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Gulf Finance House, the investment bank, and Kazakhstan have unveiled plans for an ambitious energy hub and vocational training and education complex in western Kazakhstan that could entail invesment of US$10 billion or more. The port of Aktau will be the chosen centre from where a wide range of infrastructural development projects will radiate with the aim of economic vitalisation in the region and putting Kazakhstan's energy industries on the global map. More...

Arab Middle East spotlighted at the London Book Fair | More...

Academic summit decries Iraq political management

A panel of international political science professors that convened in Swansea Allied occupation forces at Iraq central Bank, Baghdad at the 58th annual conference of the Political Studies Association (PSA) decried political management of Iraq under allied occupation and warned of the rise of Iranian neoconservatives as a direct consequence of British and American foreign policy. More...

Analysis & Comment

> The Politics of Fear : US elections and the 'War on Teror' | Read article...

> Regime change: The evolving relations between the US and Sarkozy's France ... Read article

> Has the War on Terror become the Cold War of the 21st century? | Read article...

> Can industry substantially save energy and reduce CO2 emissions? | Claude Mandil (IEA) | Read article ...

> The GCC: An insurer's perspective | Lord Levene | Read article ...

GCC liquidity flexes muscle

GCC funds are expected to play a greater role in global economic activity during 2008, particularly mergers and acquisitions and rescue of troubled companies in the West and elsewhere, according to analysis by The Middle East in Europe editors, based on exclusive private interviews with senior experts. Together with China playing the field with its huge foreign reserves, the GCC funds are seen as potential catalysts for key shifts in both economic and political power.

Tony Blair joins JP Morgan

JPMorgan Chase announced it has appointed former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in a senior advisory capacity to the firm, effective immediately. Blair will also join the company's International Council. It was not immediately clear where that will leave Blair the special Blair pictured in a meeting with Muslim women while prime minister Quartet envoy to the Middle East. Blair (pictured in a meeting with Muslim women while prime minister) left No 10 Downing Street in June last year. JP Morgan said Blair will advise JPMorgan Chase's CEO and senior management team on a part-time basis. The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) said It was not known how much JP Morgan will pay him, but quoted estimates of "more than $1m (GBP 500,000) a year."

Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- Tiara Hotels & Resorts has staged a dramatic appearance on the exclusive but expanding luxury hospitality scene, with announced plans to open a number of exceptionally classy hotels and resorts in the Middle East and beyond Tiara makes star appearance on luxury scene . The luxury hospitality industry in the MENA region has grown dramatically in the past five years, partly due to a noticeable increase in the number of high net worth families, partly because of the rise of a new upper middle class and, most significantly, in response to a historic shift in high-net-worth tourism away from the West, in the aftermath of 9/11, to the MENA region itself and further afield to East and Southeast Asia. Read more

Brown sees business priorities for a 'Global Europe'

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said businesses had the opportunity to set priorities to realise the aim of a 'global Europe.' Speaking to an audience of senior business leaders in London Brown said the completion of the Lisbon treaty means there is now an opportunity to move on to address the challenges that matter most to Europe's citizens: stability, growth, competitiveness and jobs. He cited the priorities for Europe in the coming years; the potential for European countries to work together with a renewed common purpose to succeed in the decades ahead; and "the reforms we need to put in place to ensure Europe remains a leader and a success story in the new global order." Brown said the European Union is key to the success of business in the UK and in some ways the UK can be a significant lever for business success across Europe.