UN chief demands end to Gaza hostilities, immediate release of hostages
On the second anniversary of the Hamas October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, Antonio Guterres decried a "humanitarian catastrophe on...
Geostrategy
OpenAI signs multi-billion dollar chip deal with AMD
New York, United States -- OpenAI signed a multi-year partnership Monday with chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices as the ChatGPT-maker continues...
Business
Geostrategy
Algerian ex-defence minister accused of torture dies
Nezzar was the commander of Algeria's ground forces and administrated the "state of siege" during the bloody October 1988 riots...
- Nezzar was defence minister during the military's 1992 overthrow of democratic politics and the early years of the decade-long civil war triggered by that decision
- In August he was indicted by the Swiss attorney general's office for crimes against humanity including coordinating torture and efforts to "exterminate" the Islamist opposition
Geostrategy
Turkish SuperCup in Saudi postponed over ‘political slogans’
According to the Saudi sports television channel SSC, "the match has been cancelled. The match will not take place." Scheduled...
- The teams wanted to warm up wearing shirts bearing the image of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk
- After the refusal, the rival teams and Turkish football federation decided to postpone the match
Geostrategy
US approves ’emergency’ sale of munitions to Israel
Washington, United States - The United States on Friday announced the approval of a $147.5 million sale of 155mm high-explosive artillery...
- The same provision was used earlier this month to approve the sale of nearly 14,000 rounds of 120mm tank ammunition to Israel
- Israel requested that 155mm fuses, primers and charges be added to previous foreign military sale cases, increasing their estimated total cost from $96.51m to $147.5m
Geostrategy
South Africa moves ICJ, accuses Israel of ‘genocidal acts’ in Gaza
South Africa launched a case at the International Court of Justice against Israel for what it said were "genocidal" acts...
- There was no immediate comment from Israel, which had earlier denied charges that its military was using disproportionate force in Gaza.
- The war was triggered by the attack on Israel on October 7 and is now nearing its 12th week, with vast areas of northern Gaza in ruins.
Geostrategy
Gaza death toll tops 21,507 as Israel continues bombing
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said at least 21,507 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since war...
- A total of 1,095 have been wounded while taking refuge at UN sites, UNRWA said on social media platform X.
- The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said 308 people seeking shelter in their facilities have been killed during the war
Geostrategy
Google agrees to settle $5bn data privacy breach lawsuit
Google has agreed to settle a consumer privacy lawsuit seeking at least $5 billion in damages over allegations it tracked...
- The lawsuit, filed in a California court, claimed Google's practices had infringed on users' privacy by "intentionally" deceiving them
- Lawyers for the plaintiffs were seeking at least $5,000 for each user it said had been tracked as they visited Google Analytics in private browsing mode
Geostrategy
UN agency says Israel targeted Palestinian aid convoy
Gaza City, Palestinian Territories - The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees said on Friday an aid convoy came under fire...
- The UN official said "Israeli soldiers fired at an aid convoy as it returned from northern Gaza along a route designated by the Israeli army".
- The Israeli military responded to requests for comment saying that it was looking into reports about the incident.
Geostrategy
Iran executes 4 on charges of spying for Israel, says judiciary
Iran hanged four people convicted of spying for arch foe Israel, the judiciary said, less than two weeks executing a...
- The group "committed extensive actions against the country's security under the guidance of the Mossad", Israel's spy agency, Mizan said.
- On December 16, a man also convicted of working for Mossad was executed in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan.
SpaceX launches secretive US military spacecraft on research mission
The Pentagon has released little information about the space drone and its mission, which was initially scheduled for December 7,...
- The rocket launched from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 8:07 pm Eastern Time (0107 GMT Friday)
- It is unclear where exactly the uncrewed and autonomously operating spacecraft is headed on its seventh mission
Pakistan bans New Year’s Eve celebrations in solidarity with Gaza
New Year's Eve is usually marked in boisterous fashion in Pakistan, with fireworks and aerial gunfire -- as well as...
- PM Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said because of the situation in the Gaza Strip, the government had "completely banned all kinds of events regarding the New Year celebrations"
- Israel's relentless aerial bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza has left much of the territory's north in ruins, and killed at least 21,320 people, mostly women and children
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
UN chief demands end to Gaza hostilities, immediate release of hostages
On the second anniversary of the Hamas October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, Antonio Guterres decried a "humanitarian catastrophe on...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
Warner Brothers Discovery will split company to build streaming
The move, which reallocates assets such as HBO Max and CNN, is the latest reflection of how streaming is remaking...
Arts & Culture
Gaza’s Al-Amal hospital ‘virtually out of service’: WHO
The Al-Amal Hospital in Gaza, one of the few still operating in the Palestinian territory, is now "virtually out of...
Science
Israel says Gaza-bound aid boat activists awaiting deportation after their vessel intercepted
Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg and other activists detained aboard a Gaza-bound aid boat have been taken to a Tel Aviv...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Economy
Saudi Arabia’s real GDP grows by 3.4 percent in Q1 mainly on non-oil activities
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia’s first quarter real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.4 percent year-on-year, according to...
- Sectors such as wholesale and retail trade, restaurants, and hotels led the way, recording an impressive 8.4% annual growth, reflecting a rebound in consumer demand and tourism.r
- On a quarterly basis, seasonally adjusted real GDP rose by 1.1 percent compared to Q4 2024, signaling continued economic momentum into the year.
Business
Qualcomm to Alphawave for $2.4 bn
The deal makes Alphawave the latest tech company to depart London.
- Last week, UK fintech Wise, specializing in international money transfers, said it plans to shift its primary listing from London to New York.
- For California-based Qualcomm, the acquisition will help boost its AI infrastructure amid soaring demand for the technology.
Geostrategy
Leaders warn race for minerals could turn seabed into ‘wild west’
Growing anxiety over Trump's unilateral push to fast-track deep-sea mining in international waters shot to the surface at the opening...
- The number of countries opposed to seabed mining rose to 36 on Monday, according to a tally kept by the Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, an umbrella group of NGOs.
- Trump was not among the roughly 60 heads of state and government in Nice but his specter loomed large as leaders defended the global multilateralism he has spurned.