Oman said Tuesday it was “temporarily suspending” all flights by Boeing 737 MAX aircraft in the sultanate following the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines jetliner, becoming the first nation on the Arabian Peninsula to ground the planes.
{FD} Qatar will pull out of OPEC amid tension with Saudi Arabia
The tiny, energy-rich Arab nation of Qatar announced on Monday it will withdraw from OPEC in January, mixing its aspirations to increase production outside of the cartel’s constraints with the politics of slighting the Saudi-dominated group amid the ki… Continue reading →
{FD} UAE pardons British academic convicted of spying
The United Arab Emirates on Monday pardoned a British academic sentenced to life in prison for spying in the Gulf Arab country, showing videos of him purportedly acknowledging the he worked for MI-6, the British intelligence. Continue reading →
{FD} Saudi-led coalition in Yemen requests end to US refueling
The Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said early Saturday it had “requested cessation of inflight refueling” by the U.S. for its fighter jets after American officials said they would stop the operations amid growing anger over civilian casualties f… Continue reading →
{FD} AP Analysis: Saudi prince likely to survive worst crisis yet
The killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul is unlikely to halt Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s rise to power, but could cause irreparable harm to relations with Western governments and businesses, potentia… Continue reading →
{FD} AP Explains: What’s known about Saudi writer’s disappearance
Veteran Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappeared almost two weeks ago while on a visit to the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, sparking an international uproar involving the kingdom, Turkey and the United States that remains unresolved. Continue reading →
{FD} Saudis say will respond to threats about missing writer
Saudi Arabia has threatened to retaliate for any sanctions imposed against it after President Donald Trump said the oil-rich kingdom deserves “severe punishment” if it is responsible for the disappearance and suspected murder of Washington Post contrib… Continue reading →
{FD} Pressured over missing writer, Saudi Arabia lashes out
Saudi Arabia has threatened to retaliate for any sanctions imposed against it after President Donald Trump said the oil-rich kingdom deserves “severe punishment” if it is responsible for the disappearance and suspected murder of Washington Post contrib… Continue reading →
{FD} Iran’s politicians under pressure, 40 years after revolution
Hard-liners batter President Hassan Rouhani over his faltering nuclear deal, sending his popularity plummeting. Continue reading →
{FD} Leaders of Ethiopia, Eritrea to sign accord in Saudi Arabia
The leaders of Ethiopia and Eritrea were in Saudi Arabia on Sunday ahead of a meeting described as the signing of a peace accord between the two East African nations. Continue reading →
{FD} AP Interview: Adviser says Iran failed detained US resident
A top adviser to Iran’s president on human rights said that the government “failed” to help a U.S. permanent resident imprisoned over spying allegations that she herself invited to the country for a summit. Continue reading →
{FD} Unease, anger in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar, Iran’s beating heart
Just one shop among the thousands in Tehran’s sprawling Grand Bazaar can offer a tableau of the darkening mood descending across Iran as American sanctions again take hold. Continue reading →
{FD} Iran looks warily to China for help as US sanctions resume
It’s hard not to see China wherever you look in Iran. Continue reading →
{FD} Fears rise, goods like diapers vanish in Iran currency crash
Iran’s rial fell to a record low on Wednesday as worried residents of Tehran lined up outside beleaguered moneychangers, part of a staggering 140-percent drop in the currency’s value since America pulled out of the nuclear deal only four months ago. Continue reading →
{FD} AP Analysis: Yemen rebel threats to Dubai show danger looms
A false claim by Yemen’s Houthi rebels of an attack on the world’s busiest airport for international travel this week may have been quickly disproven by authorities in Dubai. Continue reading →
{FD} US military video purports to show arms smuggling off Yemen
A U.S. military video released early Friday purported to show small ships in the Gulf of Aden smuggling weapons amid the ongoing war in Yemen, with officials saying they seized over 1,000 arms from the vessels. Continue reading →
{FD} UN panel calls on Bahrain to release activist Nabeel Rajab
A special United Nations panel is urging Bahrain to immediately release imprisoned activist Nabeel Rajab, describing him as the victim of government-sponsored “persecution” for his political views in the island kingdom. Continue reading →
{FD} UAE responds to AP report on deals with al-Qaida in Yemen
The United Arab Emirates on Monday said it was actively fighting al-Qaida’s branch in Yemen after an Associated Press report outlined how Emirati forces cut secret deals with the militants to get them to abandon territory. Continue reading →
{FD} Videos show gunfire amid Iran protests over water scarcity
Online videos appear to show Iranian security forces shooting at protesters early Sunday amid demonstrations over water scarcity in the country’s south, though authorities said only one person was wounded in the clashes. Continue reading →
{FD} UAE offers its defense in Qatar lawsuit at UN high court
The United Arab Emirates on Thursday disputed Qatar’s discrimination lawsuit before the United Nations’ highest court, alleging there was evidence of Doha’s “support of terrorism, its interference in the affairs of its neighbors and its distribution of… Continue reading →
