Swiss watchmakers sailed into a perfect storm this year. The industry, which generates more than $20 billion in exports, was buffeted from all sides — largely by circumstances largely beyond its control, but it’s increasingly clear that the decline will continue unless the industry changes the way it designs and markets its products. In January through June, the exports …

  Shigeki Sakamoto SPECIAL TO EMIRATES BUSINESS On January 22, 2013, the Philippines submitted its disputes with China over the Spratly Islands to arbitration under Annex VII of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Prior to this action, on August 25, 2006, China lodged a declaration with the Secretary-General of the United Nations stating that …

  Xue Gong SPECIAL TO EMIRATES BUSINESS On the first day of June, a central State-owned Enterprise (CSOE), Cindare Property, affiliated with the Ministry of Finance, placed a bid for the land in Gu Village of Shanghai at the price of 5.805 billion yuan. Its premium was over 303 percent, setting a record for the highest property deal and creating …