[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.]
Regional and International Relations
Former Gulf associates abandon Donald Trump over anti-Muslim comments Donald Trump has lost business partners in the Gulf States following Islamophobic remarks.
Saudi prince calls Trump a 'disgrace' Saudi Prince al-Waleed bin Talal used Twitter to criticize remarks by Donald Trump, whom he said was a disgrace, and should withdraw.
Major department store chain in Middle East drops Trump Home products Landmark, parent company of one of the biggest retails stores in the Gulf, has decided to stop carrying Trump branded products.
US food exports to GCC hit 3bn US food exports to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states have reached three billion dollars annually.
GCC rejects Israeli measures in Jerusalem The GCC confirmed its support for the Palestinians in a statement at a meeting that also addressed other issues.
GCC leaders slam ‘hostile, racist’ rhetoric against Muslims, refugees The leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council have condemned anti-Muslim rhetoric in Western states.
United Arab Emirates is looking for Belgian investors and companies A Global Investor Summit aims to attract Belgian investors and companies to the Ajman Free Zone in the United Arab Emirates.
Sudan: President Al-Bashir Attends Sports Activities in United Arab Emirates Al-Bashir attends sport events in the United Arab Emirates.
Oil prices could expedite Oman public investment Investors are turning their focus away from energy due to low oil prices.
UAE bans Saudi activist The Emirati regime banned Saudi activist Lujain Hathloul from entering its territory after she criticized the Saudi government’s ban on women driving.
Kuwait manages to keep unemployment rate at 2 pc since 2010 Kuwait plans to keep unemployment at a minimal percentage despite falling oil revenues.
Qatar Military Official, Wife Guilty Of Visa Fraud In Texas They were sentenced to twenty years in US prisons for lying to get visas for two domestic workers and mistreating them.
National library archives trace history of Qatar’s flag Qatar’s national flag is known as Al Adaam due to the color change made by the dye on the flag.
Gulf states refuse refugees The Gulf states refuse to accept refugees escaping the Syrian conflict.
Kuwait appeals court upholds death sentence on Saudi The Kuwaiti government sentenced to death a man accused of participating in an IS-claimed suicide bombing at a prominent Shiite mosque.
Bahrain: The First Step Is Admitting You Have a Problem Bahrain has cancelled visits by the United Nations top human anti-torture investigator twice in four years.
Misplaced concern: the sectarian scapegoat in Bahrain The United States must urge the Bahraini regime to implement human rights reforms and reconciliation in its political system in order to counter extremism.
Key Bahrain ratings are reaffirmed by agency Standard and Poor’s has retained its credit rating of BBB-/A3 for Bahrain.
Trump's Name, Image Removed at Dubai Development Amid Uproar Donald Trump’s name has been removed from a Dubai golf course following his remarks on prohibiting Muslim immigration to the United States.
Call of the dunes: UK explorer departs on trek across Arabia's Empty Quarter Mark Evans, a UK-based explorer, has departed on a trek replicating the path of Bertram Thomas in 1930.
Saudi Arabia accused of trying to wreck Paris climate deal Campaigners accuse Saudi Arabia of attempting to sabotage climate talks in Paris.
Saudi Arabia to host latest round of talks aimed at Syrian unity Saudi Arabia is set to host talks in Riyadh aiming to unite the opposition forces in the country.
UK appears to put weapons sales above lives of Yemen's children, says charity Save the Children has released a report accusing the UK government of prioritizing arms sales over children's’ rights in Yemen.
Qatar, Morocco ink education cooperation protocol The Supreme Education Council (SEC) and Morocco’s Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training have agreed to work together to attract Moroccan educational infrastructure.
Qatar Leads Mideast Stock Retreat After Oil Sinks to 2008 Low As oil prices hit a low not seen since 2008, Dubai is leading regional stock exchanges in falling prices.
GCC to blacklist absconding maids GCC ministries of Labor intend to issue blacklist to enforce the labor laws.
Donald Trump Loses Luster When Words Reach the Middle East Donald Trump’s words about Muslims have cost him business in the Middle East, according to the New York Times.
Syria conflict: can Saudi pressure secure peace? The BBC analyzes the role of Saudi Arabia in the Syrian conflict, including recent overtures to the regime by opposition groups.
Hollywood star Kristen Stewart in Oman for film shoot Hollywood actress Kristen Stewart is visiting Oman to shoot scenes for her upcoming horror film.
Oman bans e-cigarettes Oman has prohibited electronic cigarettes, with the government announcing that any sellers of the devices will be fined five hunded riyals.
Poland gets first gas delivery from Qatar Qatar sends gas-carriers to Poland for the first time in history.
Qatar projects under development worth $71bn, says minister Qatar is projected to achieve great financial growth in the near future with 71 billion dollars in development projects.
Reports and Opinions
Saudi women can run for public office, but they’re far from equal to men Abeer Mishkhas writes that Saudi women face discrimination despite their participation in elections.
The Observer view on Britain’s unedifying alliance with Saudi ArabiaThe Observer argues that the United Kingdom should not be allied to Saudi Arabia due to the latter’s repression.
Death Toll From Hajj Stampede Reaches 2,411 in New EstimateThe Associated Press has collected news reports worldwide and argues that the death toll in Hajj stampede was much larger than previously believed.
Houthis, Saudis, and Jihadis The Economist argues that the Yemeni conflict is violent and pointless.
Kuwait has exceptional fiscal strength: Fitch – At 8.3 percent of GDP, debt is among the lowest Reuters argues that Kuwait has overall fiscal strength despite lower oil prices.
Bahrain to host next GCC summit Bahrain is scheduled to host the 2015 GCC summit.
Bahrain to cut government spending by 30% Bahrain is planning a thirty percent cut in government spending.
Emirati Layla Kaylif wins IWC Filmmaker Award Emirati filmmaker Layla Kaylif has won the IWC filmmaker award
Education and public speaking skills were key for FNC voters, study finds A study has found that education and speaking ability were the key characteristics for voters in UAE federation national council elections.
Oman to investigate the fake hajj operators Oman is investigating incidents of phony hajj operators arranging for counterfeit Saudi permits to perform the hajj.
Human Rights
Women win seats in landmark Saudi Arabia elections Several women have been elected to local councils in the first Saudi municipal elections open to their participation.
Low turnout in Saudi Arabia's first poll open to women Overall turnout in the first Saudi municipal elections open to female participation has been low, with voter turnout at about 25 percent.
BCHR Vice President S.Yousif Almuhafdah on the occasion of Human Rights Day Bahrain Center for Human Rights Vice President Yousif Almuhafdah comments on repression in Bahrain on Human Rights Day.
Analysis: the value of women voting in Saudi Arabia Al Jazeera analyzes the significance of women voting for the first time in in Saudi Arabia.
How much do you know about life as a woman in Saudi Arabia? BBC features a quiz on readers’ knowledge of life for women in Saudi Arabia.
UK is harming human rights in the Gulf says Bahrain exile Bahraini activist Maryam al-Khawaja argues the UK government is harming human rights in the Gulf region.
Saudi Arabia: Landmark Elections for Women Human Rights Watch praises female participation while criticizing ongoing restrictions.
Dispatches: Better Late Than Never – Saudi Arabia Approves NGO Law HRW reports the new Saudi NGO law is long overdue.
Fifa ExCo member Sheikh Ahmad vows to fight six-month jail term in Kuwait A Kuwaiti Royal family member and FIFA executive is challenging his prison sentence for criticizing the judiciary.
Saudi Arabia elections: ‘It will be enough even if one woman wins’ Female candidates in Saudi Arabia are allowed to run in local elections, but face social restrictions that limit their campaigning.
Saudi Arabia sentences poet to death and threatens to sue critics of penal system Saudi Arabia has sentenced a poet to death and used legal threats to intimidate critics of its penal system, according to Global Voices.
Saudi Arabia elections: meeting the first women legally allowed to stand The Independent interviews women standing in municipal elections in Saudi Arabia, including Haifa al-Hababi in Riyadh.
Jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi on hunger strike Imprisoned Saudi blogger Raif Badawi is now currently on a hunger strike.
Saudi court to review stoning sentence of Sri Lankan woman Sri Lankan objections have led Saudi Arabia to review a stoning sentence handed down to a woman from Sri Lanka.
Saudi Arabian divorced women and widows to get greater legal powers Saudi Arabia is to allow divorced women to manage certain personal affairs without a male guardian’s permission.
Minister of Commerce and Industry opens Cityscape Kuwait 2015 – Event returns with new features and highlights across 7,000 sqm of exhibition space The second phase of Cityscape Kuwait was opened by the Minister of Commerce and Industry.
Kuwait ban remains in force as ties with IOC deteriorate Kuwait remains suspended from the International Olympic Committee following controversy over sentencing Sheikh Ahmed.
Hashish smoker found not guilty must now serve four years in Dubai jail An Indian man accused of smoking hashish will serve four years in prison following an appeal for his acquittal.
Kuwait ruling family member given suspended jail term: newspapers Sheikh Ahmed al-Fahad al-Sabah has been given a suspended sentence for quoting the country’s Emir without the latter’s permission.
Omani detained over royal decree rumor A Omani citizen has been arrested over reports that he spread false rumors regarding a cabinet reshuffle in November.
Crisis in Yemen
Bombing of schools by Saudi Arabia-led coalition a flagrant attack on future of Yemen’s children Amnesty International accuses the Saudi-led coalition of bombing schools in Yemen.
Yemen conflict: Governor of Aden killed in Islamic State attack The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for an attack that killed the Yemeni governor of Aden.
Ex-Guantanamo detainee now an al Qaeda leader in Yemen Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has released a video depicting a former Guantanamo inmate with them.
War Is Destroying Yemen's Medical System When The Country Needs It Most According to Doctors Without Borders, Yemenis face bombings in hospitals due to the country’s conflict.
Improvised bomb explodes outside Yemen ministry office in Aden An improvised bomb has exploded outside a ministerial office in Aden.
Yemen rebels say truce depends on 'aggression' ending Houthi rebels say that “aggression” by the Saudi-led coalition must end if they are to commit to a truce.
Yemen's Huthis name delegates to UN-brokered peace talks The Yemeni Houthis have named their delegate to UN brokered peace talks.
Yemeni forces capture two more forces in Saudi Arabia PressTV reports that Yemeni rebel groups have captured the villages of “Almijhm” and “Alser” in the Jizan province of Saudi Arabia.
Yemen's Houthi group says ceasefire start December 14 Yemeni Houthi rebels and government forces announced a seven-day ceasefire starting on 14 December ahead of talks in Switzerland.
GCC promises global meet to rebuild Yemen The GCC has promised to convene a global conference to raise funds for Yemeni reconstruction after a settlement.
Yemen prepares for locust swarms as famine threat peaks Locusts pose a challenge in Yemen as they threaten food security in the face of an ongoing conflict.
Heavy toll in Yemen conflict draws scrutiny The United Nations and international human rights activists have questioned the targeting strategy of the Saudi-led coalition after high civilian casualties.
Kingdom seeks 'political solutions' for Syria and Yemen Saudi Arabia is seeking “political solutions” for the conflicts in Syria and Yemen, according to Arab News.
Yemen’s peace talks are ‘chance to bring in urgent aid for millions’ The UN humanitarian chief says that the UN sponsored peace talks are an opportunity to bring aid to Yemenis affected by the conflict.
Yemen ceasefire to begin on Monday A UN-backed ceasefire is set to begin on Monday, 12 December.
The Current Situation in Yemen: Causes and Consequences Noel Brehony analyzes the Yemeni conflict for the Norwegian Peacebuilding Resource Centre (NOREF).
What are the challenges behind the Yemeni peace talks? Diana Alghoul discusses the challenges in peace negotiations in Yemen including both the negotiations themselves and the country’s humanitarian crisis.
Dogs of War: British mercenary reported killed in Yemen A British mercenary has been reported killed while fighting against Houthi rebels alongside other mercenaries.
Gulf states call for Yemen reconstruction meeting after peace deal The GCC has called for a global meeting for Yemeni reconstruction after the conclusion of a peace agreement.
Yemen is turning into Saudi Arabia’s Vietnam The Washington Post argues that Saudi Arabia’s situation in Yemen is similar to the predicament facing the United States in the Vietnam war.
Factories, Jobs Destroyed in Yemen War The war in Yemen has caused significant damage to the country’s infrastructure and industry in addition to the human suffering.
Yemen: Nine wounded in Saudi-led coalition airstrike on MSF clinic in Taiz Nine people have been wounded in a strike on a Doctors Without Borders clinic in the city of Taiz.