What the sites say: the best of the rest

Barclays bank bosses await vindication FT.com gives an interesting perspective on the $9bn (Dh33bn) Barclays share issue, which is supported by investors from Qatar and Japan. An article on June 25 details "sceptics' concerns on Barclays' balance sheet", which could have 'dire' consequences for the bank. "So far this year, Barclays has written off just £1.7bn (Dh12.2bn), a fraction of rivals' write-downs, prompting some investors to wonder whether the bank is being less transparent than peers," the article said, adding that this is an accusation that "exasperates Barclays executives". The battle of the bourses moves east As news broke about NYSE's Doha deal, international media focused on the 'profound implications' for Dubai and London. FT.com said that the "investment throws down the gauntlet to neighbouring Dubai, which has led the way in forging alliances with international exchanges." So, did LSE miss the boat in this battle of the bourses? Timesonline.co.uk thought so: "The London Stock Exchange (LSE) has lost out to its bitter rival NYSE Euronext in an effort to develop the stock exchange in the Gulf state of Qatar into a financial powerbase of the region." Architectural spin News of Dubai's new rotating 'Dynamic Tower' by architect David Fisher was picked up by more than 600 websites. The Guardian 's Jonathan Glancey reluctantly conceded that the design may just see the light of day. "Will the Dynamic Tower ever happen? Is Fisher's animated design all spin and no substance?" he wrote. "With enough money, there's no reason why it cannot work." Saudi Labour Minister's burger brief The 'Saudisation' drive took a new turn earlier this week, when it was reported that the Kingdom's labour minister worked for three hours in a fast-food restaurant in an effort to encourage Saudis to take jobs they think are beneath them. Reuters India ( in.reuters.com ) reported that Ghazi Algosaibi surprised "customers in a popular restaurant in the city of Jeddah by serving up hamburgers in overalls and a cap". Algosaibi's message? That "young people can realise their ambitions if they are persistent and work hard", apparently. Theme parks are Dubai's 'next big niche' The Wall Street Journal ( www.wsj.com ) reported that "Dubai is offering deals US companies can't resist" in the development of theme parks. General leisure projects valued at almost $350bn over the next 12 years will include "a ski resort... and a Jurassic world populated with more than 100 robotic dinosaurs". However, Christian Aaen of US consulting firm Economic Research Associates offered a warning, saying that Dubai "needs to expand its mid-level and budget market to attract a broader tourism base and in particular the family market".