Hamas struggles to land its ‘victory’
©Reuters Some of the spoils of the latest war between Israel and the Islamist group Hamas are spread out on the concrete floor of the Gaza fish market: fresh, plump…
Iraq boosts gold reserves by 25 tonnes
Iraq has joined the growing list of countries buying gold for their official reserves, purchasing more than 25 tonnes of the precious metal in the market to beef up the…
Rial’s woes lead to rise in Iranian crime
©Getty Street robberies in Iran have risen in recent months, local people say, as US and European sanctions have taken their toll on the economy and purchasing power has fallen.…
Sanctions on Iran hit Afghan refugees
When Nasser, an Afghan labourer, illegally crossed the border to Iran to work last summer, he hoped to support his family and pay off his debts. But Nasser quickly realised…
Kuwait goes all out for foreign investors
Kuwait has introduced new corporate legislation as it tries to compete for foreign investment with its more successful regional peers, primarily the United Arab Emirates. Notorious in the region for…
‘Saudi America’ effect unlikely to dent oil prices
“Saudi America”, they are calling it: the boom in US oil production that on some forecasts will make the country a net exporter of crude by the end of the…
Syrian rebels over-run several oilfields
Syrian rebels have over-run several oilfields in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor in recent weeks, adding to pressure on a government struggling to meet its fuel needs as it…
Gulf shows signs of green revolution
©Bloomberg It is not the sort of thing you expect to see in the middle of oil-rich Abu Dhabi, but here in a sandy spot by the emirate’s airport is…
Sanctions take heavy toll on Iran
Iran is paying millions of dollars in higher costs for vital imports of agricultural commodities, including wheat, as the impact of the European and US oil sanctions spills over into…
Protesters maintain pressure on Morsi
©Reuters Further protests against sweeping new powers that the Islamist Egyptian president has awarded himself are planned for Friday following Tuesday’s demonstration where hundreds of thousands gathered in a mass…