Mid East – Page 1341 – Prologue Journal

As Israel’s Crises Pile Up, a Far-Right Minister Is a Common Thread

New York Times Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, is a longtime advocate of contentious plans to overhaul the judiciary. He has also exacerbated tensions with Palestinians and Israel’s allies. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/31/world/middleeast/israel-smotrich-protests.html

Kushner Firm Got Hundreds of Millions From 2 Persian Gulf Nations

New York Times The infusion of money from interests in the two Persian Gulf monarchies reflects the close ties to Middle Eastern countries established by Jared Kushner, former President Donald Trump’s son-in-law. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/30/us/politics/jared-kushner-qatar-united-arab-emirates.html

Days After Netanyahu Fired Him, Israel’s Defense Minister Is Still on the Job

New York Times Yoav Gallant, Israel’s defense minister, was fired on Sunday, setting off unrest, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu never formally confirmed his dismissal. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/30/world/middleeast/israel-yoav-gallant-netanyahu.html

A.I., Brain Scans and Cameras: The Spread of Police Surveillance Tech

New York Times In the Middle East, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies have become part of everyday policing. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/30/technology/police-surveillance-tech-dubai.html

Biden’s Confrontation With Netanyahu Had Been Brewing for Years

New York Times The president’s decision to publicly criticize Israel is highly unusual for a leader who has pledged not to interfere in the country’s domestic politics. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/29/us/politics/biden-netanyahu-confrontation.html

Egypt’s cenbank raises interest rates by 200 bps to tame inflation

Reuters Reuters was first to report that markets were closely watching the Central Bank decision on Thursday as Egypt struggles to contain the impact of a long-running foreign currency shortage, inflation at five-year highs and a rising debt burden. Recent Reuters analyses laid out how the Egyptian pound had come under renewed pressure and a…

Assad approved Syria quake aid with a UAE nudge

Reuters Reuters was first to reveal that President Bashar al-Assad ceded to calls for additional aid access to Syria after prodding from the UAE. This is a diplomatic win for the Gulf state, which has rebuilt ties with Damascus despite U.S. disapproval. Assad’s decision to approve wider aid access for U.N. convoys into the northwest…

Reuters reveals Qatar Investment Authority raises stake in Credit Suisse to just under 7%

Reuters Reuters revealed Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund has increased its stake in Credit Suisse to just under 7%, becoming the Swiss bank’s second-largest shareholder after Saudi National Bank, signaling that its Gulf investor base is growing in importance. The post Reuters reveals Qatar Investment Authority raises stake in Credit Suisse to just under 7% appeared…

Reuters reveals Airbus implements A350 design change amid Qatar Airways feud

Reuters Reuters reported Airbus has carried out design changes to A350 passenger jets amid a $2 billion dispute with Qatar Airways over surface damage, which spilled over to a debate on security this week. The two companies have been fighting in court for months over the safety impact of flaking paint that exposed corrosion or…

Reuters reveals Renault, Geely look to bring Aramco into engine venture

Reuters Reuters was first to report that Renault SA and China’s Geely Automobile Holdings are working to finalise a deal to bring Saudi Aramco in as an investor and partner to develop and supply gasoline engines and hybrid technologies. The post Reuters reveals Renault, Geely look to bring Aramco into engine venture appeared first on…