GENERAL ABIZAID

General Abizaid Faces Tough Questions from U.S. Senators in Confirmation Hearing

John Abizaid
President Trump's choice for the next U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia faced tough questions from U.S. senators but defended the U.S.-Saudi relationship on Wednesday and said the United States needed "a strong and mature partnership with Saudi Arabia.”

Saudi Arabia

News, analysis, and more

John Abizaid

Trump pick for Saudi ambassador defends US relationship with Riyadh

President Trump’s pick to be ambassador to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday defended the United States continuing to work with the...

 

Terrorist Financing

EU states block blacklisting Saudi, Panama over dirty money

The 28 member states of the European Union all backed a decision on Thursday to reject a proposal from the EU executive to add Saudi...

 

United Nations Human Rights Council

EU backs text rebuking Saudi Arabia at U.N. rights forum: diplomats

At least 36 countries, including all 28 EU members, have signed a statement criticizing Saudi Arabia’s human rights record at the United Nations Human Rights...

 

Saudi Economy

Commentary: Can Saudi Arabia afford a stimulus?

Efficiency and technology will allow global GDP to double by 2040, but energy consumption to only increase by a third. This is the new law...

 

Tadawul

Saudi Banks Fall as Investors Fret Over Prospect of Higher Tax

Saudi Arabian banks dropped on concern that the government may double the current rate they pay under an Islamic tax....

 

Saudi Aramco Technology

Saudi Aramco seeks to overhaul engines, fuel amid EV hype

While carmakers have rolled out advances in combustion engine technology, the availability of sophisticated fuels has not kept pace, Al Khowaiter said....

 

Entertainment

Vox Cinemas pledges $500m to build movie theatres in Saudi Arabia

Vox Cinemas has said it will set aside $500 million in a major investment drive to boost its number of screens in Saudi Arabia. The investment...

 

PIF

Saudi investment fund hires US PR firm to create distance from crown prince

The Saudi public investment fund (PIF), launched in 1971, passed from the Saudi Ministry of Finance to the Prince Mohammed-chaired Council of Economic and Development...

 

Nuclear Power

Before Saudis Go Nuclear, They May Have to Follow Iran’s Lead

This week the International Atomic Energy Agency, responsible for verifying that countries don’t divert material for weapons, weighed in on what its inspectors need before...

 

Transportation

Riyadh to Jeddah in 46 minutes

Virgin Hyperloop One is likely to reveal details of its plan to link Saudi Arabia’s NEOM, the Red Sea project, and Qiddiya gigaprojects together at...

 

Saudi +

Regional and related topics

Algeria

The Quick Read on the Protests in Algeria

High youth unemployment is a problem under the best of circumstances. It’s an existential threat when nearly 70 percent of the country is under the...

 

Drones

Trump revokes Obama rule on reporting drone strike deaths

"This action eliminates superfluous reporting requirements, requirements that do not improve government transparency, but rather distract our intelligence professionals from their primary mission," an official...

 

Drones

Chinese, local drones reflect changing Middle East

Because the United States deems Chinese technology a security risk, the Chinese systems cannot interface with the U.S.-built platforms that many Middle Eastern states -...

 

ExxonMobil

ExxonMobil raises production outlook as it balances offshore and onshore growth

Register Now ExxonMobil on Wednesday raised expectations for oil and gas production growth to 135% between 2017 and 2025, based on higher-than-expected Permian Basin production,...

 

Qatar

Qatar’s Bond Appetite Intact With $12 Billion Return to Market

Qatar’s appetite for jumbo bond deals seems insatiable, with the gas-rich nation raising $24 billion in less than a year....

 

Germany

Germany’s Ban on Arms Exports to Saudi Arabia Spurs Pushback

People talk to him about how the German government is constantly emphasizing the importance of European industrial and defense policy. "And then you get on...

 

Egypt

Egypt’s foreign reserves hit $44bn in February

Egypt’s foreign currency reserves have been witnessing continuous increases since 2014; hitting $37 billion, $24.3 billion, $16.4 billion, and $15.3 billion in 2017, 2016, 2015,...

 

U.S.-Iran

US government no longer excludes MEK as leadership option for Iran

Officially, the Trump administration insists that its policy on Iran — quitting the nuclear deal last year and reinstating harsh sanctions — is meant to...

 

Book Piracy

Book piracy costing millions in the Middle East

“Selling pirated books has become a market on its own. There are stores especially dedicated to pirated books and they do get shut down. You...

 

Syria

Return of the cat man of Aleppo

The new sanctuary has expanded to include an orphanage, a kindergarten and a veterinary clinic....

 

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