Almost 3,000 Australians seek to flee Israel-Iran conflict
Australia has started evacuating almost 3,000 citizens caught up in the rapidly spiralling conflict between Israel and Iran, Foreign Minister...
Geostrategy
MENA Brief | June 18: Oil calms after Trump’s threat rattles markets; UAE-Iran calls, Riyadh Air signs big Rolls-Royce deal
Oil prices steadied Wednesday after Trump’s demand for Iran’s ‘unconditional surrender’ roiled markets and revived supply fears, as regional diplomacy...
Geostrategy
Business
Alibaba shares slump 5%
The drop followed reports that the Ant Group was being probed.
- Chinese regulators launches a wide-ranging crackdown on alleged anti-competitive practices by Alibaba and other domestic tech giants
- Chinese Food delivery giant Meituan shares has plummeted over 20 per cent since Friday which is the biggest fall of the stock
Geostrategy
Moscow must fully comply with UN charter: Guterres
"The principles of the UN Charter are not an a la carte menu.... Member States have accepted them all and...
- "The principles of the UN Charter are not an a la carte menu.... Member States have accepted them all and they must apply them all," Guterres told reporters
- The secretary-general called Russia's recognition of "the so-called 'independence'" of two Ukraine regions "a violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine."
Arts & Culture
‘Most beautiful building on Earth’ opens in Dubai
Roadside signboards describe the museum as the "most beautiful building on Earth" ahead of its gala opening.
- Roadside signboards describe the museum as the "most beautiful building on Earth" ahead of its gala opening
- It is the latest addition to the UAE collection of flashy architecture and comes after the $7-billion Expo world fair, featuring a swathe of futuristic designs
Geostrategy
US sanctions cut Russia off from Western financing
US sanctions against Russia announced Tuesday include steps to starve the country of financing, although they did not go as...
- In an unusual and potentially harsh step, Washington blocked Moscow from raising new money from Western banks by prohibiting trading in Russian debt as of March 1
- The measures target Vnesheconombank (VEB), Russia's state development bank, and Promsvyazbank (PSB), another state-supported institution
Geostrategy
Gas prices ‘in God’s hands’, producers warn as Ukraine crisis sparks surge
Major gas exporting nations said Tuesday they could not guarantee prices or supplies at a summit overshadowed by the worsening...
- Emir of #Qatar', which hosted a summit, said #gas producers were working to ensure "credible and reliable" supplies.
- The United States has asked Qatar to help Europe if supplies are cut, but its Energy Minister Saad Sherida al-Kaabi said that his country could not rescue Europe alone.
Geostrategy
Saudi forces shoot down Houthi drone, falling debris hurts 16
Sixteen people including foreigners were injured in Saudi Arabia when the kingdom destroyed a drone launched against an airport by...
- It is the second airport attack in less than two weeks blamed on, or claimed by, the Iran-backed Houthi insurgents
- Officials in the kingdom said 12 people were hurt on that occasion by falling debris when the Saudi military blew up a Yemeni rebel "bomb-laden" drone targeting Abha International
Geostrategy
Turkey projects soft power in Syria by building homes
Syrian mother of four Maryam al-Hussein was relieved to have a roof over her head as she moved from a...
- The housing complex built near the Turkish-held Syrian city of Al-Bab is the latest in a series of residential projects sponsored by Ankara
- Turkey and its proxies have seized control of territory inside Syria during several military operations launched since 2016
Geostrategy
Oil nears $100 as Western powers prepare sanctions against Russia
The jump in oil prices is compounding worries about inflation around the world, with the US Federal Reserve coming under...
- That has in turn battered equity markets in recent months, and the latest developments out of Europe led to another day of hefty selling on Tuesday.
- Russia's recognition of the breakaway regions of Ukraine will "strongly increase" economic uncertainty for the EU, its economy commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said.
Geostrategy
Iran calls for ‘restraint’ in Ukraine, blames West
Iran urged "restraint" from both Russia and Ukraine on Tuesday while blaming the United States and NATO for the sharp...
- President Vladimir Putin announced late Monday that Russia recognized the independence of Ukraine's separatist-held Donetsk and Lugansk regions
- "The Islamic Republic of Iran calls on all parties to exercise restraint and avoid any action that could aggravate tensions," a foreign ministry statement said
Business
HSBC 2021 profits double
The London-headquartered bank on Tuesday reported pre-tax profit of $18.9 billion in 2021, up $10.1 billion on the year before,...
- The London-headquartered bank on Tuesday reported pre-tax profit of $18.9 billion in 2021, up $10.1 billion on the year before, helped by lower bad loans and operating expenses
- The lender endured a tumultuous 2020 like the rest of the banking sector as the virus outbreak rocked the economy
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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
Almost 3,000 Australians seek to flee Israel-Iran conflict
Australia has started evacuating almost 3,000 citizens caught up in the rapidly spiralling conflict between Israel and Iran, Foreign Minister...
Geostrategy
Company News
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World’s biggest flying lab comes to Asia on air pollution mission
Clark, Philippines - NASA has kicked off a series of marathon flights in Asia with the world's biggest flying laboratory, in...
Science
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...
Geostrategy
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...
Business
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Arts & Culture
AI game gains popularity during Chinese New Year festivities
SHANGHAI, CHINA - Young Chinese flocking home for Lunar New Year this weekend have turned to an AI chatbot game to...
- The new game uses an AI chatbot to simulate the barrage of squirm-inducing questions young people can expect to face.
- The annual inquisition as extended families gather for China's biggest festival is a cultural touchstone across the country.
Business
Barclays bank to stop financing new oil, gas projects
London, United Kingdom -- British bank Barclays said Friday it would stop directly financing its energy clients' new oil and gas...
- The bank added it would scale back lending for existing fossil fuel projects as the sector faces intense pressure from activist investors to help tackle climate change.
- The British lender's move to curb financing of oil and gas projects follows similar announcements from European bank heavyweights BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole, HSBC and ING.
Geostrategy
Crippling Israeli restrictions throw West Bank life in disarray
The number of checkpoints and barriers in the Palestinian territory has greatly increased since October 7, adding hours to already...
- Recently, an AFP team left Jerusalem at 8 am for the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem -- normally a trip of just two hours -- and arrived there at 1:30 pm.
- Israel first erected military checkpoints in the West Bank following the first Palestinian uprising or intifada in 1987, but the number increased after the second intifada.