Tourism Saudi Arabia to open airspace to all airlines, including from Israel Saudi Arabia said it would open its airspace to all air carriers, paving the way for more overflights to and from Israel, in a decision welcomed by US President Joe Biden who is due to visit the kingdom on Friday. The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said the country’s airspace was now open […] July 15, 2022
Biden Middle East Biden defends Saudi trip and will not avoid human rights talk US president Joe Biden said on Thursday he would not avoid talking about human rights when he visits Saudi Arabia on the second leg of his Middle East trip and stressed his position on the murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi was “absolutely” clear. Biden heads to the kingdom on Friday where he will seek to boost […] July 15, 2022
Biden Middle East Biden heads to Saudi Arabia amid tension over oil President Joe Biden will discuss energy supply, human rights, and security cooperation in Saudi Arabia on Friday on a trip designed to reset the US relationship with a country he once pledged to make a “pariah” on the world stage. Biden will hold meetings with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed […] July 15, 2022
Manufacturing US approves measure to restrict Biden plan to sell F-16s to Turkey The US House of Representatives on Thursday approved legislation that would create a new hurdle for President Joe Biden’s plan to sell F-16 fighter jets to Turkey. The House approved the measure, offered by Democratic Representatives Frank Pallone and Chris Pappas, as an amendment to the annual National Defense Authorization Act, by 244 to 179. […] July 15, 2022
Business of Sport PGA Tour probed for possible law break in fight against LIV Golf The US Justice Department is investigating whether the PGA Tour broke antitrust law in fighting off the rival LIV Golf circuit, backed by Saudi Arabia. The PGA Tour confirmed the probe, which was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. “This was not unexpected. We went through this in 1994 and we are confident in […] July 12, 2022
Banking and Finance One in five IMF staff say they were ‘unduly influenced’ Nearly 20 percent of International Monetary Fund staff say their work has been “unduly influenced” by supervisors, according to an internal survey released on Thursday as part of a review of data integrity standards that generally found “robust mechanisms” for institutional governance. The review was launched last year by the IMF’s Executive Board following allegations […] July 1, 2022
Energy Biden won’t push Saudi crown prince on oil U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday said he would see Saudi Arabia’s king and crown prince during a visit to the country next month but that the purpose of his trip was not to press them to increase oil output. Asked at a press conference in Spain if he would ask the Saudi leaders to […] July 1, 2022
Development Israel’s Knesset set to dissolve, triggering snap election Israel is heading for its fifth election in less than four years, plunging it deeper into political uncertainty as it grapples with rising living costs and renewed international efforts to revive a nuclear deal with Iran. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett moved last week to dissolve parliament after infighting made his ruling coalition no longer tenable. […] June 29, 2022
Lebanon’s Mikati named PM, urges action to secure IMF deal Lebanon’s Najib Mikati was named prime minister on Thursday, urging fractious politicians to set aside differences to secure an IMF deal which he said was the only chance to save the country from financial collapse. Facing a politically difficult path to agreeing on a new cabinet, the billionaire tycoon who led three previous governments said Lebanon […] June 24, 2022
Markets Kuwait crown prince dissolves parliament, calls for early election Kuwait’s crown prince on Wednesday dissolved parliament and called for an early election following a stand-off between the government and elected assembly that has hindered fiscal reform. Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah said in a televised speech that decrees would be issued for the dissolution of parliament, the Gulf region’s oldest and most lively, […] June 22, 2022
Saudi crown prince to meet Erdogan to help repair relations Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visits Turkey for the first time in years on Wednesday for talks with President Tayyip Erdogan aimed at fully normalising ties that were ruptured after the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In April, Erdogan went to Saudi Arabia after a months-long drive to mend relations between the regional […] June 22, 2022
Lifestyle Emmanuel Macron learns the art of compromise the hard way Jupiter has lost his thunder. Emmanuel Macron, whose first presidential mandate was marked by a top-down government style he compared to that of the almighty Roman god, will have to learn the art of consensus-building in the second. Deprived of an absolute majority by voters on Sunday, the French president can no longer count on […] June 20, 2022
Tunisian party will not accept terms of $4bn IMF loan One of Tunisia’s main political parties, the Constitutional Free Party, said on Sunday it would not recognise any agreement that Tunis makes with international lenders in exchange for unpopular reforms, the latest threat to a possible deal with the International Monetary Fund. The director of the Middle East at the IMF, Jihad Azour, will visit […] June 20, 2022
Top US Treasury official to visit Turkey for talks US Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo will visit Turkey next week and hold talks with top central bank and finance ministry officials, two sources said on Friday. One person, requesting anonymity because plans are still private, told Reuters that Adeyemo will meet both Finance Minister Nuredden Nebati and Central Bank Governor Sahap Kavcioglu. A central […] June 17, 2022
Tourism EU official concerned about Russia flying Western-made planes European’s top aviation safety regulator said on Tuesday that he is “very worried” about the safety of Western-made aircraft continuing to fly in Russia without access to spare parts and proper maintenance. The European Union and the United States have moved to restrict Russia’s access to spare parts following its invasion of Ukraine. “This is […] June 15, 2022
Manufacturing Biden’s new Air Force One faces delays over Boeing labour issues The next-generation presidential aircraft being built by Boeing Co risks further delay due to a tight labour market for mechanics and lower-than-expected security clearance rates, the investigative arm of Congress said on Wednesday. The need for Boeing to switch to an alternative supplier for some interior work was also cited in the report issued by […] June 9, 2022
Energy Biden should not shake MBS’ hand in Riyadh, says top Democrat President Joe Biden should not visit Saudi Arabia or meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the chairman of the US House intelligence committee said on Sunday. Rep. Adam Schiff was asked about reports that the president will travel to Riyadh in July and hold talks with the crown prince, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler – […] June 6, 2022
Markets China ‘firmly’ opposes US-Taiwan trade initiative China “firmly” opposes a new trade initiative between Taiwan and the United States, the Commerce Ministry said on Thursday, a plan the government in Taipei says is a recognition of the key position the island plays in global supply chains. The United States and Taiwan announced the US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade on Wednesday, […] June 2, 2022
Opinion Development The US must come to Lebanon’s aid The upcoming elections on May 15 present an opportunity for real change but this can only materialise with outside help May 9, 2022
