Google packs new Pixel phones with Artificial Intelligence
New York, United States -- Google on Wednesday unveiled new Pixel 10 smartphones, showcasing artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities woven into...
Business
Indian PM Modi to visit China, security chief says
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit China later in August, his security chief said on Tuesday during talks with...
Geostrategy
Economy
Greek PM calls on EU to pay for fence extension along Turkey border
Athens, Greece--Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Friday called on the European Union to "seriously consider" providing financial aid to help...
- Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that EU should "serioulsy consider" providing funds for the fencing project along the border with Turkey to keep out migrants
- The European Commission in January though ruled out paying for the fence, saying there would be no money for other things if EU were to spend money on "walls or fences"
Geostrategy
US President Joe Biden calls for release of reporter held in Russia
Washington, United States--President Joe Biden on Friday called for Russia to release Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is being...
- In a hard-hitting editorial in the Wall Street Journal, its board of opinion editors called for the expulsion of Russia's ambassador to the US as well as all Russian journalists
- While condeming the arrest, the White House warned Americans not to travel to Russia and also advising those inside the country to leave for their own safety
Geostrategy
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards officer killed in Israeli strike on Syria
Tehran, Iran--An officer from Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards was killed in Israeli air strikes on Syria early on Friday, a website...
- Syrian state media said that Israel in its latest aerial assault launched several missiles from the occupied Golan Heights against positions near Damascus
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on its website, Sepahnews, that one of the force's officers was killed in the Israeli raid
Economy
Iraq faces first sandstorm of the year, covering cars, homes in dust
Blanketing central Iraq in dust, the sandstorm made life diffcult on Firday for Iraqis venturing out of their homes. A...
- By late Friday the storm, driven by westerly winds, moved from Al-Anbar province before reaching Baghdad and Salaheddin province by late Friday
- Iraq is listed by the United Nations among the five countries in the world most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change
Geostrategy
Italy blocks AI chatbot ChatGPT over data privacy failings
Italy became the first western country to take such action against the popular chatbot. The country's Data Protection Authority said...
- ChatGPT caused a global sensation when it was released last year for its ability to generate essays, songs, exams and even news articles from brief prompts.
- Universities and some education authorities have banned the chatbot over fears that students could use it to write essays or cheat in exams.
Geostrategy
Parched Tunisia imposes water rationing, mulls prison for violators
The country's dams are at critical lows following years of drought, exacerbated by pipeline leaks in a decrepit distribution network....
- None of the country's major reservoirs is more than a third full, while some are at less than 15 percent, threatening Tunisia's agricultural sector.
- The Tunisian Federation for Agriculture and Fisheries said thousands of hectares of farmland risked being left fallow due to the lack of rain.
Blinken affirms Israel ties, warns on peace after Netanyahu spat
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and "reaffirmed the importance of the enduring US– Israel...
- Joe Biden called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step back from a bid to weaken the judiciary that has set off massive protests
- Netanyahu responded that he would not bow to foreign pressure but took a more conciliatory tone when he participated in a democracy summit
Geostrategy
Japan plans export control measures for chip equipment
TOKYO, JAPAN - Japan on Friday unveiled planned export controls on 23 items used to make semiconductors, following US pressure for...
- The move to curb export of chip equipment comes as Japan confirmed its top diplomat will visit China this weekend.
- As the second- and third-largest economies of the world, China and Japan are key trading partners.
UN to dispatch first convoy to W. Sahara mission sites since 2020
The announcement comes as UN envoy to the region Staffan de Mistura invited parties including Morocco and the Polisario Front...
- The oldest functioning security barrier in the world separates the Moroccan territory from land controlled by Polisario rebels
- Rabat, which controls some 80 percent territory, advocates a plan for limited autonomy for Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty
Economy
UN agency estimates quake hit 20% of Turkey’s food production
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said initial assessments in Turkey revealed "severe damage to agriculture, including crops, livestock, fisheries...
- FAO estimated the quake caused $1.3 billion in damage, through destruction of infrastructure, livestock and crops, and $5.1 billion in losses to Turkey's agricultural sector
- The UN's food agency is appealing for $112 million to help quake-affected communities in Turkey, including $25 million under a wider UN appeal issued in February
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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
Google packs new Pixel phones with Artificial Intelligence
New York, United States -- Google on Wednesday unveiled new Pixel 10 smartphones, showcasing artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities woven into...
Business
Company News
Huawei profit tops $12bn
Business
Latest News
US says Iran preparing imminent missile attack on Israel
Iran is preparing an imminent ballistic missile attack against Israel, the United States said on Tuesday, warning that any such...
Iran says will not send forces to confront Israel
An Israeli strike on Beirut Friday killed Hassan Nasrallah, the head of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah that has been...
Geostrategy
Qatar Airways seeking 25% stake in Virgin Australia
Qatar Airways unveiled a bid to take a 25 percent stake in troubled airline Virgin Australia on Tuesday, a deal...
Business
Most Read
Israeli special forces in ‘limited’ Lebanon ground operations, says United States
Israeli forces have launched limited incursions in Lebanon, the United States said on Monday, while Lebanon's national army, dwarfed by...
- Lebanese PM Najib Mikati called for a ceasefire based on a recent US-French proposal, urging "an end to the Israeli aggression against Lebanon"
- Netanyahu in a video address to Iranian people say that change will "come a lot sooner than people think"
Geostrategy
Two-thirds of Gaza buildings destroyed or damaged: UN
Updating its damage assessment, the UN Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) said very high-resolution imagery collected on September 3 and 6 showed...
- "Those 66 percent of damaged buildings in the Gaza Strip account for 163,778 structures in total," it said.
- Approximately 68 percent of the permanent crop fields in the Gaza Strip showed "a significant decline in health and density" in September.
Geostrategy
Israel prepares for Lebanon ground invasion as Netanyahu tells Iranians ‘change coming soon’
While Israeli defense minister indicates imminent ground invasion of Lebanon speaking to his country's troops, Prime Minister Netanyahu addresses Iranian...
- France and the United States call on Israel to avoid ground operations in Lebanon
- Netanyahu in a video address to Iranian people say that change will "come a lot sooner than people think"