculated at an oil price of $48 per barrel. The current price is around $32.
 
In addition, the emir warned last December of “wasteful spending, overstaffing and a lack of accountability” across Qatar.
 
Abdullah also noted that the changes would help “pump young blood into the Qatar decision-making machine”, especially the appointment of a new, relatively young foreign minister.
 
One post which remained the same was that of prime minister, which has been held by Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani since 2013.
 
Also, one woman was named in the reshuffle — Hanan al-Kuwari, who becomes the new minister of health.

ekathimerini.com | Anti-#corruption minister says Lagarde list data inadequate for tax evasion crackdown
▻http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_03/04/2015_548802

http://photo.ekathimerini.com/kath/engs/img/NEWS/2015/04/nikoloudis.jpgedited.jpg

The Minister of State for Combating Corruption Panayiotis Nikoloudis told Parliament on Friday that the so-called Lagarde List of Greek depositers with Swiss bank accounts, and a series of similar lists, were inadequate without further data if reliable insights into suspected tax evasion are to be gained.

KUNA : Sheikh Talal Al-Fahad no longer holding two sports posts in Kuwait - Min. - Parliamentary - 02/12/2014
▻http://www.kuna.net.kw/ArticleDetails.aspx?id=2411927&language=en

KUWAIT, Dec 2 (KUNA) — Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah affirmed Tuesday that the legal status of Sheikh Talal Al-Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah was adjusted.
In statements during the regular National Assembly session, Sheikh Mohammad said that Sheikh Talal is no longer holding two posts concurrently at sports clubs boards, sports associations, and the Public Authority for Youth and Sports (PAYS).
The law bans being a board member at any of the abovementioned bodies and concurrently a leader in another.
“Sheikh Talal is no longer holding concurrently the two posts of a deputy chairman of PAYS and the President of Kuwait Football Association,” Sheikh Mohammad said.
He added that the government has taken many measures in the past years to improve performance and address problems facing the sports bodies

Toi aussi tu te demandais ce que devenait la théorie du complot bacharo-chiito-Isisesque ? Bon ben voilà : Minister : Syrian regime sent terrorists to Lebanon
▻http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2014/Jul-27/265282-minister-syrian-regime-sent-terrorists-to-lebanon.ashx

Minister of State Nabil de Freij Sunday accused the Syrian regime of opening the way for terrorist groups to enter Lebanon, calling on Hezbollah to cooperate with Army for one defense strategy.

"Yabroud’s battle, which was supposed to last for a month, was ended in hours because the Syrian regime intended to let [the takfiris] enter Lebanon,” De Freij told LBCI.

He said that the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria was not created out of nothing but rather had different names before.

“Dictatorial regimes use them when they feel threatened, to tell the Western and international community that this is the alternative to their regimes,” De Freij said, accusing the Syrian regime of using fundamentalist groups for its own interests.

The minister, who is also a Future bloc MP, blamed Hezbollah’s intervention in Syria for bringing terrorism to Lebanon.

Bon, ça pourrait être grave, mais si je suis à jour, le gars est « Administrative Development Minister », ce qui évidemment n’est pas un vrai métier.)

Bahrain News Agency | Bahrain’s leaders reject sectarian quotas, says Minister
▻http://www.bna.bh/portal/en/news/627332

The Bahraini leadership rejects sectarian quotas, Minister of State for Information Affairs and the Government’s Official Spokesperson Sameera Ebrahim Rajab said.

In a statement to the Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP), she stressed that Bahrain will never adopt sectarian quotas to avert the “civil war experiences in the societies that implemented the quota system”.

Lebanese in #Qatar no longer threatened with deportation
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/lebanese-qatar-no-longer-threatened-deportation

http://english.al-akhbar.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/4cols/leading_images/636941-01-08.jpg

Foreign Minister of State of Qatar Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi attends the Arab foreign minsiters meeting at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, on April 9, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Mohammed al-Shahed) Foreign Minister of State of Qatar Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi attends the Arab foreign minsiters meeting at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, on April 9, 2014. (Photo: AFP-Mohammed al-Shahed)

Qataris truly believe that the old famous slogan, “thank you Qatar,” shall resonate once again on the streets of #Lebanon and even #syria. The small Gulf emirate, which stood by the Resistance during the 2006 Israeli aggression and helped rebuild the South, is gradually returning to the resistance axis. In fact, this presumed (...)

#Articles #Damascus #Doha #Hassan_Rouhani #Iran #Lebanon #Prince_Tamim #Sheikh_Hamad_Ben_Khalifa_al-Thani

Minister of State for Implementation Affairs...
feels like “Yes, Minister”...Minister of Administrative Affairs

Gulf Daily News » Local News » HELD TO ACCOUNT
▻http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=369936

Minster of State for Implementation Affairs Mohammed Al Mutawa said the National Audit Court Report included 462 remarks, which have been classified into three categories based on action to be taken in each case.

He said the 20 suspected corruption cases have been referred to the General Directorate of Anti-Corruption and Economic and Electronic Security for investigation before being referred to Public Prosecution.

Qaradawi does not represent Doha foreign policy | GulfNews.com
▻http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/qatar/qaradawi-does-not-represent-doha-foreign-policy-1.1284935

“The foreign policy of Qatar is expressed and conveyed only through the official channels of the state,” Khalid Bin Mohammad Al Atiyyah said.
“ It is shameful that we allow Al Qaradawi to continue his insults of the UAE and ties [that bind] the peoples of the Arabian Gulf.” ”
Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash | UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
“Qatar’s policy is not expressed or conveyed by the media or platforms here and there. What was said by Shaikh Yousuf Al Qaradawi does not reflect the foreign policy of the state of Qatar.

UAE: No ties with Israel before peace deal | GulfNews.com
▻http://gulfnews.com/in-focus/world-energy-forum/uae-no-ties-with-israel-before-peace-deal-1.1279087

The UAE, host of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena), is fully capable of distinguishing between its international commitments and its refusal to normalise ties with Israel, a top official said on Saturday.
The participation of Israeli minister Silvan Shalom in the annual Irena General Assembly has led to “another smear campaign” against the UAE, Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, wrote on his Twitter account. “The UAE has been able, through a delicate balance, to differentiate between Israel’s membership in Irena and the normalisation of bilateral ties [with Tel Aviv} which Israel has been seeking,” he tweeted, adding the UAE “will not rush into a free normalisation with Israel, like some countries did.”

Syrian minister dies of #heart_attack : state news
▻http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/syrian-minister-dies-heart-attack-state-news

Syrian Minister of State Mohammed Turki al-Sayyed, who had publicly disowned his son for joining anti-government rebels, died on Thursday after suffering a heart attack, official news agency SANA reported. “The Council of Ministers and the Arab Socialist Union Party mourned on Thursday the Minister of State, Mr. Mohammed Turki al-Sayyed, who passed away this evening after a massive heart attack,” SANA said without providing details. Sayyed first joint #syria's parliament in 1990. He became deputy minister of culture in 2003, and was appointed #state_minister in 2012. read more

#Top_News

Sheikh Ali Salman, convoqué par la police au Bahrein

An opposition leader was summoned to appear before the Public Prosecution on Sunday for charges of humiliating the Interior Ministry.

Minister of State for Information Affairs and government’s official spokesperson Samira Ibrahim bin Rajab said Al Wefaq secretary-general Ali Salman has been accused of denigrating and disparaging the Interior Ministry.

The association held an event showcasing models, miniatures and drawings alleging policemen’s systematic use of inhuman practices and human rights violations.

Home Page - Gulf in the Media
▻http://gitm.kcorp.net/index.php?id=670905

Le premier ministre koweitien s’interroge sur l’avenir de l’état-providence dans son pays..

Kuwaitis unleash anger after PM declaring ‘welfare state is over’ - Alarabiya.net English | Front Page
▻http://english.alarabiya.net/en/perspective/features/2013/11/04/Kuwaitis-unleash-anger-after-PM-declaring-welfare-state-is-over-.

Kuwaitis have unleashed their anger on social media when Prime Minister Jaber al-Mubarak al-Sabah recently declared that the country‘s “welfare state is over.”
Sabah was also backed by the Minister of State for National Assembly Affairs Rola Dashti when she said that “low fees paid for services and goods, with an almost complete absence of tax revenues will force Kuwait to face a deficit between 2021-2029.”
One Kuwaiti parliamentarian, Hussein al-Kuwayaan, told Al Arabiya that Sabah’s statement has “depressed” the Kuwaiti people.
“The prime minister needs to explain to the citizens how the welfare era is over,” Kuwayaan said.
The parliament member, who intends to grill the health minister for corruption and neglecting projects including cancelling tenders for four hospitals, said the government is not capable of providing Kuwaitis with basic needs.
The political activist Fahed al-Thanian told Al Arabiya that Kuwaitis have “lost faith” in their consecutive cabinets, especially that an economic surplus has disappeared on the backdrop of the lack of development in the country.
Thanian said the country suffers from epidemic corruption that is the subject of ”gossip” from both Kuwaitis and the government.
“Many oil producers stopped depending on their oil revenues, diversifying their internal and external investments, but Kuwait is the only country that has a nominal surplus exceeding dozens of billions for over 10 years,” he said.
“We didn’t see any investment projects, and all we hear about are losses and deficit, and the government has nothing to do but keep on nagging about the deficit and the debts and its inability to meet the needs of the citizens,” he lamented.
“The citizens are still waiting for raises in salary, housing, health services, quality education, that we’re only hearing about in fairy tales.”

Point de presse hebdomadaire avec les ministres bahreiniens : une mesure positive très certainement...mais la réforme par le haut continue, alors qu’une partie de la population ne suit plus...

Gulf Daily News » Local News » OPEN DOORS
▻http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=352257

GOVERNMENT ministers will soon host a weekly open house in a bid to enforce transparency.

The first meeting will be held on May 8 at the Cabinet in Gudaibiya, said Minister of State for Information Affairs and the government’s official spokeswoman Sameera Rajab.

She said the move will create an open channel between ministers and the media, and promote transparency in government bodies.

“Sunday’s Press conferences will be only concerned with what’s being discussed or approved during the Cabinet’s session,” she said during a Press conference following Cabinet’s weekly session.

"Present will be the responsible minister whose projects, schemes or legislation are on schedule, besides myself as I will give an insight into what has been discussed and approved.

“We will all work as a team complementing each other as I will give points and the responsible minister will give details.”

Bahrain creates Supreme Council for Health (on 28 January 2013)
Sacrée reprise en main du domaine médical

In a bid to develop a national health strategy and monitor the development and application of quality standards for health services, Bahrain on January 28th announced the creation of the Supreme Council for Health by royal decree.

Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Lt. Gen. Dr. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, will chair the new council, and Bahraini Minister of Health Sadeq al-Shihabi will serve as vice chairman. Eleven other members will serve the council on a four-year, renewable term. [...]

“Bahrain now ranks eighth in the world in terms of the increase in the number of diabetes and obesity cases,” she [dr. Sumaya al Jowde, MP] said. These conditions, along with high blood pressure and cholesterol-related diseases, “require that a comprehensive national plan be rolled out to all government ministries, not just the Ministry of Health”, she said.

On aurait pu naivement penser que le MoH était jutement le lieu pour faire face à une telle tâche.

▻http://al-shorfa.com/en_GB/articles/meii/features/2013/02/14/feature-03

State Department Lied, Denying Dubai Asked for Assistance in Tracking Mossad Assassins | Tikun Olam-תקון עולם : Make the World a Better Place
►http://www.richardsilverstein.com/tikun_olam/2010/12/26/wikileaks-state-department-lied-denying-dubai-asked-for-assistan

On February 25, 2010, State Department spokesperson Philip Crowley lied when he told a press conference that he wasn’t aware of any request from Dubai for assistance in tracking the Mossad killers of Mahmoud al-Mabouh. To those who say that Wikileaks hasn’t told us anything we didn’t already know–think again.
Wikileaks has just released a February 24, 2010 cable in which the embassy relays the specific credit card numbers used by 14 of the 27 known Mossad suspects to State with a request for assistance from authorities investigating the killing, and confirms that the UAE foreign minister made the exact same request directly to Secretary Clinton on February 23rd:

Le câble en question :
►http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/Cable/Dubai/pide/ayuda/EE/UU/investigar/asesinato/lider/Hamas/elpepuint/20101225elpepuint_5/Tes

On the margins of a meeting with visiting Secretary Chu, on Feb 24 MFA Minister of State Gargash made a formal request to the Ambassador for assistance in providing cardholder details and related information for credit cards reportedly issued by a U.S. bank to several suspects in last month’s killing of Hamas leader Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh in Dubai. According to a letter Gargash gave the Ambassador (which transmitted details of the request from Dubai Security authorities to the UAE Central Bank), the credit cards were issued by MetaBank, in Iowa. Embassy LEGATT is transmitting the request and associated details to FBI HQ. Gargash asked that Embassy pass any reply to the director of the General Directorate of State Security (GDSS) in Dubai.

Silverstein fait également remarquer que, si depuis quelques jour il y a une rumeur insistante selon laquelle le nouveau chef du Mossad s’apprêterait à reconnaître la responsabilité israélienne et à présenter ses excuses à la Grande-Bretagne (et promettre de ne plus utiliser de passeports britanniques, ah ah ah), cela est certainement plus lié à la sortie annoncée des câbles de #Wikileaks qu’à une bonne volonté du nouveau chef des coups tordus.

Yesterday, I reported that incoming Mossad director Tamir Pardo was prepared to concede Israeli responsibility for the Dubai hit. To any who might view this as an Israeli official seeking to take responsibility for Israeli misdeeds or some such…Wikileaks is rumored to be about to publish cables in which the lid is blown on Mossad involvement. So it’s no skin off Pardo’s back if he admits to a crime which was about to be exposed anyway by others.

#Mossad #Israël #cablegate #Dubaï