First Independent Mena Newspaper
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has called on Egypt and Israel to emulate Syria and join the convention banning chemical weapons. Both countries are believed to be in possession of chemical weapons and the head of OPCW Ahmet Uzumcu thinks that it is time for them to “reconsider” their decision. The […]
The European Union has announced € 10 million additional EU assistance for the rehabilitation of Typhoon Haiyan-affected areas wherein survivors plea for help and assistance. The death toll continues to rise and is expected to exceed appalling 10,000 victims of Haiyan, one of the strongest tropical storms ever recorded, that hit the Philippines on 7 […]
The divergences in Iran’s nuclear program have reached new levels as parties worried about it speak of “war”. Tehran continues its uranium enrichment program much to the dislike of some regional and western countries. The nuclear program is regarded as a national right and pride in Iran. In the US, members of both houses of […]
Saudi Arabia rounded up thousands of newcomer workers following the expiration of an amnesty introducing new employment rules. It is estimated that about a million of Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Filipinos, Nepalese, and Yemenis have left the country in the last three months in contrast to four millions of other workers who managed to get a […]
The secret negotiations from Palestine and Israel have resumed despite the dissatisfaction of the Palestinian delegation. Although both parties have renewed their desire to solve their differences, the demarcation of the border between them has been a major setback. Palestinian’s claim that Israel’s response has been slow during talks and the absence of the U.S […]
Claims that government forces have used chemical weapons have attracted the United Nations Security Council’s attention. The council wants more information on the reports but Russia has refuted such allegations. More than 1,300 people have been killed by the attack. Three permanent members of the Security Council namely France, Britain and the United States together […]
The emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, has announced this Tuesday he was stepping down and naming his son, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, 33, as his successor. During the past weeks, there were some swirling rumors circulating in the media and diplomatic spheres that the 61-year-old emir was preparing to step down […]
Over 40 nations from the five continents have participated earlier this month in mine-warfare exercises in the Gulf not far from Iranian coasts. The some 35 ships, 70 aircraft, and 6,500 personnel from 41 countries which participated in the exercises practiced not only mine warfare and minesweeping, but also tested the ability to command and […]
Saudi authorities have caught 18 people having direct link to Iranian intelligence services, exacerbating secret war and tensions between the Sunni Arab monarchies and Shiite Persian Iran accused of seeking to destabilize the Gulf countries by inciting their indigenous Shiite communities to stage demonstrations during the Arab Spring. According to Saudi Interior ministry, the spy […]
In the past ten years, North African countries progressed in liberalizing their trade relations with the EU as well as Korea. As part of the Euro-Mediterranean (Barcelona Process) Partnership, North African nations and the EU entered association agreements with provisions for free trade in industrial goods. This opened doors for European manufacturers to new export and investment markets. Most recently, North African nations and the EU launched initiatives to extend their agreements to trade in agricultural products, trade in services, government procurement, and trade harmonization. Trade between North Africa and Korea also exploded in the past five years. As latecomers to North Africa, […]