Trump warns of fresh strikes on Iran within days if negotiations fail
Iran, which said its proposals presented to Washington included sanctions relief, the release of frozen funds, warned it would “open...
Geostrategy
TECOM shareholders approve $229 million cash dividend for 2025
Dubai, UAE - TECOM Group PJSC shareholders approved the financial statements for the year ended 31st December 2025 and endorsed...
Business
Geostrategy
AI needs to be smaller, reduce energy footprint: UNESCO study
Paris, France -- The potential of artificial intelligence is immense -- but its equally vast energy consumption needs curbing, with...
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently said that each request sent to ChatGPT consumes on average 0.34 Wh of electricity, which is 10-70 times a Google search.
- UNESCO calculated that AI energy demand is doubling every 100 days as generative AI tools become embedded in everyday life.
Economy
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...
- Lebanon is reeling from last year's devastating war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah, while Syria faces massive needs after the fall of Bashar al-Assad regime.
- The grant comes after Saudi Arabia and Qatar said they would pay off Syria's World Bank debt, and as the country's new rulers press reconstruction efforts.
Geostrategy
Israeli army kills 53 Palestinians and injures 200 others near Gaza aid site
"Israeli drones fired at the citizens. Some minutes later, Israeli tanks fired several shells at the citizens, which led to...
- Bassal said that four additional people were killed by Israeli fire Tuesday near the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
- In early March, Israel imposed a total aid blockade on the Gaza Strip amid an impasse in truce negotiations, only partially easing restrictions in late May.
Geostrategy
8 killed in overnight strikes on Israel, Iran’s defense headquarters hit
In the central region, at least four people, including a 10-year-old boy, were killed and around 100 others wounded in...
- In the central region, at least four people, including a 10-year-old boy, were killed and around 100 others wounded in a rocket strike.
- An MDA spokesman told Israeli broadcaster Channel 12 that around 200 people were wounded in overnight missile strikes fired by Iran.
Geostrategy
Syria’s new authorities to help locate missing Americans: US envoy
Damascus, Syria -- Syria's new authorities have agreed to help the United States locate and return Americans who went missing...
- "The new Syrian government has agreed to assist the USA in locating and returning USA citizens or their remains," US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack wrote on X.
- "The families of Austin Tice, Majd Kamalmaz, and Kayla Mueller must have closure," he added, referring to American citizens who had gone missing or been killed.
Geostrategy
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...
- The meeting, which also includes representatives from the Arab League and OIC, will promote a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
- After the EU decided this week to review its cooperation deal with Israel, Albares said "we must consider sanctions, we must do everything, consider everything to stop this war"'.
Geostrategy
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...
- Water is a major issue in the country of 46 million people undergoing a serious environmental crisis because of climate change, drought, rising temperatures and declining rainfall.
- Authorities also blame upstream dams built in neighboring Iran and Turkey for dramatically lowering the flow of the once-mighty Tigris and Euphrates.
Geostrategy
22 killed in Israeli air strikes across Gaza
The Israeli military has stepped up its Gaza offensive in recent days in what it has described as a renewed...
- Civil defense agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal said seven people were killed in a strike on a home in Jabalia, in the north.
- Fatal strikes were also recorded around Deir el-Balah in the center of the territory, Beit Lahia in the north, and the main southern city of Khan Yunis.
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.
Most Read
Revenue from Saudi cinema may exceed $1bn by 2030KSA, UAE play well as e-gaming trends across GCCExclusive: Middle East’s retail sector rides on AR and hybrid shopping to become $600bn digital economyTECOM Group profit soars 13%UAE startups eye Saudi Arabia for growth, expansionSaudi Arabia leads GCC AI healthcare raceDisparity remains as Saudis, Emiratis see wealth gains
Trump warns of fresh strikes on Iran within days if negotiations fail
Iran, which said its proposals presented to Washington included sanctions relief, the release of frozen funds, warned it would “open...
Geostrategy
Company News
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Roma loans Turkey midfielder Cengiz Under to Marseille for $9.9 million
A transfer fee of 8.4 million euros ($9.9 million) has been set with the Italian club receiving 20 percent of...
Rumsfeld, Iraq war architect, dead at 88
Rumsfeld and vice president Dick Cheney were emblematic of what was seen as excesses in Bush's "war on terror" He...
Saudi Arabia clamps down on anti-vaxxers
The country of 34 million has already administered 12 million doses Over 7,200 people have died of coronavirus in the...
Flower flies in Saudi northern borders region contribute to ecological balance
Arar, Saudi Arabia - The proliferation of flower flies, also known as hoverflies, has been observed across several natural and...
Economy
Saudi Arabia strengthens global leadership in open data
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia—The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to strengthen its global leadership in open data through a comprehensive national...
Economy
Gulf sovereign wealth funds face a strategic test amid escalating conflict
The escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States is emerging as a major test for the Gulf’s sovereign...
Economy
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Geostrategy
OpenAI faces backlash over Pentagon AI deal
OpenAI is facing online backlash after signing a deal with the United States Department of Defense to deploy its AI...
- The controversy has also boosted rival AI platform Claude, developed by Anthropic, which recently overtook ChatGPT as the top AI app
- Critics warn that the Pentagon partnership could allow AI technology to be used for surveillance or military purposes
GCC as the bridge in a fragmented global ad tech market
S4 Capital founder Martin Sorrell tells TRENDS digital dominance, AI disruption and consolidation are reshaping global advertising, urging agile, tech-first...
- The industry is effectively “two industries” — a fast-growing digital sector and a declining traditional media business — Martin Sorrell told TRENDS
- CMOs should stop experimenting with AI and move to full-scale implementation, radically reorganising workflows and cutting creative costs, he adds
Geostrategy
Iran’s protests: What we know
Iran has been rocked this week by protests that started in Tehran and have spread to other cities, with at...
- The protests began on Sunday in Tehran, where some shopkeepers went on strike over high prices and economic stagnation
- Iran's economy has been battered by years of crushing international sanctions over its nuclear programme, with raging inflation and a collapsing currency