The contemplated union of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain forms only one part of a potentially much wider alliance -- the political, military and economic integration of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which comprise Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman.
Top Chinese and Israeli military officials met in Beijing earlier this week, signaling increased cooperation between the two nations, that formerly regarded each other tepidly.
Bombay Stock Exchange Sensex started on a negative note Friday and was trading in the red in the morning session.
GPEI warned that failure to eradicate polio could lead to as many as 200,000 paralyzed children a year across the globe.
Shares of Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ), the No. 1 computer maker, leaped as much as 7.4 percent Thursday after the company said Wednesday it would fire 27,000 people.