Category: Middle East

US Navy Fires Laser Weapon in Mideast Amid Drone Boat Threat

December 15, 2021
humanitarianMiddle EastRed SeaWorld
0 Comment

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—The U.S. Navy announced Wednesday it tested a laser weapon and destroyed a floating target in the Mideast, a system that could be used to counter bomb-laden drone boats deployed by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. The test Tuesday saw the USS Portland test-fire its Laser Weapon System Demonstrator at…

Read More

Sale of 50 F-35 Stealth Jets to United Arab Emirates Will Move Ahead

December 15, 2021
Abraham AccordsBusiness & EconomyCompanieseconomyExecutive BranchF-35 fighter jetsMiddle EastPoliticsUAE - United Arab EmiratesUSUS NewsWorld
0 Comment

The United States said that it is advancing on a $23 billion defense deal with the United Arab Emirates after the Arab state threatened to pull out following disagreements regarding issues concerning Chinese espionage in the country. The deal includes 50 top-of-the-range F-35 Lightning II stealth jets from Lockheed Martin valued at approximately $10.4 billion,…

Read More

Israel to Require COVID-19 Vaccine ‘Green Pass’ for Entry to Shopping Centers From Friday

December 15, 2021
CCP VirusCOVID-19IsraelMiddle EastVaccines & SafetyWorld
0 Comment

Israel is set to require visitors to shopping centers to show proof of vaccination, recovery from COVID-19, or a negative test result starting on Friday. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz decided on Tuesday that the new regulations will be put in place after 22 new cases of Omicron were identified in…

Read More

Pentagon: No Troops Disciplined Over US Airstrike in Afghanistan

December 14, 2021
AfghanistanMiddle EastUSUS NewsWorld
0 Comment

U.S. troops involved in the Aug. 29 airstrike of Afghanistan resulting in civilian casualties will not be facing disciplinary action, according to Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby in a Dec. 13 press briefing. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin “approved the recommendations” regarding “procedural changes” made by both U.S. Special Operations Command leader Gen. Richard Clarke and U.S. Central…

Read More

World Shares Mixed as Markets Await Word From Fed Meeting

December 14, 2021
Asia & PacificAustraliaBusiness & EconomyBusinesses in COVID-19CCP VirusChinaChina Business & EconomyCompanieseconomic policieseconomyEuropeFedGold & CommoditiesHK BusinessHong KonginflationInternationalInvestmentLocal NewsMarket WatchMarketsMedia & Big TechmeetingMiddle EastNew YorkNY NewsRegional-Local NewsSharesTexasUKUSUS NewsWorld
0 Comment

BANGKOK—Shares opened higher in Europe on Tuesday after Asian shares followed Wall Street lower as investors awaited fresh U.S. inflation data and the outcome of a meeting of the Federal Reserve. Benchmarks advanced in Paris, London, and Frankfurt, but fell in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Tokyo. The Labor Department’s Producer Price Index for November is…

Read More

US Won’t Discipline Troops Over Airstrike That Killed Afghan Civilians: Pentagon

December 14, 2021
Afghanistanairstrikedrone strikeJohn KirbyKabulMiddle EastPentagonUSUS NewsWorld
0 Comment

U.S. military personnel involved in the August drone strike in Kabul, Afghanistan, that killed 10 civilians will not be disciplined, defense officials said on Monday. John Kirby, chief Pentagon spokesman, said on Monday that based on the findings of an independent probe released last month, no recommendations were made for discipline. The review was endorsed…

Read More

Israeli PM ‘Very Optimistic’ Following Historic Meeting With UAE’s Crown Prince

December 13, 2021
InternationalIran nuclear dealIsraelMiddle EastUAE - United Arab EmiratesWorld
0 Comment

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is returning home “very optimistic” after meeting with Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed at his private palace in Abu Dhabi, according to Bennett’s office. It was the first time ever an Israeli premier held an official visit with a de facto ruler from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Bennett…

Read More

Satellite Images, Expert Suggest Iranian Space Launch Coming

December 13, 2021
IranMiddle Eastspace launchWorld
0 Comment

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates—Iran appears to be preparing for a space launch as negotiations continue in Vienna over its tattered nuclear deal with world powers, according to an expert and satellite images. The likely blast off at Iran’s Imam Khomeini Spaceport comes as Iranian state media has offered a list of upcoming planned satellite launches…

Read More

Oil Steady but Omicron Risks Weigh

December 13, 2021
Asia & PacificBusiness & EconomyBusinesses in COVID-19CCP VirusCompanieseconomic policieseconomyEuropeglobalGold & CommoditiesInternationalInvestmentLocal NewsMarket WatchMarketsMiddle EastOilOmicronRegional-Local NewsrisksTexasUKUSUS NewsVaccines & SafetyWorld
0 Comment

LONDON—Oil was steady on Monday, but new concerns about the Omicron coronavirus variant and doubts around the effectiveness of vaccines against it were weighing on prices. Brent was up 6 cents, or 0.1 percent, at $75.21 a barrel by 0947 GMT, and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) gained 9 cents, or 0.1 percent, to $71.76…

Read More

Stocks on Firm Ground as Markets Brace for Central Bank Loaded Week

December 13, 2021
Asia & PacificbankBusiness & EconomyBusinesses in COVID-19centralChinaChina Business & EconomyCompanieseconomic policieseconomyEuropeGold & CommoditiesinflationInternationalInvestmentMarket WatchMarketsMiddle EaststocksUKUSUS NewsWorld
0 Comment

LONDON—World stocks, oil prices, and the dollar firmed on Monday as a generally upbeat mood took hold of world markets ahead of a host of central bank meetings this week that includes the U.S. Federal Reserve. Equity markets across Europe opened higher, with the pan-region STOXX 600 index last up 0.35 percent, while U.S. equity…

Read More