US treasury secretary signals deal to ease trade war with China
Washington, United States -- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday signaled a tentative deal with China to de-escalate their...
Geostrategy
The armed groups clashing with Hamas in Gaza
Shortly after a ceasefire took effect in Gaza, clashes erupted between armed groups, some backed by Israel and others loyal...
Geostrategy
Business
Ford to pay US$365m in US tariff fraud case
It will settle a civil suit linked to the disguising of imported vans.
- Ford, which denies wrongdoing, is accused of using the scheme from 2009 to 2013 to avoid paying higher duties on Transit Connect utility vehicles
- The Justice Department alleged that Ford installed "sham rear seats and other temporary features to make the vans appear to be passenger vehicles
Musk says will ‘open source’ Grok chatbot, a rival to ChatGPT
Tech investors are increasingly in split camps on the development of AI and how the technology should advance. Companies such...
- The multi-billionaire unveiled Grok late last year as he attempts to catch up with OpenAI which he helped create in 2015 along with its CEO Sam Altman
- He left OpenAI a few years later and last week filed a shock lawsuit against the company for breaking its original non-profit mission to make AI research available to all
Geostrategy
Chinese leaders seek ways to boost economy in key event
Beijing, China - China's leaders on Monday wrapped up a week-long key conclave at which they admitted more was needed to...
- Top officials have been upfront about the myriad challenges China is facing, admitting that a modest five percent growth goal will not be easy
- The event capped a week of high-level meetings dominated by the economy, which last year posted some of its slowest growth in years
Geostrategy
Gaza war rages on as Islamic holy month of Ramadan begins
As the Muslim world welcomed Ramadan with the customary daytime fast, many Gazans awoke to bombardment that saw residents once...
- "The start of Ramadan has been sad and covered in darkness, with the taste and stench of blood everywhere," said one displaced Palestinian man, Awni al-Kayyal, 50.
- "The (Israeli) occupation does not want us to have any joy during Ramadan. We do not have any food for our iftar table," he said, referring to the fast-breaking evening meal.
Geostrategy
Trump said he won’t ‘give a penny’ to Ukraine, claims Hungary Prime Minister
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has asserted that former US president Donald Trump told him during a meeting...
- Orban is the only EU leader to have maintained ties with the Kremlin since Russia invaded Ukraine.
- He also angered fellow EU leaders by meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in September
Geostrategy
Four space station crew members leave for Earth
WASHINGTON, US – Four astronauts left the International Space Station on Monday and were bound for Earth following a more than...
- Led by American astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, NASA's Crew-7 arrived at the research platform last August.
- NASA and SpaceX are targeting as soon as 5:35 am Tuesday (0935 GMT) for a splashdown off the Florida coast.
Geostrategy
TikTok dragged into US election as Trump opposes ban
Years of on-and-off attempts of banning the Chinese owned app have resurged in the United States with the introduction of...
- Trump's turnaround came as a surprise since he was a proponent of stripping TikTok away from Bytedance when he was president, before he was stopped by a US court.
- President Joe Biden has given his support to the bill, while also turning to Tiktok to address younger voters in video clips as part of his outreach to win a second term.
Geostrategy
China, Russia and Iran to launch joint navy drills in Gulf of Oman
Beijing, China - The navies of China, Russia and Iran are staging joint drills in the Gulf of Oman this week,...
- The military activities -- to be conducted from Monday through Friday -- are aimed at "jointly maintaining regional maritime security".
- "The practical part of the exercise will take place in the waters of the Gulf of Oman in the Arabian Sea," Russian news agencies said.
Geostrategy
UN head urges ‘silencing the guns’ in Gaza ahead of Ramadan
"We have witnessed month after month of civilian killing and destruction at a level that is unprecedented in all my...
- Guterres said that Ramadan celebrates "peace, reconciliation and solidarity. Yet even though Ramadan has begun – the killing, bombing and bloodshed continue in Gaza".
- The United Nations says that lack of humanitarian aid means famine is a growing risk in Gaza, where 2.4 million people are under near-total siege by the Israeli military.
Bitcoin hits fresh record above $72,000
Bitcoin hit a fresh record above $72,000 on Monday as demand for the cryptocurrency picks up amid optimism that the...
- The virtual unit struck $72,234 as dealers also eyed an upcoming industry event that traditionally boosts bitcoin's price
- The rally was helped by news that Britain's Financial Conduct Authority had said it would allow the creation of crypto-related securities
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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
US treasury secretary signals deal to ease trade war with China
Washington, United States -- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday signaled a tentative deal with China to de-escalate their...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
Malnutrition reaches new heights in Gaza, children most affected, require urgent treatment
As malnutrition surges in war-torn Gaza, tens of thousands of children and women require urgent treatment, according to the UN,...
Geostrategy
Iranians told to use less water as heatwave worsens shortages
Tehran, Iran - Iranian authorities have urged residents to limit water consumption as the country grapples with severe shortages amid...
Economy
Iran says replaced air defence systems damaged during 12-day war with Israel
Iran's air defence network includes systems like the domestically built Bavar-373 and Khordad-15, designed to counter missiles and aircraft, in...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Geostrategy
European powers plan fresh nuclear talks with Iran
Berlin, Germany -- Britain, France and Germany are planning to hold fresh talks with Iran on its nuclear programme in...
- Britain, France and Germany "are in contact with Iran to schedule further talks for the coming week".
- Iran's Tasnim news agency also reported that Tehran had agreed to hold talks with the three European countries, citing an unnamed source.
Geostrategy
Syrian govt says fighting in Sweida halted after tribal forces pull out
Druze fighters had pushed out rival armed factions from the city on Saturday, a monitor said, after the government ordered...
- Sweida was "evacuated of all tribal fighters, and clashes within the city's neighborhoods were halted", Syria's interior ministry spokesman Noureddine al-Baba said.
- More than 900 people have been killed in Sweida since last Sunday as sectarian clashes between the Druze and Bedouin drew in the Islamist-led government, Israel and armed tribes..
Geostrategy
Thai wildlife hospital treats Sunbears, elephants
Edwin Wiek founded Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) facility in 2001 with two macaques and a gibbon. It now spans...
- The light-filled hospital only opened this month, replacing a previous "tiny" clinic, said WFFT founder Edwin Wiek.
- Wiek once had tendentious relations with Thai authorities, even facing legal action, but more recently has become a government advisor.