Trump demands CNN get new owners in Warner bidding war
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he wants to ensure CNN gets new ownership as part of the Warner...
Business
Saudi Arabia, Qatar sign high-speed rail deal to link capitals
The train would reach speeds exceeding 300 kilometers per hour and the trip would take roughly two hours between Riyadh...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
How much blood is enough to satisfy ‘political objectives’: WHO on Gaza
"We are breaking the bodies and the minds of the children of Gaza. We are starving the children of Gaza,...
- Israel strictly controls all inflows of international aid vital for the 2.4 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
- It halted aid deliveries to Gaza on March 2, days before the collapse of a ceasefire that had significantly reduced hostilities after 15 months of war.
Economy
Slower growth expected in MENA region in 2025: IMF
"Growth is still projected to increase in 2025 and 2026, but at a considerably slower pace than anticipated last October,"...
- The lender lowered growth projections from 4 percent to 2.6 percent for 2025, and from 4.2 percent to 3.4 percent for 2026.
- In 2024, average growth in the region slowed to 1.8 percent -- from 2.1 percent the year before -- due to "ongoing conflicts and extended voluntary oil production cuts".
Geostrategy
UAE to lift three-year Lebanon travel ban: statement
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- The United Arab Emirates will lift a ban on its citizens travelling to Lebanon that...
- The decision was announced a day after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun met with his UAE counterpart Mohamed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi.
- In 2021, the UAE imposed a travel ban on its citizens and withdrew diplomats from Beirut in solidarity with Riyadh after a Lebanese minister criticized Saudi intervention in Yemen.
Economy
US reaching out to China for tariff talks: Beijing state media
United States officials have reached out to their Chinese counterparts for talks on vast tariffs that have hammered markets and...
- Punishing US tariffs that have reached 145 percent on many Chinese products came into force in April, while Beijing has responded with fresh 125 percent duties on US imports
- Beijing has vehemently denied any talks are taking place while repeatedly urging the United States to engage in dialogue in a "fair, respectful and reciprocal" manner
Arts & Culture
‘The Eternaut’ echoes fight against tyranny: Ricardo Darin
Survival through teamwork: It's a tale as old as time with particular resonance today, says Argentine actor Ricardo Darin of...
- Based on a 1950s comic with iconic status in the South American country, the sci-fi series tells the story of a mysterious, toxic snowfall that precedes an alien invasion of Buenos
- More elementally, it is about ordinary people with few resources and no special powers who collectively stare down a totalitarian threat, Darin, 68, told AFP in an interview
Geostrategy
US imposes sanctions to curb Iran oil despite talks
The United States said Wednesday it was imposing sanctions on seven companies involved in selling Iranian oil, tightening pressure despite...
- The United States said it was targeting five trading companies -- four based in the United Arab Emirates and one in Turkey
- The move comes just after Iran announced a fourth round of talks with President Donald Trump's administration to take place Saturday in Rome
Geostrategy
AI companions present risks for young users, US watchdog warns
New York, United States -- AI companions powered by generative artificial intelligence present real risks and should be banned for...
- The watchdog, Common Sense, tested several of these platforms, namely Nomi, Character AI, and Replika, to assess their responses.
- While some specific cases "show promise," they are not safe for kids, concluded the organization, which makes recommendations on children's use of technological content.
Geostrategy
UAE says foils bid to transfer weapons to Sudan army
"The security services succeeded in preventing the transfer of a quantity of military equipment to the Sudanese Armed Forces following...
- The UAE statement said members of the cell included former Sudanese intelligence chief Salah Gosh an ex-adviser to the finance minister and political figure close to army chief.
- It said the arrests were made "during an inspection of ammunition in a private aircraft" loaded with around five million machine gun rounds.
Economy
Global stocks mostly rise as Trump grants auto tariff relief
Stocks moved sideways on Monday after notching four straight positive sessions last week as Trump adopted a more conciliatory posture...
- Trump's pivot includes limitations on the impact of multiple tariffs on carmakers and a measure to allow carmakers to offset a portion of the levy for two years
- Investors are "encouraged by the Trump decision to be a little more flexible (...) with the autos," said CFRA Research's Sam Stovall, who predicted stocks could go higher
Arts & Culture
Tunics & turbans: Afghan students don Taliban-imposed uniforms
Kabul, Afghanistan - Since the start of the school year in March, Afghan boys have been required to wear new...
- The Taliban say the dress code enforces discipline, masks inequality, and reflects true Islamic attire — a move that has sparked controversy
- Since their return, the streets of Kabul and other areas have become more uniform, with many men opting for the monochrome loose trousers and long tunic
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
Trump demands CNN get new owners in Warner bidding war
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he wants to ensure CNN gets new ownership as part of the Warner...
Business
Company News
Latest News
Yemen’s Huthis take responsibility for attack on Dutch cargo ship
Sana, Yemen - Yemen's Huthi rebels claimed responsibility on Wednesday for an attack on a Dutch cargo ship this week...
Geostrategy
AI tool helps Australian researchers treat child epilepsy
Tokyo, Japan -- An artificial intelligence tool that can detect tiny, hard-to-spot brain malformations in children with epilepsy could help...
Science
Human skin cells turned into fertilisable eggs for first time
Paris, France -- Scientists said Wednesday they have turned human skin cells into eggs and fertilized them with sperm in...
Science
Most Read
Trump’s Gaza plan wins Netanyahu backing, but hinges on Hamas disarmament
The plan calls for a ceasefire, release of hostages by Hamas within 72 hours, disarmament of Hamas and gradual Israeli...
- Hamas had yet to give its judgment on the proposal that Trump unveiled at the White House alongside Netanyahu, leaving uncertainty swirling around the fate of the 20-point plan
- The plan calls for a ceasefire, release of hostages by Hamas within 72 hours, disarmament of Hamas and gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, followed by a transitional authority
Geostrategy
US sanctions on key Indian project in Iran take effect
US sanctions went into effect Monday on a major Indian port project in Iran, as President Donald Trump again showed...
- The sanctions on the Chabahar port come a day after wide UN sanctions also came back into force on Iran, as Trump, European allies and Israel have all targeted the country
- The first Trump administration issued a rare exemption in 2018 to allow Indian companies to keep developing Chabahar when the United States imposed sweeping unilateral sanctions
Geostrategy
Netanyahu apologizes to Qatar, promises no new strike, US says
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling Qatar's prime minister from the White House on Monday, apologized for strikes against Hamas...
- Netanyahu, who had until now been defiant since ordering the strikes on September 9 in Qatar, placed the call as he was meeting with Trump about a ceasefire in Gaza
- Trump, who has been wooed by Qatar -- including with a gift of a luxury plane -- had earlier said he was unhappy with Israel's strike in Qatar