Backtracking on their previous refusal of aid from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, Egypt requested $3.2 billion in loan money from the IMF on Monday. Egyptian officials decided that the money was essential to repair the Egyptian economy after a full year of political unrest which repelled tourists and investors alike. A…
Category Archives: News
Iran Enriching Uranium in Isolated Mountain Bunker
According to a spokeswoman for the International Atomic Energy Agency, it has been confirmed that Iran is now enriching uranium at a new location in a mountain bunker, a setting which is difficult to strike in an attack. “The IAEA can confirm that Iran has started the production of uranium enriched up to 20 percent……
UAE Introducing New Dh500 Paper Currency
The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates announced that Abu Dhabi will soon be placing into circulation a new Dh500 banknote. The amended banknote will be reprinted with updated security features. New Banknote Will Be Circulated November 29 “This currency note will be put in circulation as legal tender along with currency notes currently…
Mike Grant Appointed Chief Restructuring Officer for the Al Jaber Group
The privately owned Al Jaber Group, and Abu Dhabi-based civil and electro-mechanical engineering contractor, announced the appointment of Mike Grant to be their new chief restructuring officer. Mike Grant will be leading the company’s latest move to further along their debt reorganization, according to spokesmen for the company. Grant is a veteran of restructuring at…
Emirates Airline Orders Fifty Boeing Jets in $18 Billion Deal
With options to buy an additional 20 777-300ERs, Emirates Airline has placed an order for 50 of the Boeing jets in a deal valued at an estimated $18 billion. The deal marked the opening of the Dubai Air Show Sunday, making an impression as the deal is described as the single largest order in the…
Giordano Middle East Expanding in Abu Dhabi
The Mushrif Shopping Mall in Abu Dhabi is soon to be home to the 200th shop of Giordano Middle East. The goal for Giordano, one of the world’s leading clothing retailers, is to operate 250 stores in the region by the year 2015. Giordano has had a presence in the Middle East for 18 years…
Accenture Acquires Major Saudi IT Firm
Two major Middle East players have joined forces with the aim to strengthen their IT effectiveness in the fast-growing region in which they inhabit. Accenture, which specializes in management consulting, technology and outsourcing, acquired a majority of one of Saudi Arabia’s leading information technology companies, Al Faisaliah Business & Technology Company (FBTC.) FBTC is a…
Tunisia Holds First Free Vote After Arab Spring
Sunday, October 23 marks an historic day, not only in Tunisia, but for the entire Arab world as citizens go to the polls in what will be a free election for a 217-member assembly whose mandate will be to appoint a temporary interim government and to draft a new constitution. Elections come exactly nine months…
Robots in Abu Dhabi Part II
Jorien Guijs, the marketing manager for PAL Robotics is excited about the future of his company. “To be able to deliver these robots to ADNEC, and other future clients, we are building a factory in Abu Dhabi. If all goes according to plan, the factory will be ready by the second half of 2012, producing…
Iran Displays Sajjil Missile During Military Parade
The 31st anniversary of the commencement of the Iraq-Iran war was marked last week with a spectacular military parade complete with a display of Iran’s growing arsenal of short and medium range ballistic missiles. The solid-fuel Sajjil was brought back for another year, after its parading last year was such a success. The Sajjil missile…
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Independent Middle East News
- GCC Forming Gulf Union May 14, 2012by Mahmoud Abu Ghosh At least three members of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have hinted they are likely to back a Saudi plan to transform the council into a Western-backed diplomatic and military union. The London-based Al Hayat daily cited a senior GCC source who said Qatar and possibly Kuwait could join Bahrain […]
- PLC Deputy Speaker Reveals Scope of PA Corruption May 12, 2012by Mahmoud Aby Ghosh Hasan Khreishah, deputy speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council, blasted the Western-backed Palestinian Authority on Saturday, holding it responsible for rampant corruption and human rights violations. He specifically blasted the Fatah-led PA for human rights abuses against Palestinian journalists. “Since the signing of the Oslo A […]
- Turkish Forces Kill 5 Kurds, Detain 28 May 9, 2012by Mahmoud Abu Ghosh Turkish forces killed five Kurdish rebels on Tuesday near the town of Tatvan in northern Kurdistan’s Bitlis province. The fighters killed were believed to be members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Ankara also announced on Tuesday that Turkish forces have detained 28 people in simultaneous raids across six provinces, [... […]
- Kurds Ambush Turkish Troops, Kill 3 May 4, 2012by Mahmoud Abu Ghosh Turkish forces hunting Kurdish resistance fighters were ambushed by guerrillas from the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) on Friday. Three soldiers were killed in the ambush, which took place in Turkish-occupied northern Kurdistan. The soldiers were killed when guerrillas opened fire on Turkish troops raiding suspected rebel hideouts in the […]
- PA Defends Internet Censorship April 30, 2012by Mahmoud Abu Ghosh The Western-backed Palestinian Authority on Sunday defended its decision to block websites that are critical of Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas, denying allegations it was violating freedom of expression. PA Attorney-General Ahmed al-Mughni claimed that the websites were blocked for breaking the law and following complaints from Palestinians. […]
- GCC Forming Gulf Union May 14, 2012