Trends - Middle East - Business Recorder

World

Facing Biden, Erdogan extends olive branch to EU

Analyst Toygur said she did not think any specific action could provide a "demonstration of goodwill" from Erodgan.

Published 17 Jan, 2021 10:26am

World

Israel announces the construction of additional housing in West Bank, days prior to Biden assuming office

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Benny Gantz are advancing the construction of 850 Jewish housing units in the West Bank, days before President-elect Biden takes office.
The Israeli Supreme Planning Council is expected to advance construction of the housing units, which are currently in varying stages of approval - but a date for the approval has yet to be confirmed.

Published 11 Jan, 2021 05:37pm

World

U.S. plans to designate Yemen's Houthi movement as foreign terror group

The United States plans to designate Yemen’s Houthi movement as a foreign terrorist organization,.
The Trump administration has been piling on sanctions related to Iran in recent weeks, prompting some Biden allies and outside analysts to conclude that Trump aides are seeking to make it harder for the incoming administration to re-engage with Iran.

Updated 11 Jan, 2021 02:24pm

World

Iran vows "decisive response" to any Israeli move against it

Iran said on Tuesday it would deliver a “decisive response” to any Israeli move against it, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would not allow Tehran to develop nuclear weapons.
On Monday, Iran said it resumed 20% uranium enrichment at a nuclear facility, a move that coincides with rising tensions with the United States in the last days of President Donald Trump’s term.

Published 06 Jan, 2021 09:31am

World

World Bank tips fragile recovery for MENA in 2021

Saudi Arabia will benefit from the resumption of public projects and the recovery of demand after a sharp rise in VAT, tipping a 2.0 percent expansion.

Published 05 Jan, 2021 09:40pm

World

President Trump personally ordered aircraft carrier to stay in the Middle East: Report

President Trump ordered Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller last week to keep the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the Middle East.
U.S officials were concerned that Iran could stage an attack on the one-year anniversary of General Qassem Soleimani.

Updated 05 Jan, 2021 05:29pm

World

Thousands march in Baghdad on anniversary of Soleimani assassination, pushing for withdrawal of U.S troops

On Saturday, a mock funeral procession was held in Baghdad, marking the first anniversary of the drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
Thousands of mourners joined the march on the highway leading to the Baghdad airport, the exact highway where the two key figures were assassinated.

Updated 04 Jan, 2021 11:49am

World

Iran's foreign minister says Trump trying to fabricate pretext to attack Iran

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday accused U.S. President Donald Trump of attempting to fabricate a pretext to attack Iran, and said Tehran would defend itself forcefully.
Separately, a military adviser to Iran’s supreme leader warned Trump “not to turn the New Year into mourning for Americans”.

Published 01 Jan, 2021 05:06pm

World

Tehran doesn’t seek war but will respond to any aggression, Iran FM says on US B-52 flights in Gulf

“Iran doesn't seek war but will openly and directly defend its people, security and vital interests,” says FM.
A pair of B-52 took off from a base in Louisiana and flew in the western portion of the Persian Gulf near Bahrain and Qatar.

Published 31 Dec, 2020 06:00pm

World

'Made in Israel' alcohol hits Dubai's liquor stores as thousands of Israelis flock to Emirate

Scores undeterred by Israel’s warnings about possible Iranian attacks in the region have celebrated weddings, and eight-day Jewish festival of Hanukkah with large gatherings banned back home
Data collected from travel agents revealed that at least 70,000 Israeli tourists arrived in Dubai on 15 nonstop daily flights in December

Published 31 Dec, 2020 04:44pm

World

US B-52 bombers fly to Middle East ahead of Iran’s Qasem Soleimani's death anniversary

A pair of B-52 took off from a base in Louisiana and flew in the western portion of the Persian Gulf near Bahrain and Qatar.
The mission took place a week after the Trump administration decided to withdraw some staff from its embassy in Iraq, where tension with Iranian-backed forces has persisted for months.

Updated 31 Dec, 2020 02:25pm

World

Convicted U.S spy greeted by Netanyahu as he arrives in Israel

On Wednesday, Jonathan Pollard, an American jailed in the United States since 1985 on charges of spying for Israel, landed in Israel where he was received by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel's raid on the Palestinian Liberation Organisation's Tunis headquarters in October 1985, that killed around 60 people, was planned through information from Pollard.

Updated 30 Dec, 2020 07:05pm

Pakistan

Boosting ties: High-level Saudi delegation to visit Pakistan next month

During the visit, the Saudi foreign minister will hold talks with President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Imran Khan and foreign minister
Officials from both sides with hold discussion on various issues, including establishment of a Saudi oil refinery in Pakistan

Published 29 Dec, 2020 12:10pm

World

Israeli jets bomb residential areas, children hospital in Gaza

On Saturday, Hamas, the political group that governs Gaza Strip, denounced Israel's overnight airstrikes as “barbaric.”
Hamas said that Israeli airstrikes damaged a Gaza children's hospital.

Updated 26 Dec, 2020 11:17pm

World

Iran says U.S. approved its funds transfer to buy COVID vaccines

Iran has won U.S. approval to transfer funds for coronavirus vaccines from overseas, the central bank chief said on Thursday, as its daily death toll fell to a three-month low.
Hemmati said Iran would pay around $244 million for initial imports of 16.8 million doses of vaccines from COVAX, a multi-agency group dedicated to assuring fair access to vaccines for low- and middle-income countries.

Published 25 Dec, 2020 07:05pm

World

Israel hopes for rapprochement with fifth Muslim country before Trump exit - minister

Israel is working towards formalising relations with a fifth Muslim country during U.S. President Donald Trump’s term, which ends next month.
The White House has brokered rapprochements between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco this year, with Morocco hosting an Israeli-U.S. delegation on Tuesday to flesh out the upgrade in relations.

Published 23 Dec, 2020 05:27pm

World

Israeli envoys fly to Morocco, aim to fortify U.S.-brokered ties

On Tuesday, Israel sent envoys to Morocco to meet its king and work on an upgrade of diplomatic ties, which were forged by the White House.
Ben-Shabbat and Kushner will see Morocco’s King Mohammed during a two-day trip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

Updated 22 Dec, 2020 07:34pm

World

Rockets fired at U.S. embassy land inside Baghdad's Green Zone, damaging compound

At least eight Katyusha rockets landed in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone in an attack targeting the U.S. Embassy, causing some minor damage on the compound on Sunday.
The U.S. Embassy condemned the attack and urged all Iraqi political and governmental leaders to take steps to prevent such attacks and to hold accountable those responsible.

Published 21 Dec, 2020 02:59pm

World

Charges in Beirut blast inquiry hit political pushback

Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah said on Friday charges brought against the prime minister and three former ministers over the Beirut port explosion smacked of “political targeting”.
The explosion, one of the biggest non-nuclear blasts on record, was caused by a massive quantity of ammonium nitrate stored unsafely at the port for years.

Published 11 Dec, 2020 05:35pm

World

Indian Army Chief Gen. Naravane to visit Saudi Arabia, UAE, indicating growing ties

Indian Army Chief Gen. M.M. Naravane will be travelling to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates next week, in an unprecedented move that can be seen as a reflection of the growing relationship between India and the Gulf States.

Updated 04 Dec, 2020 02:38pm

World

UAE eases Islamic laws for personal freedoms

Residents of the Gulf Arab state will also have the right to choose inheritance laws to be used in each case, instead of the UAE legislation based on sharia (Islamic religious law).

Published 07 Nov, 2020 08:05pm