Yemen separatist leader fled to UAE: Saudi-led coalition
Aidaros Alzubidi was accused of high treason and removed from Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council on Wednesday, while the coalition bombed...
Geostrategy
Oil prices gain, as equities extend record run higher
Oil prices have experienced choppy trading since the surprise US raid Saturday on Caracas that saw Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro...
Business
Geostrategy
Seismic shift: UK, Australia and Canada recognize Palestinian state
Portugal was also to recognize Palestinian statehood, as Israel came under huge international pressure over the war in Gaza where...
- A poll released by YouGov on Friday showed two-thirds of young Britons aged 18-25 supported Palestinian statehood.
- Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy acknowledged at the UN in July that "Britain bears a special burden of responsibility to support the two-state solution".
Geostrategy
White House says $100,000 H-1B visa fee to be one-time payment
Washington, United States -- The White House issued a major clarification Saturday to its new H-1B visa policy that had...
- H-1B visas allow companies to sponsor foreign workers with specialized skills to work in the United States, initially for three years but extendable to six.
- Such visas are widely used by the tech industry. Indian nationals account for nearly three-quarters of the permits allotted via lottery system each year.
Geostrategy
Landmark shift: Britain to recognize Palestinian state today
The United Kingdom has historically been a staunch supporter of Israel but has shifted position as Israel has intensified the...
- The small Palestinian territory has since suffered vast destruction, death and lack of food that have resulted in a major humanitarian crisis.
- Starmer said in July that Britain would formally recognize the State of Palestine if Israel did not take "substantive steps" towards a ceasefire with Hamas.
Geostrategy
Floating wind power sets sail in Japan’s energy shift
Still heavily reliant on imported fossil fuels, Japan has declared offshore wind energy a "trump card" in its drive to...
- That's despite rising project costs and fears over inadequate infrastructure to produce turbines en masse.
- Floating turbines are particularly well suited to Japan as its deep coastal waters make fixing them to seabeds tricky.
Geostrategy
With cash and aid, Saudi Arabia pursues soft power push in Syria
Saudi Arabia has spent months courting Syria's new leaders, aiming to draw closer a country long dominated by Iran and...
- Syria was a battleground for outside powers throughout the conflict, with Iran and Russia backing Assad, and Turkey and the United States supporting various armed groups.
- In May, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman convinced visiting US President Donald Trump to promise to lift Syria sanctions.
Geostrategy
Hamas warns hostages face fate of missing pilot if Israel assault continues
Hamas' armed wing published Saturday "farewell" photographs of most of the remaining hostages in Gaza, warning that Israel's assault on...
- Of the 251 people seized by Palestinian militants during their attack on Israel in October 2023, 47 remain in Gaza, including 25 the Israeli military says are dead
- Israel launched a ground assault on Gaza City on Tuesday, following weeks of heavy air strikes that continue on the territory's largest urban centre
Business
Americans would dominate board of new TikTok US entity: W.House
A deal for the Chinese parent company of popular video-sharing app TikTok to sell its US operations would see the...
- The United States has forcefully sought to take TikTok's US operations out of the hands of Chinese parent company ByteDance for national security reasons
- Under President Donald Trump's predecessor Joe Biden, the US Congress passed a law to force ByteDance to sell its US operations or face a ban of the app
Geostrategy
Macron risks Israeli backlash with Palestinian recognition, yet seizes historic chance to reshape Middle East diplomacy
France and the UK will be the first permanent UN Security Council members to recognise a Palestinian state and, along...
- The recognition marks the growing international frustration with Israel over its assault and aid blockades on the Gaza Strip launched in October 2023
- France and the UK will be the first permanent UN Security Council members to recognise a Palestinian state and, along with Canada, the first G7 members to do so
Geostrategy
Trump speaks with Xi, sees progress on TikTok, says will visit China early next year
US President Donald Trump hailed Friday what he called progress with Chinese President Xi Jinping including on selling blockbuster app...
- The leaders of the world's two largest economies spoke by telephone for the second time since the return to the White House of Trump
- Trump told reporters ahead of the call that he hoped it would finalize a deal to take out of Chinese hands TikTok, the social media hugely popular with young Americans
Business
Top music body says AI firms guilty of ‘willful’ copyright theft
Paris, France -- AI companies have sucked up the world's entire music catalogue and are guilty of "willful, commercial-scale copyright...
- AI music generators such as Suno and Udio can produce tracks with voices, melodies and musical styles that echo those of original artists such as the Beatles and Mariah Carey.
- The Recording Industry Association of America, a US trade group, filed a lawsuit in June 2024 against both companies.
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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
Yemen separatist leader fled to UAE: Saudi-led coalition
Aidaros Alzubidi was accused of high treason and removed from Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council on Wednesday, while the coalition bombed...
Geostrategy
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Mediators Egypt, Qatar, others ‘concerned’ about Israel opening one-way Gaza exit
The countries voiced "their absolute rejection of any attempts to expel the Palestinian people from their land" and said they...
Geostrategy
Netflix’s $83 billion takeover of Warner Bros reshapes Hollywood as regulators prepare intense antitrust scrutiny
Streaming giant Netflix said Friday it will buy film and television studio Warner Bros. Discovery for nearly $83 billion, the...
Business
Abu Dhabi showdown – how the F1 title can be won
Paris, France - AFP Sport assesses how the 2025 Formula One drivers' title can be won at the season finale...
Economy
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Business
In Data Center Alley, AI sows building boom, doubts
Ashburn, United States -- As planes make their final approach to Washington DC's Dulles Airport, just below lies Ashburn, a...
- In 2025, private companies are spending roughly $40 billion a month on data center construction in the United States.
- Data servers deploying ChatGPT-like technologies run very hot and require new-generation liquid cooling.
Geostrategy
US private sector lost 32,000 jobs last month in surprise drop
President Donald Trump has been touting the economy's health, and forecasts had incorrectly predicted the monthly data would show a...
- "Hiring has been choppy of late as employers weather cautious consumers and an uncertain macroeconomic environment," ADP chief economist Nela Richardson said.
- "While November's slowdown was broad-based, it was led by a pullback among small businesses."
Business
OpenAI declares ChatGPT ‘code red’ over stiff competition: report
Washington, United States -- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has declared a company-wide "code red" as its ChatGPT technology faces stiff...
- Altman told employees that the company was "at a critical time for ChatGPT," and that resources must be devoted to fending off the new competition to its chatbot.
- Altman said that other projects would now be delayed, including a plan to introduce advertising to the chatbot.