Home next World next Middle East

Middle East

Embassies In Yemen Close As Thousands Protest Against Militia Rule

The US, France and Britain have shut down their embassies while Germany said that it will soon follow suit.

Stalled EU-GCC Free Trade Agreement Should Be Passed – UK’s Mandelson

The GCC and the European Union have remained in a stalemate regarding the agreement for several years.

United States Closes Its Embassy In Conflict-Hit Yemen

Last month, Houthi fighters, who had captured the capital in September, seized the presidential palace, driving the President to resign.

Rosneft’s Sechin Slams OPEC, Warns On Possible Oil Shortage

OPEC ministers and delegates have blamed non-OPEC producers such as Russia, Mexico and Kazakhstan, as well as U.S. shale oil production, for the oversupply in the market.

Confident Gulf Bond Market Shrugs Off S&P Downgrades

S&P cut its outlook for Saudi Arabia’s “AA-/A-1+” foreign and local currency credit ratings to negative from stable and lowered ratings of Bahrain and Oman.

UN’s Ban Ki-Moon Urges Arab Leaders To Tackle Radicalisation

The UN secretary general said that Arab countries could tackle radicalisation by promoting interfaith dialogue and being attentive to people’s aspirations.

S&P Cuts Ratings On Middle Eastern Oil Producing Countries

Standard & Poor’s lowered its sovereign credit ratings on Bahrain and Oman, while lowering its outlook on Saudi Arabia.

US Welcomes UAE Decision To Base Fighter Jets In Jordan

The UAE had earlier suspended flights as part of the U.S.-led coalition conducting air strikes against ISIL.

GCC Countries Are Not Food Insecure – Expert

High fiscal reserves in the GCC act as a strong buffer from global food price fluctuations, an expert said.

Egypt Sets Retrial Date For Jailed Al Jazeera Journalists -Lawyer

Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed were sentenced to seven and 10 years in jail respectively last year.

Burning Of Pilot Galvanized Anti-Islamic State Coalition -U.S. Official

Muslim clerics also condemned the burning to death of the pilot, Mouath al-Kasaesbeh, saying such a form of killing was considered despicable by Islam.

Arab Leaders Bemoan Lack Of Strategy, Weapons Against Jihadists

ISIL fighters have brought large areas in Syria and Iraq under their control.

Gulf Institutional Funds Favour Japan, Asia, Shun Europe – Pictet

Middle East investors have began to look east as Europe’s economy struggle due to repeated fears over sovereign debt levels and weak growth indicators.

Aujan Coca-Cola To Invest $500m In MENA

The company, which manufactures beverage brands such as Rani and Barbican, said that it achieved double-digit growth last year.

Jordan Says UAE Sending Jets To Support Raids On ISIL

The UAE suspended flights as part of the US-led coalition conducting air strikes against ISIL because of concerns about search and rescue capabilities.

Stock News: Stronger Oil May Support Gulf Markets

Brent crude jumped 2.2 per cent to $57.80 per barrel on Friday, posting its largest two-week gain in 17 years.

Gulf Countries, Opposition Say Houthi Takeover In Yemen A “Coup”

Yemen has been in political limbo since the president and prime minister resigned last month after the Houthis seized the presidential palace.

UAE Sees No Defeat Of ISIL Without Iraq’s Sunnis – Newspaper

The UAE’s decision to withdraw its planes raised fears that regional support for the coalition air campaign might be slipping.

Gulf Banks Help Underwrite Region’s Aviation Boom

Figures from Airbus show that 47 per cent of its aircraft deals in the ME in the first 11 months of 2014 were funded by local banks.

One Killed In Attack On KFC Restaurant North Of Cairo

Assailants on a motorcycle threw flammable materials and then opened fire at the restaurant, state news agency MENA said.

Middle East Carriers Record Strongest Air Cargo Growth Globally In 2014

The region saw an 11.3 per cent growth in air freight traffic during the month of December, IATA said.

Jordanian King Vows “Relentless” War On Islamic State’s Own Ground

Jordan hanged two Iraqi jihadists, one a woman, on Wednesday and vowed to intensify military action against ISIL.

Al Jazeera Journalist Greste Arrives Home In Australia

Greste was released on Sunday after 400 days in a Cairo jail and had been in Cyprus since.

Gulf States To Deposit $10bn In Egypt Before Conference

Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE gave Egypt more than $12 billion in aid after former President Mohamed Mursi was toppled in 2013.

Jordan Executes Two Iraqi Militants In Response To Pilot’s Death

ISIL fighters released a video on Tuesday showing Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasaesbeh being burnt alive in a cage.

ISIL Shows Burning Of Hostage, Jordan Vows “Earth-Shaking” Response

A Jordanian official said the authorities would swiftly execute several militants in retaliation.

Egypt Could Free Jailed Journalist Fahmy Within Hours – Al Jazeera

Fahmy’s colleague, Peter Greste, an Australian citizen, was released on Sunday.

Kalyan Jewellers To Invest Dhs400m In GCC This Year, Open 12 New Stores

The Indian jewellery retailer currently operates nine outlets in the UAE and three in Kuwait.

Al Jazeera Journalist Relieved To Be Free, Calls For Release Of Colleagues

Australian Peter Greste was released on Sunday after 400 days in a Cairo jail while his colleagues still remain in jail.

OPEC+meeting

OPEC Delegates Cautious Over Oil-Price Rebound

Some OPEC members say that prices are likely to remain high in the first half of this year.