Saudi powers forward with deficit spending to fund diversification of its oil-dependent economy
Saudi Arabia greenlit its 2026 budget Tuesday, projecting a deficit of 165 billion riyals ($44 billion) as the kingdom presses...
Economy
Trump says US freeze on asylum decisions will last ‘a long time’
US President Donald Trump said Sunday his administration intends to maintain a pause on asylum decisions for "a long time"...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
US senator smashes record with 25-hour anti-Trump speech
Washington, United States - A Democratic US lawmaker shattered a record for the longest speech in Senate history Tuesday, staying...
- Senator Cory Booker's display of endurance recalled the famous scene in Frank Capra's 1939 film classic "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington."
- The longest Senate speech on record before Tuesday was delivered by South Carolina's Strom Thurmond, who filibustered for 24 hours and 18 minutes against Civil Rights Act of 1957
Business
Tesla sales tumble in Europe in Q1
The company suffered from boycotts against the policies of Elon Musk.
- Sales of Tesla's electric cars in France fell 36.8 percent in March from a year ago amid a slight drop in the overall electric car market
- In Sweden, Tesla sales declined 63.9 percent in March and 55.2 percent in the first three months of the year, according to Mobility Sweden
Geostrategy
Turkish opposition calls for boycott over jailed students
The leader of Turkey's main opposition party has called for a boycott on Wednesday to protest the detention of students...
- 301 students have been arrested for taking part in the protests against the detention on March 19 of Imamoglu, Erdogan's greatest political rival
- Imamoglu's arrest on corruption charges, which he denies, have set off a wave of popular protests unseen in Turkey for more than a decade
Geostrategy
Trump’s sweeping tariffs spark fears of trade war, recession, and global economic instability
The threat of a trade war has caused increasing political ructions, with Canada's looming general election on April 28 set...
- Trump has promised to be "very kind" when he unveils the so-called reciprocal tariffs on Wednesday, but uncertainty reigned over which countries would be targeted and by how much
- His plan has prompted vows of retaliation from major economies including the European Union on Canada and fears that it could unleash a recession at home and abroad
Business
Ford’s US Q1 auto sales dip
But its Q1 figures exceed a forecast by Edmunds
- The automaker reported a 1.3 percent dip in sales in the world's biggest economy, to 501,291 vehicles, compared with the same period in 2024.
- This was mainly due to the discontinuation of certain vehicle models and rental fleet sales timing, the company said.
Arts & Culture
Digging for box office gold, ‘A Minecraft Movie’ hits cinemas
Paris, France -- With an A-list cast and a big budget, "A Minecraft Movie" releasing this week is hoping to...
- Made by "Napoleon Dynamite" director Jared Hess, the film stars Jack Black -- who also appeared in Super Mario -- alongside Jason Momoa, Emma Myers and Jennifer Coolidge.
- Minecraft was first released 16 years ago, developed by Swedish designer Markus Persson, who sold it for $2.5 billion to Microsoft several years later.
Business
OpenAI says it raised $40 bn at valuation of $300 bn
San Francisco, United States - OpenAI on Monday said it raised $40 billion in a new funding round that valued...
- The infusion of cash comes in a partnership with Japanese investment giant SoftBank Group
- SoftBank said in a release that it is on a mission to realize Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) that surpasses human intelligence
Geostrategy
Iran will have ‘no choice’ but to acquire nuclear weapons if attacked, Khamenei adviser to UNSC
The message was sent to the UN Security Council in a letter by Iran's UN ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani which...
- Trump said on Saturday "there will be bombing" if Iran did not agree a nuclear deal, and also threatened to punish Tehran with what he called "secondary tariffs".
- Despite the sharpening of Trump's comments, it was not clear if he was threatening a US bombing or an operation coordinated with another country
Geostrategy
Le Pen’s French presidency bid in jeopardy after election ban
A French court on Monday threw into severe doubt far-right leader Marine Le Pen's 2027 bid for president, handing her...
- She was convicted over a scheme to take advantage of European Parliament expenses to employ assistants who were actually working for her far-right party in France
- Le Pen as well as the other officials were banned from running for office, with the judge specifying that the sanction should come into force with immediate effect
Arts & Culture
Hard-hitting drama ‘Adolescence’ to be shown in UK schools
London, United Kingdom - The Netflix drama "Adolescence", which has sparked widespread debate about the toxic and misogynistic influences young...
- Starmer said he had watched the drama -- in which a 13-year-old boy stabs a girl to death after being radicalised on the internet -
- The internet and social media meant "ideology" can now be "pumped directly into the minds of our children", he added
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
Saudi powers forward with deficit spending to fund diversification of its oil-dependent economy
Saudi Arabia greenlit its 2026 budget Tuesday, projecting a deficit of 165 billion riyals ($44 billion) as the kingdom presses...
Economy
Company News
Latest News
Top music body says AI firms guilty of ‘willful’ copyright theft
Paris, France -- AI companies have sucked up the world's entire music catalogue and are guilty of "willful, commercial-scale copyright...
Business
UN Security Council votes to reimpose Iran nuclear sanctions
Britain, France and Germany are signatories to a 2015 deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) intended...
Geostrategy
Israel army says will use ‘unprecedented force’ in Gaza City
Israel has pummeled Gaza City with air strikes and tank fire in its bid to seize it, nearly two years...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Geostrategy
US again vetoes UN Security Council Gaza ceasefire call
The United States on Thursday again wielded its veto and thwarted a UN Security Council call for a ceasefire in...
- The 14 other members of the Council backed the resolution, initiated in August in response to the UN's official declaration of famine after nearly two years of Israel's war
- The vote came as Israeli tanks and jets pounded Gaza City, the target of a major new ground offensive, forcing Palestinians to flee south
Geostrategy
Gaza, Palestinian future to dominate UN gathering to be attended by 140 world leaders
Kicking off Monday, Saudi Arabia and France will co-chair meetings on the future of the Israeli and Palestinian two-state solution, which...
- Kicking off Monday, Saudi Arabia and France will co-chair meetings on the future of the Israeli and Palestinian two-state solution, which aims to see both sides existing alongside
- One world leader who will miss the gathering is Mahmud Abbas, the Palestinian president who Washington denied US visas to attend, along with his officials
Geostrategy
Qatar meets ICC head as it mulls legal action against Israel
Doha, Qatar -- Qatar has met with the president of the International Criminal Court as it seeks legal action against...
- Last week's deadly Israeli strike targeted Qatar-based leaders of Hamas and sent shock waves through the Gulf states that have long depended on the US for their security.
- Qatar, as an observer state at the ICC, cannot itself refer cases to the court.