[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
Saudi Arabia cuts ministers’ salaries, reduces public sector bonuses Riyadh has reduced ministers' salaries by twenty percent and abolished public sector bonuses.
Iran Sells First Cargoes of Oil, Condensate to British Companies Iran continues to boost its output and export levels since the lifting of international sanctions in January.
27 U.S. Senators Rebel Against Arming Saudi Arabia Twenty-seven senators pushed for a resolution opposing a $1.15 billion arms transfer to Saudi Arabia.
Gulf May Arm Rebels Now Syria Truce is Dead US officials said that Gulf states might arm Syrian rebels with shoulder-fired missiles
Saudi Arabia is showing signs of financial strain as its relationship with the US sours Benefit cuts have affected Saudi forces in Yemen.
Germany to Press U.S. to Reduce Iran Sanctions: Economy Minister Deputy Economy Minister Mohammad Khazaei stated that ten economic agreements would be signed during the visit of Germany’s Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy.
Angry foreign staff block Saudi road in protest over missing pay Tens of workers at the Saad Group blocked a road in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province in a protest over not being paid for over seven months.
Iran Says It’s Not Ready for Oil Output Freeze Deal During an informal OPEC meeting in Algiers, the Iranian Minister of Oil said that Iran is not ready to agree to an oil output freeze.
UK trained hundreds of guards working at Bahrain’s death row jail: Report A new report by Reprieve has documented that Northern Ireland Co-operation Overseas experts worked with Bahrain’s prison staff at jails where systematic torture took place.
UN says Iran abiding by nuclear deal A report has claimed that the United States and negotiating partners agreed “in secret” to allow Iran to evade certain restrictions in last year's nuclear agreement.
Saudi stocks plunge to multi-year lows on austerity The Saudi government might introduce more austerity measures to curb a large budget deficit caused by low oil prices, causing investor uncertainty.
Iran offers tax breaks for hotels to boost tourism Iran offers tax breaks to hoteliers in a move to boost the tourism sector.
Bahraini Association Against Normalization Condemns FM Remarks, Demands Gov’t to Dismiss Him The association condemned the FM for "expressing his condolences over the death of Zionist war criminal, who is directly responsible for the death of hundreds of Arabs.”
US State Department Says it’s Following Nabeel Rajab’s Case Closely, Might Attend Trial The activist Nabeel Rajab is set to be tried over tweets he posted last year, in which he criticized the war on Yemen and the torture faced by prisoners in the infamous Jaw prison in Bahrain.
Reports and Opinions
Importing Israeli gas: Jordan’s self-harming energy choice The deal struck by the Jordanian regime means that Jordanian taxpayers’ money will be supporting Israel’s policies.
Saudi Arabia plans drug tests for drivers“People in Saudi already need to pass a drugs test to obtain a work contract or a marriage certificate.”
Why Some Wars (Like Syria’s) Get More Attention Than Others (Like Yemen’s)“Most conflicts are Yemens, not Syrias or Darfurs.”
‘NYT’ finds no ‘camera-ready villain’ in Yemen (because those are our child-killers)“The piece by Amanda Taub on why the war in Yemen gets so little attention is, or should be, an instant classic in the realm of Orwellian thinking.”
Bahrain Says US Lacks Rationality in Response to 9/11 Bill Pass to Sue Saudi Arabia Bahrain Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa tweeted saying: "The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act is an arrow launched by the US Congress at its own country."
Photos: Mass Protest in Diraz Condemning “Normalization with Israel” and Persecution of Shiites Protestors condemned the Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs' statement in which it expressed condolences for the death of Shimon Peres.
One Torturer to Another: Kissinger Honors Bahrain FM With Award Henry Kissinger awarded Bahrain’s Foreign Affairs Minister with a Lifetime Achievement Award for economic development and “respect for religious pluralism.”
Crisis in Yemen
Yemen: MSF releases detailed documentation of attacks on two medical facilities ahead of the UN Security Council closed session on protection of medical missions.
UAE-supported Forces of Security Belt continue displacing northern citizens from Yemen's southern city of Aden The Security Belt Forces is a brigade commanded by Hani bin Buraik, who is very close to United Arab of Emirates.
Yemen's Houthis ask former Aden governor to form government Abdulaziz bin Habtoor, who hails from Shabwa province in southern Yemen, is expected to form a “national salvation government.”
Six Yemeni fishermen killed in an air strike by Saudi-led coalition southern Yemen’s Mokha port Saudi-led coalition jets hit the fishermen in a small port in Wahija village on the Red Sea coast of Yemen.
Activists cry foul as U.N. decides against Yemen rights probe The UN Human Rights Council failed to establish an independent inquiry into war crimes in Yemen.
Yemen, ripped apart by war, faces another catastrophe Yemen is running out of water and Sanaa could become the world’s first water-dry city by next year.
Starving Yemen Nawal Al-Maghafi documents life in the city of Hodeida while it is being bombed by Saudi-led forces, where she finds children with severe malnutrition.
Human Rights
Bahrain Top Court Rejects Release of Opposition Chief In May, the appeals court doubled the jail term of Shi‘a opposition chief cleric Ali Salman to nine years after reversing an earlier acquittal on charges of calling for regime change by force.
Saudi firm tells staff to forget owed pay if they want passports back Foreign workers at construction firm United Seemac were told that if they want their passports back they must forget about their salaries owed by the company.
Body of Activist Nasser Al-Ras Arrives at Najaf Al-Ras is one of the Bahraini regime's torture victims and a witness of the killing of Abdulkarim Al-Fakhrawi, who died under torture in prison.
Saudi police arrest teen for making video with US 'vlogger' Abu Sin gets arrested for a video chat that could get him three years in jail for breaching the country’s interpretation of Sharia law.
Nabeel Rajab to Undergo Surgery on Monday Al Khalifa pardoned Nabeel Rajab in July over fears for his health, but the authorities have arrested him again.
Kuwait: Shiite Cleric Acquitted of False News Circulation Charges During Friday prayers, the religious scholar strongly criticized the state security forces for arresting many young Shi‘a and torturing them to extract confessions over the case of "al-Abdali cell."
Clashes Broke out with Ministry of Interior Forces in Abu Saiba Village after Removal of Ashura Banners Angry youth peacefully protested against the ministry of interior’s actions.
Digital Rights Derailed in Bahrain: BCHR Releases Report on Restricting and Criminalizing of freedoms online The report examines the measures taken by the Bahraini authorities to tighten their grip on the Internet and increase surveillance of content published online.
Saudis petition king to end male guardianship system Petitions demanding the end of male guardianship have been sent to Salman.
Jordan protest calls for government resignation over Hattar murder Hundreds of protesters demand the resignation of Jordan’s government chanting: “The people want the fall of the government... No security, they killed Nahed in Amman.”
Two Bahraini Sentenced to 10-Year Jail Term, Revoked of their Citizenship over Terrorism-Related Charges Bahraini authorities have intensified trials against dissidents, targeting in particular Shi‘a citizens.
Human Rights Defenders Continuously Targeted by Bahraini Authorities, Despite Nonviolent Work The Bahraini government uses a mixed approach of structural and direct violence to curb dissent.
Lockheed's Jet Sale to Bahrain Blocked for Human Rights Violations Obama urges Gulf ally to demonstrate progress on human rights before buying nineteen F-16 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin.