Putin and Modi in China for summit hosted by Xi
President Xi Jinping gathered the leaders of Russia and India among dignitaries from around 20 Eurasian countries on Sunday to...
Geostrategy
New wave: Sea power turned into energy at Los Angeles port
San Pedro, United States -- Floating blue paddles dance on the waves that lap a dock in the Port of Los...
Science
Sudan war leaves farmers of gum Arabic without business
Sudan is the world's largest producer of the raw gum which is a major source of foreign currency for the...
- A gum arabic producer in Sudan, Ahmed Mohammed Hussein, said the absence of buyers has led to a price collapse of around 60 percent
- Gum arabic exports from Sudan totalled 88,000 tonnes in 2021, earning $110 million, according to central bank figures, the latest official data available
Arts & Culture
Iraq artist battles to save old boating tradition
The elegant water craft have long been vastly outnumbered by modern, motorised vessels and are threatened further as Iraq's waterways...
- Iraq must save "from extinction an essential facet of our civilisation which has existed for four or five millenia", said Salim, co-founder of Safina Projects
- The flotilla on the Tigris in Baghdad was a landmark event in Salim's efforts -- 18 of the boats took to the water on a spring afternoon as part of a cultural festival
Iran’s Raisi replaces longtime security chief and leading Gulf mediator Shamkhani
Shamkhani, an ethnic Arab who had also previously served as a Revolutionary Guards commander, had been credited with defusing Iran's...
- Ahmadian, who studied at the National Defence University, was in charge of the strategic centre of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps before his appointment to the new post
- The presidential decree ends the nearly decade-long tenure of Ali Shamkhani, 67, who played a key role in Iran's landmark rapprochement with Sunni powerhouse Saudi Arabia
Business
Ryanair posts bumper profits
Its profit was US$1.5bn in the 12 months to the end of March.
- Profit after taxation soared to $1.5 billion in the 12 months to the end of March, after a net loss of 355 million euros in its previous financial year, Ryanair said
- Revenues more than doubled to 10.8 billion euros on rising fares, as the group reported "strong market share gains" in Italy, Poland, Ireland, Spain and elsewhere in Europe
Omani novelist’s book on water wins top Arabic fiction prize
Alqasmi, who has published four novels and 10 poetry collections, is the first Omani winner of the prize, now in...
- Alqasmi, 49, will receive $50,000, and the prize committee will provide funding to translate "The Water Diviner" into English, organisers of the awards said
- In an interview for the prize's website, Alqasmi said the book had an additional focus: "on how women also caused changes in the life of the main protagonist"
Geostrategy
Israeli army kills three Palestinian fighters in West Bank raid
The Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, the armed wing of Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party, said that the three were among...
- According to the witnesses, gunfire and loud explosion shook the camp even as a house was demolished by the Israeli army
- At least 153 Palestinians, 20 Israeli, a Ukranian and an Italian have been killed since the start of the year in the violence linked to the conflict
Geostrategy
Capable of safeguarding Gulf waters in coordination with neighbors: Iran
Iran said it is capable of ensuring the safety of the vital Gulf waters in cooperation with neighboring countries. Iran...
- The Gulf waters, which carry at least a third of the world's seaborne oil, have witnessed a spate of incidents since 2018.
- Recently the commander of the US Navy's Fifth Fleet transited through the Strait of Hormuz in a guided-missile destroyer.
Economy
Biden denounces Republican demands on debt ceiling as ‘unacceptable’
President Joe Biden slammed Republican demands in negotiations to resolve the US debt ceiling standoff as "unacceptable" but said a...
- The Treasury Department says that the US government could run out of money and default on its $31 trillion debt as early as June 1.
- The default can happen if Congress, where Republicans control the House of Representatives, does not authorize more borrowing.
Geostrategy
Hezbollah carries out military exercise, mock-raids
AARAMTA, LEBANON - Lebanon's Hezbollah movement simulated cross-border raids into Israel on Sunday in a show of its military might, using...
- Around 200 Hezbollah fighters took part in the raids, part of large-scale military exercise in Aaramta, around 12 miles north of the Israeli border.
- One simulated raid involved a drone attack against a target inside Israel, while in another, fighters attacked vehicles across a mock border.
Geostrategy
Five Iranian border guards killed in Sistan-Baluchistan province
Five Iranian border guards were killed during clashes with an armed group in the restive southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan, state...
- Iran foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani condemned the attack saying Tehran expects Pakistan to "crack down on terrorist groups".
- The attack was carried out by "a group that was seeking to infiltrate the country" but whose members "fled after suffering injuries, state media said.
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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
Putin and Modi in China for summit hosted by Xi
President Xi Jinping gathered the leaders of Russia and India among dignitaries from around 20 Eurasian countries on Sunday to...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
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...
Geostrategy
Biden-brokered truce deal halts Israel-Hezbollah war; Netanyahu plans to go full force against Gaza and Iran
Under US-brokered terms, Lebanon's army regains border control, curbing Hezbollah activity, while Israel vows to maintain security operations if threats...
Geostrategy
Israel intensifies attacks before ceasefire deadline as Lebanon seeks “immediate halt”
US president says ceasefire takes effect on Wednesday at 4:00 AM Beirut time, as Lebanese officials accuse Israel of trying...
Geostrategy
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Business
Roche to buy Poseida Therapeutics
The $1.5 billion deal is due to close in early 2025.
- The boards of directors of both companies unanimously approved the deal for Poseida, whose shares had closed on Monday at $2.73.
- Poseida Therapeutics' portfolio notably includes customized cell therapies for hematological cancers, solid tumors and auto-immune diseases.
Geostrategy
EU urges immediate halt to Israel-Hezbollah war as Israeli attacks kill more in Gaza and Lebanon
Israeli attacks have killed dozens in Gaza and Lebanon is the past 24 hours, while EU chief visits Beirut asking...
- Dozens feared killed, including women and children, in Gaza and Lebanon in Israeli attacks in the past 24 hours
- European Union chief says the EU is ready to provide 200 million euros ($208 million) to help bolster the Lebanese armed forces
Geostrategy
Iran denies involvement as UAE arrests three people in rabbi killing case
"This murder was carried out in the UAE. The murder of an Israeli citizen and a Chabad emissary, is an...
- Kogan was a former Israeli army soldier, who served in Israel's Givati Brigade, which is infamous for carrying out violent attacks against Palestinians
- The UAE, which normalized relations with Israel in 2020 alongside other countries including Bahrain and Morocco, has confirmed the arrest of perpetrators