India’s Modi dangles tax cuts as US tariffs loom
Mumbai, India -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push to slash consumption taxes on everyday goods could deliver billions of...
Economy
‘Far too late’: Clutching pots and buckets, Palestinians despair after UN declares famine in Gaza
"We have no home left, no food, no income... so we are forced to turn to charity kitchens, but they...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Israeli army shoot, injure seven during West Bank raid
NABLUS, PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES - Israeli forces shot and wounded seven people in a raid Tuesday in the occupied West Bank, the...
- The Palestine health ministry reported "six minor injuries from live fire" reached Jenin governmental hospital.
- There was no immediate confirmation of the identity of those wounded in Jenin, a hotbed for Palestinian armed groups.
Science
Green groups sue Europe over false energy label
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - Environmental groups lodged a lawsuit against the European Commission on Tuesday to challenge its definition of natural gas...
- The lawsuit over gas was launched by WWF, ClientEarth, Transport&Environment and the German NGO BUND.
- Greenpeace, sued the EU executive separately for deciding that nuclear energy was worthy of its sustainable investment label.
Geostrategy
Middle East thaw: Now Qatar and UAE to reopen embassies
"The technical committees are now doing their work in this context, and it is expected that there will be exchange...
- The two countries re-established relations in Jan 2021, after the UAE took part in a nearly four-year Gulf blockade of Qatar, but they are yet to restore the diplomatic missions.
- Opening the embassies would be just the latest in a series of reconciliatory steps for Gulf relations since heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Iran moved to restore ties last month.
Geostrategy
Sound Saudi-Syria relations should be norm, says Bashar al-Assad
The Syrian president met with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan in Damascus. This is the first visit to...
- Assad was politically isolated in the region since the conflict began but Saudi-Iran rapprochement has shifted regional relations.
- Assad and Prince Faisal discussed steps to "achieve a comprehensive political settlement that... contributes to Syria's return to the Arab fold," the Saudi foreign ministry said.
Geostrategy
Civil Society groups under ‘severe restrictions’ in Libya, says HRW
TRIPOLI, LIBYA - Libyan authorities have imposed "severe restrictions" on local and international civil society groups, obstructing their work in the...
- The rights watchdog said authorities must take step like adoption of a "civil society organization law that guarantees the right tot freedom of association."
- Human Rights Watch called for a reform of the penal code, and “redefining criminal acts to exclude peaceful exercise of the right to express opinions."
Geostrategy
Tunisia shuts offices of opposition party Ennahdha
The move came a day after the arrest of the party's leader, Rached Ghannouchi, 81, at his home in the...
- Since early February, authorities in the North African country have arrested more than 20 political opponents and personalities.
- Ghannouchi was the speaker of Tunisia's parliament before Saied dissolved it and went on to seize wide-reaching powers through a series of moves opponents have dubbed a "coup".
Business
Glaxo buys Bellus for US$2bn
Move after GSK demerged its consumer healthcare unit.
- GSK has agreed to buy Quebec-based biopharmaceutical Bellus Health Inc. for $14.75 per share, the British drugmaker said in a statement.
- Chronic cough is defined as a persistent cough that lasts more than eight weeks and affects an estimated 28 million people worldwide.
Business
Ericsson Q1 net profit at $155m
Firm announced that it would slash 8,500 jobs worldwide.
- Ericsson said it expects customers "to remain cautious" with investments and continue to adjust their inventories in the second quarter.
- Sales rose 14 percent but were flat when adjusting figures to take currency exchanges and other parameters into account.
Geostrategy
Turkey president Erdogan’s chief rival defends Kurds ahead of vote
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's chief rival in next month's election defended Kurdish rights on Tuesday and accused the...
- Kemal Kilicdaroglu leads a six-party alliance that is posing one of the stiffest electoral challenges of Erdogan's two-decade rule.
- Kilicdaroglu's comments followed weeks of attempts by Erdogan to link the opposition with Kurdish militants fighting the Turkish state.
Business
UK aviation warns green shift to slow demand growth
Sustainable Aviation urged the UK government to take "urgent" action to support investment in carbon-cutting innovations, pointing to the provision...
- Publishing an update to its Net Zero Carbon Road Map, industry body said, "the increased cost of decarbonising aviation will inevitably reduce passenger demand"
- The aviation industry produces high levels of both carbon dioxide and non-CO2 emissions that contribute to climate change, according to scientists
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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
India’s Modi dangles tax cuts as US tariffs loom
Mumbai, India -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's push to slash consumption taxes on everyday goods could deliver billions of...
Economy
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Oil-rich Iraqi Kurdistan votes, shadowed by economic struggles
The KDP is the largest party in the outgoing parliament, with 45 seats against 21 for the PUK. The KDP's...
Geostrategy
Putin thanks UAE president for positive role in prisoner exchange with Ukraine
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed meets his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to discuss bilateral ties and Middle East. Sheikh Mohamed will...
Israeli settler attacks, Gaza conflict ruin Palestinian olive harvest
UN experts said recently that Palestinian farmers in the occupied West Bank are facing "the most dangerous olive season ever".
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Israeli attack kills 73 in north Gaza as Netanyahu says Hezbollah tried to kill him
War in the Middle East continues as Israeli attack kills 73 in northern Gaza while Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu says...
- "Our civil defense crews recovered 73 martyrs and a large number of wounded as a result of the Israeli air force targeting a residential area."
- "The attempt by Iran's proxy Hezbollah to assassinate me and my wife today was a grave mistake," Netanyahu said in a statement.
Geostrategy
Updates: Israeli attack kills 33 people in Gaza refugee camp as Hamas mourns Sinwar
As Israel continues to pound Gaza, Lebanon, and West Bank, Turkey's Erdogan conveys his condolences to Hamas officials over Sinwar's...
- Families in northern Gaza are trying to survive in atrocious conditions, and under heavy bombardment, says United Nations
- We (are) afraid that Netanyahu does not intend on stopping the war, nor does he intend to bring the hostages back: relative of Israeli hostage
Geostrategy
States helping Israel’s occupation may be ‘complicit’: UN experts
"Israel's internationally wrongful acts give rise to state responsibility, not only for Israel, but for all states," said Navi Pillay,...
- It also examines the implications of last month's UN General Assembly vote demanding the occupation end within a year.
- Pillay, a former UN rights chief, said all countries are "obligated not to recognize territorial or sovereignty claims made by Israel over the occupied territories".