Asian stocks drop after Fed warning, oil dips with Mideast in focus
Hong Kong, China - Asian stocks fell Thursday after the Federal Reserve warned Donald Trump's trade war would likely reignite...
Economy
Gulf states on Iran’s doorstep scramble for end of war
Doha, Qatar -- As Iran and Israel trade strikes and the US weighs joining in, wealthy Gulf states on the...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
EU to send observers to Lebanon for monitoring parliamentary elections
The European Union will send election observers to monitor Lebanon's May 15 parliamentary polls, at the invitation of Beirut's government,...
- The team's chief observer, Gyoergy Hoelvenyi, said in a statement it will be the fourth time the EU has sent observers to Lebanon, after previous missions in 2005, 2009 and 2018.
- Lebanon is in the grip of an economic crisis that has generated public fury against its politicians, many of whom are seen as corrupt.
Arts & Culture
Jordan digs up 9,000-year-old ritual complex in desert
Archaeologists deep in the Jordanian desert have discovered a 9,000-year-old ritualistic complex near what is thought to be the earliest...
- The Stone Age shrine site, excavated last year, was used by gazelle hunters and features carved stone figures, an altar and a miniature model of a large-scale hunting trap
- The Neolithic-era ritual site was discovered inside a larger campsite last October by a joint French-Jordanian team called the South Eastern Badia Archaeological Project
Geostrategy
Sudan sends delegation to Russia for talks on cooperation
A delegation of senior Sudanese officials, including the deputy leader of the country's military-led ruling body, headed to Russia on...
- Sudan has found itself increasingly isolated since an October 25 coup that has seen foreign aid cut as part of the international community's response to the military takeover.
- Sudan was militarily dependent on Russia for decades due to crippling sanctions imposed by Washington against Bashir's government.
Business
Heathrow airport blames big loss in 2021 on UK Covid curbs
London's Heathrow airport announced Wednesday it narrowed annual losses only slightly in 2021 despite the reopening of global air travel,...
- The airport, one of the world's busiest hubs, had already suffered a £2 billion loss in 2020 as the pandemic grounded flights worldwide.
- The UK aviation sector had strongly criticized the British government over its long-lasting travel curbs that especially hit the tourism industry.
Arts & Culture
Oscar to pre-tape some awards in bid for ‘tighter’ show
Television ratings for the Oscars have dramatically declined by 56 percent from 2020.
- Oscars will pre-tape the announcements of eight winners to make the televised ceremony "tighter and more electric
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has recently merged "sound mixing" and "sound editing" into a single award
Geostrategy
UN Security Council ends Iraq invasion reparations to Kuwait
The unprecedented panel is considered a model for reconciliation that could help resolve future conflicts if necessary.
- The United Nations Compensation Commission was created in May 1991 by Security Council Resolution 692
- It managed Iraq's financial compensation to Kuwait, which featured a 5 percent tax levied on its oil sales
Arts & Culture
US restricts import of Afghan cultural items to prevent ‘pillage’
The decree implemented on an "emergency" basis took effect on Friday based on a 'request' of a former government of...
- US has imposed restriction on importing ceramics, paintings, glass, ivory, ancient textiles, tiles and wood pieces from Afghanistan
- This regulation on import could be troublesome for collectors or curators who already have items on their way to the US
Economy
Energy sector methane emissions underreported: report
The International Energy Agency said its latest annual Global Methane Tracker had found that emissions by the energy sector were...
- The IEA said its latest annual Global Methane Tracker had found that emissions by the energy sector were about 70% higher than official government figures
- It said this showed the need for greater transparency as well as "stronger policy action to drive down emissions of this potent greenhouse gas
Business
UN slams ‘aggressive’ marketing by formula-milk makers
The failure of countries to crack down on the marketing of breast milk substitutes means far too many children are...
- The $55-billion formula milk industry is said to systematically deploy aggressive marketing strategies
- It is said to spend up to $5 billion a year to sway the decisions of parents on how to feed their infants
Business
Syria accords rare approval to telecom firm to begin operations
Syrian authorities on Monday granted a rare license to a new telecommunications company that will start operating in nine months,...
- Wafa Telecom will become Syria's third telecoms operator in a market currently controlled by Syriatel and MTN
- Wafa Telecom CEO Ghassan Saba said the company relied on foreign expertise, amid reports of Iranian investments in his firm
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
Asian stocks drop after Fed warning, oil dips with Mideast in focus
Hong Kong, China - Asian stocks fell Thursday after the Federal Reserve warned Donald Trump's trade war would likely reignite...
Economy
Company News
Latest News
Planned Israeli offensive in Rafah ‘alarming’: EU’s Borrell
Rafah is the southernmost city in the Palestinian enclave that has been hit by a fierce Israeli offensive since the...
Moody’s downgrades Israel’s credit rating due to Hamas conflict
Fitch -- which is the last of the big three US ratings agencies -- placed Israel on negative watch over...
Palestinian group says Israeli troops raid Gaza hospital
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the army to prepare to "evacuate" hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from Gaza's...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Geostrategy
Law, politics hamper UK museum return of artifacts
LONDON, UK - British museums, like others across Europe, are under pressure to return artworks taken during the colonial era, including...
- Politicians have little appetite to change the legal framework that is currently blocking full restitutions by national museums, campaigners say.
- British laws dating from the 1960s and 1980s prevent national museums, such as the British Museum and the V&A, from making returning artifacts.
Business
European stocks firm as markets await US inflation data
London, United Kingdom - Europe's main stock markets steadied Friday as traders reacted to more earnings updates from top companies, while...
- Asia saw holiday-thinned trade, with investors there struggling to build on another record-setting day on Wall Street.
- While China is in holiday mode, investors are keeping tabs on Beijing, hoping for fresh measures to boost market confidence.
Business
Rumors swirl over bitcoin inventor Nakamoto’s identity
London, United Kingdom - An Australian man went on trial in London this week over his claims of inventing bitcoin --...
- Computer scientist Craig Wright, 53, says he is "Satoshi Nakamoto", the pseudonym of bitcoin's creator and author of a white paper that introduced the cryptocurrency to the world
- He is being sued by cryptocurrency activists who say he's lied and forged documents in his attempts to pretend he is bitcoin's founder.