UN’s Syria envoy outraged by Damascus church attack
The United Nations special envoy for Syria denounced Sunday's attack on a church in Damascus that killed at least 20...
Geostrategy
Saudi says ‘no radioactive effects’ detected, more US embassy staff leaves Iraq
"No radioactive effects were detected on the environment of the Kingdom and the Arab Gulf states as a result of...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Iran talks raise possibility of IRGC losing ‘terrorist’ designation
Sources close to the negotiations in Vienna have said that one of Tehran's conditions was the removal of the largely...
- One of Tehran's conditions was the removal of the largely symbolic designation, which equates the Revolutionary Guards with the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda
- The IRGC, one of the most powerful forces in Iran, was officially branded a "foreign terrorist organization" by the administration of president Donald Trump in 2019
Geostrategy
Syria’s Assad visits UAE, first trip to an Arab state since war
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad held talks in the United Arab Emirates on Friday, his first official visit to an Arab...
- The meeting is the latest sign of warming ties between Syria and the UAE, which broke ties with Damascus in February 2012
- Sheikh Mohammed said he hoped the visit would "pave the way for goodness, peace and stability to prevail in Syria and the entire region", WAM said
Business
Google faces racism lawsuit
Ex-employee says Google imposed ‘barriers’ on Black workers.
- Ex-employee April Curley, hired by the tech giant in 2014, has contended in her suit that she was undermined at Google
- She says she was ultimately fired for advocating reform of ‘barriers and double standards’ imposed on Black Google employees
Economy
Turkish president Erdogan inaugurates world’s longest suspension bridge
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday opened the world's longest suspension bridge over the Dardanelles strait in northwestern Turkey...
- The bridge over the Dardanelles strait in northwestern Turkey cuts travel time between Asia and Europe to six minutes.
- The $2.8-billion "1915 Canakkale Bridge" built by a consortium of Turkish and South Korean companies has a main span of 2.023 kilometers between its towers.
Geostrategy
Finland named happiest nation for fifth year, Afghanistan unhappiest
The World Happiness Report, now in its 10th year, is based on people's own assessment of their happiness, as well...
- Lebanon, which is facing economic meltdown, fell to second from last on the index of 146 countries, just below Zimbabwe.
- Northern Europeans once again dominated the top spots -- with the Danes second to the Finns, followed by the Icelandic, the Swiss and the Dutch.
Business
India bypasses Western attempt to choke off Russian oil supply
Indian government officials on Friday defended the continued buying of Russian oil, saying European countries were still purchasing hydrocarbons from...
- Indian oil refiners have in recent days reportedly purchased several million barrels of discounted Russian oil even as the West seeks to isolate Moscow economically
- New Delhi, which historically has had close ties with Moscow, has called for an end to the violence in Ukraine but has stopped short of condemning Russia's invasion
Economy
IEA appeals to governments to cut oil use over supply fears
The IEA urged governments to urgently implement measures to cut global oil consumption within months following supply fears stemming from...
- The outbreak of war in Ukraine has sent prices for the fuel up sharply and led to major economies, such as the US and Canada, sanctioning Russia by banning imports of oil
- The IEA warned earlier this week of the risk of a global supply crisis as major oil companies, trading houses, shipping firms and banks have shunned Russia
Arts & Culture
War heaps misery upon Yemen’s heritage
Yemen's Sira Fortress withstood attacks by the Portuguese and the Turks, but years of war have left the 11th century...
- Sira sits atop a rocky mountain island in the historic district of Crater, a strategic position that once made it a base for British colonial forces
- Yemen's brutal war has not just killed hundreds of thousands, but also laid waste to much of its rich architectural heritage
Geostrategy
Postmen deliver the goods on Ukraine’s home front
The Nova Poshta courier company in Lviv handled millions of parcels before the war. Now, most of the 100,000 daily...
- The Nova Poshta warehouse's workforce has slimmed by more than half. Just 22 work here with most of the rest called up for combat.
- Around 90 percent of freight passing through the facility is now humanitarian aid -- gathered and sorted at the Lviv way station for incoming refugees or eastbound distribution.
Business
Telenor subsidiary sale approved
Myanmar junta Okayed the sale to Lebanese conglomerate M1 Group.
- The Southeast Asian nation has been in chaos since a coup last year sparked huge protests and a bloody military crackdown on dissent, sending its economy into freefall.
- In July, Telenor cited junta demands that it install monitoring equipment on the network as a reason for leaving the country.
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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
UN’s Syria envoy outraged by Damascus church attack
The United Nations special envoy for Syria denounced Sunday's attack on a church in Damascus that killed at least 20...
Geostrategy
Company News
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Coups, conflicts and crises confront African summit
Ahead of the gathering in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, African Union Commission head Moussa Faki Mahamat voiced alarm at...
Missile attack targets ship off Yemen: security agencies
Friday's strike came as a US decision in January to redesignate the Houthis as "terrorists" formally came into force. The...
Gaza health ministry: 5 die in Israeli-raided hospital after oxygen cut
Five patients from the intensive care unit had died "as a result of the stopping of generators that caused a...
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Business
Asian markets rally after Wall Street highs, oil prices slide
"The weakness of yesterday's US retail sales release have given market doves a new lease of life and allowed them...
- Wall Street had leapt Thursday after the US Commerce Department reported a larger-than-expected 0.8-percent decline in retail sales for January
- London equities also jumped as investors drew comfort from a contrasting January rebound in UK retail sales, one day after gloomy news that Britain entered recession
Geostrategy
Recognizing Palestine state not a taboo for France, says Macron
"The recognition of a Palestinian state is not a taboo for France," he said at a joint press conference in...
- His comments come after Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a plan for international recognition of such a state, following reports of such an initiative in The Washington Post.
- Macron also repeated a warning against Israel attacking the city of Rafah, the southernmost point in the besieged and bombarded Palestinian territory of Gaza.
Geostrategy
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny dies in prison
Western governments immediately attacked the Kremlin over the death of the most outspoken critic of President Vladimir Putin. Navalny lost...
- The 47-year-old was Russia's most prominent opposition leader and won a huge following with his criticism of corruption in Vladimir Putin's Russia.
- Navalny's exposes, posted on his YouTube channel racked up millions of views and brought tens of thousands of Russians to the streets, despite Russia's harsh anti-protests laws..