Mikkal Herberg, a former oil executive, told the wire service that Iran today offers rates of return of between 6-10 percent to foreign investors.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Bankrupting Iran is not enough

While this may have been good news for Nepal, Indian industry claims the market was flooded with exports of hydrogenated vegetable oil, acrylic yarns, iron pipes, copper wire and zinc oxide, which India claims has hurt its market.

BBC: India, Nepal prepare for trade talks

Much of that growth will take place in booming China, where robust demand is expected to keep up prices of oil and other commodities like copper which is a major component of, for example, electrical wire.

ECONOMIST: The bugs are back | The

Mideast conflicts went on the wire, naturally, but so did earthquakes in Paramaribo, Surinam, since that mattered to shipping or oil pipelines.

FORBES: The Future Is Not What It Used To Be