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
Syria commission says more than 300,000 may have gone missing since 1970s
The head of Syria's commission for missing persons said Monday the number of people who went missing during decades of...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Biden bans government use of spyware like Pegasus
The White House said commercial spyware poses a distinct intelligence threat to the United States and has been found on...
- Biden's order was not a full ban on commercial spyware, but would apply to any program deemed a US security risk, or that is used for political abuse by other governments.
- It also did not restrict spyware developed by US government agencies themselves, like the CIA or National Security Agency, the leading electronic intelligence body.
Business
EU closer to banning fossil fuel car sales after Berlin lifts veto
Brussels, Belgium - The 27 EU member states approved Monday a deal between Brussels and Germany that lifted Berlin's block on...
- The ban on internal combustion engines is key to the EU's ambitious push to become a "climate neutral" economy by 2050, with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
- Germany blocked the deal at the 11th hour, calling for an exemption for cars that run on synthetic fuels.
Geostrategy
Criminals set to use ChatGPT for fraud, other cybercrimes: Europol
Created by US startup OpenAI, ChatGPT appeared in November and was quickly seized upon by users amazed at its ability...
- Europol said the criminals may use phishing, disinformation and malware to do more online frauds.
- ChatGPT can also be used to write computer code, especially for non-technically minded criminals. the agency said.
Business
Aramco to acquire 10% stake in China’s Rongsheng Petrochemical
The agreement with Rongsheng Petrochemical comes as Saudi Arabia -- the world's biggest crude exporter -- increases political ties with...
- Rongsheng deal comes day after Aramco announced it would partner with two other Chinese companies to build a refinery and petrochemical plant in the Chinese city of Panjin.
- Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said at the China Development Forum on Sunday the firm, a leading source of income for the kingdom, was "doubling down on China's energy supply".
Economy
Saudi National Bank chair resigns after Credit Suisse buyout
Saeed Mohammed Al Ghamdi, who had been serving as CEO, will replace AlKhudairy as chair, Monday's statement said. Talal Ahmed...
- Saudi bank's board of directors accepted the resignation of Ammar AlKhudairy due to personal reasons, said the statement published on Saudi stock exchange
- Credit Suisse's shares plummeted on March 15 after AlKhudairy said the Saudi bank would not raise its stake from 9.8 percent due to regulatory constraints
FIFA U-20 World Cup draw in Indonesia nixed after call for Israel ban
Organisers had hoped hosting Israeli games on the Hindu-majority island of Bali would offer a buffer against local backlash, but...
- Fixtures for the 24-nation tournament beginning in May were due to be chosen on Friday in Bali, but FIFA cancelled the event without giving a reason
- Officials said a likely factor in the draw's cancellation was a call by Bali governor for Israel to be banned over its policies towards Palestinians in a letter
Business
First Citizens agrees to buy failed Silicon Valley Bank
It will buy "all loans and deposits" from Silicon Valley Bank, whose fall this month set off global fears about...
- US regulators, in the wake of SVB fall, created Silicon Valley Bridge Bank, which will be taken over by First CItizens from Monday
- On Sunday, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation said the transaction cover US$119 billion in deposits and US$72 billion in assets
Geostrategy
Israel president says judicial reform must stop ‘immediately’
The government argues the changes are needed to rebalance powers between lawmakers and the judiciary. Yoav Galant, the former defence...
- Herzog made the call following large demonstrations in Tel Aviv overnight where protesters again charged that the judicial overhaul package threatens Israel's democracy
- The plan to hand more control to politicians and diminish the role of the Supreme Court has ignited a wave of protests and been questioned by Israel's top allies including the US
Business
Artists close ranks in order to fight AI programs that copy their styles
Fury erupted in the art community last year with the release of generative artificial intelligence (AI) programs that can convincingly...
- In January, artists Andersen and Ortiz filed a class-action lawsuit against DreamUp, Midjourney and Stable Diffusion, for copying their art works
- Prompted by artists, a team at the University of Chicago last week launched their "Glaze" software to help protect original works
Economy
UAE-Israel free trade deal to take effect on April 1
The customs deal is viewed as the concluding phase of a free trade agreement following the normalization of relations between...
- The Israeli foreign ministry in a statement said the free trade deal would see customs duties "lowered or cancelled on approximately 96 percent of goods"
- Last year trade between the UAE and Israel touch $2.5 billion, excluding software and services, making the Gulf country Israel's 16th largest trading partner
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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
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
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Clowns try to put smiles back on faces of Gaza children
Arts & Culture
Retaliation or defeat: Hezbollah at crossroads after Nasrallah’s killing
Widely seen as the most powerful man in Lebanon before his death of Friday, Nasrallah was the face of Hezbollah...
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...
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...
Geostrategy
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Helpless! Top EU diplomat regrets failure to ‘stop’ Netanyahu
EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell voiced regret Friday that no power, including the United States, can "stop" Israeli Prime...
- EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell says no power, including the United States, can "stop" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
- "What we do is to put all diplomatic pressure to a ceasefire, but nobody seems to be able to stop Netanyahu.."
Geostrategy
Israeli air strikes hit densely populated Hezbollah bastion in Beirut
The strikes were by far the largest in scale. Iran embassy in Lebanon warns that the strikes 'change the rules...
- Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah was unharmed in the strikes, after Israeli television networks reported he was the target.
- Israel's aerial bombardment of Hezbollah strongholds around Lebanon has killed around 700 people this week alone.
Saudi Arabia announces coalition to push for Palestinian state
Prince Faisal bin Farhan said the "International Alliance to Implement the Two-State Solution" included Arab and Islamic countries, as well...
- Saudi Arabia paused US-brokered talks on recognizing Israel after the Hamas attack on Israel and the genocidal Israeli assault on Gaza.
- The hard-right Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains implacably opposed to Palestinian statehood.