Today's 4...elections, markets, forgiveness & gas

The Kuwait Times reported that 400000 Kuwaitis have registered to vote in today’s parliamentary elections. Those who turn out to vote will be asked to vote for their preferred back benchers (with top positions reserved for members of the ruling al-Sabah family). Will the "Firestarter" from the Fourth Constituency come out on top?

The National highlighted that yesterday’s markets within the UAE showed opposite trends, with the Emirati capital Abu Dhabi’s markets rising in the face of another closing day fall for Dubai. Perhaps we will see more Dubai landmarks being named after Abu-Dhabi’s al-Khalifa royal family?

AFP reported that in Bahrain staff fired during the unrest are now being re-hired. The authorities are clearly learning that if swathes of people from a small island kingdom are fired almost simultaneously, there is no one else other than the very same resources who are able to plug the gap. Bahrain’s anti-government protestors must be toasting yet another victory.

The Tehran Times reported that Oman are to get Iranian Gas in a recent agreement between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Sultanate of Oman. It seems Iran’s influence over Saudi’s neighbours continues to grow.