Syrian president says unifying country ‘should not be with blood’
Damascus, Syria -- Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has said the battle to unify his country after years of civil war...
Geostrategy
After DJs and raves, Saudi Arabia pushes home-grown culture
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- First, deeply religious Saudi Arabia opened its doors to Western raves and music festivals. Now it's...
Arts & Culture
Economy
Shunned for long, KSA welcomes home top designer
Western fashion was once largely taboo in Saudi Arabia, but with the kingdom undergoing great social changes, a designer is...
- Mohammed Ashi made his career abroad, training in the United States and working for Givenchy and Lebanese couturier Elie Saab
- International stars like Beyonce, Deepika Padukone, Zendaya and Cardi B wear his outfits, showing up on red carpets from the Oscars to Cannes
Economy
US banking crisis after SVB fall to have limited impact on Europe: rating agencies
Markets were rocked earlier this week by the collapse of two US regional lenders, SVB and Signature Bank, which forced...
- Moody's said the structure of European banks limited their exposure to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank because they placed a larger share of deposits with central banks
- Interest rate tightening "likely still has some way to run" and "developing stresses in the US banking system will also weaken investor confidence, the rating agency warned
Economy
Morocco joins Spain, Portugal to launch bid for 2030 World Cup
Morocco has joined the bid by Spain and Portugal to host the centenary World Cup in 2030, according to its...
- South Korea and Japan in 2002 shared the competition, and in 2026, the finals will be played in the US, Mexico and Canada
- Morocco, in December in Qatar, became the first nation from either Africa or the Arab world to reach the semi-finals
Syrian women in rebel-held northwest face ‘reproductive health crisis’
Beirut, Lebanon - Syria's conflict and attacks on hospitals have had a "disproportionate impact" on the reproductive health of women and...
- The report was compiled by aid and campaign groups including the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Physicians for Human Rights
- A devastating earthquake that killed tens of thousands in Turkey and Syria last month only accelerated "the collapse of the fragile health care system."
Business
Meta to slash 10,000 jobs
The firm also announced 5,000 other roles would remain unfilled.
- Meta had suffered a rough 2022 amid a souring economic climate, which forced advertisers to cut back on marketing.
- The company is also under pressure for making a huge gamble on the metaverse, the world of virtual reality.
Geostrategy
Israel lawmakers inch closer to pass judicial reform law
JERUSALEM- Israel's parliament took another step Tuesday to push forward a legal reform package that has sparked mass protests against...
- The government of Benjamin Netanyahu, which includes ultra-Orthodox and extreme-right parties, introduced its judicial reform package in January.
- The latest measure was adopted by a 61 to 52 vote but will still need to be approved in a committee and then in second and third plenum readings.
Economy
US consumer inflation high, Federal Reserve under stress
US consumer inflation edged down in February but remains elevated, according to government data, adding pressure to the Federal Reserve...
- Between January and February, the consumer price index rose 0.4 percent, slowing from the month prior as well.
- The food index in February remains nearly 10 percent above last year's level, with prices of dining out still high.
Geostrategy
Grain deal talks ongoing after Russian proposal, says UN
Consultations to prolong Ukrainian grain exports deal are continuing, the UN said, after a Russian proposal for just a 60-day...
- Russia had agreed to extend the deal which is due to expire on Saturday, for 60 days.
- Ukraine said that "contradicts" the original agreement but did not reject the proposal.
Economy
Lebanese pound plunges 100,000 to dollar as banks go on strike
Officially pegged at 15,000 to the dollar, the pound was trading at 100,000 against the greenback, dealers said -- a...
- The currency plunge has triggered price hikes including on fuel, food and other basic goods, with supermarkets this month starting to price items in dollars.
- Despite the gravity of the crisis, the political elite, which has been widely blamed for the country's financial collapse, has failed to take action.
Economy
European lawmakers demand tax on ultra-rich individuals
Most of the MEPs who signed are from Green or left-wing parties. They were joined by non-governmental organizations, including Oxfam,...
- A previous landmark deal for a global minimum 15 percent tax on multinational businesses is set to start to go into force this year
- French MEP Aurore Lalucq and economist Gabriel Zucman propose a 1.5 percent tax for ultra-rich with wealth of $54 million or more
Most Read
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
Syrian president says unifying country ‘should not be with blood’
Damascus, Syria -- Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has said the battle to unify his country after years of civil war...
Geostrategy
Company News
Iraqi PM to visit Washington for troop talks
Geostrategy
Latest News
Latest batch of device explosions in Lebanon stoking fears of a full-blown war with Israel
A second deadly wave of unprecedented explosions in the strongholds of Lebanon's Hezbollah left it in disarray on Thursday, hours...
Geostrategy
Lebanon under attack. Fears of all-out war. 20 killed, 450 injured. Israel blamed and flayed.
A second wave of device explosions killed 20 people and wounded more than 450 in Lebanon on Wednesday, officials said,...
Geostrategy
UN rights chief demands accountability for Lebanon pager blasts
The explosions that killed 12 people, including two children, and wounded up to 2,800 others
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Israel PM adds war goal of allowing northern residents to return home
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday expanded the country's goals for the war in Gaza, vowing to allow Israelis...
- Along Israel's northern border with Lebanon, Hezbollah claimed "dozens" of attacks on Israeli positions on Monday
- On Tuesday, UN member states will debate a draft resolution demanding an end to the Israeli occupation of all Palestinian territories within 12 months
Geostrategy
Israel faces risks of global isolation and losing UN membership over Gaza genocide, say UN experts
Experts from the United Nations have warned that Israel might become a pariah state, and its UN membership is under...
- UN experts slammed Western countries for their "double standards" regarding Israel
- "We are blowing up the United Nations if we don't react," warns a UN expert as Israel repeatedly disregards UN observations
Geostrategy
First Palestinian ambassador to Spain submits credentials
The head of state welcomed Housni Abdel Wahed to the royal palace in Madrid for the traditional ceremony for newly...
- The first Palestinian ambassador to Spain presented his credentials to Spanish King Felipe VI
- Madrid in May formally recognized a Palestinian state