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TALAL BIN ABDELAZIZ: Resignation; PRINCESS HAJIR BINT SAUD: Death

Alwaleed Bin Talal is launching a 24-hour news channel with the same talk of ‘press freedom’ that Al-Jazeera pioneered but with more potential political pitfalls than the Qatari-owned channel faced. The station will probably be based in Bahrain or Dubai, but Alwaleed is giving highest priority to building an audience in his national market

On 16 November, opposition-led demonstrators stormed the parliamentary building, calling for prime minister Nasser Mohammed Al- Ahmed Al-Sabah to resign. Their anger was directed at the recent corruption and bribery scandals that have rocked the government, and an October constitutional ruling preventing the opposition from grilling the prime minister over the illegal money transfers.

The much-anticipated Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry’s report into human rights abuses in the country since February contained few major surprises, but acknowledged systematic abuses and presented an important opportunity for change.

While the opposition has been undermined in parliament, the government confronts a continuing challenge on the streets.

It is not just Russian billionaires who have been fighting their business battles in UK courts. Saudi magnate Sheikh Mohammed Bin Issa Al-Jaber (MBI) has failed to get success in the latest round of his High Court battle with South Africa’s Standard Bank, which he accused of a conflict of interest when it recruited his personal adviser Salim Khoury while he was still employed by the tycoon.

The merger of Norway’s DNO International and Ras Al-Khaimah’s RAK Petroleum (RAK-P) remains on course despite a pair of shareholder rebellions apparently motivated by commercial and personal interests.

Crown Prince Sultan buried in Riyadh; TURKI BIN FAISAL: Washington speech; NAYEF BIN ABDELAZIZ: Hajj preparations

Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has met Russian foreign minister Sergie Lavrov, who was visiting the UAE to take part in the first Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC)-Russia ministerial meeting for strategic dialogue

A lengthy meeting between Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah and opposition MPs on 1 November focused on their concerns over the ability of the prime minister and government to run the country.

Al-Sultan scion maintains family’s hold on defence fief while the wider Sudeiri clan are confirmed as key players in the reshuffles following Prince Sultan’s death

Foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan led the UAE delegation to the G20 summit in Cannes

EMIR SHEIKH SABAH: Meets UK heir to the throne; JABER AL-MUBARAK: Denies troop increase plans

Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al-Said made an unusually forceful speech at the opening of the fifth session of the Council of Oman, addressing issues including corruption and free speech and emphasising that the country was not isolated from regional trends.

King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa has visited Egypt, holding talks with Field Marshal Mohamed Tantawi on ways to strengthen relations, the kingdom’s ambassador to Cairo confirmed to Al-Ahram newspaper on 5 November.