A day after Hezbollah’s rebuff, Lebanon cabinet meets again on the group’s disarmament
With Washington pressing Lebanon to take action on the matter, US envoy Tom Barrack has made several visits to Beirut...
Geostrategy
Tourists drawn to Oman’s giant sinkholes
The sinkholes are marketed as a tourist attraction in Dhofar, whose temperate climate draws many visitors from the Gulf during...
Geostrategy
Economy
Lawyers protest in Tunisia against new taxes on legal services
Tunis, Tunisia - Dozens of Tunisian lawyers protested on Thursday against newly imposed taxes on legal services, part of a 2023...
- Led by Bar Association head Hatem Mziou, lawyers gathered outside the Palais de Justice in Tunis as well as other sites, after the association called for a "day of rage".
- The budget, unveiled last week, imposes new taxes to claw the North African country's deficit back to near five percent of GDP, as it awaits an international bailout.
Arts & Culture
Saudi Arabia gets first female international football referee
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - Saudi Arabia's first female international referee was appointed by FIFA on Thursday, less than a year after...
- Opportunities have started to open up in women's sport including a women's football league that started in November 2021.
- Saudi Arabia has applied to hold the Women's Asian Cup in 2026 and is the sole bidder for the men's version in 2027.
Geostrategy
Erdogan asks Putin to announce ‘unilateral’ ceasefire in Ukraine
Erdogan's call for a ceasefire followed a proposal earlier Thursday by Russia's spiritual leader Patriarch Kirill for an Orthodox Christmas...
- The Turkish leader has used his good relations with both Moscow and Kyiv to try and mediate an end to the war.
- Erdogan has been able to maintain good relations with Putin by refusing to join Western sanction on Russia.
Geostrategy
UAE leads arrest of the ‘most wanted’ Eritrean trafficker
Kidane Zekarias Habtemariam has been accused of being a smuggling kingpin, running a camp in Libya where hundreds of East...
- The Eritrean, on Interpol's radar since 2019, earned a reputation for "particularly cruel and violent treatment of migrants", Interpol said.
- Habtemariam was arrested in Ethiopia in 2020 but escaped custody after one year and was later sentenced in absentia to life in prison.
Geostrategy
Lebanon charges seven for Irish UN peacekeeper killing
Lebanon has charged seven people for participating in an attack against United Nations peacekeepers that killed one Irish soldier in...
- UNIFIL urged Lebanon to ensure a swift investigation, the first violent death of one of its peacekeepers in nearly eight years.
- UNIFIL, made up of some 10,000 peacekeepers, has been deployed since 1978 to act as a buffer between Lebanon and Israel.
Geostrategy
Turkey’s bickering opposition seeks unity against Erdogan
The opposition's campaign "appears abstract and distant" to voters, especially in a country where the media is heavily controlled by...
- The opposition's campaign "appears abstract and distant" to voters, especially in a country where the media is heavily controlled by the government, Western diplomat said
- Rumors are swirling that Erdogan may push forward the election to late April or early May, giving the opposition even less time to prepare
Business
Stellantis to build electric ‘air taxis’ with Archer
Called Midnight, the vehicle looks like a small plane with several rotors on its wings and is designed to make...
- Stellantis will invest up to $150 million in Archer and its vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL) designed to carry four passengers in addition to the pilot
- The two groups had previously partnered in 2021 but on a more limited scale, with Stellantis expected to provide technical assistance and access to its supply chain
Economy
Amazon CEO says 18,000 jobs to be cut from workforce
Washington, United States--Amazon announced Wednesday it will cut more than 18,000 jobs from its workforce, citing "the uncertain economy" and the...
- The CEO Andy Jassy said the company's leadership was "deeply aware that these role eliminations are difficult for people, and we don’t take these decisions lightly
- She said some of the layoffs would be in Europe, adding that the impacted workers would be informed starting on January 18
Japan tuna price soars past $270,000 at New Year auction
Michelin-starred sushi restaurant Onodera Group and Japanese wholesaler Yamayuki forked out 36.04 million yen ($273,000) for the 212-kilo bluefin tuna...
- The New Year auction is highly anticipated, and securing the top-priced tuna offers bidders bragging rights
- For years, the top bid came from self-proclaimed "Tuna King" Kiyoshi Kimura, who paid a record $3.1 million in 2019
Geostrategy
Israel justice minister presents controversial court reforms
After November elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu returned to power last week, heading what analysts call the most right-wing government...
- The key reform proposed, the "derogation clause", would allow parliament to annul a decision of the Supreme Court with a simple majority vote
- Analysts say such a clause would also allow lawmakers to uphold any annulment of the corruption charges against Netanyahu
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
A day after Hezbollah’s rebuff, Lebanon cabinet meets again on the group’s disarmament
With Washington pressing Lebanon to take action on the matter, US envoy Tom Barrack has made several visits to Beirut...
Geostrategy
Company News
Saudi Arabia formally launches bid for 2034 World Cup
Arts & Culture
Latest News
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...
Geostrategy
Syrian-based armed Iraqi groups ready to fight Israel to support Lebanon if war breaks out
As war rages in Gaza and threatens to spread to Lebanon, Iraqi militant groups warn they are ready to enter...
Geostrategy
Pro-Palestinian group scales Australia’s parliament
Sydney, Australia - Protesters scaled Australia's national parliament on Thursday, unfurling banners reading "Palestine will be free", and accusing Prime Minister...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Science
Dubai-based rowers brave Arctic this July to highlight plastics pollution
At an indoor pool in Dubai, three rowers battle artificial rain and simulated waves as they train for an Arctic...
- They plan to row for three weeks aboard an eight-meter boat flying the UAE flag, with no sail or engine
- The United Nations says plastics account for 85 percent of all marine trash
Business
Tesla auto deliveries beat expectations
Electric carmaker Tesla saw its shares surge on Tuesday.
- Tesla said it delivered around 444,000 vehicles worldwide in the April-June period, exceeding consensus estimates compiled by FactSet
- Of the total figure, 422,405 involved Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. Tesla gave no detailed breakdown of the other autos delivered
Geostrategy
Israel will not allow ‘winds of defeatism’ in Hamas war: Netanyahu
After a visit to troops on Monday, he said: "I saw very considerable achievements in the fighting being carried in...
- After the October 7 attacks by Hamas, Netanyahu's right-wing government vowed to destroy Hamas and return all hostages seized during the deadly incursion by the Palestinian group
- Netanyahu made his new vow of victory after the New York Times quoted sources as saying Israel was ready to make a deal without reaching all its goals