President Trump brushed off reports Monday that hundreds of ISIS family members had escaped a Kurdish-run camp in northern Syria, a day after the U.S. announced it was pulling out all its troops, sparking a dramatic wave of upheaval in the conflict. On Sunday, the U.S. triggered a series of whirlwind developments by announcing it […]
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Over the years, many automotive startups have tried their luck into the hypercar segment, but only few have succeeded. Ajlani Motors wants to build its own supercar and, of course, succeed in its endeavor. Founded by car designer Bashar Ajlani, the brand will uncover its first product at the 2019 Dubai International Motor Show on […]
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Watching the scandal about Ukraine unfold, I have thought often about my former colleague as a United States ambassador, Marie Yovanovitch. An experienced, thoughtful, and effective senior officer, she had made remarks about corruption that put her in the cross hairs of the Ukrainian government to which she was accredited, and was quickly removed from […]
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WASHINGTON — No one should have been surprised, and yet it seems that everyone was. President Trump made clear long ago that he wanted to get out of the Middle East, but even some of his own supporters evidently assumed that he would not follow through or that someone would stop him. As a result, […]
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This is Naked Capitalism fundraising week. 1475 donors have already invested in our efforts to combat corruption and predatory conduct, particularly in the financial realm. Please join us and participate via our donation page, which shows how to give via check, credit card, debit card, or PayPal. Read about why we’re doing this fundraiser and […]
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American diplomats thought they had negotiated a solution to a seemingly intractable problem. The United States needed Kurdish-led forces in northern Syria to face off against remnants of the Islamic State. But Turkey, a NATO ally, saw those same Kurds as terrorists, allied with separatists inside Turkey. To prevent a Turkish invasion, the three sides […]
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After years of growing hostility and competition for influence, Saudi Arabia and Iran have taken steps toward indirect talks to try to reduce the tensions that have brought the Middle East to the brink of war, according to officials from several countries involved in the efforts. Even the prospect of such talks represents a remarkable […]
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CAIRO — A group of teenagers arrested on their way to buy new school clothes. An illiterate shoeshiner picked up from the street. Eight people stopped while they were eating from a street food cart. And a 28-year-old financial auditor, who was walking to his car after dinner when police officers ordered him to stop. […]
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The last time I saw my friend Jamal Khashoggi was in September 2017, when he was settling into his self-imposed exile in the United States. We argued about politics over dinner at a steak house in Washington. We cracked jokes about my struggle with a small piece of steak and his ease at devouring a […]
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This year, Porsche Exclusive celebrated 33 years since it officially began crafting tailor-made vehicles for affluent customers. However, even before setting up its bespoke vehicle division, Porsche made some unique cars for buyers whose motorized wishes had to be granted. People like Mansour Ojjeh, for example, who had Porsche’s special requests department build him a […]
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Yves here. This article presents Iran as having a grand strategy that is presently winning. The piece quotes recent statements from some of Iran’s top officials and house organs. But an open question is how much of this is aspirational. The reason for wondering whether the author has overstated his case is his depiction of […]
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After being showcased at Monterey Car Week in the U.S. and at Lotus Day in Japan, the Lotus Evija’s tour continues, this time in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Celebrating the hypercar’s official debut in the Middle East, Lotus has brought it at its Dubai retail outlet, which opened one year ago. The 465 sq-m […]
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The second-generation BMW X4 was designed to one-up its predecessor in every conceivable way. Not only is it larger, but it also comes with a longer wheelbase, lower center of gravity and weighs some 110 lbs (49.8 kg) less. It also looks different enough thanks to a larger front grille, beefier headlights with adaptive LED […]
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Last fall, McLaren uncovered the spectacular Speedtail that will be built in 106 examples, with deliveries expected to kick off next year. Even if you do happen to have £1.75 million plus taxes in the UK (equal to $2.2/€2 million at current exchange rates) to spend on a brand new set of wheels, though, you […]
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Yves here. Sadly, it bears repeating that Iran has made clear it is ready to launch a brutal counter-strike if attacked. And in case you missed it, at the top of Links comments yesterday, PlutoniumKun shredded the US/Saudi claim that Iran was behind the drone attack on Saudi oil facilities: Saudi Arabia shows ‘material evidence’ […]
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Spending upwards of $300,000 on an SUV usually means configuring the vehicle to your exact specifications, something Rolls-Royce will gladly let you do as long as you’re determined to become the owner of a Cullinan. While the so-called Rolls-Royce of SUVs is easily the most luxurious people haulers in the world, this particular one from […]
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Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia’s former autocratic president whose extravagant life and oppressive rule inspired the 2011 Arab Spring revolts, died on Thursday in exile in Saudi Arabia, the Tunisian state news agency reported. He was 83. The death of Mr. Ben Ali came just days after Tunisians voted in national elections, a new milestone […]
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WASHINGTON — Senior national security officials from across the government are scheduled to meet Thursday to refine a list of potential targets to strike in Iran, should President Trump order a military retaliation for missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabian oil fields last weekend, officials said. Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper and Gen. Joseph […]
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Thomas Jefferson warned against entangling alliances. John F. Kennedy was ready to pay any price and bear any burden. Teddy Roosevelt advised us to speak softly and carry a big stick. And then there’s Donald Trump. Locked, half-cocked, and probably bluffing. That’s the lesson Iran’s leaders appear to have drawn following a carefully calibrated sequence […]
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The missiles that struck last weekend in Saudi Arabia did not just destroy oil tanks. They also dealt the final blow to a doctrine that has been fading for years: the belief that the United States maintains a security umbrella able to protect the oil-rich Persian Gulf states from their enemies — and, especially, from […]
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