US would control Gaza, displace all its people under Trump’s new plan: report
The entire population of Gaza would be relocated and the United States would take control of the Palestinian territory under...
Geostrategy
Hamas confirms death of Gaza chief Mohammed Sinwar
Pictures released by the Palestinian group on Saturday showed him alongside other political and military leaders described as "martyrs of...
Geostrategy
Business
Companies dole out US$326.7bn in record dividends in Q1
Dividends across the world spiked 12% in Q1 compared to the same period in 2022, which was already an all-time...
- One-off special dividends reached $28.8 billion over the three-month period, the second biggest amount since the first quarter in 2014
- According to Janus Henderson, companies are forecast to shell out $1.6 trillion in dividends in 2023 as a whole
Business
Apple to tie up with Broadcom for 5G telecom networks
The company will collaborate with US tech firm Broadcom in order to make "cutting edge" parts for wirelessly connecting to...
- Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company is "thrilled" to make commitments that harness the ingenuity and innovative spirit of American manufacturing
- The alliance will include designing and manufacturing sophisticated radio frequency components and other "cutting-edge wireless connectivity" parts in US
Business
Qatar Airways boss skeptical on aviation industry’s 2050 net zero target
DOHA, QATAR - Qatar Airways' chief executive on Tuesday doused hopes that the aviation industry can become carbon neutral by 2050,...
- Not enough sustainable aviation fuel is being produced, and technological hurdles remain to using hydrogen as a replacement.
- In 2021, the International Air Transport Association's member airlines committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Geostrategy
Sporadic shelling as combat eases after Sudan ceasefire
Sporadic artillery fire still echoed in Sudan's capital, but residents said fighting had calmed following a US and Saudi-brokered ceasefire,...
- The battles since April 15 have killed an estimated 1,000 people, sparked mass evacuations of foreigners and forced over a million people to flee their homes.
- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a video message that the truce is "backed by a remote monitoring mechanism" supported by the US.
Business
Gazprom 2022 profit at US$15bn
With Europe off limits, Gazprom has turned toward Asia.
- Gazprom said, "Profit margins were impacted by an increase in tax payments in the second half of the year."
- Western sanctions have heavily impacted the company headed by Alexei Miller, a close ally of President Vladimir Putin.
Economy
Month after predicting contraction, IMF expects UK economy to grow
The IMF said the 2023 upgrade reflected "higher-than-expected resilience" in both demand and supply, alongside improved confidence in reduced post-Brexit...
- Britain's economy is now predicted to expand by 0.4 percent, the International Monetary Fund said in its latest outlook document which partly cited weaker energy prices.
- The news comes after the BoE forecast earlier this month that the UK economy would avoid recession this year despite the country's annual inflation stuck above 10 percent.
Business
Meta sells Giphy at over $260m loss
Meta had purchased Giphy in May 2020 for $315 million.
- Shutterstock paid $53 million in cash for Giphy in a deal that came months after the divestment order by Britain's CMA.
- Since the UK left the European Union in 2020, the CMA has proven to be one of the toughest antitrust regulators of big tech companies.
Arts & Culture
Watch owned by China’s last emperor sells for $5m
Emperor Aisin-Gioro Puyi had brought the watch with him to a Soviet prison camp where he was brought after the...
- Emperor at the age of two in 1908, Puyi was immortalised by Bernardo Bertolucci's Oscar-winning film but left a mixed legacy.
- A Patek Philippe "Grandmaster Chime" sold for $31 million in 2019. It is said to be the most complex timepiece the luxury watchmaker has ever created, with 20 complications.
Science
Humans must stay in control of AI, European trade union chief warns
BERLIN, GERMANY — No employee should be “subject to the will of a machine”, European trade union chief Esther Lynch...
- In the same way that EU treaties protect health and safety in the workplace, rules are needed to guarantee “the human-in-control principle” when it comes to AI, Lynch said.
- Lynch, general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation since last December, will head the four-day ETUC Congress that kicks off in the German capital.
Geostrategy
Iran, Indonesia sign trade agreement during Raisi visit
Indonesia and Iran signed a trade agreement in Jakarta where President Joko Widodo hosted his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi. Tehran...
- Under the pact, Iran will provide easier access for Indonesian exports including vegetable oil, cocoa, coffee and tobacco.
- Jakarta would lower tariffs on Iranian exports to Indonesia, including oil and its derivative products, minerals, chemicals and iron.
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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
US would control Gaza, displace all its people under Trump’s new plan: report
The entire population of Gaza would be relocated and the United States would take control of the Palestinian territory under...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
Iran says may end nuclear arms ban if sanctions reimposed
Iran is set to meet with Britain, France and Germany for talks on its nuclear program on Friday after the...
Geostrategy
Palestinian leader Abbas lays ground for succession
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas announced his replacement . Under current Palestinian law, the speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC)...
Car-centric Saudi to open first part of Riyadh Metro
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia announced Wednesday it is ready to open the first part of the Riyadh Metro,...
Most Read
Business
Adani Group says it lost nearly $55 billion as US bribery charges sparked rout
The November 20 bombshell indictment in New York accused billionaire industrialist founder Gautam Adani and multiple subordinates of deliberately misleading...
- Gautam Adani, 62, is suspected of having participated in the $250 million scheme in bribes to secure lucrative government contracts.
- The conglomerate saw $150 billion wiped from its market value in 2023 after a report by short-seller Hindenburg Research accused it of "brazen" corporate fraud.
Five forgotten conflicts of 2024
he wars in the Mideast and Ukraine-Russia have dominated world headlines in 2024 but several other conflicts are ravaging countries...
- The conflict in Sudan has left tens of thousands dead and some 26 million facing severe food insecurity
- THe Democratic Republic of Congo has endured internal and cross-border violence for over 30 years
Geostrategy
Samsung reshuffles leadership amid challenge in AI chips
Seoul, South Korea - Samsung Electronics reshuffled its leadership on Wednesday as it looks to gain an edge in the production...
- On Wednesday it tapped vice-chairman Jun Young-hyun to lead its memory business and appointed Han Jin-man as the new boss of the chip foundry division
- The reshuffle aims to "strengthen the company's growth and future competitiveness, focusing on the semiconductor business", Samsung said in a statement