World Bank announces Lebanon, Syria reconstruction projects
Beirut, Lebanon -- The World Bank announced on Wednesday it had approved $250 million to support Lebanon's post-war reconstruction and...
Economy
Iraq’s water reserves lowest in 80 years after a dry rainy season
Baghdad, Iraq -- Iraq's water reserves are at their lowest in 80 years after a dry rainy season, a government...
Geostrategy
Arts & Culture
Iraq’s first ever director in Cannes wins best feature debut
Hasan Hadi won the top prize for his childhood adventure under economic sanctions in "The President's Cake".
- Also from the Middle East, Palestinian director Tawfeek Barhom received his award for his short film "I'm Glad You're Dead Now".
- Gazan twin brothers Arab and Tarzan Nasser on Friday received a directing award in the Certain Regard parallel section for "Once Upon A Time In Gaza".
Economy
United Kingdom renationalizes first train operator under Labor reforms
London, United Kingdom -- Britain's South Western Railways on Sunday becomes the first private train operator to be returned to...
- Renationalizing all of the UK's rail operators is among the key policies launched by Prime Minister Keir Starmer since his party's return to government last July.
- Train passengers in Britain suffer from frequent cancellations, in addition to high ticket prices and regular confusion over which services they can be used on.
Geostrategy
Syria revamps interior ministry to reassure West
The interior ministry restructure includes reforms and creating "a modern civil security institution that adopts transparency and respects international human...
- The move was formalized Friday after being announced by President Donald Trump on a Gulf tour this month during which he shook hands with Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
- It includes setting up a citizens' complaints department and incorporating the police and General Security agency into an Internal Security command, he told a press conference.
Geostrategy
Kuwait strips tens of thousands of citizenship since August 2024
The latest campaign abolishes naturalization by marriage, which only applied to women, and revokes citizenship granted to wives since 1987....
- The mass revocations have been cast as part of a reformist agenda spearheaded by Kuwaiti emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.
- Kuwait already has a big stateless community: the Bidoon, estimated at around 100,000 people, who were denied citizenship on independence from British protectorship in 1961.
Business
Real estate transactions in five UAE emirates reach $65 billion in Q1
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Real estate transactions across five emirates in the UAE surged to over AED 239 billion ($65...
- More than 94,719 sales, purchase, and mortgage deals were recorded from January through March in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, and Ras Al Khaimah.
- Dubai accounted for the largest share, with AED 193 billion in real estate transactions, resulting from 58,039 transactions, a growth of 16.2% in value and 31.5% compared to 2024.
Business
Trump expands Apple tariff threat to all smartphones
Washington, United States -- US President Donald Trump on Friday threatened Apple and other smartphone manufacturers with a 25 percent...
- Trump initially said the tariff would apply only to Apple -- an unusual move to single out a specific company in trade policy.
- While Apple designs its products in the United States, most iPhone assembly occurs in China, which remains embroiled in a trade war with the United States.
Business
Anthropic’s Claude AI gets smarter — and mischievious
San Francisco, United States -- Anthropic launched its latest Claude generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) models on Thursday, claiming to set...
- "Claude Opus 4 is our most powerful model yet, and the best coding model in the world," Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei said.
- Opus 4 and Sonnet 4 were described as "hybrid" models capable of quick responses as well as more thoughtful results that take a little time to get things right.
Geostrategy
Antonio Guterres denounces ‘cruelest phase’ of Gaza conflict
"For nearly 80 days, Israel blocked the entry of life-saving international aid," Guterres said. "The entire population of Gaza is...
- "The Israeli military offensive is intensifying with atrocious levels of death and destruction.
- "Today, 80 percent of Gaza has been either designated an Israeli-militarized zone or an area where people have been ordered to leave."
Business
Trump threatens Apple with a 25% tariff if iPhones aren’t made in US
Washington, United States -- US President Donald Trump on Friday threatened Apple with a 25 percent tariff if the iPhones...
- Trump's sweeping tariffs on major US trading partners have roiled global markets and upended international commerce.
- Trump's comments Friday echo statements he made last week while on a trip to Qatar, urging Apple to bring iPhone production to US shores.
Business
TOURISE 2025: Riyadh to host premier summit for sustainable tourism
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's Minister of Tourism, Ahmed Al-Khateeb, has officially unveiled TOURISE, a groundbreaking global platform set...
- The inaugural TOURISE 2025 event will take place in Riyadh from November 11-13, bringing together public and private sector leaders, experts, and investors.
- Nominations will be accepted via an online portal, with winners announced at a dedicated ceremony during the platform.
World Bank announces Lebanon, Syria reconstruction projects
Beirut, Lebanon -- The World Bank announced on Wednesday it had approved $250 million to support Lebanon's post-war reconstruction and...
Economy
Company News
Latest News
2 crew members killed as Saudi fighter jet crashes
An investigation into the cause of the recent accident has been initiated, with Maliki informing the Saudi Press Agency (SPA)...
FBI completes Rainbow Bridge car explosion, says it was traffic accident
According to witnesses, the car was running at a speed of more than 160 km/h. As a result, the car...
UAE to build 3 desalination plants to supply Gaza with water
Abu Dhabi, UAE - The UAE is building three desalination plants in Rafah to supply Gaza with water as part...
Kuwait City is the Middle East’s most polluted, Baghdad is next
Dubai, UAE - As New Delhi once again topped the list of the world’s most polluted cities, across the Middle...
Saudi national stopped at Delhi hotel lobby while trying to meet UAE President
New Delhi, India - A Saudi Arabian national attempted to gain access to a five-star hotel in Delhi where UAE...
22 killed in Israeli air strikes across Gaza
Geostrategy
Syria revamps interior ministry to reassure West
The interior ministry restructure includes reforms and creating "a modern civil security institution that adopts transparency and respects international human...
Geostrategy
Kuwait strips tens of thousands of citizenship since August 2024
The latest campaign abolishes naturalization by marriage, which only applied to women, and revokes citizenship granted to wives since 1987....
Geostrategy
Real estate transactions in five UAE emirates reach $65 billion in Q1
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- Real estate transactions across five emirates in the UAE surged to over AED 239 billion ($65...
Business
Most Read
Business
Anthropic’s Claude AI gets smarter — and mischievious
San Francisco, United States -- Anthropic launched its latest Claude generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) models on Thursday, claiming to set...
- "Claude Opus 4 is our most powerful model yet, and the best coding model in the world," Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei said.
- Opus 4 and Sonnet 4 were described as "hybrid" models capable of quick responses as well as more thoughtful results that take a little time to get things right.
Geostrategy
Antonio Guterres denounces ‘cruelest phase’ of Gaza conflict
"For nearly 80 days, Israel blocked the entry of life-saving international aid," Guterres said. "The entire population of Gaza is...
- "The Israeli military offensive is intensifying with atrocious levels of death and destruction.
- "Today, 80 percent of Gaza has been either designated an Israeli-militarized zone or an area where people have been ordered to leave."
Business
Trump threatens Apple with a 25% tariff if iPhones aren’t made in US
Washington, United States -- US President Donald Trump on Friday threatened Apple with a 25 percent tariff if the iPhones...
- Trump's sweeping tariffs on major US trading partners have roiled global markets and upended international commerce.
- Trump's comments Friday echo statements he made last week while on a trip to Qatar, urging Apple to bring iPhone production to US shores.