Gulf in the News – February 17, 2014

Nuclear talks to focus on centrifuges, reactor: Iran

Source: Khaleej Times (Read full story)

An Iranian negotiator said nuclear talks with world powers this week would focus on advanced centrifuges and the unfinished Arak heavy water reactor, the official IRNA news agency reported on Sunday.


Kuwait to delay vote on Gulf security pact

Source: Kuwait Times (Read full story)

National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanem said yesterday that the Gulf security pact, which has become a focus of controversy in Kuwait in the past weeks, is not likely to be ratified by the Assembly this term and called on the government not to press for an immediate approval.

Ghanem told a press conference that a majority of MPs – both supporters and opponents of the pact – have demanded to delay its ratification until they have seen the constitutional, legal and political opinions before making their decisions.

GCC states to step up fight against graft

Source: The Peninsula (Read full story)

The GCC states yesterday agreed to step up efforts to jointly fight corruption, and decided to form an ad hoc committee to prepare a draft GCC agreement on combating corruption.

The participants agreed to develop a unified integrated system for exchange of experience between the anti-corruption bodies of the GCC countries and give their proposals on this issue to the GCC general secretariat.

Strong earnings lift DFM to a new high

Source: Khaleej Times (Read full story)

Driven by property developer Deyaar Development, Dubai’s benchmark DFM General Index rallied as much as 3.2 per cent in early trading to 4,227.62 points, its highest in five years, before shedding gains to 2.2 per cent to 4,188.98 points at the close.

Qatar infrastructure spending to touch QR87.4bn this year

Source: The Peninsula (Read full story)

“The Qatar’s projects market accelerated in 2013, overtaking the UAE in terms of contract awards midway through the year with QR44.43bn ($12.2bn) in new awards,” said Edmund O’ Sullivan, Chairman, MEED Events, organisers of Qatar Projects 2014, in a press statement yesterday.