Middle East

Turkish gold exports rise 800 pct on demand from Iran

"Turkey is Iran's biggest natural gas customer but Western sanctions prevent it from paying Tehran in dollars or euros. Iran is instead paid in Turkish lira - of limited value on international markets but ideal for buying gold in Turkey. Couriers carrying millions of dollars worth of gold bullion in their luggage have been flying from Istanbul to Dubai, where the gold is shipped to Iran, industry sources with knowledge of the business told Reuters last year. New sanctions are due to take effect in February and could include measures to try to curb the trade." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTurkish gold exports rise 800 pct on demand from Iran

Critics object to Obama nominating ‘Mr. Drone’ John Brennan to CIA head

"The nomination of President Barack Obama’s top counter-terrorism advisor John Brennan to head the CIA has sparked outrage and concern about America’s growing drones programme and its use for targeted killings of suspected Islamic militants. Brennan has been a key architect of drones policy under Obama and many experts believe that the use of the unmanned robot planes in countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia is likely to increase if he becomes America’s top spy." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCritics object to Obama nominating ‘Mr. Drone’ John Brennan to CIA head

Tunisia: financial offshore centre

"The desire to continue the $3 billion Bahraini project in Tunisia has been renewed by the Bahrain investment bank Gulf Finance House (GFH). The project will be Tunisia’s first financial offshore centre and construction is poised to begin this month with bids already issued. The billion dollar project is set to have four business clusters including investment banking and advisory centre, a corporate centre, a Takaful/insurance hub and the region’s first international financial exchange. There will also be a variety of residential and leisure facilities including a marina, a residential complex and an 18-hole championship golf course." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTunisia: financial offshore centre

Iraq unearths 1,400-year-old gold coins

"Iraqi archaeologists have found 66 gold coins that are at least 1,400 years old, officials said on Monday, adding that they hope to put them on display in Baghdad’s National Museum. Many of Iraq’s archaeological sites have been vandalised and encroached upon in recent decades, but especially in the years following the US-led invasion of 2003. The capital’s National Museum was also looted in its aftermath. At the time, nearly 32,000 pieces were stolen from 12,000 archaeological sites across Iraq, and 15,000 others disappeared from the National Museum in Baghdad, according to official figures." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIraq unearths 1,400-year-old gold coins

Saudis aiding U.S. drone attacks in Yemen: report

"Saudi Arabia has provided fighter jets to assist the United States with its drone strikes against Al-Qaeda targets in Yemen, the London Times reported on Friday. US drones are backing Yemeni forces combating militants of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). The group’s Yemen branch is considered by Washington to be the most active and deadliest franchise of the global jihadist network. The Times cited a US intelligence source as saying that 'some of the so-called drone missions are actually Saudi Air Force missions'. US drone attacks in Yemen nearly tripled in 2012 compared to 2011." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSaudis aiding U.S. drone attacks in Yemen: report

Majority of polled Israelis support Palestinian state

"A slender majority of Israelis support the creation of a separate Palestinian state, but do not have high hopes for a peace deal, a survey said on Friday. The survey by daily Israel Hayom asked more than 800 Israelis 'do you support or oppose the idea of two states for two peoples, i.e. the creation of a Palestinian state independent from Israel?' Almost 54 percent said they favoured the idea, and 38 percent rejected it, with the rest refusing to answer. The survey’s margin of error was 3.4 percentage points. More than 54 percent of those surveyed, however, thought a peace deal with the Palestinians was impossible, the study said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMajority of polled Israelis support Palestinian state

Egypt fears run on its banks as it imposes limit on amount people can withdraw

"Egypt has imposed a limit on the amount of money people can take out of the country, amid fears of an impending run on the banks. The move to ban leaving with more than £6,000 came as thousands of Egyptians withdrew savings from banks to hoard cash at home. Anxiety about a deepening political and economic crisis has gripped the country in past weeks, with many people rushing to buy dollars and take out their savings from banks. The panic came as the country’s new president, Mohammed Morsi, called for ‘unity’ after a referendum approved a controversial constitution which gave him and islamist allies more powers." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingEgypt fears run on its banks as it imposes limit on amount people can withdraw

America’s Allies Feed Christians to the Dogs

"Andrei Arbashe, a young Syrian Christian, had just gotten married and his wife was about to give birth. He had his life ahead of him. But thanks to the US/Saudi/Qatari/Israeli-supported rebels that was not to be. Instead, as the Australian reports today, he was beheaded by Obama and Hillary's rebels, cut into pieces, and fed to the dogs. His 'crime' was nothing more than his being a Christian whose brother was overheard complaining of the brutality of the rebels. The rebels are also schooling the children in the arts of beheading bound prisoners whose crime is loyalty to the Syrian government." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAmerica’s Allies Feed Christians to the Dogs

U.S. drone strikes intensify in Yemen

"Yemen saw a drastic increase in the clandestine attacks, with strikes against Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) militants rising from 18 in 2011 to 53 in 2012. This 'drone war' is officially classified, and the US does not provide any information on the strikes. President Barack Obama only incidentally recognized their existence at the end of January in an online exchange. In Yemen, between 397 and 539 militants were killed by drone strikes, according to the New America Foundation, which did not specify the number of civilian victims. The drones used there are operated both by the CIA and by the Joint Special Operations Command." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingU.S. drone strikes intensify in Yemen

Bahrain, a Brutal U.S. Ally

"The United States speaks about supporting human rights and democracy, but while the Saudis send troops to aid the Khalifa government, America is sending arms. The United States is doing itself a huge disservice by displaying such an obvious double standard toward human rights violations in the Middle East. Washington condemns the violence of the Syrian government but turns a blind eye to blatant human rights abuses committed by its ally Bahrain. This double standard is costing America its credibility across the region; and the message being understood is that if you are an ally of America, then you can get away with abusing human rights." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBahrain, a Brutal U.S. Ally