Saturday 1 December 2012

Unusual Items: US Mint ‘Gold Disks’ Made for Oil Payments to Saudi Arabia | CoinWeek

One of the things we find most exciting about reporting on the numismatic marketplace is coming across those things we either didn’t know beforehand, or finding obscure and unusual numismatic items. Just recently we came across one such item, the Gold Disks produced by the US mint for ARAMCO oil payments to Saudi Arabia after World War II.

Below are excerpts from two different articles we located, one from 1981 and the other from 1991.

Business - Dubai’s medical sector to hit $10.9b by ’13

In a strong signal of Dubai’s fast-growing position as one of the world’s leading medical capitals, the sector in the emirate is projected to be worth $10.9 billion (Dh40 billion) by 2013.
The two major factors driving this growth are the increased investments by government and international investors, as well as Dubai’s emerging role as a leading destination for medical tourism. The substantial growth in investments is expected to yield a sharp rise in new medical institutions, research and medical education facilities.
As Dubai celebrates the UAE’s 41st National Day, this boom is in line with the vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE  and Ruler of Dubai, to make the emirate a leading destination for healthcare investments.

Zain Saudi seals Vodafone partnership deal

Zain Saudi Arabia, a leading operator of LTE/ 4G network in the Kingdom, has joined hands with Vodafone Global Enterprise (VGE), a key provider of business services to over 1,400 multinational companies around the world, to strengthen its business service portfolio.

Through this partnership, Zain Saudi will gain access to Vodafone’s cutting edge technology, telecom knowledge, global footprint, efficient roaming expertise and handset portfolio, said a senior official.

Zain Saudi has activated several services and aspects of the strategic partner market agreement the company has recently signed with Vodafone, the world's largest mobile telecommunications operator by revenue.

Don Tapscott on global governance - YouTube

Mixed performance for Bahrain in economic indexes | GulfNews.com

On 16th December, Bahrain celebrates national day amid mixed ranking of its economy in international indexes. Ranking is crucial for Bahrain, as the country struggles to overcome the socio-political challenge emerging in February 2011.
The article compares performance of Bahrain’s economy to fellow member states of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). To be sure,
Bahrain ranks ahead of GCC countries in several indexes in relation to economic freedom and information and communication technologies (ICT). Conversely, Bahrain’s economy lags behind in areas of competitiveness and credit rating.

OPEC member Qatar says to start embracing solar energy | Reuters

Qatar aims to raise the share of solar power in electricity generation to 16 percent by 2018, an official said on Saturday in a rare example of an OPEC nation embracing renewable energy.

Qatar, the world's top exporter of liquefied natural gas, has the world's highest per capita greenhouse gas emissions. Like other OPEC nations, it has been wary of a global shift to renewable energy, fearing it will hit demand for oil and gas.

"We are working on a project to develop 1,800 megawatts of solar power," said Fahad Bin Mohammed al-Attiya, chairman of the organisers of talks in Doha from Nov. 26-Dec. 7 among almost 200 nations on slowing global warming.

Saudi Stock Market close - December 1, 2012

General Index
Intraday  3 month  
 Daily Statistics
 Date01/12/2012
 General Index6688.18
 Change (%)2.37%
 Change155.04
 T. Volume196676576
 T. Companies 158
   Advanced146
   Declined5
   Unchanged2
   UnTraded5


Qatar permits rare protest for workers' rights - World Updates | The Star Online

Qatar permitted a rare protest for workers' rights on Saturday at a government-approved rally of about 300 activists demanding action to combat climate change.

Marchers, mostly foreigners attending the November 26-December 7 talks among 200 nations on slowing global warming, chanted "Arab leaders, time to lead" and "climate action now" as they marched along the waterfront past skyscrapers in central Doha.

One group at the rally called for greater freedoms for migrant workers, who make up about 94 percent of the workforce in Qatar, which is expecting a construction boom ahead of the 2022 World Cup football tournament it is to host.

Abu Dhabi's Taqa secures deal to search for oil in Iraq's northern oil-rich Kurdish region | CanadianBusiness.com

A state-controlled energy investment company in Abu Dhabi says it has secured a deal to search for oil in Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region.
Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., known as Taqa, says it signed an agreement with General Exploration Partners Inc., an affiliate of the Denver-based Aspects Holdings LLC., to buy its 53.2 per cent stake in the Atrush exploration deal.
Taqa Chief Executive Officer Carl Sheldon described the bloc as "highly prospective." It is located near Dahuk province, one of three provinces that make up the oil-rich Kurdish region in the country's north.