US ends Sudan trade embargo, cites progress on rights
- 07-Oct-2017
WASHINGTON: The United States announced an end to its 20-year-old trade embargo against Sudan on Friday, citing what it said are improvements in Khartoum’s human rights record. Washington did not drop Sudan from its blacklist of state terror sponsors nor end its support for the international war crimes indictment targeting President Omar al-Bashir. But the […]
Iran puts economic squeeze on Iraqi Kurds
- 30-Sep-2017
TEHRAN: International pressure mounted on Iraqi Kurdistan Saturday after its controversial independence “yes” vote, with neighbouring Iran announcing joint border drills with Iraq and banning fuel trade with the autonomous region. A day after a cut in foreign air links with the region, Iran’s state broadcaster said all transport companies and drivers have been ordered […]
Iran slaps fuel trade embargo on Iraqi Kurdistan
- 30-Sep-2017
TEHRAN: Iran has embargoed exports and imports of fuel products to and from Iraqi Kurdistan in response to the region’s controversial independence referendum, Iranian media reported on Saturday. All transport companies and drivers are ordered to stop carrying fuel products between Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan “until further notice” or face “consequences”, the state broadcaster’s website […]
European Parliament calls for Saudi arms embargo
- 25-Feb-2016
BRUSSELS: The European Parliament called on the European Union to impose an arms embargo against Saudi Arabia on Thursday, saying Britain, France and other EU governments should no longer sell weapons to a country accused of targeting civilians in Yemen.
US MasterCards will soon work in Cuba
- 24-Jan-2015
WASHINGTON: MasterCard in March will begin processing transactions made on US-issued cards in Cuba, becoming the first major credit card company to do so since Cuba and the United States started to normalize relations.
'Buckwheat panic' grips Russia as economic sanctions bite
- 07-Dec-2014
MOSCOW: Hard-hit by falling oil prices and Western economic sanctions imposed over the Kremlin's role in the Ukrainian crisis, Russia is seeing a catastrophic depreciation of the ruble and steep inflation.
After hard bargaining, EU set for deal on new leadership
- 30-Aug-2014
BRUSSELS: European Union leaders are set to end weeks of wrangling over top jobs in Brussels and agree on Saturday on who will fill key posts in EU institutions that face major challenges from a combative Russia and a stuttering economy.