IAEA warns of nuclear disaster if Israel attacks Iran’s Bushehr plant
Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told the UN Security Council that he has not yet...
Geostrategy
European, Iranian diplomats to meet as Trump mulls joining Israel campaign
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will meet with his French, German, British and EU counterparts in Geneva on Friday to...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Biden to hold virtual summit with Japan, Australia, India leaders Thursday: Delhi
The statement from India's foreign ministry came a day after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Russian President Vladimir...
- The statement from India's foreign ministry came a day after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin
- The grouping is seen as a bulwark against China, and there have been concerns in India and elsewhere that the Ukraine crisis would distract Washington from the region
Market Report
Equities rise as Powell soothes rate fears, oil presses higher
Traders were given a much-needed shaft of light on Wednesday when the Fed boss eased concerns over its plans for...
- Traders were given a much-needed shaft of light on Wednesday when the Fed boss eased concerns over its plans for tightening policy
- Powell told lawmakers he was in favour of a moderate pace of rate increases, with a 25-basis-point lift this month
Geostrategy
Russian forces capture Ukrainian city of Kherson
"The (Russian) occupiers are in all parts of the city and are very dangerous," Gennady Lakhuta, head of the regional...
- "The (Russian) occupiers are in all parts of the city and are very dangerous," Gennady Lakhuta, head of the regional administration, wrote on messaging service Telegram
- The strategic port city of 290,000 people near the Black Sea came under siege as Russian forces pressed ahead with their offensive across other urban centres
Geostrategy
UN General Assembly demands Russia withdraw from Ukraine
The UN General Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly adopted a resolution that "demands" Russia "immediately" withdraw from Ukraine, in a powerful...
- "The world is rejecting Russia’s lies," US President Joe Biden said in a statement later Wednesday
- China was among the 35 countries which abstained, while just five -- Eritrea, North Korea, Syria, Belarus and of course Russia -- voted against it
Geostrategy
Germany voices opposition to postponing Iran nuclear deal
Israel has said that regardless of any agreement that may be reached in Vienna, it would maintain full freedom to...
- The latest round of negotiations to salvage Iran's 2015 nuclear deal started in late November
- The deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), secured sanctions relief for Iran
Geostrategy
Two years into the pandemic, is the end in sight?
Scientists warn that potential new variants and unequal vaccination rates threaten any long-awaited return to normality.
- Under the "reasonable best-case" scenario, there will be smaller regional or seasonal outbreaks, as the higher Covid numbers lead to fewer flu cases.
- In the meantime, the WHO emphasizes that the best way to end the acute phase of the pandemic is for rich countries to share their doses rather than boost their populations again.
Business
Turkish drones make waves in Russia-Ukraine war
Kyiv has around 20 Bayraktar TB2 drones, built by the Turkish military. Relatively cheap and effective, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan...
- But while they have proved their worth in several recent conflicts -- from Syria to Libya to Nagorno-Karabakh -- the terrain this time is less favorable, experts say
- The Ukrainian ambassador in Ankara has regularly tweeted images of explosions attributed to the drones, targeting Russian columns and artillery
Geostrategy
On land and sea, climate change causing ‘irreversible’ losses: UN
Climate change has already caused "irreversible losses" for Nature, UN experts have said, warning that if emissions are not cut...
- Many natural systems have already reached or are close to the limit of their ability to cope with the effects of a warming planet.
- The Earth is already believed to be entering its sixth mass extinction, driven by humanity's overconsumption and comprehensive destruction of species and habitats.
Business
Aramco shares hit record high on the back of high oil prices
Saudi energy giant Aramco's shares rose to a record high on Wednesday amid a surge in global oil prices following...
- Aramco's stock was trading at 42.9 Saudi riyals ($11.4) in Riyadh, according to the Saudi Tadawul market website
- Aramco had priced its landmark initial public offering at 32 riyals ($8.53) per share and it soared the maximum limit to 35.2 riyals on its market debut
Business
US finds Ericsson disclosures on Iraq graft ‘insufficient’
Sweden's Ericsson said Wednesday that US authorities have found its disclosures about an internal inquiry into its conduct in Iraq,...
- The news from the telecom equipment maker sent shares tumbling more than 10 percent as the Stockholm stock exchange opened
- It revealed an internal Ericsson 2019 investigation that was never made public, identifying possible corruption over many years in the group's Iraqi operations
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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
IAEA warns of nuclear disaster if Israel attacks Iran’s Bushehr plant
Rafael Grossi, director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told the UN Security Council that he has not yet...
Geostrategy
Company News
Siemens posts record profit
Business
Latest News
Israeli assault on Rafah a ‘terrifying’ prospect: UN rights chief
UN human rights chief Volker Turk urged world powers to "restrain rather than enable" as fears of a looming ground incursion...
Geostrategy
Mesaieed 2023 net profit down 39%
The company's net profit in 2022 was QR 1.76 billion ($482m).
Business
UN COP29 host Azerbaijan sees a big boom in gas production
Despite the last COP in the United Arab Emirates ending with an unprecedented call to "transition" away from fossil fuels,...
Economy
Most Read
Vessel reports missile attack off Yemen’s coast: security firms
Another security firm, Ambrey, said the Marshall Islands-flagged, Greece-owned bulk carrier "was targeted by missiles in two separate incidents" within...
- The incident occurred before 0400 local time (0100 GMT) in an area where Houthi rebels have repeatedly targeted Red Sea shipping in recent months, UKMTO said
- Houthis' attacks prompted some shipping companies to detour around southern Africa to avoid Red Sea, a vital route that normally carries about 12 percent of global maritime trade
Israeli military says 2 hostages rescued in overnight Gaza operation
The military said in a statement that "during a joint IDF (military), ISA (Shin Bet security agency), and Israel Police...
- During the October 7 attacks, Palestinian fighters seized about 250 hostages, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures. Israel says around 130 are still in Gaza
- Dozens of captives taken on October 7 were released during a one-week truce in November that also saw the release of more than 200 Palestinian captives held in Israeli jails
Geostrategy
Iraq resumes talks with US on coalition forces exit
According to the military spokesman for Iraq's prime minister, the discussions aim to schedule a timeline for a pullout of...
- The US-led military coalition was set up in 2014 to fight the Islamic State group
- Since October, US and allied troops have been targeted more than 165 times in the region