Putin's Syria strikes are a long-term play for higher oil prices | World news | The Guardian

Putin's Syria strikes are a long-term play for higher oil prices | World news | The Guardian:

"Russian airstrikes in Syria, the first launched by Moscow outside the former Soviet Union since 1979, have set the tone for what’s to come. The escalating attacks have mainly targeted moderate, western-backed rebels. Civilians have also been hit, while Russian jets have twice violated Turkish airspace.

These immediate transgressions have shown that Putin, as always, will go his own way in this war. He will draw on as much of his military strength as he needs to, he will use indiscriminate force, and he will bully and intimidate the west’s regional allies.

In short, Putin will stop at nothing in pursuit of his goals and the international community needs to understand exactly what those goals are. Putin’s game is bigger than many commentators currently realise."



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Investors deal with Fed’s dithering | FT Markets - YouTube

Investors deal with Fed’s dithering | FT Markets - YouTube: ""



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China's charm offensive - YouTube

China's charm offensive - YouTube: ""



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Kuwait’s economy is at an inflection point | GulfNews.com

Kuwait’s economy is at an inflection point | GulfNews.com:

"Kuwait’s economy is showing enough signs of resilience to cope with the plunge in oil prices since the second half of 2014. Newly releases stats suggest the possibility of posting a surplus of $11.5 billion in fiscal year 2014-15 (before the transfer to general reserves).

The figure represents 7.5 per cent of the gross domestic product, though down from an significant surpluses posted in the last five years. This, of course, reflects the drop in revenues by 22 per cent and the rise of expenditures by 13 per cent during the current fiscal year.

Notably, the authorities opted to increase the spending despite the lower oil revenues, which in turn says much about societal imperatives."



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Exclusive: U.S. warns governments, bankers Iran sanctions still in place | Reuters

Exclusive: U.S. warns governments, bankers Iran sanctions still in place | Reuters:

"The Obama administration has privately reminded foreign governments and U.S. bankers that sanctions against Iran remain in effect, cautioning against a rush by Western companies to invest in Iran's oil industry and other businesses until the country fully complies with the July nuclear agreement.

The U.S. State Department recently cabled a message, known as a demarche, to embassies around the world to reiterate that sanctions on Iran are still in place, diplomatic and government sources told Reuters on Friday.

The demarche stressed that sanctions on Iran would not be lifted until the International Atomic Energy Agency verifies that Tehran has complied with the terms of the deal."



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Qatar as a Revolutionary Model for the Middle East - Bloomberg Business

Qatar as a Revolutionary Model for the Middle East - Bloomberg Business: "Tom Barrack, founder and chairman at Colony Capital, talks about the example Qatar provides for the Middle East, the importance of this year's Nobel Peace Prize, and the problems associated with inequality and a lack of opportunity in the rest of the region. He speaks on "Bloomberg ‹GO›" (Source: Bloomberg)"



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