Oman

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Feb. 19 hat he planned to raise U.S. concerns about human rights during a visit to Saudi Arabia, in particular the case of a Saudi-American doctor facing trial there who was barred from leaving the kingdom and allegedly tortured.

Since the beginning of 2020, the pace of normalization between Israel and Arab countries has accelerated considerably on the political, military, economic, and even sports fronts.

Tel Aviv has been keen to publicly announce secret relations with Arab countries in a bid to break with political tradition.

Turkey has been spared from joining the EU's blacklist, diplomatic sources said, though it has failed to fulfill its commitments and Brussels is under pressure to handle the tensions with Ankara.

However, the 27 EU Member States will add the Cayman Islands, the first British overseas territory to join the Black List after Brexit.

HSBC is considering selling its Turkey business amid concerns about the country's volatile currency and economic outlook, sources familiar with the matter have said.
As part of broader cost-cutting measures under interim chief executive Noel Quinn, the bank is also seeking to sell or shrink its business in some other markets, the sources said.

Turkey exported honey to 45 different countries in 2019, including Germany, the U.S., Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman.

Turkey earned revenues of $24.8 million from its honey exports, which reached 5,548 tons last year according to data compiled by Anadolu Agency from the Eastern Black Sea Exporters Association (DKIB).

Turkey exported $1.04 billion worth of yachts and ships last year, marking a 5.2 percent increase from 2018, according to data from the Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TİM).

Norway was the main export market as deliveries to this country amounted to $370 million, nearly doubling from the $185 million in revenues in 2018.

World leaders traveled on Jan. 12 to Oman to meet the country's new sultan, named just a day earlier after the death of the nation's longtime ruler Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Prince Charles were among those who arrived in Muscat to meet Oman's new ruler, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said.

Custodian of the Romanian Crown Margareta and Prince Radu underscored that Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said of Oman, who passed away on Friday evening, "has been one of the most important leaders of the Muslim world, with a reign which stretched for over a half of century." "His Majesty Crown Custodian Margareta and His Royal Highness Prince Radu were saddened to hear about the death of the Sulta

President Klaus Iohannis has sent a condolences message on Twitter for the passing away of the Sultan of Oman, Qaboos bin Said al Said.

Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said, one of the Middle East's longest-serving rulers who maintained the country's neutrality in regional struggles, died on Jan. 10 and state media said his cousin Haitham bin Tariq al-Said was named his successor.