Netanyahu says Palestinian state would be ‘national suicide’ for Israel and reward for Hamas
Netanyahu, who said his speech was being partially broadcast on Israeli military loudspeakers in Gaza, vowed to "finish the job"...
Geostrategy
Trump announces steep new tariffs on pharmaceuticals, big-rig trucks, furniture, reviving trade war
US President Donald Trump announced Thursday punishing tariffs on pharmaceuticals, big-rig trucks, home renovation fixtures and furniture, reviving his global...
Economy
Geostrategy
Anti-west boycott waves sweep across Middle East in Gaza solidarity
Manama, Bahrain - In a convenience store in Bahrain, 14-year-old Jana Abdullah carries a tablet as she shops, checking a list...
- Led by tech-savvy youth, the boycott campaign includes browser extensions, dedicated websites and smartphone apps that identify proscribed products.
- The boycott has been accompanied by calls for Arab states to cut ties with Israel, while pro-Palestinian rallies have taken place weekly in major capitals.
Geostrategy
Turkmenistan plants over 470,000 trees in a single day
Turkmenistan is one of the most closed societies in the world, where dissent is outlawed and the Berdymukhamedov family have...
- The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says water stress in Turkmenistan is "extremely high".
- Three-quarters of the country are covered by the black sands of the Karakum Desert and annual precipitation is below 100 mm in places.
Geostrategy
European Union to increase Gaza humanitarian aid by $27mn
"By doing so the European Union will spend a total of 100 million euros in humanitarian aid for the civilians...
- The EU chief Von der Leyen, a staunch supporter of Israel, said it was essential the country "strives to avoid civilian casualties" in its operation in Gaza.
- Von der Leyen told diplomats that even as conflict rages, there needs to be a "perspective" for a two-state solution.
Geostrategy
Russia calls for collective action to end fighting between Israel, Hamas
Russia called for "collective action" to end fighting between Israel and Hamas, including an international conference, almost a month into...
- Russia maintains ties with both Hamas and Israel and has said it can mediate the conflict.
- Russia supports calls for collective action to de-escalate the situation in the Middle East and that it was in favour of a “multilateral approach” in regulating the conflict.
Business
Ryanair profits soar
Its net profit is US$2.4bn in the six months to September end.
- Profit after tax came in at $2.4 billion in the six months to the end of September compared with 1.3 billion euros in the equivalent period one year earlier
- Chief executive Michael O'Leary said the carrier's full-year outlook "remains highly dependent on the absence of any unforeseen adverse events
Geostrategy
US encouraging Israel to kill and carry out cruel acts against Palestinians: Raisi
Tehran, Iran--Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on Monday accused the United States of "encouraging" Israel to kill and carry out "cruel...
- Raisi said crimes carried out by Israel against Palestinians are a genocide with the support of the United States and certain European countries
- The Islamic republic financially and militarily backs Hamas but insists it had no involvement in the Palestinian Islamist group's attacks on Israel
Geostrategy
Heads of UN agencies urge Gaza ceasefire in rare joint statement
The heads of 18 organizations including UNICEF, the World Food Program and the World Health Organization described the horrific toll...
- In Gaza, the UN statement said, "an entire population is besieged and under attack, denied access to the essentials for survival"
- The UN leaders said more food, water, medicine and fuel must be allowed into Gaza to help its besieged population
Geostrategy
In Ankara, Blinken tries to soothe strategic ally Turkey’s anger
Blinken's first visit since Israel went to war with Hamas in reprisal for the militants' October 7 attack comes with...
- Blinken's visit to Turkey comes amid fury at both Israel and the West boiling over on the streets of Turkey and in the palace of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan
- Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse hundreds of protesters who marched on an air base housing US forces in Turkey's southeast
Geostrategy
US Secretary of State arrives in Iraq on a surprise visit
During his meeting with Blinken on Sunday, Iraqi Prime Minister reiterated calls for a ceasefire and pointed to "the urgency...
- Iraqi PM met Blinken with the two expected to discuss the risks of escalation in Israel's war with Hamas
- Nearly 2,500 American troops are deployed in Iraq, tasked with advising their Iraqi counterparts in the fight against the IS
Geostrategy
Jordan air force drops ‘vital medical supplies’ in Gaza
Taking to X, formerly Twitter, King Abdullah said that Jordan's air force personnel air-dropped at midnight urgent medical aid to...
- Jordan announced the air drop as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken carried out a regional diplomatic tour
- Gaza continued to be rocked by big explosions for the 30th day since Hamas fighters attacked Israel on October 7th
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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 says Palestinian state would be ‘national suicide’ for Israel and reward for Hamas
Netanyahu, who said his speech was being partially broadcast on Israeli military loudspeakers in Gaza, vowed to "finish the job"...
Geostrategy
Company News
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Israel not part of Gaza food aid plan: envoy
Israel would not be involved in food distribution under a US-led plan for the Gaza Strip but would provide "necessary military...
Geostrategy
Pakistan says India has brought neighbours ‘closer to major conflict’
Pakistan charged India Friday with bringing the nuclear-armed neighbours "closer to a major conflict", as the death toll from three...
Geostrategy
Iran top diplomat to visit Saudi, Qatar before Trump tour
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will visit Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Saturday, his ministry said, days before US President...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Economy
Damascus, Ankara agree natural gas deal for Syria
Damascus, Syria - Syrian Energy Minister Mohammad al-Bashir said Friday Damascus and Ankara had reached a deal for Turkey to...
- Syria's Islamist authorities, who toppled Bashar al-Assad in December, are seeking to rebuild the country's infrastructure
- The conflict badly damaged Syria's power infrastructure, leading to cuts that can last for more than 20 hours a day
Geostrategy
US says new foundation to spearhead Gaza aid
Israel has imposed a blockade for two months on Gaza, leading UN agencies and other humanitarian groups to warn of...
- State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said the foundation was non-governmental and would make an announcement "shortly," without offering further details
- "We welcome moves to quickly get urgent food aid into Gaza... in a way that the food aid actually gets to those to whom it's intended," Bruce told reporters
Science
AI tool selfies predict biological age, cancer survival
FaceAge, a deep learning algorithm described Thursday in The Lancet Digital Health, converts a simple headshot into a number that...
- FaceAge, a simple headshot into a number that more accurately reflects a person's biological age rather than the birthday on their chart
- Trained on tens of thousands of photographs, it pegged cancer patients on average as biologically five years older than healthy peers