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
Tehran, Moscow sign $25 bn deal to build nuclear plants in Iran: state media
Tehran, Iran -- Iran and Russia signed a $25 billion deal to build nuclear power plants in the Islamic republic,...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Higher global temperatures culprit El Nino could stay till Apr 2024
Geneva, Switzerland - The El Nino weather phenomenon, which triggers higher global temperatures, is expected to last until at least April...
- El Nino is a naturally occurring climate pattern typically associated with increased heat worldwide, as well as drought in some parts of the world and heavy rains elsewhere
- The UN's World Meteorological Organization said the current El Nino, which developed rapidly during July-August this year, was likely to peak between now and January
Geostrategy
Israel not to attend Macron’s humanitarian event for Gaza in France
Macron had spoken on Tuesday to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the pair will talk again once the aid...
- Thursday's aid conference has been put together in a hurry on the sidelines of the Paris Peace Forum on November 10-11, an annual event launched by Macron
- Recent weeks have seen growing calls for humanitarian "pauses" or a full ceasefire to allow aid to enter Gaza and keep hopes alive of freeing the hostages
Geostrategy
EU expansion: who’s in and who wants to join?
Founded in 1957, the European Economic Community (later renamed the EU) started out with six members Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and West...
- In 1973, Britain, Denmark and Ireland joined, followed by Greece, Portugal and Spain in the 1980s.
- In 1995, the bloc began expanding eastwards, admitting Austria, Finland and Sweden in a leap that gave it a shared border with Russia for the first time.
Geostrategy
G7 supports ‘pause’ in Gaza war but stops short of calling for ceasefire
"We stress the need for urgent action to address the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza... we support humanitarian pauses and...
- Israeli PM Netanyahu said Monday there would be no fuel delivered to Gaza and no ceasefire unless more than 240 hostages seized by Hamas were freed
- He also said Israel would assume "overall security" in Gaza after the war ended, while allowing for possible "tactical pauses" before then to free captives
Ahead of likely Xi-Biden summit, China says ready to improve ties with US
Both sides appear willing to patch things up, with Washington sending a number of top officials to Beijing this year...
- Chinese Vice President Han Zheng said recent high-level meetings between Beijing and Washington were sending "positive signals" that relations were improving
- Relations between Washington and Beijing sunk to some of their deepest lows in recent years over a host of issues including export controls, human rights and national security
Geostrategy
Blinken says Israel should not ‘reoccupy’ Gaza
"The United States believes key elements should include: no forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, not now, not after the...
- Speaking to reporters after G7 foreign ministers held talks in Japan, Blinken listed what he said were "key elements" in order to create "durable peace and security."
- The United States believes key elements should include: no forcible displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, not now, not after the war, Blinken added
Business
Bayer to cut management jobs
The company recently reported a net loss of US$4.9bn in Q3.
- The chief executive Bill Anderson said in a statement that the company was not happy with "this year's performance"
- Bayer said it plans to remove "multiple layers of management and coordination" by the end of the year
Turkey sidelined as EU prepares to open door to others
As when the European Union published its annual reports on candidate countries' progress towards EU norms on Wednesday, all eyes...
- Turkey's ambassador to the EU reaffirmed Turkey's commitment to accession, but acknowledged it was not going to be easy
- "Turkish government is committed to EU membership," said Faruk Kaymakci adding they expect equal treatment among candidate countries
Talisca lifts Al Nassr with Ronaldo away
The Saudi Pro League side, who chose to rest in-form captain Ronaldo, rebounded from Philippe Coutinho’s early opener at the...
- Taslica completed his hat-trick on 65 minutes, sweeping home a fine move after another one-two with Ghareeb
- Al Ain became the first western Asian club to qualify for this year’s knockout stages, courtesy of a 3-2 win at Al Fayha in Riyadh
Economy
Fossil fuel plans by producing nations threatens 1.5C limit: UN
Most of the world's leading producers of fossil fuels have pledged to achieve "net-zero" emissions by midcentury -- a target...
- UNEP report covers 20 countries that account for 82 percent of production and 73 percent of consumption of the world's fossil fuel supply
- UNEP said the world's biggest emitter China produces just over half of the world's supply of coal, the most polluting of the fossil fuels
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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
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
Company News
Boeing to boost 787 production
Business
Latest News
Putin proposes direct Russia-Ukraine talks next week
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday proposed holding direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15, hours after Kyiv and...
Geostrategy
Jordan hospital treats war casualties across Middle East
The hospital was established in 2006 to treat victims of the sectarian violence that erupted in Iraq in the aftermath...
Geostrategy
4th round of Iran, US talks amid enrichment concerns
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said ahead of Sunday's meeting that "the negotiations are progressing and, naturally, the further we...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
India and Pakistan agree to ceasefire after days of attacks
Pakistan and India agreed Saturday to a full and immediate ceasefire after days of deadly jet fighter, missile, drone and...
- Indian foreign secretary Vikram Misri said both sides would "stop all firing and military action on land, air and sea."
- The ceasefire comes after four days of attacks and counter-attacks by both sides that killed at least 60 people
Geostrategy
Syria’s Sharaa meets Bahrain king on Gulf trip
Manama, Bahrain - Bahrain's King Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa on Sunday welcomed Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Bahraini state media...
- The official Bahrain News Agency said the king hosted Sharaa at his palace, where they "discussed relations and opportunities to strengthen cooperation" in various fields.
- Bahrain was one of the first countries to express willingness to cooperate with the new authorities in Damascus after Assad's fall.
Geostrategy
Hamas releases video of two Israeli hostages alive in Gaza
Hamas's armed wing released a video on Saturday showing two Israeli hostages alive in the Gaza Strip, with one of...
- Israeli media identified the pair in the undated video as Elkana Bohbot and Yosef Haim Ohana, who were kidnapped during Hamas's October 7, 2023
- Since the ceasefire collapsed, Hamas has released several videos of hostages, including of the two appearing in Saturday's video.