middle east

By Jeffrey Heller JERUSALEM, Aug 24 – U.S. President Donald Trump remains “very committed” to achieving Israeli-Palestinian peace, his son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the start of talks on Thursday. But there was little to suggest any breakthrough or significant progress towards ending a decades-old conflict is

By Sarah Dadouch BEIRUT, Aug 20 – Lebanese band Mashrou’ Leila’s blend of indie rock and lyrics about social and political injustice has won a passionate following among fans seeking an alternative to Arab pop with its romantic themes. But securing a firm footing in the Middle East has been difficult for the band. Jordanian

DUBAI, July 22 – The United Arab Emirates, one of four Arab countries that have imposed sanctions on Qatar, said on Saturday that Doha needed to change its policies before a dialogue could take place. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar and imposed an economic boycott last month, accusing it

By Maktoum Bin Butti Al Maktoum The Qatar situation in the Middle East is not a crisis, but a disaster in broader terms. Unfortunately, even the recent American State Department mediation efforts seem to have underestimated the situation, looking at it as merely a family feud between the brotherly countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, July 18 – The U.S. Transportation Security Administration said on Monday it was lifting a ban on passengers on Saudi Arabian Airlines carrying large electronics like laptops onboard U.S.-bound flights, the last carrier under the restrictions. In March, U.S. officials imposed restrictions on passengers carrying laptops and other large electronic gear

By Arfa Shahid Egyptian-Canadian actor Mena Massoud has been cast in the leading role for Disney’s live-action remake of Aladdin, a feat many view as progress in Hollywood with regards to casting actors of color. It was in that moment, as he looked into her eyes, that he saw a soul so beautfully captivating that

By Luke Baker JERUSALEM, June 21 – Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday, beginning a new U.S. effort to revive Middle East peace efforts. Kushner, a 36-year-old real estate developer with little experience of international diplomacy and peace

By Aziz El Yaakoubi DUBAI, June 19 – The United Nations, short of funds to support millions of displaced people in the Middle East, has begun a scheme that would let Muslims make donations from the alms they typically pay state bodies for the benefit of the poor. Muslims around the world are expected to

DUBAI, June 12 – Qatar can easily defend its economy and currency against sanctions by other Arab states, Qatari finance minister Ali Sherif al-Emadi told CNBC television in an interview broadcast on Monday. He added that the countries which had imposed sanctions would also lose money because of the damage to business in the region.

• On June 7, 2017, S&P lowered its long-term sovereign credit rating on the State of Qatar to ‘AA-‘ and placed it on Credit Watch with negative implications. In S&P’s view, the moves by a group of governments to cut diplomatic ties and trade and transport links with Qatar will exacerbate the country’s external vulnerabilities