Category: Middle East

Dominican paper apologizes for using Baldwin photo for Trump

This screen grab of the Friday, Feb. 10, 2017 digitized version of Dominican Republic’s El Nacional print edition shows comedian Alec Baldwin doing his impression of President Donald Trump on “Saturday Night Live,” next to a photo of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the paper’s international page with the Spanish headline: “Trump says settlements in Israel don’t favor peace.” The Spanish caption under Baldwin’s photo reads: “Donald Trump, president of U.S.” The newspaper published an apology on Saturday.

Ambassador Haley opposed Palestinian UN appointment; Sweden calls pick ‘excellent’

The United States’ decision to try to block the appointment of a former Palestinian prime minister to lead the United Nations political mission in Libya was not supported Saturday by Sweden. U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley said Friday that the Trump administration was “disappointed” to see that U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had sent a letter to the Security Council indicating his intention to appoint Salam Fayyad as the next U.N. special representative to Libya.

Cyprus tests to see if remains of missing were misidentified

In this Feb. 10, 2009 file photo, a forensics expert examines exhumed remains at the Anthropological Laboratory, inside the United Nations controlled buffer zone in the divided capital of Nicosia, Cyprus. The United Nations-led Committee on Missing Persons said on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, the review was prompted after a DNA analysis carried out on remains exhumed in 2015 showed that they belonged to a person whose family had instead received another set of misidentified remains in 2009.

Slow going for Turkish-backed forces in north Syria

Turkish troops and allied Syrian opposition forces have managed to capture just one-tenth of a north Syrian town from Islamic State militants, a conflict monitoring group said Saturday, despite reaching its outskirts seven weeks ago. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group told the AP that nine-tenths of al-Bab remains under IS control.

Turkey sets constitution referendum date for April 16

News selected on topics and regions – oil and gas, business, politics, IT, the South Caucasus, the Caspian Sea region, Central Asia Ranking of the Azerbaijani banking sector The Turkish Supreme Board of Election has announced that a constitutional referendum will be held on April 16, Reuters reported. The referendum will propose an 18-article amendment to the Turkish Constitution that has been long sought by the ruling Justice and Development Party and its founder, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

US opposes Palestinian’s appointment to top UN post

The Trump administration opposed the appointment of a senior Palestinian leader for a top United Nations post Friday over concern that the move would boost the Palestinian cause at the world body. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres sent a letter to the Ukraine ambassador, who serves as president of the Security Council, informing the council of his intention to appoint former Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to be his special representative for Libya, according a copy of the letter shown to CNN.

French jihadist Rachid Kassim targeted in Mosul strike: Pentagon

PanARMENIAN.Net – French jihadist Rachid Kassim , suspected of inspiring several attacks in France , was targeted in a coalition air strike near the Iraqi city of Mosul, but his death is not yet confirmed, the Pentagon said Friday, February 10, according to AFP. “We can confirm that coalition forces targeted Rashid Kassim, a senior ISIS operative, near Mosul in a strike in the past 72 hours,” said Pentagon spokesman Major Adrian J.T. Rankine-Galloway.

Last week’s best reads: Pengrowth, Fairfax, TMX

Debt-heavy Pengrowth Energy Corp. is in talks to sell approximately $500-million in Alberta oil and gas assets to Infor Acquisition Corp., the latest sign of financial companies stepping up for energy assets, according to people familiar with the matter. Story Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. is preparing a bid to acquire New Zealand-based insurance company Tower Ltd. in a deal valued at about $140-million , according to people familiar with the sale process.

Last week’s best reads: Pengrowth, Fairfax, TMX

Debt-heavy Pengrowth Energy Corp. is in talks to sell approximately $500-million in Alberta oil and gas assets to Infor Acquisition Corp., the latest sign of financial companies stepping up for energy assets, according to people familiar with the matter. Story Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. is preparing a bid to acquire New Zealand-based insurance company Tower Ltd. in a deal valued at about $140-million , according to people familiar with the sale process.

Israeli Paper: Trump Says Settlements Don’t Advance Peace

An Israeli newspaper is quoting President Donald Trump as saying that settlement expansion in land claimed by the Palestinians does not benefit peace. The remarks came in a Trump interview with Yisrael Hayom, a pro-Benjamin Netanyahu paper, just days before the Israeli prime minister is to visit the White House.

Russia, Turkey to work closer after deadly Syria airstrike

Turkish soldiers carry the national flag-draped coffin of Mehmet Azahin, 25, accidentally killed in a Russian airstrike around the northern Syrian town al Bab, during a memorial service before his remains’ repatriation to his hometown, at the airport in Gaziantep, southeastern Turkey, Friday, Feb. 10, 2017. Sahin was among the three troops killed when a Russian warplane on Thursday accidentally hit a building in al-Bab, with Turkish soldiers inside.

UK’s Cyprus military bases ‘more important than ever’

The UK’s two military bases on Cyprus are “more important than ever” because of the rise of extremist terror and mass migration flows coming from the region, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said. Sir Michael Fallon arrives at the presidential palace for a meeting with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades in the capital Nicosia The UK’s two military bases on Cyprus are “more important than ever” because of the rise of extremist terror and mass migration flows coming from the region, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said.

Dozens killed in Saudi push to take Yemeni port

News selected on topics and regions – oil and gas, business, politics, IT, the South Caucasus, the Caspian Sea region, Central Asia Ranking of the Azerbaijani banking sector Nearly three dozen people have been killed after Houthi fighters and militias loyal to resigned president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi clashed for the control of a strategic coastal city in Ta’izz province, Press TV reported. The clashes took place in the Red Sea port city of Mokha on Wednesday in which at least eight Saudi mercenaries were killed, medical sources said.

PA intelligence chief meets American officials

The Palestinian Authority intelligence chief, Majed Faraj, has met with U.S. security officials in the first meetings between the PA and the Trump administration, an official told The Associated Press on Thursday. The official told the news agency that Faraj met with U.S. security and intelligence officials in Washington over the past two days.

Bahrain forces kill three terror fugitives

Manama, Feb 10 – Bahrain security forces killed three terror fugitives on Thursday after intercepted their vessel, which was heading to Iran. The vessel occupants fired shots at the security forces in a chase on the sea, said Public Security Chief Major-General Tariq al-Hassan, adding that they changed its route to the northern part of Bahrain and refused to stop despite warning by the Bahrain security forces.

Russian ‘friendly fire’ kills 3 Turkish soldiers in Syria

A Russian warplane on Thursday accidentally hit a building in northern Syria with Turkish soldiers inside, killing at least three troops and wounding 11, Turkey’s military said. Russia immediately apologized for the bombing near the Islamic State-held town of al-Bab, which came amid warming ties between Turkey and Russia after they were strained by Turkey’s downing of a Russian jet near the border with Syria two years ago.

Russian airstrike kills 3 Turkish soldiers in Syria

A Russian warplane “accidentally” hit a building on Thursday in northern Syria with Turkish soldiers inside, killing at least three troops and wounding 11, Turkey’s military said. President Vladimir Putin promptly called his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to express regrets over the friendly fire incident.

Dno Asa Reports 2016 Interim Results and Annual Statement of…

DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, today announced a stepped up drilling campaign in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and the Sultanate of Oman on the back of 2016 operating profits and improved payments for exports from its flagship Tawke field in Kurdistan. The Company also released its annual reserves report which showed an increase in combined proven and probable reserves and contingent resources following the new oil discovery at the Peshkabir field in Kurdistan.

Canada says very worried by Israel’s move to legalise settlements

Canada is very concerned by Israel’s move to legalise thousands of settler homes on Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank, Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Wednesday. The Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which took power in late 2015, is more prepared to criticise Israel than the former Conservative administration, which adopted a resolutely pro-Israel policy.

Qatar Strongly Condemns Israeli Settlement Law In Palestinian Territories

Qatar strongly condemned Israel’s approval to build thousands of new settlement units in the occupied Palestinian territories, including Jerusalem, Qatar News Agency reported. In a statement Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Israeli Knesset’s adoption of settlement legislation law is a flagrant violation of international resolutions and a blatant attack on the right of the Palestinian people.

Yemen: No US ground missions without approval

Yemen’s government has “requested” the United States stop ground operations in the country unless they have the government’s full approval after an anti-terror raid authorized by President Donald Trump killed civilians, two senior Yemeni defense officials told CNN on Wednesday. The Yemeni officials said the government had sent a firm message to the US administration condemning the January 29 operation that left one US Navy Seal dead along with Yemeni women and children, complaining of a lack of coordination with its officials.

Turkish sources: CIA chief to visit, discuss security issues

Turkish officials say U.S. Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo will visit Turkey on Thursday to discuss security issues, including Turkey’s fight against a movement led by a U.S.-based cleric accused of orchestrating the failed military coup. According to officials from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s office who cannot be named because of government regulations, the visit was decided during a 45-minute telephone conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Erdogan late on Tuesday, The officials said Pompeo would also discuss the issue of Syrian Kurdish fighters which Ankara considers to be terrorists because of their affiliation with outlawed Kurdish rebels in Turkey.

Dozens arrested in ultra-Orthodox anti-draft protests

Ultra-Orthodox demonstrators during a protest against the jailing of Jewish seminary student who failed to comply with an army recruitment order, in Jerusalem’s Mea Shearim neighborhood, February 7, 2017. Some 50 people were arrested on Tuesday evening during a series of protests by ultra-Orthodox demonstrators against the arrest of a member of their community being held by military police for not presenting himself for army service.

Ticketmaster launches in Israel

The US entertainment company Live Nation announced it has acquired a stake in an Israeli concert promotion business and launched Ticketmaster Israel. The Los Angeles-based company purchased a majority stake in Tel Aviv’s Bluestone Entertainment, Billboard reported Tuesday, and the two companies have partnered on the launch of the popular ticketing site in the Jewish state.

Qatar chief bags Air NZ for cancelling agreement that would have connected Kiwis to vast network

Qatar Airways Group CEO Akbar Al Baker with Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand at the Qatar Airways press conference in Auckland. The head of Qatar Airlines Akbar Al Baker has slammed Air New Zealand for withdrawing from an agreement before it touched down on our shores, saying the move will prevent Kiwi travellers from connecting to a wide international flight network.