Spain hosts European, Arab nations to pressure Israel on Gaza
Madrid will host 20 countries as well as international organizations with the aim of "stopping this war, which no longer...
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
Trump pledges historic tax cuts, investment growth, oil price action, and Ukraine peace effort at Davos 2025
The newly inaugurated president remarked that he would “like to meet with President Putin soon” and “get the war ended,”...
- The newly inaugurated president said he would reduce the US corporate tax rate from 21% to 15%, with foreign companies manufacturing goods in the US benefiting directly
- Trump also indicated that lowering oil prices could be a key step towards ending the Ukraine-Russia war, urging Saudi Arabia and OPEC to reduce the cost of oil
Economy
WEF25: Saudi delegation calls for nations to put “greater good” first
The international community must prioritize cooperation and dialogue to overcome the challenges of a fragmented world, the Saudi delegation to...
- Saudi Arabia urges global cooperation and prioritizes private sector-led economic diversification
- Key initiatives focus on AI, sustainability, and transforming industries for future growth
Geostrategy
UNRWA: Reconstructing Gaza Strip exceeds agency’s capabilities due to severe damage
Gaza, Palestine - The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), confirmed today that the reconstruction process...
- UNRWA said that the agency can contribute to rehabilitating the infrastructure in the camps and returning employees to work inside them, and operating their wells.
- The agency emphasized that locating the missing—numbering in the thousands beneath the rubble—requires meticulous planning and the expertise of specialized teams
Geostrategy
Ceasefire begins: Israel, Hamas exchange hostages and prisoners amid fragile hopes for lasting peace
The 42-day truce's first phase involves prisoner exchanges and hostage releases, but the future remains uncertain as both sides navigate...
- In Gaza, Palestinians returned to homes reduced to rubble, checked on missing relatives, and prepared to bury their dead
- Humanitarian relief efforts also resumed, with more than 600 trucks carrying essential supplies entering the battered enclave
Geostrategy
Ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas goes into effect, marking first steps toward peace
As the first phase of the ceasefire takes effect, the world watches to see whether this temporary reprieve will be...
- The complex deal consists of three phases, each lasting 42 days, and it will see both sides release prisoners and hostages in exchange for a temporary halt to the violence
- Netanyahu’s warning that Israel retains the right to resume fighting and Hamas’s insistence on a complete Israeli withdrawal and a lasting ceasefire make the road to lasting peace
Geostrategy
Joint Operations Room set up in Cairo to oversee Gaza ceasefire implementation
Cairo, Egypt - A joint operations room has been established in Cairo to oversee the implementation of the Gaza Strip...
- The room, comprising representatives from Egypt, Palestine, Qatar, the US, and Israel, aims to ensure collaborative efforts and consistent adherence to the agreement's provisions
- This agreement, the source noted, represents a significant step towards preventing further escalation and fostering long-term stability in the Gaza Strip
UAE leads solar energy growth with strategic projects
Abu Dhabi, UAE - A new report highlighted the UAE's leadership in the regional solar energy sector, driven by initiatives...
- The "Solar Outlook Report 2025" report outlines the rapid growth of solar energy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and the UAE’s key role in this transformation
- Solar energy's share in the regional energy mix grew significantly, with solar capacity in MENA rising 23% in 2023 to 32 GW peak, and projected to exceed 180 GW by 2030
Geostrategy
WEF’s risks report 2025: Rising geopolitical tensions, environmental threats, disinformation dominate future threats
A survey of over 900 experts reveals state-based armed conflict as the most pressing global risk for 2025, driven by...
- A late 2024 survey of over 900 global risks experts, policymakers, and industry leaders identifies state-based armed conflict as 2025's top risk
- Extreme weather events, societal polarization, and cyber-espionage also rank prominently, underscoring a landscape fraught with challenges
Social media’s evolving role in GCC spotlighted at Doha conference
Doha, Qatar – The Qatar Investment and Innovation Conference, held on Wednesday, at Barahat Msheireb in Msheireb Downtown Doha, brought...
- The conference, co-hosted by Msheireb Properties and The Business Year, explored critical themes critical to the GCC’s position as a leading investment hub
- Julien Hawari, CEO of Million and Sirius Lab, highlighted key social media trends in the region, such as the rise of content driven by younger, tech-savvy demographics
Geostrategy
Israel, Hamas ceasefire begins Sunday, includes hostage deal, phased Israeli withdrawal, more aid for Gaza
The deal, brokered by the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar, includes Hamas releasing 33 hostages and Israel freeing hundreds of Palestinian...
- The deal includes release of 33 Israeli hostages, including women, children, and the elderly, and, in return, Israel will release hundreds of Palestinian captives
- The deal also allows for a dramatic increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza, with over 500 trucks of food, water, and medical supplies expected to enter the region daily
Spain hosts European, Arab nations to pressure Israel on Gaza
Madrid will host 20 countries as well as international organizations with the aim of "stopping this war, which no longer...
Geostrategy
Company News
Qatar Airways annual profit $2bn
Business
AI talking trees feature at Chelsea Flower Show
Arts & Culture
Latest News
‘Gentle giants’: World’s strongest men defy stereotypes
Arts & Culture
UK halts trade talks with Israel, summons envoy over Gaza
Foreign Secretary David Lammy accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government of "egregious actions and rhetoric" over its expansion of...
Geostrategy
Nvidia unveils plan for Taiwan’s first ‘AI supercomputer’
Taipei, Taiwan -- Nvidia boss Jensen Huang announced plans for Taiwan's first "AI supercomputer", as he showcased on Monday the...
Business
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Arts & Culture
AI talking trees feature at Chelsea Flower Show
London, United Kingdom -- Talking trees powered by AI, drought-resistant crops and sweet potatoes sprouting among flowers -- the prestigious...
- More than 140,000 visitors are expected to view what the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) bills as "the pinnacle of horticultural excellence".
- In the Intelligent Garden, plant-lovers can truly talk to the trees thanks to artificial intelligence.
Geostrategy
Israel army announces ‘extensive ground operations’ in ramped-up Gaza campaign
Since a two-month ceasefire collapsed in March as Israel resumed its offensive, negotiations mediated by Qatar, Egypt and the United...
- Israel has faced increasing pressure to lift its aid blockade, as UN agencies warn of critical shortages of food, clean water, fuel and medicine.
- The UN had warned of the risk of famine in Gaza long before the aid blockade was imposed.
Arts & Culture
‘Gentle giants’: World’s strongest men defy stereotypes
Sacramento, United States -- Eddie Williams is a schoolteacher from Monday to Friday and a wedding singer on weekends. In...
- The World's Strongest Man competition was first held in 1977 at Universal Studios in California.
- The names of the individual events -- the "Titan's Toss," "Atlas Stones," "Flintstone Barbell" and "Hercules Hold" -- convey the magnitude of the challenges.