Nuclear states spent $100 billion on atomic arsenals in 2024, say ICAN
ICAN said Britain, China, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia and the United States together spent nearly $10 billion...
Geostrategy
Flames and smoke in aftermath of crashed India passenger jet
While officials initially said everyone aboard was feared dead, state health official Dhananjay Dwivedi told AFP later that one passenger...
Geostrategy
Science
World passes 300 million Covid cases as Omicron breaks records
The virus mutant has spurred the world to record 13.5 million cases in the last week alone -- 64 percent...
- In the past seven days, 34 countries have recorded their highest number of weekly cases since the start of the pandemic, including 18 nations in Europe and seven in Africa
- While far more contagious than previous coronavirus variants, Omicron appears to cause less severe illness than its predecessors
Science
CES show highlights: Robo-dogs, self-sailing boat, brain tech
The CES tech show in Las Vegas closed its 2022 edition on Friday, after pushing ahead with a significantly downsized...
- French startup Wisear is working on technology that detects the signals that zip between the brain and certain muscles, in order to use them to operate connected devices
- The Boston Dynamics robot dogs -- the ones compared to the killer four-legged bot in a dystopian "Black Mirror" episode -- are back and this time they are going to the metaverse
As health concerns rise around the world, car gadgets proliferate
The Italian startup Filo launched a Bluetooth-based alarm system for children's car seats to prevent kids from being left in...
- The auto industry is on the hunt for new gadgets and accessories to make the car cockpit feel safer
- Air purifiers, car seat alarms, and intelligent sun visors were displayed at this year's Consumer Electronics Show
Science
Omicron variant spread due to mix of factors
Omicron transmitted very efficiently between people due to a number of reason including make-up of the Covid-19 variant and increased...
- Omicron's mutations allow the virus to adhere to human cells more easily
- People can be reinfected either if they had a previous infection or if they've been vaccinated says WHO
Economy
World Bank okays $90m in pandemic aid for Iran
World Bank support for Iran's Covid-19 response is expected to help the country mitigate the ongoing humanitarian crisis within its...
- World Bank has approved granting $90 million worth of support for Iran to combat COVID-19 pandemic
- World Bank had extended $50 million for Iran Covid-19 Emergency Response Project in May 2020
Geostrategy
Iran says begins paying families over downed Ukraine jet
Iran has begun paying compensation to families of those killed when it shot down a Ukrainian airliner two years ago,...
- In 2020, Iran offered to pay "$150,000 or the equivalent in euros" to each of the victims' families.
- Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 was shot down shortly after take-off from Tehran on Jan 8, 2020, killing all 176 people aboard, most of them Iranians and Canadians.
Economy
UAE works on Friday for first time
Some grumbled at the change and businesses were split, with many moving to the Western-style weekend but other private firms...
- The weekly day of prayer has always been a free day in the UAE, which had previously observed a Thursday-Friday weekend until 2006.
- Government bodies and schools will operate four-and-a-half-days per week, closing at 12 pm on Fridays for a fixed prayer time of 1:15 pm.
Geostrategy
High gas prices boost Shell
The company slumped into a huge loss in 2020.
- Shell expects "significantly higher" gas revenues in the three months to December thanks to the "high liquid natural gas spot price environment"
- Shell, like its rivals, slumped into a huge loss in 2020 as the long-running coronavirus pandemic slashed energy demand and crude prices
Business
Trippier becomes first signing under Newcastle’s new Saudi owners
England defender Kieran Trippier became Newcastle's first signing under their new Saudi owners on Friday after completing his move from...
- The full-back has moved back to the Premier League for an undisclosed fee, understood to be in the region of £12 million ($16 million) plus add-ons.
- Newcastle, who have not won a major trophy since 1969, face a struggle just to stay in the Premier League.
Geostrategy
Eight Palestinians die in a crash between truck and van
Eight Palestinians died on Thursday when the van they rode in collided with a cement truck in the occupied West...
- The two vehicles slammed into each other at a junction on Route 90, which runs up the Jordan Valley and is under Israeli security control
- The victims were not officially identified but local news outlets reported they were teenagers between 14 and 17 years old
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Nuclear states spent $100 billion on atomic arsenals in 2024, say ICAN
ICAN said Britain, China, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia and the United States together spent nearly $10 billion...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
TotalEnergies Q3 profit up 1.5%
Business
Microsoft revenue surges
The company said sales leaped to $62 billion in Q3.
Google says AI helped boost profits
Alphabet reported a profit of $20.7 billion.
Palestinian aid agency can’t be replaced, UN says
Several countries, including the United States, Britain, Germany and Japan, have suspended funding to the UNRWA agency, and the UN...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Geostrategy
Pakistan ex-PM Imran Khan and wife get 14 years jail in graft case
Since being ousted in 2022, Khan has been buried by court cases he claims have been triggered to prevent his...
- Khan and his wife were found guilty of graft in a case involving gifts he received while premier, after he was Tuesday handed 10 years in a case related to leaking state secrets
- Pakistan goes to the polls next Thursday in a ballot already marred by allegations of rigging, with Khan barred from running and his party subject to a massive crackdown
Business
Samsung profit dips 34.57 percent
Its operating profit for Q4 was US$2.1bn.
- The company posted a 73.4 percent drop in net profit to $4.8 billion
- It blamed interest rate policies and geopolitical issues for the drop
Geostrategy
Kuwait’s new emir makes first foreign trip to Saudi
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the 38-year-old de facto ruler of Saudi Arabia, greeted Sheikh Meshal at the airport in...
- Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, who is 83, was sworn in last month following the death of his predecessor and half-brother, Sheikh Nawaf
- He is faced with the task of overcoming longstanding political paralysis and reforming a bloated public sector