New Gaza-bound flotilla sets off from Sicily, EU officials on board
A statement from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and the Thousand Madleens to Gaza (TMTG) said they intended to "break...
Geostrategy
Concluded days after Israeli strikes on Qatar, Pakistan-Saudi defence pact oozes with unknowns
The new mutual defence pact signed by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia this month surprised many and came just days after...
Geostrategy
Economy
China emissions to fall in 2024 on renewables jump
The country has been installing renewable energy capacity at breakneck speed, with new solar in 2023 alone amounting to twice...
- China is the largest greenhouse gas emitter and has brushed aside calls for a more ambitious carbon neutrality target
- IEA says the country is projected to account for 45 percent of global emissions from existing fossil fuel assets
Israelis use disinformation to discredit Gaza horror
Falsely accusing people of faking their suffering has become "one of the most predictable" disinformation tactics in a crisis scenario, said Mike Caulfield,...
- The information war running in parallel with the deadly conflict on the ground has seen conspiracy theorists accuse ordinary Palestinians and Israelis of being "crisis actors"
- Some of the most viral posts targeting war-afflicted Gazans have used the term "Pallywood", a derogatory label blending "Palestine" with "Hollywood."
Geostrategy
Biden exhorts Israel to protect Gaza’s Al-Shifa hospital
Speaking to the reporters in the Oval Office, US president said he hoped and expected "that there will be less...
- The WHO said that nearly 2,300 people were in the 'crippled' Al-Shifa facility
- Israel is under huge international pressure to minimize civilian suffering
Business
Turkish Airlines explore options of buying 355 Airbus jets
Istanbul, Turkey - Turkish Airlines, the country's flag carrier, confirmed on Monday that it was in talks with Airbus to buy...
- The airline said that negotiations are held with Airbus regarding the purchase of a total of 355 aircraft.
- In September, Turkish Airlines revealed plans to purchase 10 additional Airbus A350-900 aircraft
Geostrategy
UN warns fuel shortage to halt Gaza aid work in ’48 hours’
JERUSALEM - The UN agency for Palestinian refugees warned Monday its operations in war-torn Gaza would shut down within two...
- "The humanitarian operation in Gaza will grind to a halt in the next 48 hours as no fuel is allowed to enter Gaza," UNRWA's Gaza chief Thomas White said
- "This morning two of our main water distribution contractors ceased working -- they simply ran out of fuel -- which will deny 200,000 people potable water," he said
Geostrategy
North Gaza hospitals out of service as UN aid work risks halt
Youssef Abu Rish told AFP seven premature babies and 27 patients had died in recent days in Gaza City's Al-Shifa...
- The UN agency for Palestinian refugees warned Monday its Gaza operations might shut down due to fuel shortages.
- Jordan's King Abdullah II said on Monday that "any scenario or idea of (Israel) reoccupying parts of Gaza or establishing buffer zones there will exacerbate the crisis".
Geostrategy
Nations start negotiations over global plastics treaty at Nairobi meet
Nairobi, Kenya -- Nations grappling with the plastic "suffocating" nature and leaching into food and the human body began fresh...
- Around 60 so-called "high ambition" nations have called for binding rules to reduce the use and production of plastic
- Kenyan President William Ruto described plastic pollution as "an existential threat to life, to humanity and everything in between."
Business
Emirates, flydubai among Boeing’s big customers at Dubai Airshow
Emirates, the Middle East's biggest airline, made the largest purchase with its $52 billion order for 55 Boeing 777-9s, 35...
- Budget carrier flydubai, owned by the Dubai government, ordered 30 Boeing 787-9s valued at $63 billion -- its first wide-bodied, or large-capacity planes as it plans to expand.
- Last week Emirates Group announced record half-year net profits of $2.7 billion, up 138 percent from a year earlier, driven by strong demand.
Geostrategy
UN flag at half mast in remembrance of 100 staff killed in Gaza
In Geneva, the second-largest UN headquarters after New York, the UN flag on Monday flew at half-mast and none of...
- The blue and white United Nations flag was first lowered at 9:30 am local time at offices in Bangkok, Tokyo and Beijing, and later, other UN offices followed suit
- The UN agency for supporting Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) announced on Friday that 101 of its employees had died in the Gaza Strip since the war erupted
Endangered sea turtles get second life at Tunisian centre
The facility, one of two in North Africa, is run by the EU-funded Life Med Turtles project, which looks after...
- Since the centre opened in 2021, nearly 80 turtles have been treated and returned to their natural environment, said its chief Imed Jribi
- Every year, around 10,000 loggerheads are caught by trawlers and in fishing nets in the waters off Tunisia, a potential death sentence for the turtles
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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
New Gaza-bound flotilla sets off from Sicily, EU officials on board
A statement from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and the Thousand Madleens to Gaza (TMTG) said they intended to "break...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
Trump heads to the Gulf eyeing deals amid diplomatic offensive
In the days before the trip, the White House has played an instrumental part in hammering out a ceasefire between...
Geostrategy
US announces new sanctions against Iran amid talks
The United States announced new sanctions Monday against Iran over its nuclear program, despite ongoing negotiations between the two countries...
Geostrategy
Hollywood stars condemn Gaza ‘genocide’ on eve of Cannes Festival
Cannes, France - More than 350 figures from the cinema world including Hollywood stars Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon condemned...
Arts & Culture
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Geostrategy
Iraq: PKK decision to disband boosts regional stability
Iraq welcomed Monday the Kurdistan Workers' Party's (PKK) decision to disband and end its armed struggle against Turkey, saying it...
- The PKK decision is a "significant opportunity to promote peace efforts and end long-standing conflicts," a foreign ministry statement said
- Blacklisted as a terrorist organisation by Turkey and its Western allies, the PKK operates rear bases in Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region
Geostrategy
Israel’s West Bank land registration serves ‘annexation’: NGO
Ramallah, Palestinian Territories - An Israeli rights group denounced Monday a government decision to launch extensive land registration for parts...
- The Israeli security cabinet on Sunday decided to initiate a land registration process in the West Bank's Area C, which covers more than 60 percent of the territory
- This might lead to "a massive land theft", Peace Now said, adding that the process could result "in the transfer of ownership of the vast majority of Area C to the (Israeli) state"
Geostrategy
Erdogan urges parties to seize ‘window of opportunity’ on Ukraine
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday urged parties to take advantage of recent contacts to strike a deal toward...
- "I would like to reiterate that we are ready to contribute to these meetings and we will be happy to host them," Erdogan said
- Zelensky said he wanted Trump to attend the direct peace talks with Russia, after the US leader said he was "thinking" of going