The Middle East
Analysis
Does Trump’s peace plan make the EU less relevant?
The Peace to Prosperity plan that the Trump administration rolled out as a “Deal of the Century” on January 28 offers the prospect of a future Palestinian...
Archive
Turkey launches counterattack against Syrian forces
At least 13 Syrian soldiers were reportedly killed by Turkish forces in Syria’s Idlib region on Monday.
The attack that came in retaliation for an...
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Leaked recording shows Iran knew it shot down Ukrainian plane
Iran’s government knew their military had shot down a passenger jet and lied about it for days, Ukraine said Sunday.
A leaked audio recording surfaced...
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Iraqi protesters reject new PM-designate
After two months of political stalemate, Iraqi former communications minister Mohammed Allawi was named prime minister-designate by the country’s president Barham Salih. Allawi, 66,...
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Bilateral cooperation, Palestine peace talks top EU-Jordan meeting
EU's Foreign Policy chief Josep Borrell, in his first trip to the Middle East after he assumed his position as High Representative for Foreign...
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EU begins patrol mission in the Strait of Hormuz
France has announced the beginning of the European Maritime Awareness Mission in the Strait of Hormuz after one of the French Navy's frigates started...
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Macron accuses Erdogan of breaking promises on Libya
French president Emmanuel Macron accused his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of breaking the promise and meddling in the Libya conflict.
"I want to express...
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Italy, Cyprus call Turkey-Libya maritime deal ‘unacceptable’
Italy’s foreign minister Luigi Di Maio and his Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides said the maritime border deal between Turkey and Libya’s UN-backed government is...
Energy
UAE’s West Hydrocarbons Commercial Investment to build refinery in Kazakhstan
NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) company West Hydrocarbons Commercial Investment LLC is building a refinery in western Kazakhstan, Akorda quoted company...
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Intense fighting in Yemen despite peace efforts
Intense fighting continues in the Nihm district in Yemen. The legitimate forces, backed by the Saudi-led Arab coalition fought Iran-backed Houthi militias, complicating the...
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Germany calls for sanctions for those breaking Libya embargo
Germany’s foreign minister Heiko Maas said that the United Nations should pass a resolution sanctioning any country that breaks the arms embargo on Libya.
"No...
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Deadly clashes erupt in Libya despite ceasefire
At least three people were killed and more than two dozen wounded in Libya, in warlord Khalifa Haftar’s surprise offensive. His forces advanced 120...
Energy
UAE and Kazakhstan ink cooperation documents on trade, energy
NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan - The United Arab Emirates and Kazakhstan on 27 January have signed several documents on cooperation within the framework of the official...
Archive
US embassy in Iraq hit by rocket attack
At least one person was injured when the United States’ embassy in Iraq’s capital, Bagdhad, was hit by three rockets on Sunday. There was...
Analysis
UN chief warns of impact on Sahel region from Libya war
UN secretary general Antonio Guterres warned that Libya's civil war become a playground for foreign forces in North Africa and threatens to spill over...
Archive
Italy’s ENI and UAE’s ADNOC ink MoU on sustainable energy research
UAE Minister of State Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) Group CEO, and ENI’s CEO Claudio Descalzi, signed on...
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EU to revive Operation Sophia to help tackle Libya crisis
EU foreign ministers decided to revive Operation Sophia to enforce a potential cease-fire in Libya and a UN arms embargo in the country.
“It’s clear...
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US sanctions Iranian general for 'gross violations of human rights'
The US’ State Department said it has designated Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Brigadier General Hassan Shahvarpour, Khuzestan Province's Vali Asr Commander, for his involvement...
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France, UK reaffirm commitment to Iran nuclear deal
UK prime minister Boris Johnson and French president Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed their commitment to the Iran nuclear during a meeting on the sidelines of...
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EU should consider sending troops to Libya, Borrell says
The European Union’s foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell suggested an EU military mission to protect cease-fire in Libya.
“If there is a cease-fire in Libya,...
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IEA: Global oil supply tumbles in December
Global oil supply tumbled 780,000 barrels per day in December as biofuels production declined seasonally and Saudi Arabia reduced output, the International Energy Agency...
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US military says 11 troops were injured in Iranian strike
The United States' Central Command said that 11 American soldiers were injured last week when Iran fired dozens of missiles on two bases in...
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East Med Gas Forum makes Cairo HQ
Egypt, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, Italy, Jordan and Palestinian Authority signed in Cairo on 16 January the East Med Gas Forum (EMGF) foundation charter, creating...
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Ukraine to boost renewables, energy efficiency with EU help
Ukraine can focus in developing the country’s renewable energy sector and improve the much-delayed energy efficiency now that the former Soviet republic has concluded...
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Libya peace talks in Moscow stall
Libya’s opposed leaders failed to agree on a ceasefire to end the war over the capital Tripoli.
The peace talks in Moscow on 13 January...
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EBRD, IRENA agree to rapidly increase share of renewables
During the 10th IRENA Assembly in Masdar City, Abu Dhabi, at United Arab Emirates, the International Renewable Energy Agency and the European Bank for...
Archive
Protests grow after Iran admits to downing airliner
Nationwide protests in Iran escalated over the accidental shooting down of a Ukrainian passenger plane, that killed all 176 people on board.
Earlier, Iran’s president...
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In Abu Dhabi, Simson to discuss global efforts to deploy renewable energy
On 11-12 January, EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson is expected to travel to Abu Dhabi to attend the 10th session of the IRENA Assembly.
The...
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ExxonMobil secures exploration acreage offshore Egypt
US major ExxonMobil said it has secured more than 1.7 million acres for exploration offshore Egypt. “These awards strengthen our exploration portfolio in the...
Archive
Greece, Egypt, Cyprus, France call Turkey-Libya deals "void"
Greece, Cyprus, France and Egypt condemned on Wednesday the two agreements signed between Turkey and Libya on maritime boundaries and military cooperation, calling them...
Archive
Canada, US believe Iran accidentally shot down Ukraine plane
A Ukraine airliner that crashed in Iran, killing all 176 people on board, was most likely brought down accidentally by Iranian air defences, US...
Archive
Libya’s warlord Haftar rejects call for ceasefire
Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army, rejected calls for a ceasefire by Turkey and Russia and announced a continuation of his military...
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Russia and Turkey call for ceasefire in Libya
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin called for a ceasefire in Libya, following talks in Istanbul on 8 January.
In...
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EU vows to try to save nuke deal as Iran steps away after Soleimani killing
The European Union said it will "spare no efforts” to keep the 2015 nuclear deal preventing Iran from developing atomic weapons.
The head of the...
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Trump says Iran is ‘standing down’ after strike
Speaking from the White House, US President Donald Trump has said Iran "appears to be standing down" after it fired missiles at air bases...
Iran
Kazakhstan airlines divert flights over Iran and Iraq airspace
NUR-SULTAN, Kazakhstan - Two Kazakh airlines, Air Astana and SCAT, decided to change routes in connection with the situation in Iran, the press services...
Archive
Foreign Ministers of Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Italy to meet in Cairo
The Foreign Ministers of Greece, Cyprus, France and Italy travelled to Cairo on Wednesday morning to participate in a five-sided meeting along with the...
Archive
Iran attacks bases in Iraq housing US troops
Iran has launched more than a dozen missiles at multiple Iraqi bases hosting US and coalition troops, Pentagon officials confirmed.
The move is seen as...
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Boeing 737 crashes near Iran’s capital, kills all 176 on board
A Ukrainian passenger jet carrying 176 people crashed minutes after takeoff from Tehran on 7 January, killing all on board, Iran state media reported.
The...
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Chevron pulls staff from northern Iraq over security concerns
Following the killing of Iranian Quds Force leader , US oil giant Chevron said on 6 January the company removed its expatriate staff operating...
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Iran abandons 2015 nuclear deal after Soleimani killing
Iran will no longer abide by any of the limits of its 2015 nuclear deal, its state television has announced on 5 January.
The move...
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Steinitz confident Israel and Cyprus can supply EastMed pipeline
ATHENS – Israel and Cyprus have enough gas to fill the proposed EastMed natural gas pipeline from the East Mediterranean to Europe, Israel’s Energy...
Archive
Oil price jump: an inevitable knee-jerk reaction to the killing of Soleimani
Oil prices spiked on 3 January on news that Qassem Suleimani, commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force and architect of its growing military influence...
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Netanyahu asks for immunity from corruption charges
Israel's PM Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday his decision to file a request for legal parliamentary immunity from prosecution in corruption charges he's facing.
In November,...
Afghanistan
Iran’s top commander Soleimani killed in US drone strike
Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force and the mastermind behind the Islamic Republic’s military and foreign policy in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon,...
Archive
Oil price reaches 3-month high as 2019 nears end
Hopes for a US-China trade deal and an American Petroleum Institute (API) report showing lower US crude inventories pushed oil prices about 1% to...
Archive
Turkey lurking, Greece-Cyprus-Israel EastMed political deal coming
ATHENS – Greece, Cyprus and Israel plan to sign an intergovernmental agreement for the construction of the EastMed natural gas pipeline in Athens on...
Archive
OPEC+ becomes OPEC- with oil production cuts
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other major producers led by Russia, a group known as OPEC+, have reportedly agreed to...
Archive
Oil mess in Texas, OPEC caution gush crude prices
A surprise drop in US crude inventories and comments from Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Secretary General Mohammad Barkindo about lower-than-expected US...
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Resumption of peace talks may pause Turkish drilling in Cyprus EEZ
Incoming new EU Commission may be keener on negotiations to resolve regional East Med problemsLIMASSOL, Cyprus – The possible resumption of the dormant peace...
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