[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on the Arabian Peninsula and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Arabian Peninsula Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week's roundup to ap@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every week.]
Regional and International Relations
Can Iran change? Is Iran capable of changing its domestic and foreign policies, and what are the international implications?
Dubai tower blaze shows risks of common building material The Dubai tower that caught on fire on 1 January suffered from flawed aluminum-based building materials.
Oil price steadies after falling below $28 a barrel Oil prices have stabilized after falling below $28 per barrel, with Brent crude finishing at $28.16.
Iran nuclear deal: five effects of lifting sanctions The BBC discusses five effects that the lifting of sanctions will have on Iran.
Us imposes new Iran sanctions President Barack Obama has announced new sanctions on Iran intended to respond to Iranian efforts to obtain a ballistic missile system.
US Thanks Iran for releasing sailors The United States has thanked Iran for releasing ten US Navy sailors who had been recently taken into custody.
Iran sharply boots oil output Iran has sharply boosted its oil output in response to the lifting of international sanctions.
Drone strike kills three suspected militants in Yemen US officials say that three suspected al-Qaeda militants were killed in a drone strike in Yemen.
U.S. sends 10 Yemeni Guantanamo detainees to Oman Ten detainees from Guantanamo Bay have been released into the custody of Omani authorities.
As Iran hails a historic deal Saudi Arabia looks on with anxiety and irritation Saudi Arabia is dealing with the prospect of an Iranian nuclear agreement and attempting to reform its economy.
Saudi Aramco: The 10 trillion dollar mystery at the heart of the Gulf State Even as Saudi Aramco considers filing for an IPO of its state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco, little is known about the company itself.
Kuwait air halts New York flights over requirement to carry Israelis Kuwait Airways has announced that it will no longer offer service between New York and London’s Heathrow Airport due to a rule requiring it to carry Israelis.
Top-ranked Spieth, No. 3 McIlroy collide in Abu Dhabi Jordan Speith and Rory McIlroy are set to compete in a golf tournament in the United Arab Emirates.
Cabinet Minister's endorse Bahrain's reforms Six Bahraini ministers agreed that the government needed to increase revenues and reduce expenditures in response to financial challenges.
Reports and Opinions
No end in sight: Saudi Arabia's southern Adventure getting closer According to The Economist, Saudi Arabia’s military efforts in Yemen appear to be continuing unabated.
Advantage Iran in Lebanese political proxy battle with Saudi Arabia Iran has prevailed over Saudi Arabia in a proxy battle in Lebanon as Samir Geagea pulled out of the presidential race in favor of Michael Aoun.
Saudi royals 'are the best of the worst. Without them it would be like Yemen'The Guardian interviews people on the street to discuss their views of the Saudi ruling family and the country overall.
Oil price woes deepen as Iran vows to add 500,000 barrels a day Oil prices continued to fall as Iran is set to begin increasing its oil production by up to 500,000 barrels a day.
U.S. senator was told of link between Iran sanctions, prisoners Obama administration officials called Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R-TN) and asked him to delay criticizing Iran to ensure a the release of prisoners.
China's Xi opens refinery with Saudi King Salman Chinese President Xi Jinping opens a refinery in Riyadh along with Saudi King Salman.
Saudi Arabia's King Salman Marks Tumultuous First Year Saudi Arabia’s King Salman marks one year since taking the throne.
Crisis in Yemen
Saudi Arabia insists it is winning war against Houthi Rebels Saudi Arabia insists that it is prevailing in its war against Houthi rebels in Northern Yemen.
Yemen crisis: Deadly air strike on Sanaa police HQ The Saudi-led coalition has conducted an attack on the Sanaa police headquarters, killing at least twenty-five people including police officers.
Saudi-led strikes hit police buildings in Yemen's Sanaa, sources say Reports say that police facilities in the city of Sanaa have been hit by bombs fired by the Saudi-led coalition.
Car bomb in Yemeni port city kills four, injures others: witnesses A car bomb in the port city of Aden resulted in the deaths of at least four individuals and caused numerous other injuries.
Yemen's Houthis free detained minister to aid talks: U.N. envoy In an attempt to bolster talks about ending the conflict, the Yemeni Houthi rebels released a government minister who had been held in their custody.
Egypt extends participation in Yemeni conflict Egypt is increasing its role in the Yemeni conflict alongside its ally Saudi Arabia.
British and US military in Command room in Saudi Strikes in Yemen British and US military officers are reportedly involved in viewing lists of targets in Yemen although they are said to not have selected the targets themselves.
Yemeni peace talks postponed, UN Says The peace talks in Yemen have been postponed according to the United Nations.
Yemen: Houthis Endangered School for Blind Yemeni Houthi forces allegedly placed blind students at risk by basing their forces in a school in Northern Yemen.
Human Rights
Activist Fadhel Radhi Abbas in danger of extradition to Bahrain A prominent Bahraini activists risks extradition to Bahrain after his arrest in Argentina.
AGS Middle East Society Hosts Talk on Human Rights in Bahrain The AGS Middle East society has hosted a talk with several prominent critics of the Bahraini regime where they discussed the country’s human rights situation.
Bahrain Economy Struggles with Oil Price According to Human Rights First, Bahrain’s crackdown on opposition activists has turned out to be one of the causes of the country’s economic difficulties.
Bahrain: Free human rights defender Dr. Al-Singace Numerous NGOs who work on human rights violations have called for the release of Bahraini dissident Dr. al-Singace.