Venezuelan parliament swears in interim president after Maduro’s ouster
Venezuela's parliament swore in Delcy Rodriguez as interim president on Monday, two days after US forces seized her predecessor Nicolas...
Geostrategy
Volatility grips oil market as nervous investors assess Venezuela
Having spiked in an initial reaction to the military operation to apprehend Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, oil prices quickly dropped...
Business
Geostrategy
Over 1.4 billion accounts hacked monthly worldwide: Cyber Security Council
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The UAE Cyber Security Council (CSC) has warned of growing risks linked to users’ digital footprints,...
- The council said every login, post or interaction online leaves a trace that can be exploited.
- The CSC cautioned that weakly secured data can lead to privacy violations, account takeovers, phishing and even identity theft.
Geostrategy
Palestinians flee Gaza City under Israeli bombardment
Gaza City, Palestinian Territories -- Palestinian families streamed out of Gaza City on Sunday, some crammed into pick-up trucks, others...
- A man in a wheelchair and another on crutches were among the long line of people heading south under Israeli military orders.
- The military has issued multiple evacuation warnings for Gaza City, but many residents have told AFP they have nowhere else to go.
Business
Airbus, Leonardo and Thales reported moving towards European space firm
Rome, Italy -- European aerospace firms Airbus, Leonardo and Thales could seal an accord this year to set up a...
- The three firms want to set up a satellite production entity to rival Elon Musk's SpaceX and growing low-cost competition from China and other countries.
- Roberto Cingolani, head of Italy's Leonardo aerospace and defense giant, said in June that an accord could be taken by July, but the deadlines have been pushed back.
Netanyahu says US an ‘extraordinary friend’ during Rubio visit
Before departing Washington on Saturday, Rubio told reporters that while Trump was "not happy" about the strike, it was "not...
- Nevertheless, the attack has put renewed strain on efforts towards a truce in Gaza, and Rubio acknowledged that the US and Israel were "going to have to talk about" its impact.
- On Sunday, Rubio, wearing a Jewish kippa, offered prayers at Jerusalem's sacred Western Wall alongside Netanyahu and US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee
Geostrategy
Rubio to begin Israel visit in aftermath of Qatar strike
Jerusalem, Undefined -- Top US diplomat Marco Rubio begins a visit to Israel on Sunday, after expressing the Trump administration's...
- The trip is taking place after President Donald Trump rebuked Israel over the unprecedented attack against Hamas leaders meeting in an upscale neighborhood of Doha on Tuesday.
- It marked Israel's first such strike against US ally Qatar and has put renewed strain on diplomatic efforts to bring about a truce in war-ravaged Gaza.
Economy
US Fed poised for first rate cut of 2025 as political tension mounts
The Fed's likely move would follow a monthslong push from President Donald Trump to slash rates, and comes amid growing...
- Since the bank's last reduction in December, it has held interest rates at a range between 4.25 percent and 4.50 percent as policymakers monitor the effects of Trump's sweeping tar
- Analysts now broadly expect a 25 basis points rate cut at the end of its two-day meeting on Wednesday, as hiring slows.
Business
Lab-grown diamonds robbing southern Africa of riches
Johannesburg, South Africa -- Botswana and southern African peers that built much of their prosperity on diamonds are scrambling for...
- Diamond-dependent Botswana is leading the way and launched a sovereign wealth fund this week to lay the "foundation for a more resilient and diversified future beyond diamonds".
- It is exploring other avenues too, like boosting luxury wildlife tourism, launching into the medicinal cannabis market and exploiting its abundant sunshine for solar power.
Geostrategy
Arab, Muslim leaders to meet in Qatar to denounce Israeli attack
Qatar said Saturday it will host a summit of Arab and Muslim leaders to denounce Israel's attack on Hamas officials...
- Monday's meeting would consider "a draft resolution on the Israeli attack on the State of Qatar" to be drafted Sunday at a ministerial meeting
- Among the leaders attending will be Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani
Geostrategy
Palestinian factions hand over weapons in largest Lebanon refugee camp
Palestinian factions handed over weapons from Lebanon's largest refugee camp on Saturday, a Palestinian official said, as part of a...
- Abdel Hadi al-Asadi, of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), said the umbrella group conducted "the operation of delivering new batches of weapons."
- The Lebanese army confirmed that it received "five truckloads of weapons from the Ain al-Hilweh camp in Sidon", the largest in Lebanon
Geostrategy
Israel army says 250,000 left Gaza City for their “safety” since stepping up operations
The United Nations estimated in late August that about one million Palestinians lived in and around Gaza's largest urban centre,...
- The United Nations estimated in late August that about one million Palestinians lived in and around Gaza's largest urban centre
- The world body and members of the international community have urged the military to abandon its plans to capture the city
Most Read
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
Venezuelan parliament swears in interim president after Maduro’s ouster
Venezuela's parliament swore in Delcy Rodriguez as interim president on Monday, two days after US forces seized her predecessor Nicolas...
Geostrategy
Company News
Rory McIlroy wins seventh Race to Dubai title
Arts & Culture
Latest News
Bid by Netflix for Warner Bros Discovery signals streaming giant’s ambition to dominate global content production
Streaming giant Netflix has made a mostly cash offer to buy TV and film group Warner Bros Discovery as the...
Business
Trump warns Israel not to ‘interfere’ in Syria, days after deadly operation killed 13 people
"It is very important that Israel maintain a strong and true dialogue with Syria, and that nothing takes place that...
Geostrategy
Trump says US freeze on asylum decisions will last ‘a long time’
US President Donald Trump said Sunday his administration intends to maintain a pause on asylum decisions for "a long time"...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Geostrategy
Pope urges Lebanese to stay in their country despite difficulties
Leo emphasized the need for peace, using the word more than 20 times during the address, without mentioning any specific...
- Urging reconciliation, Leo noted that "there are personal and collective wounds that take many years, sometimes entire generations, to heal".
- "If we do not work, for example, to heal memories, to bring together those who have suffered wrongs and injustice, it is difficult to journey towards peace," he said.
Arts & Culture
‘Dinosaur tartare’ and holograms: Dubai AI chef sparks awe and ire
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- A Dubai restaurant has opened that prides itself on having the world's "first AI chef",...
- The AI programme -- known as chef Aiman -- is trained on thousands of recipes and decades of culinary research and molecular gastronomy.
- Chef Aiman can also optimise menus and balance flavours, according to the establishment.
Geostrategy
The tiring task of repairing Gaza’s tattered banknotes
Nuseirat, Palestinian Territories - With a pot of glue, a blade and a keen eye, Manal al-Saadani repairs tattered banknotes...
- As Gaza remained blockaded for much of the Israel-Hamas war since October 2023, basic supplies were depleted, including banknotes, with no new ones supplied to its banks
- The Bank of Israel's first Series C notes featured the portraits of prominent Hebrew poets, with the 20 note in red, the 50 in green, the 100 in orange and the 200 in blue