Business

13 Mar 2023; MEMO: More than 250 US-based financial investors warned Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, that Israel's judicial overhaul could prevent further investments into the country.

In an open letter addressed to the Prime Minister, published yesterday, the 255 investors expressed "deepest dismay" regarding the planned legislation, which they described as a "judicial coup".

13 Mar 2023; MEMO: A meeting on Syria at the level of deputy foreign ministers between Turkiye, Russia, Iran and Syria will be held in Russia's capital on 15-16 March, Turkish diplomatic sources said on Monday, Anadolu News Agency reports.

The meeting will be attended by Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister, Burak Akcapar, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, their Syrian counterpart Ayman Susan and Ali Asghar Khaji, a senior adviser to Iran's Foreign Minister.

13 Mar 2023; MEMO: Oil giant, Saudi Aramco, said earning reached $161 billion last year, claiming the highest-ever recorded annual profit by a publicly listed company and drawing immediate criticism from activists, AP reports.

The profit by the firm came off the back of energy prices rising after Russia launched its war on Ukraine in February 2022, with sanctions limiting the sale of Moscow's oil and natural gas in Western markets.

13 Mar 2023; MEMO: Russia does not object to another extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative "but only for 60 days", the deputy Foreign Minister said on Monday, Anadolu News Agency reports.

The deal was set to complete its second term on 18 March.

14 Mar 2023; MEMO: Iran and Kuwait are discussing the demarcation of their maritime borders, amid assurances that this will be done in "a manner consistent with the rules of international law," the official Kuwaiti News Agency has reported. A meeting of the countries' joint legal committee was held in Tehran on Monday evening.

12 Mar 2023; MEMO: Iran has signed an agreement to build 50 passenger ships for the Ivory Coast, in its latest deal struck with a West African nation.

The Iran Shipbuilding and Offshore Industries Complex (ISOICO) signed on Wednesday the memorandum of understanding to build 50 sea taxis for the Ivory Coast.

12 Mar 2023; MEMO: Iran said the resumption of political relations with Saudi Arabia will accelerate efforts aimed at reaching a cease-fire in war-torn Yemen, Anadolu reports.

"The relations between Riyadh and Tehran are important at three bilateral, regional, and international levels," Iran's permanent mission to the United Nations said in a statement cited by the state news agency IRNA.

13 Mar 2023; MEMO: Israel's Channel 12 revealed signs of a crisis between the UAE and Israel, against the background of the actions of the extremist right-wing Israeli government in Tel Aviv over the past month and a half. This prompted the Gulf state to suspend the purchase of Israeli defence systems.

12 Mar 2023; MEMO: Saudi Arabia is reportedly seeking a number of conditions to be met by the United States in return for its normalisation of relations with Israel, a report has claimed.

According to the New York Times, Saudi Arabia has said that it could potentially normalise ties with Israel if the US provides it security guarantees, assistance in its civilian nuclear program, and the lifting of restrictions on arms sales to the kingdom.

10 Mar 2023; MEMO: The New Development Bank, the multilateral bank set up by the BRICS states, said on Friday it had agreed to elect a new Brazilian Head at the request of the government of Brazil's new President, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Reuters reports.