Middle East Experience

The European Union's calls for Turkey to withdraw from Syria are 'arrogant', Ankara said on Tuesday..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Turkey hits out at European 'arrogance' over Syria

The Libyan National Oil Company has lifted its force majeure on the Sharara oil field as the warring sides edge closer to a cease-fire.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Intel: Production allowed to resume at Libya’s largest oil field as talks progress

The UN says at least three people have died in the fires that erupted last week in Latakia, Tartus and Homs provinces.
Source: Al Monitor
Full Article: Assad pays rare visit to fire-ravaged western Syria

Redhill did not disclose terms of the deal or the name of the manufacturing companies.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Israel's Redhill Biopharma signs deal for potential COVID-19 treatment

"Prof [Ronni] Gamzu expressed great concern about that despite the closure, 3,000 people were infected in a single day."
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Coronavirus: No final decisions to be made at cabinet meeting

Some Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip are facing such dire circumstances that they are forced to scour bins for food, said UNRWA's head Philippe Lazzarini..
Source: Albawaba
Full Article: Gazans 'searching bins for food' as humanitarian crisis worsens: UNRWA chief

The new unit is being overseen by a top Sheba Medical Center doctor
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: Jerusalem’s Herzog opens third COVID-19 ward

The family of Malka Roth, who was killed in 2001, has called on the BBC to apologize for a report on the mastermind of the bombing which glossed over the details of that deadly attack.
Source: Jerusalem Post
Full Article: BBC broadcast report supporting terrorist; victim's family demands apology

Long-time foes Lebanon and Israel met briefly on Wednesday for unprecedented talks on their disputed maritime border but broke up after barely an hour and agreed to meet again in two weeks.The talks were mediated by the United States, which has pushed for negotiations to resolve the argument over potentially gas-rich Mediterranean waters.For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app.Two Lebanese military helicopters were seen bringing the Lebanese delegation to the meeting. The Lebanese team was expected to be led by a military officer, and the Israeli side by the director general of its energy ministry.Agreement to hold the talks was announced weeks after the United States stepped up pressure on allies of Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah, imposing sanctions on senior politician from its main Shiite ally, the Amal party.Hezbollah, which fought a month-long war with Israel in 2006, says the talks are not a sign of peace-making with its long-time enemy. Israel’s energy minister has also said expectations should be realistic.Read more:Lebanon alters delegation for US-led talks with Israel after Hezbollah backlashWho will be representing Lebanon, Israel at next week’s border talks?The talks come after the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain agreed to establish full relations with Israel, under US-brokered deals which realign some of Washington’s closest Middle East allies against Iran.Wednesday’s meeting was hosted by the United Nations, which has monitored the land boundary since Israel withdrew from south Lebanon in 2000 and ended a 22-year occupation. The next talks will be held on Oct 28.Hours before the first meeting, Hezbollah and Amal criticized the Lebanese delegation in its current form, calling for changing the team to ensure it includes only military officials.
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Lebanon, Israel begin landmark maritime border talks, says UN source

Saudi Arabians should not do business with Turkish companies in the Kingdom, said the head of Saudi Arabia’s Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, as he repeated his call for a boycott of “everything Turkish.”“I say it with certainty and clarity: No investment, no import, no tourism,” said Saudi Arabia’s Chamber of Commerce head Ajlan al-Ajlan in a post on Twitter.“We, as citizens and businessmen, will not have any dealings with everything Turkish. Even the Turkish companies operating in the Kingdom, I call not to deal with them,” he added.Al-Aljan said it was the “least response” Saudis can do amid “continued Turkish hostility and insult to our leadership and our country.”The call for a boycott comes after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said earlier this month that some countries in the Arabian Gulf were targeting Turkey, and questioned the existence of these countries.“It should not be forgotten that the countries in question did not exist yesterday, and probably will not exist tomorrow; however, we will continue to keep our flag flying in this region forever,” said Erdogan on October 1 in addressing Turkey's General Assembly.Turkish economyThe Turkish lira has taken a nosedive, hitting several record lows this month and currently standing at 7.93 against the US dollar.It is one of the world’s worst performing currencies this year, down 22 percent, according to Reuters.The impact of the coronavirus combined with a currency crisis that began in 2018 has led to a sharp recession, with gross foreign exchange reserves at the central bank falling by nearly half this year.Western capital is also fleeing the Turkish markets, according to former Turkish parliament member Aykan Erdemir.“Turkey suffers from a chronic current account deficit and the ongoing Western exodus from Turkish bonds and equities exacerbates the problem,” Erdemir, now senior director of the Turkey program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Al Arabiya English.Read more:Saudi Arabia ranks third in Ipsos global happiness survey of 27 countriesTurkey calls Armenia ‘aggressive’ while reportedly sending troops to help AzerbaijanApple unveils iPhone 12 with 5G, including ‘Mini’ and ‘Pro’ versions
Source: Al Arabiya
Full Article: Saudi Arabia commerce head urges end to business with Turkish companies in Kingdom