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...
Geostrategy
‘We’ll be ruined’: Iranians feel strain as sanctions snap back
Tehran, Iran -- As United Nations sanctions returned in full force on Sunday, Iranians felt the strain deepen, with prices...
Geostrategy
Economy
Tax havens only half the story, says OECD
Paris, France - Tax havens are blamed for lower public revenues elsewhere as they lure away multinational firms but a study...
- Half the profits booked by multinationals benefitting from low tax rates were from countries that have high rates but offer various tax breaks to attract investments.
- "Many jurisdictions typically considered (to be) 'high tax' offer various incentives which can lead to substantially reduced tax rates," said the report further.
Business
Indonesia unveils plan to bring $20bn energy investment from West
Jakarta, Indonesia - Indonesia on Tuesday launched an investment plan to attract $20 billion pledged by Western nations in a renewable...
- The roadmap, which comes less than two weeks before the COP28 summit in Dubai, outlines Jakarta's vision to reach net-zero power sector emissions by 2050.
- Under the plan, Indonesia will seek to slash its carbon dioxide emissions to 250 million metric tons for its on-grid power sector by 2030.
Geostrategy
Fishing nations pledge to protect sharks, rays
CAIRO, EGYPT - Atlantic fishing nations have agreed to better protect sharks and rays by limiting the retention of several bycatch...
- Sharks and rays are facing what conservationists have called an extinction crisis, with nearly two thirds of coral reef species at risk.
- Sharks and rays must be better protected by governments and fisheries said an advocacy coalition advancing conservation policies.
Geostrategy
2 journalists among 4 civilians killed in Lebanon by Israeli strikes
The state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported "the deaths of three citizens -- two journalists and another civilian -- in...
- The state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported "the deaths of three citizens -- two journalists and another civilian -- in enemy bombing" of the Tair Harfa area
- Elsewhere in south Lebanon, the NNA said "enemy aircraft raided inhabited houses in Kfar Kila, leading to the death of citizen Laiqa Sarhan, 80
Geostrategy
BRICS urges immediate ceasefire in Gaza, S.Africa decries ‘genocide’
"The collective punishment of Palestinian civilians through the unlawful use of force by Israel is a war crime. The deliberate...
- "There can be no sustainable peace and security in the Middle East without a just solution to the question of Palestine," Chinese President Xi Jinping said.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin said a "long-term and sustainable ceasefire" was key to "prevent other states from being drawn into the war".
Economy
US regulator files charges against Kraken crypto exchange
The action against Kraken by the financial markets regulator will likely pour cold water on the hopes of many firms...
- The proceedings against Kraken began on Monday in federal court in San Francisco, targeting Payward and Payward Ventures, the two legal entities behind the exchange
- Kraken's business model is "rife with conflicts of interest that placed investors’ funds at risk," Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, Gurbir Grewal, said in a statement
Geostrategy
Close to reaching truce deal with Israel: Ismail Haniyeh
Qatar's prime minister said that a deal to free some of the hostages in return for a temporary ceasefire hinged...
- White House said the negotiations were in the "endgame" stage, but refused to give further details
- ICRC said that its president had travelled to Qatar to meet Hamas's Haniyeh "to advance humanitarian issues"
Geostrategy
With X’s Musk under fire, Biden joins rival Threads
The White House confirmed it had launched Threads accounts for the president, First Lady Jill Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris,...
- Meta launched Threads in July, in a bid to depose Musk's X, as the go-to platform for celebrities
- Biden's debut comes after his spokesman slammed Musk for the "promotion" of an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory
Geostrategy
South Africa to host virtual BRICS summit on Israel-Hamas war
Johannesburg, South Africa--South Africa will Tuesday host a virtual summit of the BRICS group of nations, including Russian President Vladimir Putin,...
- The South African presidency, in a statement, said that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will also participate in the virtual summit
- Gaza health ministry officials say nearly 13,300 people, more than 5,500 of them children, have been killed in the Israeli actions against the enclave
OpenAI staff threaten mass exodus to join ex-CEO Altman
In a fast-moving sequence of events, Altman, who was ousted by the board on Friday, has now been hired by...
- In a letter released to media, the vast majority of OpenAI's 770-strong staff suggested they would follow Altman unless the board responsible for his departure resigned
- A key Artificial Intelligence executive at Microsoft confirmed that they all were welcome from OpenAI if the board that removed Altman doesn't resign
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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
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...
Geostrategy
Company News
Norway nears 100% goal of all-electric cars
Geostrategy
Latest News
Israel to allow food into Gaza after two month blockade
The announcement came hours after the military said it had begun "extensive ground operations" in a newly intensified campaign in...
Geostrategy
Morocco to reopen embassy in Syria after Assad fall
Morocco said Saturday it will reopen its embassy Damascus, closed since 2012, signalling renewed support for Syria after the overthrow...
Geostrategy
A day after first direct talks between officials, Kremlin says Putin-Zelensky meeting possible only after pact
The Kremlin said Saturday a meeting between Russia's Vladimir Putin and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky would be possible only after both...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Economy
Moody’s downgrades US credit rating on rise in govt debt
Moody's on Friday downgraded the United States's credit rating from the top triple-A level, citing rising levels of government debt...
- The downgrade to Aa1 from Aaa adds to the bad news for the US president, coming on the same day his flagship spending bill failed to pass a key vote in Congress
- Moody's decision to downgrade the United States from its top credit rating reflects a recent surge in US borrowing costs, which was further fueled by the Covid-19 pandemic
Geostrategy
Trump reshapes US Mideast policy. Can deals work instead?
The Israeli military said Saturday it had launched "extensive strikes" as part of a fresh offensive in Gaza, after rescuers...
- Trump vowed during his swing through Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates that there would be no more "lectures on how to live."
- In an extraordinary rupture with his predecessors, Trump then lambasted what he called the "neo-cons" that oversaw bloody US military interventions in the region
Geostrategy
Arab League to meet in Baghdad to discuss regional crises, key leaders may give it a miss
The Arab League is meeting in Baghdad on Saturday to discuss Gaza and other regional crises, but some key leaders...
- The war in Gaza is expected to dominate the agenda, especially after Israel approved plans to expand its offensive and spoke of the "conquest" of the territory
- United Nations chief Antonio Guterres will attend the summit, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is expected to address it as a guest