Category: Middle East

Ghana swears in Akufo-Addo as president

Ghana’s President elect Nana Akufo-Addo takes the oath of office during the swearing-in ceremony lead by Ghana Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood at Independence Square in Accra, Ghana January 7, 2017. Ghana’s President elect Nana Akufo-Addo takes the oath of office during the swearing-in ceremony lead by Ghana Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood at Independence Square in Accra, Ghana January 7, 2017.

Taking gifts from ‘sugar daddy’ is corruption, Yachimovich says of PM

Politicians criticize Netanyahu’s conduct following probe into Israeli leader’s alleged acceptance of hundreds of thousands of shekels worth of cigars from businessman Arnon Milchan Zionist Union MK Shelly Yachimovich criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Saturday for taking gifts from a “sugar daddy,” following reports that the Israeli leader had been questioned by the police for allegedly accepting expensive cigars for years from Hollywood producer and businessman Arnon Milchan, as well as more goods from a second businessman. “The Prime Minister had a sugar daddy for expensive products, it is corruption for its own sake, so it seems,” Yachimovich said at an event in Tel Aviv, according to Israel Radio.

Turkey dismisses more civil servants in post-coup purge

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan addresses a rally in Sanliurfa, Turkey, Friday, Jan. 6, 2017. Turkey’s justice minister Bekir Bozdag says police have detained 18 people in connection with a foiled attack at courthouse in the western city of Izmir that nevertheless killed a policeman and a courthouse employee.

Jordan warns of – catastrophic repercussions’ should the US move its embassy to occupied Jerusalem

Trump promised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that he would recognize Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel’s undivided capital if he emerged triumphant in the US presidential election. Information Minister Mohammed Momani told The Associated Press on Thursday that such a move would be a “red line” for Jordan and would ” inflame the Islamic and Arab streets .”

Russia says it is scaling back its Syria military presence

Russia said Friday it is withdrawing its aircraft carrier and other warships from the waters off Syria, following orders from President Vladimir Putin to scale back his forces as he casts himself as a peacemaker for the Middle Eastern country. of the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad, bolstering his forces with long-range missile attacks and precise airstrikes, military advisers and a beefed-up naval base on the Mediterranean coast.

Tightened security as Israeli parliamentarian draws threats

Israel’s parliament speaker has ordered security beefed up for a Knesset member who came under threats after he said a soldier who killed a wounded Palestinian assailant shouldn’t be pardoned. Yuli Edelstein said Friday he made the decision after “escalated threats” against Erel Margalit, an opposition lawmaker of the Zionist Union party.

French grocery store labels Israeli products as ‘settlement produce’

The first French supermarket has labeled Israeli products as “Made in Israeli Settlements.” This comes after the French Government instituted a policy of labeling Israeli produce grown in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights as “settlement products” two months ago The incident is known to the Israeli Embassy in France, who then turned to French Jewish organizations to ask the chain to take down the offending signs.

Transport and logistics at a turning point

The future holds more and more goods to be transported, and upgrading its logistics and transport infrastructure Azerbaijan seeks to take advantage of this. The expansion of regional transport routes also increases the country’s attractiveness for investors in terms of ease of delivery processes.

Obama calls for smooth transition

President Barack Obama called for a smooth handover of control of the U.S. military to incoming commander in chief Donald Trump, as the outgoing president met Wednesday with military leaders for the last time. “We’ve got to make sure that during this transition period that there is a seamless passing of the baton, that there’s continuity,” Obama said.

Why Indonesian general Gatot Nurmantyo halted military ties with Australia

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Turkey says truce violations put Syria talks in jeopardy

Turkey warned on Wednesday that repeated cease-fire violations by Syrian government forces threaten to derail peace talks scheduled for later this month. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said the talks in Kazakhstan, due Jan. 23, are to be preceded by preparatory meetings between Turkish and Russian experts in Turkey.

Dylann Roof’s journal: ‘I have not shed a tear’ for the 9 slain black parishioners

Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer View text version of this page Help using this website – Accessibility statement Join today and you can easily save your favourite articles, join in the conversation and comment, plus select which news your want direct to your inbox. Charleston, SC: In his own words, convicted mass killer Dylann Roof showed he has no remorse for shooting nine black parishioners during a Bible study in a historic church, the prosecution showed jurors who will decide if Roof lives or dies.

American Military Advisers Have Entered Mosul at Times, US Official Says

Since the start of the Iraqi offensive to retake Mosul in mid-October, U.S. officials have not confirmed whether American advisers would operate in the city accompanying Iraqi forces while remaining behind the front lines. “They have been in the city at different times, yes,” said Colonel John Dorrian, the U.S. military spokesman for Operation Inherent Resolve, in response to a question about whether American military advisers have entered Mosul as part of the Iraqi offensive.

Trump Nominates Jay Clayton as Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman

“Jay Clayton is a highly talented expert on many aspects of financial and regulatory law, and he will ensure our financial institutions can thrive and create jobs while playing by the rules at the same time,” Trump said in a statement released by his transition team. “We need to undo many regulations which have stifled investment in American businesses, and restore oversight of the financial industry in a way that does not harm American workers.”

Non-OPEC Voluntary Cuts Unraveling Before They Even Start

With much fanfare, OPEC held a press conference on December 10th at its headquarters in Vienna to announce that an agreement had been made with various non-OPEC producers: Azerbaijan, Kingdom of Bahrain, Brunei Darussalam, Equatorial Guinea, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Sultanate of Oman, the Russian Federation, Republic of Sudan, and Republic of South Sudan commit to reduce their respective oil production, voluntarily or through managed decline, in accordance with an accelerated schedule. The combined reduction target was agreed at 558,000 barrels a day for the aforementioned producers.”

Turkey identifies club gunman; Erdogan speaks to nation

Turkey has identified the gunman in the Istanbul nightclub massacre, the foreign minister said Wednesday, as the president vowed that the country won’t surrender to terrorists or become divided. The gunman, who killed 39 people during New Year’s celebrations at the Reina club, is still at large.

Turkey PM heading to Iraq to ease tensions

Turkish Prime Minister and the leader of Turkey’s ruling party, Justice and Development Party (AK Party) Binali Yildirim, gives a speech during the AK Party’s group meeting at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) in Ankara on Jan. 3, 2017. / AFP / ADEM ALTAN

Ministers, but not Liberman, call for pardon for IDF soldier

Supporters of Elor Azaria, the Israeli soldier, who shot a Palestinian terrorist in Hebron, demonstrate outside defense HQ in Tel Aviv on January 4, 2017 But she adds that the verdict will cause a social divide in Israel and says the president should therefore consider pardoning him. Though he publicly supported IDF soldier Elor Azaria before assuming the post of defense minister, Avigdor Liberman offers a tempered response to the manslaughter conviction of the IDF soldier.

Turkey detains 5 IS suspects linked to nightclub attack

A man with a Turkish flag walks past a Turkish police officer guarding the scene, during a memorial outside the Reina club following the New Year’s day attack, in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack killing 39 people saying a “soldier of the caliphate” had carried out the mass shooting to avenge Turkish military operations against IS in northern Syria.

Liberman: I don’t like the verdict, but we must respect it

Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman on Wednesday urged the Israeli public to “accept and respect” a military court’s conviction of IDF soldier Elor Azaria for manslaughter in the killing of a disarmed Palestinian stabber in Hebron, but also said that he didn’t like the verdict and that the defense establishment would help Azaria and his family in any way it could. Liberman, when still an opposition MK last March, argued against Azaria being charged and predicted that he would be acquitted.

Turkey Identifies Club Gunman; Erdogan Speaks to Nation

Turkey has identified the gunman in the Istanbul nightclub massacre, the foreign minister said Wednesday as the president vowed that the country won’t surrender to terrorists or become divided. The gunman, who killed 39 people during New Year’s celebrations at the Reina club, is still at large.

Turkish parliament approves extending state of emergency by 3 months

Turkey’s parliament on Tuesday approved a government-backed motion to extend by another three months the state of emergency imposed in the wake of the 15 July failed coup against President Recep Tayyip The state of emergency – which has seen tens of thousands lose their jobs or be arrested on suspicion of links to the putsch – had already been prolonged once before and was due to expire on 19 January. Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker pledged Turkey the EU’s “continued support” in its fight against terrorism yesterday , after the New Year’s Eve nightclub attack that killed 39 people.

Syrian cease-fire crumbles as government forces advance around Damascus

BEIRUT - A Syrian cease-fire backed by Russia and Turkey is crumbling five days after it began, with government forces pushing offensives around Damascus and rebels threatening to suspend participation in further talks. The truce was to have been followed by a meeting between government representatives and mainstream rebel factions in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.