By Khalid Al-Jaber and Giorgio Cafiero, for LobeLog (*) Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain’s football associations recently announced that they would participate in the Arabian Gulf Cup football tournament, which begins tomorrow. As many experts have …
Read More »Arabian Peninsula
Iraq’s protests haven’t yet changed the system — but they’re transforming Iraqis’ belief in themselves
New survey data shows that demonstrators feel more important, and prouder to be Iraqi, than before ! By Munqith Dagher, for The Washington Post (*) Iraq’s recent demonstrations are among the bloodiest protests in its modern history. Nearly 500 Iraqis …
Read More »Saudi society is changing. Just take a look at these coffeehouses
As the government relaxes restrictions on men and women working and socializing together, coffeehouses are on the front lines of change. By Vivian Yee, for The New York Times (*) RIYADH, Saudi Arabia—For insight into these head-spinning times in Saudi …
Read More »What’s standing in the way of an Arab NATO?
By Agnes Helou, Journalist and writer, for Defense News (*) The so-called Arab NATO, a U.S.-led initiative, has the potential to address threats to the Gulf and the Middle East. So what is delaying the creation of such an alliance? An …
Read More »Why is Qatar leaving OPEC?
The decision to leave the oil cartel is aimed at reinforcing the country’s autonomy from its Persian Gulf neighbors. By Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, for The New York Times (*) The surprising declaration by Qatar about leaving OPEC on Jan. 1 …
Read More »Iraq needs regime change again
Musical chairs in the Iraqi parliament can no longer solve the country’s problems. By John Hannah, for the Foreign Policy (*) The United States faces an increasingly urgent set of first-order policy questions in Iraq. Spoiler alert: The answer is …
Read More »UN accuses Saudi Arabia of using terror laws to suppress free speech
Report also criticises kingdom for failing to carry out independent inquiries into its bombing raids in Yemen By: Patrick Wintour, Diplomatic editor at The Guardian (*) Saudi Arabia has been accused of using anti-terror laws to suppress free expression and …
Read More »Yemen aid not reaching intended recipients, say activists on ground
UN secretary general António Guterres tells humanitarian donors conference war-torn country is facing ‘a tragedy of immense proportions’ By: Saeed Kamali Dehghan and Karen McVeigh, for The Guardian (*) The UN has been promised half the amount requested for its …
Read More »Who in the GCC wants a union ?
Gulf Cooperation Council states consider transforming into a union to arm themselves against Iran’s increasing dominance and the growing instability in the Middle East. By: Giorgio Cafiero, for Al-Monitor (*) Citing “security problems, economic challenges and other serious issues confronted …
Read More »Saudi-Iran crisis, economic woes strain Oman’s neutrality
By Tom Finn and Fatma al-Arimi, for REUTERS (*) MUSCAT, Jan 9 Caught between two vast neighbours locked in a regional struggle, Oman has long been to the Middle East what neutral Switzerland is to global diplomacy. But now its …
Read More »