Boeing, Saudi Military Company Form Joint Venture That Will Localize Aviation Production
Good day from REEDNEWSARABWORLD for Monday, April 11, 2022!
Boeing Corp. is forming a major joint venture in Saudi Arabia for military aviation. The Saudis see the deal as a big step toward building local production of its industries instead of relying on outsourcing to the U.S. and Europe.
Jordan's King Abdullah flew to Germany for an "urgent" spine operation and left his 27-year-old son, Crown Prince Hussein, in charge. The Biden administration will reject an Iranian demand to delist its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist group, threatening a nuclear deal. Iran sanctions 24 Americans including Rudy Giuliani and Donald Trump's secretary of commerce, Wilbur Ross, and Twitter suspends the account of the Yemen Houthi's military spokesman for breaking the rules.
And news from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Tunisia, Egypt, and More.
Boeing has signed a deal for a major new presence in Saudi Arabia with a joint venture on military aviation as the Saudis move toward greater localization of industry. The agreement between Boeing Corp. and Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), the subsidiary of the Public Investment fund that is leading the way toward local production instead of outsourcing abroad, will focus on military rotorcraft. A signing ceremony was held in Riyadh, and definitive agreements are expected in coming weeks. "This joint venture will help to enable more defense manufacturing to take place in Saudi Arabia, ensuring more jobs and prosperity in the kingdom," Ahmed Al-Khateeb, SAMI chairman, said.
The chief executive officer of SAMI, Walid Abukhaled, said "The maintenance of the rotary fleet operated in the kingdom by the different forces represents a major opportunity for localization and development of new sustainable skills. Much of this work is currently outsourced to the U.S. or Europe. while aircraft numbers are expected to double in the next 10 years.” The new agreement is expected to pave the way for a broader partnership between Boeing and SAMI.
Asharq Al-Awsat, Saudi SAMI announces joint venture agreement with Boeing.
Trade Arabia News Service, Saudi military industries, Boeing in deal to set up aviation JV.
Jordan's King Abdullah II was flown to Germany for urgent spine surgery, and his 27-year-old son, Crown Prince Hussein, rules Jordan in the king's absence. "His majesty left the homeland to Germany for surgery on a slipped disc in the spinal chest region," state television said. A statement from Jordan's Royal Hashemite Court said the king, 60, needed "urgent" back surgery,. and his doctors advised him to have the surgery in Frankfurt. He is expected to be hospitalized for a week. Abdullah has suffered from intermittent spine pain "as a result of parachute jumping during his years of service in special operations," the palace statement said. Abdullah assumed the throne in 1990 after the death of his father, King Hussein.
Crown Prince Hussein "took the constitutional oath as regent to king in the presence of the cabinet," a broadcast said. Hussein has been given more assignments in the past two years and has been promoted in Jordan's military. King Abdullah also has been taking Hussein with him on more trips abroad. When the two travel together, the king usually appoints his younger brother, Prince Faisal, as regent, the person who takes over royal duties in the king's absence.
Last year, a rift within the royal family went public for the first time, when Abdullah's half-brother, Prince Hamzah, criticized Jordan's governance. Hamzah was reportedly placed under house arrest, and two of his associates were convicted and jailed. Hamzah had been crown prince under Abdullah until he was replaced by Abdullah's son, Hussein. Hamzah in March apologized for his role in the palace feud, but then recently denounced his royal title with a tone suggesting he remained critical, without mentioning Abdullah or the ruling elite of Jordan.
Associated Press, Jordan palace says king to receive spine surgery in Germany.
The National, Jordan's King Abdullah flown to Germany for urgent surgery.
The Biden administration will reject Iran's demand for its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to be removed from the U.S. list of international terrorist organizations. Iran said its demand is a condition for agreeing to renew the 2015 nuclear agreement, and the Biden administration's refusal is seen as endangering the nuclear talks in Vienna. A U.S. official said: "The onus is on Iran whether we have a nuclear deal. The President will stick to core principles. The Iranians know our views."
Asharq Al-Awsat, Senior US official: Biden won't remove Iran's Guards from terror list.
Iran sanctioned 24 Americans including Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani. Iran's foreign minister claimed they were involved in "terrorist acts" and accused them of depriving Iran of medical supplies and supporting economic punishments. This latest round of sanctions by Iran lists U.S. military leaders, including Gen. George Casey, former Army chief of staff; and former U.S. Central Command head Gen. Joseph Votel, and others. It also names Wilbur Ross, who was secretary of commerce in the Trump administration. An earlier list by Iran included former President Donald Trump, his secretary of state Mike Pompeo, son-in-law Jared Kushner, and former UN representative Nikki Haley.
The Hill, Iran slaps sanctions on over two dozen Americans including Giuliani.
Iran wants U.S. President Joe Biden to lift some sanctions to show "goodwill." Iran's foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, said "If Biden has intentions to lift sanctions and return to the nuclear deal, he should issue an executive order to show his goodwill instead of applying sanctions on natural and legal persons in Iran. On multiple occasions, we have told Americans they should bring forward one or two practical points prior to any agreement."
Reuters, Iran wants U.S. to show goodwill by lifting some sanctions prior to nuclear deal.
The new head of Yemen's government said he wants to bring peace to the country but didn't mention any compromise with the rebel Houthis. Rashad al-Alimi, head of a new government council for Yemen, in a televised speech said "this is a council of peace but it is also a council of defense and strength." Al-Alimi thanked the country's armed forces and referred to the Houthis as an "Iranian project."
Associated Press, New top Yemeni govt official promises to work toward peace.
Twitter suspended an account of Yemen's Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree for breaking its rules. Saree has used the platform to issue threats against Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Twitter did not specify why it suspended the four-year-old account, which has more than 340,000 followers. Saree has used Twitter to claim responsibility for attacks by the Iran-backed rebel Houthis on Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and he has threatened further attacks. Jaber Al Lamki, an official in the UAE's defense ministry, praised Twitter for its "socially responsible" move.
The National, Twitter suspends Houthi military spokesman's account.
Saudi Arabia will increase the number of pilgrims to perform Hajj this year to one million, including both people in the kingdom and abroad, and the pilgrimage will be limited to people under 65. All must be vaccinated, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Pilgrims from abroad must also present a negative Covid-19 PCR test.
Reuters, Saudi Arabia raises number of Haj pilgrims allowed to one million this year - SPA.
Times of Oman, Hajj this year will be restricted to people under 65.
The number of London properties owned by Qatari individuals is climbing. Analysis said ownership increased by 50% from 2018 to 2021 as more Qataris bought properties, either as second homes or for investment. Almost a quarter of the purchases have been in central London's Westminster, with some of London's most desirable neighborhoods including Mayfair, Marylebone, St. James, Bayswater, and Whitehall, with sections of Belgravia and Knightsbridge.
Zawya, The number of London properties owned by Qatari individuals increased by almost 50% between 2018 and 2021.
A former Goldman Sachs banker has been convicted for bribing government officials in the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. Roger Ng was found guilty of violating anti-corruption laws and for conspiring to launder billions of dollars that was diverted from Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund, 1MDB. Between 2009 and 2014, Ng and his co-conspirators allegedly paid more than $1 billion in bribes to get underwriting deals from the fund.
Investment Executive, Goldman banker convicted on 1MDB scandal.
Standard & Poor's affirmed Kuwait's credit ratings at A+/A1 with negative outlook. The negative outlook was assigned because of risks over the next two years for Kuwait's financing strategy. The ratings agency said, however, it could revise Kuwait's outlook to stable if the government addresses restraints such as adopting a debt law.
Arab Times, Kuwait rated A+ negative with S&P.
The Lebanese government said Kuwait will "spare no efforts to support Lebanon and help it to bounce back." Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati discussed a phone call from Kuwait's foreign minister, Sheikh Ahmad Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah. Kuwait has been instrumental in resolving a dispute between Lebanon and Gulf states, particularly Saudi Arabia, and Mikati said "The Gulf countries are looking forward to the stability, security and recovery of Lebanon."
Yeni Safak, Kuwait vows support to cash-strapped Lebanon.
Egypt signed an agreement with Kuwait for a grant of $2.5 million to plan a railway between Egypt and Sudan. The money will be used to view the feasibility of the project and for technical, economic and environmental studies. The rail link, which would extend for 570 kilometers, was first proposed in 2010 and revived in 2018.
Ahram, Egypt, Kuwait ink grant deal to study feasibility of establishing railway linking Egypt and Sudan.
The Polisario front is breaking relations with Spain because of the country's shift to support Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara. Polisario, a faction backed by Algeria that advocates independence for Western Sahara, said it was severing ties with Madrid and called for a referendum on independence. Spain, which previously held Western Sahara as a colony, had long favored independence but recently did an abrupt turnaround and supported Morocco's jurisdiction over the region.
Reuters, W. Sahara's Polisario to cut Spain ties over Rabat's plan.
Tunisia's President Kais Saied announced compensation for families of those killed and wounded in the country's 2011 revolution. Saied, under accusations of taking power in a coup, issued a decree for compensation of the families and for police he said defended the country from "terrorist attacks" in the years after the revolution, which brought democracy to the country. Saied has tried to dissolve Tunisia's parliament, and opponents have accused him of one-man, undemocratic rule.
Reuters, Tunisia to compensate revolution's dead and wounded, president says.
Hundreds of Tunisians took to the streets and defied a large police deployment to protest the rule of President Kais Saied. The protesters, organized by the opposition Ennahda party and a movement called Citizens Against the Coup, waved national flags and called for the removal of Saied. Anti-terrorism police had summoned Rached Ghannouchi, head of Ennahda and speaker of parliament, for questioning following an on-line session of parliament, which Saied said he had dissolved. Ghannouchi said other sessions will be convened.
Middle East Eye, Tunisia: Protesters take to streets calling for end to president Saied's rule.
Egypt's inflation rate hit 12.1 percent and foreign reserves decline by $4 billion. The country's central bank announced the data for March, showing a large inflationary increase over the previous year. The latest figure is also two points higher than February, which was at a near three-year high.
News International, Egypt inflation rises to 12.1% as foreign reserves dip.
An Egyptian rights group said an economist who has been missing since February died in government custody. The Egyptian Network for Human Rights said Ayman Mohammad Ali Hadhoud died in recent days under "mysterious circumstances," citing members of his family. Hadhoud was a founder of Egypt's liberal Reform and Development Party and went missing on February 5. Officials informed the family of his death but gave no details.
Middle East Eye, Egypt: Economist dies in government custody months after enforced disappearance.
MORE: Citigroup claws its way back into Saudi Arabia, Wall Street Journal... Qatar Airways, Airbus feud over safety in rare court clash, Reuters./Hindustan Times.. Analysts warn Tunisia risks drifting back to pre-revolutionary era, Voice of America... Turkey, Egypt to appoint ambassadors at right time: FM Cavusoglu, Daily Sabah... . Taliban announces deadline for Kabul airport contract, Times of Oman... Khalid bin Salman: New Yemeni step is a pivotal moment that lays foundations for peace in Yemen, region, Asharq Al-Awsat.
News You Missed
The Biden administration's plan to reject an Iranian demand that the United States lift its designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization puts completion of an Iran nuclear deal in jeopardy. David Ignatius writes that, even though the decision may be a dealbreaker, U.S. President Joe Biden apparently doesn't plan to budge -- "nor should he.”
Washington Post, Opinion: Biden won't remove Iran's Revolutionary Guard from terror list. He's right.
Lebanon's banks are accused of exacerbating the country's financial meltdown, and the judiciary has taken on the banking system. The increased judicial scrutiny has raised questions about motivation and timing.
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