World plastic pollution treaty talks collapse with no deal
Negotiators from 185 nations worked beyond Thursday's deadline and through the night in an ultimately futile search for common ground....
Geostrategy
Israeli far-right minister backs contentious West Bank settlement plan
Israel's finance minister on Thursday backed plans to build 3,400 homes in a particularly contentious area of the occupied West...
Geostrategy
Economy
Egypt arrests 29 over alleged online crypto scam
Cairo, Egypt - Egyptian authorities have detained 29 people, including 13 foreigners, accused of running an online cryptocurrency scam that defrauded...
- The scheme promised large profits from crypto-currency mining and trading services, for fees charged at an attractive foreign exchange rate.
- The network pocketed about US$620,000 at the expense of its victims in the country now battered by an economic crisis and rapid inflation.
Geostrategy
Tunisians defy protest ban, rally to demand release of Saied critics
Denouncing Saied's power grab as a "coup", the protesters defied a ban on demonstrations imposed by Tunis authorities. Initially dozens...
- More than 20 political figures have been arrested in the North African country in recent weeks, including members of the main opposition coalition, the NSF.
- The NSF had called for the demonstration, which came a day after more than 3,000 joined a Tunis rally organized by the powerful UGTT trade union.
Geostrategy
Satellites could beam poorest nations out of digital desert
At the moment just 36 percent of the 1.25 billion people in the world's 46 poorest countries can plug into...
- The divide has been a key complaint at a UN summit in Doha, where UN chief Antonio Guterres told their leaders that "you are being left behind in the digital revolution".
- The launch of thousands of Low-Earth Orbit satellites could bring speedy change and boost African hopes, tech experts promised at the Doha summit.
Geostrategy
52 nations facing debt payment issues need urgent help: UNDP
Achim Steiner, head of the United Nations Development Programme, said that 25 of the 52 were spending more than a...
- Steiner did not name the countries involved but the UNDP last week released a report which called for a 30 percent write-off of external debt for 52 countries at 2021 values.
- Poor nations' debt has multiplied over the past decade because of the coronavirus pandemic, high food and fuel bills and financial crises.
Geostrategy
Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah re-appointed Kuwait Prime Minister
Kuwait's government resigned on January 23, three months after it was sworn in, following disputes with lawmakers that have plunged...
- A long-running standoff between the government and the elected parliament has hampered efforts by the country to push through fiscal reforms.
- In September 2022, Kuwait held its sixth election in a decade, leading again to an opposition-led parliament.
Economy
After 15 years of talks, UN states agree on deal to protect high seas
The deal described by many as historic is seen as key to conserving 30 percent of the world's land and...
- Greenpeace's Laura Meller called it a historic day for conservation and a sign that in a divided world, protecting nature and people can triumph over geopolitics
- The treaty will also oblige countries to conduct environmental impact assessments of proposed activities on the high seas
Economy
China sets 5% growth target in 2023, one of the lowest in decades
Beijing, China--China on Sunday set an economic growth target of "around 5 percent" for 2023, one of the lowest in decades,...
- Outgoing Premier Li Keqiang said China would aim to add around 12 million "new urban jobs" this year and bring the urban unemployment rate to around 5.5 percent
- The country posted just three percent growth last year, missing its stated target of around 5.5 percent as the economy strained under the impact of strict Covid-19 curbs
UN calls for resettlement of quake-hit Syrian refugees from Turkey
"Many refugees who fled to Turkey in search of safety and protection have now faced the trauma of loss and...
- The United Nations made the call as 89 Syrian refugees arrived in Madrid from Turkey
- For almost 12 years, Turkey has hosted some 3.5 million Syrian refugees fleeing the civil war
Arts & Culture
Year after the slap, Chris Rock hits back at Will Smith in Netflix special
The comedian came out swinging, accusing the Hollywood star of "selective outrage" when he reacted to a jibe about Jada...
- Rock was presenting an Oscar in Hollywood last March when he made a crack about Pinkett Smith's closely cropped head
- The comedian said Smith had been widely mocked after an episode of his wife's podcast in which the couple talked about her affair
Geostrategy
Iran to reconnect nuclear surveillance cameras: IAEA
UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi earlier said he had held "constructive" talks with Iranian officials in Tehran after the...
- IAEA chief earlier said he had held "constructive" talks with Iranian officials in Tehran after the discovery of uranium particles enriched to near weapons-grade level
- Grossi arrived in Iran on Friday talks deadlocked on reviving a landmark 2015 accord on Iran's nuclear activity, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
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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
World plastic pollution treaty talks collapse with no deal
Negotiators from 185 nations worked beyond Thursday's deadline and through the night in an ultimately futile search for common ground....
Geostrategy
Company News
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Pressure piles on Israel’s Netanyahu over Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces mounting international and domestic pressure after the killing in Gaza of six captives, with...
Geostrategy
In the heart of Beirut, one family upholds a unique dessert tradition
Beirut, Lebanon - At a shop nestled in a busy, crowded Beirut district, Hasan El-Makary is weighing out containers of warm,...
Arts & Culture
Two ships hit off rebel-held Yemeni region: maritime agencies
The Houthis said in a statement they had targeted the Blue Lagoon with "missiles and drones, and it was directly...
Geostrategy
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Business
Bahrain to introduce minimum tax for large multinationals
Beginning in January 2025, the measure will place a minimum tax of 15 percent on revenues over 750 million euros ($830...
- A small oil producer and non-OPEC member, Bahrain has sought in recent years to diversify its revenues, which, like its Gulf neighbors, is largely dependent on hydrocarbons.
- The UAE last year began taxing the profits of companies worth more than 375,000 dirhams (roughly 91,500 euros) at 9 percent.
Israel set for general strike after Gaza hostages found dead
A nationwide strike aimed at ramping up pressure on Israel's government to secure the release of the remaining hostages in...
- Of the 251 hostages seized during Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, 97 remain captive
- At least 637 Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by Israeli troops
Business
Major Qatari plant to double solar capacity by 2030: Energyminister
Doha, Qatar -- A large new solar plant planned in Qatar will double the Gulf emirate's previously projected renewable energy capacity...
- The plant will be established in Dukhan area will produce 2,000 megawatts, which is twice more than the capacity of Qatar's production of solar energy of the current projects.
- The energy minister also announced plans to more than double Qatar's urea production making the country the largest producer of the fertilizer in the world by the end of the decade