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The division of responsibilities between Iran’s naval forces, outlined in a new report, will frustrate enemy attacks but not change the outcome of any future conflict with the United States

The successful second licensing round holds out the promise of huge financial inflows from energy revenues, enabling Iraq to finance its pressing economic and social demands. This could boost Nouri Al-Maliki’s election campaign but, in the short term, there are many political and security hurdles to overcome

The United States has launched a national security investigation into the proposed sale of a stake in Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic

Prime minister Sheikh Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah in early December agreed to answer questions in parliament over the alleged misuse of funds. He is the first premier to agree to be called to account before the National Assembly – earlier attempts resulted in the resignation of the cabinet and new elections (GSN 826/1).

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Yemen’s little-noticed southern unrest has finally gained some serious recognition with the 15 December publication of a Human Rights Watch report into the brutal reaction of state security services to the mostly peaceful southern protests. The report – In the Name of Unity: The Yemeni Government’s Brutal Response to Southern Movement Protests – documents the heavy-handed suppression of the Southern Movement (Al-Thawra Al-Janoubi) coalition.

The latest round has encouraged optimists and confounded those who predicted another flop. If IOCs are able to meet their commitments, Iraq will emerge as the number two OPEC exporter

Many critical questions remain to be answered as the Dubai crisis unfolds

With probably only a few weeks left before the start of a general election campaign, authority is draining away from the Iraqi administration, which still has a great deal of business to do, including the election law, recently vetoed by vice-president Tariq Al-Hashemi

Most investors refused to question starry-eyed statements about Dubai’s mega-investments or assumptions that oil-rich Abu Dhabi would step in if the emirate’s bold investment strategy foundered. The crisis shows that Gulf leaders can no longer shirk their public responsibilities in a globalised economy – and leaves difficult questions to be answered about other firms’ finances and the impact of likely further shifts in the UAE balance of power

The financial crisis is likely to provide a bonanza for accountants, lawyers and other professional services companies, and several groups of creditors have begun to organise. The Financial Times reported that one group includes HSBC, Standard Chartered, Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds and local banks, who have formed a steering committee and were preparing to meet Dubai World representatives.

Economic as well as political problems are adding to fears that Yemen is sliding towards state failure. The Kingdom’s military acceleration along the border in November illustrates the considerable force with which Saudi Arabia is prepared to intervene in its neighbour’s affairs

Foreign journalists seem unable to mention the phrase ‘Qatari foreign policy’ without including the adjective ‘maverick’. But there is much more to the peninsula’s unusually prominent role in international relations than mere game-playing. Qatari international relations have long included backchannel diplomacy and high-profile conflict resolution, allowing Doha to become a key regional actor.

Figures are starting to emerge for the extent of creditors' exposure to Dubai and its government-related entities. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that European banks have some $83.7bn-worth of UAE exposure, including UK-based banks with $49.5bn, French banks with $11.3bn, German with $10.2bn, Dutch

Omani ministers have been talking up the relationship with Iran, whose importance was underlined by the visit to Tehran this summer of Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al-Saeed. As well as acting as a mediator between the embattled Islamic Republic and its critics, notably the United States and United Kingdom, Oman has a number of national interests in developing ties with Iran, including in the energy sector.