Lebanon slams foreign interference as Iran security chief visits
Lebanese leaders firmly rejected any efforts at foreign interference during a visit by Iran's security chief Wednesday, with the prime...
Geostrategy
Palestinian mother ‘destroyed’ after image used to deny Gaza starvation
Montreal, Canada - Palestinian-Canadian Faiza Najjar was able to leave Gaza last year, but could not bring her four adult...
Geostrategy
Economy
Dubai airport arrivals double in 2022 as more Russians pour in
The UAE has maintained a neutral stance towards Russia's war in Ukraine, which is nearing its one-year anniversary. The Gulf...
- The airport "welcomed a total of 66,069,981 passengers during 2022", representing year-on-year growth of 127 percent.
- In 2021, around 29.1 million passengers passed through Dubai, and the authorities had expected 57 million visitors for the year 2022.
Geostrategy
EU says Israel deporting MEP ‘deeply disappointing’
The EU called it "deeply disappointing" and "surprising" that Israel stopped and deported a Spanish MEP who had arrived for...
- Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares also expressed indignation and said "we are demanding an explanation from Israeli authorities".
- EU foreign affairs spokeswoman, Nabila Massrali said Miranda's deportation was "surprising" and view it as "deeply disappointing."
Arts & Culture
Lebanese hatmaker keeps ancient skill alive
Youssef Akiki believes he may be the last commercial maker of the sheep wool "labbadeh", a waterproof and warm cap...
- Those buying the caps are mainly tourists -- or Lebanese nostalgic for their childhood -- and they often buy them not to wear them but to display them at home.
- Akiki believes the labbadeh design is rooted in the caps worn by the ancient Phoenicians, although their style was "more elongated".
Economy
IEA faults energy firms for not doing enough to cut methane
The International Energy Agency (IEA) found that emissions from the energy sector rose slightly last year to 135 million tons,...
- The IEA estimates that $100 billion would be enough to achieve a 75 percent reduction in in methane emissions
- It noted that the explosions last year which destroyed the Nord Stream pipelines released a huge amount of methane into the atmosphere
How does aid get into rebel-held northwest Syria?
More than four million people live in areas outside government control in Syria's north and northwest, 90 per cent of...
- The UN largely delivers relief to Syria's northwest via neighbouring Turkey through the Bab al-Hawa crossing
- On February 13, the United Nations said Damascus had allowed it to use Bab al-Salama and Al-Rai crossings for three months
Economy
Asian markets mixed, with rates set to go higher
With Wall Street closed Monday for Presidents' Day there were few catalysts for regional investors, with focus on the release...
- Some Fed officials have even suggested they were open to lifting rates by 50 basis points next month, twice as much as expected by markets
- That has dealt a blow to hopes the central bank would stop hiking soon and even begin cutting rates before the end of the year
Israel parliament gives initial approval to judicial reform bill
Lawmakers voted by 63 to 47 to give more weight to the government in the committee that selects judges, and...
- Lawmakers voted by 63 to 47 to give more weight to the government in the committee that selects judges, and to deny courts the right to rule on legislation
- Opposition leader Yair Lapid accused the coalition of pushing Israel towards civil war, saying if "you care about Israel and its people" then "you'll halt legislation today"
Business
HSBC pre-tax profits tank
It, however, posted a jump in revenue to $15.7bn.
- In a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange, HSBC detailed the tough global economic climate international banks are facing
- The bank said last year reflected "a strong overall financial performance", and announced a full-year dividend of $0.32 per share
Geostrategy
Syria’s Assad visits Oman after quake, in first since war
Sultan Haitham and Assad "held official talks" at the royal palace in Muscat, Oman's foreign ministry said in a statement....
- The one-day trip to meet with Sultan Haitham bin Tareq came two weeks after a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Turkey and northern Syria
- The February 6 quake sparked Arab outreach to the internationally-isolated Assad government, which was expelled from the Arab League after war broke out in 2011
UN to try anew to finish treaty protecting the high seas
But on the eve of the talks, set to run through March 3, cautious optimism appears to be taking hold,...
- After more than 15 years of formal and informal talks, this will be the third time in less than a year that negotiators will attempt to conclude the deal
- The high seas begin at the border of countries' Exclusive Economic Zones, which extend up to 200 nautical miles, or 370 kilometers, from coastlines
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
Lebanon slams foreign interference as Iran security chief visits
Lebanese leaders firmly rejected any efforts at foreign interference during a visit by Iran's security chief Wednesday, with the prime...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
Stocks wobble as investors brace for Powell’s rate cut clues
Paris, France -- Stock markets wobbled on Thursday as investors await a highly-anticipated speech by US Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell,...
Business
India’s Modi urges peace ahead of historic Ukraine visit
"It is India's strong belief that no problem can be resolved on a battlefield," Modi said in Poland, a staunch...
Geostrategy
Israel kills top Palestinian militant as Gaza truce talks stumble
The Israeli military killed a senior Palestinian militant in Lebanon on Wednesday, leading to accusations from the Fatah movement that...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Xiaomi posts solid quarterly sales growth
The company is Chinese smartphone and household tech giant.
- The brand's presence is strongly felt in China, with its wide range of products spanning mobiles, tablets, smartwatches, headphones, scooters and, recently, electric vehicles
- The world's third-largest smartphone maker, Xiaomi reported revenue of 88.9 billion yuan ($12.5 billion) in the second quarter, an increase of 32 percent year-on-year
Geostrategy
Blinken presses Hamas to back Gaza truce but sees gaps with Israel
Doha, Qatar - Top US diplomat Antony Blinken appealed Tuesday to Hamas urgently to accept a ceasefire plan to ease suffering...
- The US secretary of state closed his ninth wartime trip to the region in which he warned that the US-backed truce proposal may be the "last chance" to broker an end the conflict
- The United States last week presented ideas to bridge gaps and, through Qatar and Egypt, has pressed heavily on Hamas to accept and return to talks this week in Cairo
Business
Boeing suspends 777X flight tests after part failure, its latest quality control issue
New York, United States - Boeing has suspended flight testing of its new 777X wide-body jet after identifying the failure of...
- Boeing has been beset in recent years with concerns about safety and quality control, with a near-catastrophic incident on an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 MAX in January
- Boeing's new chief executive Kelly Ortberg, 64, took over earlier this month on a pledge to restore trust in the embattled manufacturer