INTERNATIONAL. Something extraordinary, albeit not unexpected, is happening in the Persian Gulf region. The United States, lacking a coherent strategy to deal with Iran and too distracted to develop one, is struggling to navigate Iraq’s fractious political landscape in search of a deal that would allow Washington to keep a meaningful military presence in the country beyond the end-of-2011 deadline stipulated by the current Status of Forces Agreement.
At the same time, Saudi Arabia, dubious of U.S. capabilities and intentions toward Iran, appears to be inching reluctantly toward an accommod
IRAN. A heavyweight until eight years ago when Ahmadinejad beat him in the 2005 presidential election, Rafsanjani has lost much of his political stock in recent years.
INTERNATIONAL. The discussions on Syria come as Barack Obama is under increasing pressure from some U.S. lawmakers to do more to bring down Bashar al-Assad.
INTERNATIONAL. "Israel is taking a calculated risk that Assad, Iran and Hezbollah are right now fighting a war against the Syrian rebels and probably don't want to open up a second front."
INTERNATIONAL. The United States, with its European allies, does not have the force needed to end Syria's bloodshed. If it tried, it would merely be held responsible for the bloodshed without achieving any strategic goal.
INTERNATIONAL. "No shred of evidence regarding those who've been arrested and stand accused has been provided," Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said.
INTERNATIONAL. Saudi Arabia "seems poised to ramp up" production further to meet seasonal demand, after restoring output to a four-month high of 9.3 million barrels a day in March, an increase of 50,000 a day from February.
SAUDI ARABIA. "These elements had regularly received sums of money in return for information and documents on important installations during the spy operation in the interest of these services."
UAE. Two-way trade between Dubai and Iran was roughly 25 billion dirhams (US$6.8 billion) in 2012, a drop of about 31% from 36 billion dirhams in the previous year.
IRAQ. US Secretary of State John Kerry pressed Iraq to stop allowing Iranian flights apparently carrying military equipment through its airspace headed to Syria.
SAUDI ARABIA. Interior Minister spokesman told state television it was "an espionage case" and that the suspects had been "involved in a spying cell for a state".
INTERNATIONAL. After a "verbal warning" from the U.S., the Iranian F-4 jet that came within 16 miles of the unmanned plane broke off, according to a Pentagon statement.
INTERNATIONAL. Visitors to the largest broadband event in the Middle East and Africa will gain insight into how emerging markets are progressing despite challenging circumstances.
UAE. HSBC's Dubai-based Middle East unit will stop personal-banking services to some customers with links to countries subject to European Union and U.S. sanctions.
INTERNATIONAL. A currency war is different from any other kind of conventional war in that the object is to kill oneself. The nation that succeeds in inflicting the most damage on its own citizens wins the war. The only real way to win is not to play.
UAE. Stock market indices racing ahead but GDP figures do not support the euphoria and commodity outflows fuel the rally; Is there too much liquidity in the banking system?
UAE. While new orders continued to rise sharply, the rate of increase eased to the slowest in a year. Meanwhile, employment levels rose at the fastest pace in two years.
UAE. "There is a substantial amount of debt that is coming due in the next few years, and it will be important to manage pro-actively that process. Information and communication with potential market participants will be a key part of this."
JORDAN. The influx of refugees is affecting the livelihoods of Jordan's host communities and access to public services and basic commodities is under pressure.
UAE. Over fifty marketing professors and professionals gathered at the University of Strathclyde Business School's Dubai campus for an enlightening exchange of ideas.
INTERNATIONAL. Nothing new is coming online anytime soon and movement on developing renewable energy resources has been sadly inadequate. The idea that shale reservoirs will lead the US to energy independence will soon enough be recognized as unrealistic hype.
UAE. "There is a substantial amount of debt that is coming due in the next few years, and it will be important to manage pro-actively that process. Information and communication with potential market participants will be a key part of this."
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