WASHINGTON — The United States has reached a deal to sell $3.48 billion worth of missiles and related technology to the United Arab Emirates, a close Mideast ally, as part of a massive buildup of defense technology among friendly Mideast nations near Iran. Pentagon spokesman George Little announced the Christmas Day sale on Friday night. Read full article > >

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US seals deal on $3.48 billion sale of missiles, technology to UAE, a close ally in Mideast

TEHRAN — Iran’s currency plunged against the U.S. dollar Tuesday, continuing a sharp drop exacerbated by jitters over tightening international sanctions and uncertainties about the domestic economy and regional trade. The plummeting value of the rial forced officials to backtrack on statements that Iran had cut trade relations with the United Arab Emirates, a major trading partner, for political reasons. Read full article > >

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Iranian currency drops amid jitters over regional trade

England name Monty Panesar and Ravi Bopara in a 16-man squad for the three-Test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

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England pick Panesar and Bopara

England name Monty Panesar and Ravi Bopara in a 16-man squad for the three-Test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

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England pick Panesar and Bopara

President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan flew to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for medical tests on Tuesday evening.

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World Briefing | Asia: Pakistan: President Travels to Dubai for Medical Tests

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a loosely united group of Arab nations recently came into the news amidst the so called “Arab Spring.” Made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates, the GCC was originally founded in 1981 by the al-Saud family of Saudi Arabia. The GCC originally concentrated on economic cooperation and security against external threats. Its current involvement in internal Arab politics has been called a counter-revolution, especially as Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia have seen crackdowns on demonstrators calling for democratic reform.

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Spotlight on the GCC: Counter-Revolution or Regional Cooperation?

Diego Maradona is set to be appointed as the new manager of United Arab Emirates club Al Wasl.

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Maradona agrees Dubai club deal

Erik Prince is back in business. The billionaire founder of mercenary group Blackwater Worldwide is helping set up a special forces battalion in the United Arab Emirates, where he resettled recently as his company faced mounting legal challenges in the…

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Blackwater Founder Training UAE Battalion

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Syrian officials told Al-Jazeera that one of the network’s journalists, a woman with extensive connections in the U.S. and Canada, was sent to Iran following her detention last month in Damascus, the pan-Arab broadcaster said Wednesday. Al-Jazeera, the Qatar-based network, urged Iranian authorities to provide details on Dorothy Parvaz, who went missing after leaving the Qatari capital of Doha on April 29 for Syria to report on the political turmoil there. Last week, Al-Jazeera said Syrian authorities confirmed the detention of Parvaz, who holds U.S., Iranian and Canadian citizenship. She works for the news network’s English-language channel. Read full article > >

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Al-Jazeera says detained reporter sent from Syria to Iran, appeals for release

French daredevil Alain Robert is taking on his biggest challenge yet: The infamous skyscraper-climber has begun to ascend the United Arab Emirates’ Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper at 2,717 feet. Before he began the climb, Robert said he…

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‘Spiderman’ Climbs the Burj Khalifa

The alliance won unusual practical support from an Arab country Friday when the United Arab Emirates said it would commit 12 aircraft to join patrols enforcing the no-fly zone.

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U.A.E. Commits Planes to Enforcing Libya No-Fly Zone

The foreign secretary will call for political change in the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, but will also seek stronger trade ties with the UK.

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Final day of Hague ‘reform tour’

Omani authorities say they have uncovered a spy network working for the United Arab Emirates, though the UAE denies any knowledge of it.

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Oman uncovers UAE ‘spy ring’

The charges against an American soldier who had been detained for more than two months in the United Arab Emirates have been dismissed, authorities said.

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U.S. soldier no longer charged in UAE

The Queen and Prince Philip have arrived in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates for a five-day visit to the Gulf.

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Queen arrives in the Gulf