Government and policy

Government news and analysis, commentary and economic data.

Special Report

UAE

UAE Special Report: Ownership law to boost capital markets Subscription Required

Issue 4 27 January-2 February 2012

The approval of a new companies law by the UAE parliament in December is a major step towards what could potentially be the biggest shake-up in the country’s corporate history

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    News

    Oman releases three Sohar activists Subscription Required

    2 February 2012, 13:00 GMT | By Verity Ratcliffe

    Activists imprisoned for six months for taking part in unrest

    Arab League withdraws observers from Syria Subscription Required

    2 February 2012, 12:34 GMT | By Andrew Roscoe

    Observers had been in Syria since 26 December 2011

    Militia groups battle in Tripoli Subscription Required

    2 February 2012, 10:38 GMT | By Andrew Roscoe

    Militias from Misrata and Zintan fight in Libyan capital

    UN-backed court to try Hezebollah members for Hariri killing Subscription Required

    2 February 2012, 10:15 GMT | By Matthew Martin

    Members of the Shia political group will be tried in absentia

    IMF to seek Saudi cash for European bailout fund Subscription Required

    2 February 2012, 9:48 GMT | By Matthew Martin

    IMF chief Christine Lagarde to visit Riyadh on 4 February

    Football riot leaves 74 dead in Egypt Subscription Required

    2 February 2012, 9:24 GMT | By Verity Ratcliffe

    Supreme Council of the Armed Forces announces three-day mourning

    Iraqiya-bloc ends parliamentary boycott Subscription Required

    2 February 2012, 9:23 GMT | By Triska Hamid

    Political uncertainty still plagues Iraq

    Iraq proposes increased draft budget for 2012 Subscription Required

    2 February 2012, 7:52 GMT | By Adal Mirza

    Draft budget now at $115bn instead of the $100bn proposed in December

    Business waits on Kuwait elections Subscription Required

    2 February 2012, 5:55 GMT | By Adal Mirza

    Questions raised over whether new Kuwaiti government will end political impasse

    Iran committed to resolving nuclear issues Subscription Required

    2 February 2012, 5:55 GMT | By Suzanne Fenton

    IAEA planning second trip in February

    Analysis

    On guard: Egypt headed to the polls at the end of November for an election clouded by violence

    The Islamist economic model Subscription Required

    Issue 49 9-15 December 2011 | By Triska Hamid

    A clear view of the economic policies of the Islamist parties that are coming to power has still to emerge

    Business slumps amid Syria unrest Subscription Required

    Issue 5 3-9 February 2012 | By Triska Hamid

    Escalating violence in Syria and the economic impact of tougher international sanctions are beginning to take their toll on small and medium-sized firms

    Regime change: Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad addresses a UN Security Council meeting on Syria

    An assertive Arab League Subscription Required

    Issue 5 3-9 February 2012 | By Adal Mirza

    Efforts to lead the agenda on Syria are made more complicated by the disparate opposition

    Islamists win landslide victory Subscription Required

    Issue 4 27 January-2 February 2012 | By Verity Ratcliffe

    Solving Egypt’s economic woes and reassuring investors will be top priority for the country’s newly elected members of parliament over the coming months

    Chokepoint: Iran has threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for global oil exports

    Bypassing the Strait of Hormuz Subscription Required

    Issue 3 20-26 January 2012 | By Adal Mirza

    Any closure of the strategic oil transit route will hurt Iran, the Gulf and the rest of the world

    Syria

    Supporting the Syrian regime Subscription Required

    Issue 3 20-26 January 2012 | By James Gavin

    The Kremlin, a close ally of Damascus since the Soviet-era, has doggedly resisted Western attempts to impose meaningful sanctions on Syria by the UN

    Sir Nigel Rodley, commissioner, Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry

    Interview: Sir Nigel Rodley, Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry Subscription Required

    Issue 2 13-19 January 2012 | By Peter Salisbury

    The inquiry commissioner was disturbed by the human rights violations in Bahrain last year, but applauds the decision to initiate an investigation into what happened

    Tunisia governance Subscription Required

    Issue 2 13-19 January 2012

    Six key figures in Tunisia’s new coalition government: Moncef Marzouki, Hamadi Jebali, Rafik Abdessalem, Noureddine Bhiri, Elyes Fakhfakh and Mustapha Ben Jaafar

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