Google and Australia’s national newswire strike AI deal
Sydney, Australia - Australia's national newswire has agreed to provide content to Google's Gemini artificial intelligence to improve its responses,...
Business
Israel demands release of all hostages after Hamas backs new truce offer
Mediators are awaiting an official Israeli response to the plan, a day after Hamas signaled its readiness for a fresh...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Xi hails Middle East thaw in call with Saudi crown prince
In his first comments on the matter to be made public since the deal was struck, Xi said the dialogue...
- Beijing brokered an agreement between Tehran and Riyadh on March 10 to restore diplomatic ties following a seven-year freeze
- Long bitter rivals, Iran and Saudi Arabia have engaged in a series of proxy conflicts in the region, such as the protracted fighting in Yemen
Egyptians cling to Ramadan charity as inflation soars
Families have buckled under the weight of inflation, which hit 32.9 percent in February as Egyptians tried to fill their...
- For many families, Ramadan boxes of food staples or daily charity iftar meals, organised in droves across the country are their only chance to eat meat or chicken
- Before Ramadan began, the charities upon which tens of millions of Egyptians depend raised the alarm that they were struggling to meet more people's needs
Business
ADNOC, BP place $4bn bid for half of Israel’s NewMed Energy
The participation of Emirati firm ADNOC is the latest sign of the quickening normalisation of relations between Israel and the...
- NewMed, which holds 45% of Israel's Leviathan offshore gas field, said the offer was received on Monday, noting it had appointed an audit committee to examine the deal
- BP said that together with ADNOC, it has made offer to take NewMed through an acquisition of the free float and a partial acquisition of its holding company Delek
Business
Binance, crypto firm, hit with US charges for violating trade rules
The charge sheet accuses Binance of failing to uphold standards that are required of a company operating as a derivatives...
- CFTC chairman said the charges against Binance were part of a campaign to find and stop misconduct in the volatile and risky digital asset market
- The allegations targeted Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, also known by his Twitter handle CZ, and three entities that make up his crypto empire
Geostrategy
Scotland’s first Muslim leader’s rise underlines ‘new norm’ in UK
The newly-elected head of the Scottish National Party (SNP) joins the growing ranks of leaders from Britain's old imperial possessions...
- One of the new SNP leader's chief adversaries in the Edinburgh parliament will be Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who is also of Pakistani heritage.
- Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt is now the only white holder of one of the four "great offices of state" in British politics.
Geostrategy
Israel PM caves in, pauses judicial reform that split nation
Lawmakers were scheduled to vote this week on a central part of the proposals, which would change the way judges...
- After nearly three months of increasing tensions, the legislation will now be considered further in the next session of parliament, which begins in the second half of April
- The judicial proposals have sparked concern from Israel's allies, including the US, who welcomed Netanyahu's pause as an opportunity to create time to compromise
Economy
Russian oil sales to India surge as European buyers turn to other markets
Moscow, Russia--Russian oil sales to India surged more than twentyfold last year as European buyers turned to other markets following the...
- When EU nations began ending thier reliance on Russian energy supplies, Moscow shifted its oil exports to India and China
- Compared to last year, Russia's oil-export revenue dropped by almost half in February, according to the International Energy Agency
Economy
Saudi bus crash kills 20 pilgrims on way to Mecca: state media
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--A bus ferrying pilgrims to the holy city of Mecca burst into flames after a collision on a bridge...
- According to state media the bus was carrying pilgrims to the holy city of Mecca when it burst into flames after a collision on a bridge
- Al-Ekhbariya channel reported that the victims had "different nationalities" but did not mention them or provide a breakdown
Geostrategy
Tunisia appeals to Europe for ‘more understanding’
Calling for "constructive discourse" from the European Union after many leaders warned the country is facing a crisis that could...
- The minister said that his country depends on its own resources, and on the economic support of its partners, including the EU
- EU economy commissioner said that the visit gave him a chance to reaffirm EU's attachment to the values of democracy
Geostrategy
‘Hotel Rwanda’ hero arrives in Qatar after release from jail: diplomats
Rusesabagina was released late Friday after 938 days in prison under an accord, mediated by Qatar, between the US government...
- The 68-year-old, whose 25-year jail term was commuted by President Paul Kagame, was to undergo medical checks before flying to the United States on Wednesday
- Rusesabagina was a hotel manager who helped save hundreds of lives during the 1994 genocide and his story was turned into "Hotel Rwanda" featuring Don Cheadle
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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 and Australia’s national newswire strike AI deal
Sydney, Australia - Australia's national newswire has agreed to provide content to Google's Gemini artificial intelligence to improve its responses,...
Business
Company News
US shoots down four Houthi drones in Red Sea
Geostrategy
Latest News
UN sends emergency food aid for one million Lebanese amid fresh Israeli attacks
The World Food Program says it had launched an emergency operation to provide meals for one million people affected by...
Geostrategy
Lebanon may be seeing ‘largest displacement’ ever: PM
Prime Minister Najib Mikati said that "the estimated number is very high and may reach one million" -- which would...
Business
Trump launches into ‘dark speech’ on illegal immigration
Anti-immigrant sentiment has been at the core of Trump's appeal in economically depressed, majority-white parts of the country ever since...
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Geostrategy
Death of Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut an inflection point in the Middle East conflict
Rarely seen in public, Nasrallah enjoyed cult status among his supporters and was the only man in Lebanon with the...
- Palestinian group Hamas and Iranian Supreme leader Khamenei condemn the killing of Nasrallah in Israeli strikes
- Israeli military says "most of the senior leaders of Hezbollah have been eliminated" in Lebanon
Geostrategy
Biden ready to ‘adjust’ US forces in Mideast amid tensions: White House
Washington, United States - President Joe Biden ordered US forces in the Middle East to be adjusted "as necessary," the White...
- The US president, who traveled to his beach house in Delaware on Friday, had been briefed several times by his national security team, the White House added
- Biden had earlier confirmed that "the US had no knowledge of or participation in the (Israeli) action," adding in remarks to reporters that, "We're gathering information."
Geostrategy
Tens of thousands protest against Lebanon ‘bloodbath’ in Iran, Yemen
The demonstrations in Tehran and other Iranian cities were responding to a call by authorities on Wednesday to demonstrate in...
- Hezbollah is part of the "axis of resistance," Iran-aligned armed groups across the Middle East that have targeted Israel, and also US forces
- The alliance also includes Yemen's Houthi rebels who organized a demonstration by tens of thousands in the capital Sanaa on Friday a day after firing a missile at Israel