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Sacking a coach less than a month before the Asian Cup because of defeat in the final of the Gulf Cup highlights the colossal expectations in Saudi Arabia when it comes to regional and continental footballing success.
Bahrain's main opposition movement, al-Wefaq, says its leader has been arrested after a day of questioning at the interior ministry. Sheikh Ali Salman was summoned for questioning about "violating certain aspects of law," the ministry said. His lawyer says he has been accused of "inciting hatred against the regime". Mr Salman joined thousands of Shia Muslims at a protest in the capital Manama on Friday, demanding the dismissal of government and parliament.
The King may be elderly and rooted in the tribal traditions of Saudi, but he is a pragmatic man. The muting of the clergy has allowed him to push through an increased number of micro-changes: more municipal elections; the first female minister; huge endowments to non-Islamic universities; and women’s participation in the Olympics. Though these incremental improvements may look cosmetic (they do not get to the heart of the patriarchal “guardianship” system, for example, under which women must have permission from a male relative to carry out many basic activities in public) they nonetheless carry deep symbolic meaning. Saudis discuss politics, a lot, and this symbolism is not lost on them. As a Saudi friend of mine pointed out, there are debates occurring now on Twitter that would have been unimaginable 10 years ago.
The 2014 nuclear negotiations marked one of the most contentious issues in Iran’s domestic politics and foreign affairs alike. The partial diplomatic headways; two failures to meet the extended nuclear deadlines, and the possibility of the historic comprehensive nuclear deal highlighted progress and setbacks with respect to the nuclear negotiations for both the Islamic Republic and the six world powers known as the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States).
“They’re going to keep spending reasonably firm but slow the pace of growth,” James Reeve, an economist at Samba Financial Group in London, said in response to e-mailed questions. The country’s rulers have invested a lot of political capital in major projects “and they are not about to pull them. Nor are they going to start cutting spending on salaries,” he said.
The reason behind the development of GCC-POL is to focus on two key threats: The internal present and future extremist threat in the GCC states, particularly from ISIS, al-Qaeda, and the Muslim Brotherhood, as well as state meddling in the GCC by neighboring powers, notably Iran and Turkey.
Saudi Arabia is playing a strategic game by refusing to back a cut in OPEC oil production, lowering international oil prices, according to Gulf-based economists. The price of oil continued to fall this week after the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecast weaker demand in 2015. Brent crude fell to below 63 US dollars per barrel on Friday, its lowest price since July 2009.
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit taking place in Doha, Qatar, is one of the most crucial in its 33-year history, coming as it does in the wake of unprecedented tension and upheaval in the region.
Under Abdullah, Saudi Arabia matured as a regional power and assumed new commitment, making it harder to revert to an era of backroom diplomacy, the export of piety and the soft power of petrodollars. What’s not yet clear is whether Salman will continue on that road or make subtle but significant changes.
The conversation that now shadows the release of “American Sniper,” which collected a record $105 million over the holiday weekend, has been no different. After days of nationwide screenings, which the Associated Press called an “unprecedented success,” the film was subject to widespread praise among conservatives for depicting an American soldier at his best and condemnation among some liberals who question the admitted pleasure Kyle took in killing and dehumanizing Iraqis.
