Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — An airlines established by the Palestinian Authority has resumed operations after an absence of seven years. Palestinian Airlines has begun flights in the Middle East but has not been permitted to land in either the West Bank or the Gaza Strip. Its first flight took place on May 9, leaving [...]
Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — Despite reduced tension with Iran, global oil prices were expected to remain high throughout 2012. The International Energy Agency (IEA) said oil prices would remain high amid rising demand. The Paris-based agency said demand would increase in China and Japan with a decline reported in Europe and the United States. [...]
Special to WorldTribune.com ABU DHABI — Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were expected to become the first Gulf Cooperation Council states to merge amid the threat from neighboring Iran. The Eurasia Group reported that Bahrain and Saudi Arabia were working to formally join together in an effort to bolster the Sunni regime in Manama. Eurasia said [...]
Special to WorldTribune.com ABU DHABI — Saudi Arabia has again warned its citizens not to travel to Syria. The Saudi Foreign Ministry renewed its warning against visiting Syria amid the Sunni revolt. The ministry said it could not ensure the safety of Saudis in Syria, long a favorite venue for summer vacation. The regime of [...]
Special to WorldTribune.com ABU DHABI — Saudi Arabia has reported an Iranian plot to assassinate its ambassador in Egypt. The Saudi Foreign Ministry said Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps planned to kill ambassador Ahmed Al Qattan in Cairo in 2012. A ministry official said Egyptian authorities arrested three Iranian agents in late January. “Egyptian authorities [...]
Special to WorldTribune.com ABU DHABI — Saudi Arabia has ended its diplomatic presence in Egypt amid increasing threats by the Muslim Brotherhood. Officials said the Saudi Foreign Ministry has recalled its staff from Egypt and closed the embassy and consulates. The officials said the military regime in Cairo failed to protect Saudi diplomats and installations [...]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — Defense Minister Prince Salman was expected to become the next king of Saudi Arabia, a report said. Foreign Policy asserted that Salman, appointed defense minister in November 2011, is the last survivor of a Saudi ruling elite ravaged by age and illness. The 76-year-old has been conducting Saudi Arabia’s defense [...]
Special to WorldTribune.com ABU DHABI — The United States has made Saudi Arabians the most welcome of all foreigners. Diplomats said the State Department has provided guidelines that make Saudis the most likely to receive a visa to the United States. They said the visa approval rate is 94 percent, with the review period reduced [...]
Special to WorldTribune.com NICOSIA — Iran has reported that Saudi Arabia sent thousands of troops into Yemen. Iranian sources said the Royal Saudi Army sent thousands of troops into Yemen earlier this month in an attempt to quell the Shi’ite revolt. They said the Saudi ground forces were accompanied by armored combat vehicles and helicopters [...]
Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — The Gulf Cooperation Council intends to form a war chest for the Sunni revolt in Syria. GCC states have agreed to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to arm, train and pay Sunni fighters sworn to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad. Diplomats said the GCC effort would be led by [...]
