Netanyahu’s Gaza plan: Hamas accuses Israel PM of sacrificing hostages for personal interest
"Netanyahu's plans to escalate the aggression confirm beyond any doubt his desire to get rid of the captives and sacrifice...
Geostrategy
Trump announces 100% chip tariff, pressuring Asian producers
The US president unveiled the levy at the White House on Wednesday ahead of the imposition of sweeping tariffs on...
Economy
Business
QatarEnergy, Chevron Phillips to build $6 billion gas-to-plastics plant
The Ras Laffan Petrochemicals Complex, which will produce 2.1 million tonnes of ethylene a year along with 1.7 million tons...
- QatarEnergy has a 70 percent equity share in the joint venture with Texas-based Chevron Phillips taking the other 30 percent.
- Ras Laffan will double Qatar's ethylene production capacity and increase its polymer output from 2.6 million tons to more than four million tons a year.
Arts & Culture
Iraq apologizes after chaos at regional football tourney
BASRA, IRAQ - Iraq has apologized to its neighbor Kuwait after a scuffle in the VIP section prevented the Kuwaiti emir's...
- Matches are taking place in the city of Basra as war-scarred Iraq hosts the regional event for the first time in over four decades.
- The country was long banned from international football and is counting on the tournament to burnish its image.
Business
Stop and smell the metaverse roses
Immersive technologies that can better lives, whether helping people treat dementia or learn to pilot fighter jets, is the future...
- Some entrepreneurs at the annual CES gadget fest that ends Sunday in Las Vegas were eager to combine real and virtual worlds to help people stop and smell the roses.
- French startup SocialDream has also designed its own mixed-reality headset adapted to its virtual world content –- imagery that stimulates memory in Alzheimer's patients.
Business
Auto industry races into metaverse at CES technology show
Las Vegas, United States--Allowing the driver of an autonomous vehicle to watch a movie, a dealer to sell automobiles from a...
- Holoride, a start-up backed by automaker Audi, is already selling a virtual reality headset intended solely for rear-seat passengers
- The metaverse can play a role in designing new products or more easily testing them in differing environments
Geostrategy
Thousands protest in Tel Aviv against new Netanyahu government
Tel Aviv, Israel--Thousands of Israelis protested on Saturday against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new government, regarded as the most right-wing in...
- In Tel Aviv, protesters brandished signs with slogans including "Democracy in danger" and "Together against fascism and apartheid"
- Netanyahu, 73, who himself is fighting corruption charges in court, had already served as premier longer than anyone in Israeli history
Business
Ronaldo to play first game for Al Nassr on January 22
Cristiano Ronaldo may make his Saudi Arabian debut on January 22 after the Portuguese star was successfully registered by new...
- Ronaldo will now be available for the January 22 home game against Ettifaq after completing a two-match ban issued in November for smashing a fan's mobile phone
- He joined Al Nassr in a deal believed to be worth around 200 million euros that has shone an unprecedented light on the Saudi Pro League
Geostrategy
Russia says its military following ceasefire in Ukraine despite attacks
Russian President Vladimir Putin had unilaterally ordered his forces to pause attacks for 36 hours for the Orthodox Christmas.
- The statement however added that over the past 24 hours Russian forces repelled a number of attacks by the Ukrainian army in eastern Ukraine.
- AFP journalists in the town of Chasiv Yar south of the frontline city of Bakhmut on Saturday heard heavy artillery fire for much of Saturday morning.
Science
Climate change leads to warm winter for Europe
After experiencing searing summer heat and a drought unprecedented in centuries, a wave of warm weather across Europe this winter...
- As temperatures rise globally because of human-caused climate change, scientists say heatwaves and spells of warmer-than-average weather are becoming more common
- Several European countries saw record-breaking heat on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, according to the World Meteorological Organization
Science
Once in 50,000-year comet may be visible to the naked eye
Paris, France--A newly discovered comet could be visible to the naked eye as it shoots past Earth and the Sun...
- It will come closest to the Sun on January 12 and pass nearest to Earth on February 1
- The last time the comet passed Earth was during the Upper Paleolithic period, when Neanderthals still roamed Earth
Jack Ma: tycoon who soared on China’s tech dreams grounded by regulators
A reshuffle of Ant's shareholding structure will now see Ma cede control of the fintech giant he founded in 2014....
- The most recognisable face in Asian business, Ma has seen his fortune fall by around half to an estimated $25 billion
- Chinese regulators torched the planned listing of Ma's Ant Group in Hong Kong and Shanghai, and the following year hit Alibaba with a record $2.75 billion fine
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
Netanyahu’s Gaza plan: Hamas accuses Israel PM of sacrificing hostages for personal interest
"Netanyahu's plans to escalate the aggression confirm beyond any doubt his desire to get rid of the captives and sacrifice...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
Early returns show reformist Pezeshkian leading Iran runoff vote: interior ministry
Iran held the first round of its snap presidential election last week which was marked by a record low turnout....
Is Artificial Intelligence a major drain on the world’s energy supply?
Paris, France -- When Google announced this week that its climate emissions had risen by 48 percent since 2019, it pointed...
Geostrategy
Reformist faces ultraconservative as Iran votes for president
In a contest between reformist Masoud Pezeshkian and ultraconservative Saeed Jalili, the election comes amid heightened regional tension
Geostrategy
Most Read
Business
European Union slaps Chinese electric cars with tariffs of up to 38%
Brussels, Belgium -- The European Union on Thursday slapped extra provisional duties of up to 38 percent on Chinese electric car...
- A European Commission probe launched last year concluded that state subsidies for Chinese EV manufacturers were unfairly undercutting European rivals.
- The Chinese Chamber of Commerce to the EU slammed the tariffs, coming on top of current import duties of 10 percent, as "politically-motivated" and "protectionist".
Geostrategy
Lebanon’s Hezbollah rains rockets on Israel as Gaza war rages
Fire and smoke billows after rockets fired from southern Lebanon hit areas in northern Israel on July 4, 2024. (AFP).
- The Israeli military said its forces were "striking launch posts in southern Lebanon"
- UN chief Antonio Guterres is "very worried about the escalation of the exchange of fire"
Geostrategy
Iraqi armed groups say ready to fight Israel if Lebanon war breaks out
Baghdad, Iraq - As war rages in Gaza and threatens to spread to Lebanon, Iraqi militant groups warn they are ready...
- A field commander of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq said there would be "escalation for escalation" in the event of a full-scale war in Lebanon
- The commander, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said the Iran-backed group had already sent "experts and advisors" to Lebanon