Expectations high as Trump, Putin set to meet at Alaska: What each side wants
In a draft peace plan published in June, Russia called on Ukraine to withdraw its forces from the Kherson, Lugansk,...
Geostrategy
Plastic pollution treaty talks in disarray as dozens of countries reject draft text
Geneva, Switzerland - Attempts to finalise a landmark treaty combating plastic pollution descended into disarray on the penultimate day on...
Economy
Geostrategy
Kremlin, on China plan, says no conditions for peace ‘at the moment’ in Ukraine
The Russian foreign ministry on Friday thanked Chinese efforts but said that any settlement of the conflict needed to recognise...
- China has sought to position itself as a neutral party in the conflict while maintaining close ties with strategic ally Russia
- Beijing last week called released a 12-point paper to end the war in Ukraine, which included the respect of all countries' territorial sovereignty
Business
Phone firms set for annual meet in shadow of global slump
Barcelona, Spain--The big beasts of the telecom industry will gather in Barcelona on Monday for their most important annual get-together,...
- In total, the four-day show would host almost 750 operators and manufacturers and 2,000 exhibitors.
- A hugely popular idea for many at the show is to force the owners of bandwidth-hungry platforms like YouTube, Netflix and Facebook to pay network operators a "fair share".
Geostrategy
CIA chief warns Iran advancing nuclear program at ‘worrisome pace’
Washington, United States--Iran's nuclear program is advancing at a "worrisome pace," CIA director William Burns said in an interview broadcast Sunday,...
- The Islamic Republic was last known to have enriched uranium up to 60 percent
- The country has repeatedly insisted that it is not planning to build a nuclear bomb
Science
US agency says Covid likely emerged from China lab leak: reports
Washington, United States--The coronavirus pandemic likely arose from a Chinese laboratory leak, the US Department of Energy now says according to...
- The department now joins the Federal Bureau of Investigation in believing that the pandemic was the result of a mishap in a Chinese laboratory
- The World Health Organization in mid-February pledged to do everything possible "until we get the answer" on Covid's origins
Science
SpaceX Dragon to carry two NASA astronauts to ISS, one of them Emirati
The SpaceX Dragon Crew-6 mission is set to lift off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 1:45 am...
- NASA's Stephen Bowen and Warren Hoburg, Russia's Andrey Fedyaev and Sultan al-Neyadi of the United Arab Emirates are to spend six months on the orbiting space station
- Neyadi, 41, will be the fourth astronaut from an Arab country and the second from the oil-rich UAE to journey to space; his compatriot Hazzaa al-Mansoori flew an eight-day mission
Geostrategy
Amid Jordan talks, two Israelis, Palestinian killed in West Bank
The latest deaths came amid talks in Jordan to discuss worsening violence in the occupied territory, and days after Israeli...
- Sunday's attack on the two settlers took place just south of the city, targeting a car on the main road through the town of Huwara
- The violence erupted while Israeli-Palestinian talks were held in Jordan aimed at quelling a surge in West Bank violence
Economy
WHO seeks $392m for Yemen before donor meet
The World Health Organization on Sunday appealed for $392 million ahead of a UN-led donor conference in Geneva to avert...
- The UN estimates that 21.6 million people –- two-thirds of Yemen's population –- will require humanitarian aid and protection services in 2023
- Huthi rebels seized the capital Sanaa in 2014, prompting a Saudi-led coalition to intervene the following year to prop up the internationally recognised government
Geostrategy
Egypt’s FM to visit Syria and Turkey to show ‘solidarity’
For the first time in a decade, Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry will visit Syria and Turkey to show ""solidarity...
- While Cairo and Damascus have largely maintained relations during the conflict, the Cairo-based Arab League suspended Syria in 2011
- Sisi and Erdogan shook hands in Qatar in November, in what the Egyptian presidency heralded as a new beginning in their ties
Geostrategy
At Jordan talks, Israel and Palestinians vow to prevent escalation
Jordanian state broadcaster Al-Mamlaka said the meeting, which kicked off in the Red Sea resort of Aqaba, was "the first...
- The meeting comes amid international concerns over intensifying unrest between Israel and the Palestinians.
- A Jordanian government official told that the meeting aimed at "building trust" between Israel and the Palestinians.
Geostrategy
Swiss banks hold cash ’embezzled’ by Lebanese central bank chief: Report
Lebanese central bank chief Riad Salameh is accused of embezzling millions of dollars. He faces faces investigations related to suspicions...
- A Lebanese judge on Thursday filed new charges against Salameh, his brother Raja and his former assistant Marianne Hoayek for embezzlement of public funds and money laundering.
- Twelve Swiss banks have received a large part of the money he is alleged to have embezzled, estimated at up to $500 million, SonntagsZeitung reported on Sunday.
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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
Expectations high as Trump, Putin set to meet at Alaska: What each side wants
In a draft peace plan published in June, Russia called on Ukraine to withdraw its forces from the Kherson, Lugansk,...
Geostrategy
Company News
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SpaceX postpones historic mission featuring first private spacewalk
United States -- SpaceX postponed once more its attempt at launching a daring orbital expedition featuring an all-civilian crew that...
Geostrategy
Turkey, Azerbaijan hope for ‘lasting peace’ in South Caucasus
Years of diplomacy between the Caucasus rivals Azerbaijan and Armenia had failed to reach a breakthrough, but negotiations have resumed...
Geostrategy
Iran former top diplomat Zarif returns to VP post
"After the follow-ups and consultations conducted by the president and with his written order, I will continue to exercise my...
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Geostrategy
Iraq issues arrest warrants against two persons for ‘heist of the century’
Baghdad, Iraq -- An Iraqi criminal court on Tuesday issued arrest warrants for a businessman and a former government official wanted...
- The scandal, dubbed the "heist of the century", sparked widespread anger in Iraq, which is ravaged by rampant corruption, unemployment and decaying infrastructure.
- The criminal court issued the warrants for businessman Nour Zuhair and Haitham al-Juburi, a former adviser to then prime minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi.
Geostrategy
Egypt says will not accept Israeli force on its Gaza border: state-linked media
Cairo, a key mediator in efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, "reiterated to all parties...
- A key sticking point in the ceasefire talks have been calls for Israel to withdraw its forces from the border area, including the Rafah crossing
- Israeli forces seized the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing in early May, a move that has cut off a crucial aid route and drawn repeated condemnation from Egypt
Business
ExxonMobil expects global oil demand near current levels in 2050
New York, United States - Global oil demand is unlikely to fall by 2050 despite progress on renewable energy, the US...
- In a new report, ExxonMobil said it "sees a plateau in oil demand beyond 2030, remaining above 100 million barrels per day through 2050."
- This would be roughly in line with oil demand last year of 102.2 million barrels per day, according to the International Energy Agency