Only 1.5% of Gaza farmland usable, reveals latest satellite survey published by FAO
The survey, which dates from July 28, found that 8.6 percent of Gaza's farmland was accessible, but only 1.5 percent,...
Geostrategy
“We are facing a global crisis”: Plastic pollution treaty talks open with ‘global crisis’ warning
Plastic pollution is so ubiquitous that microplastics have been found on the highest mountain peaks, in the deepest ocean trench...
Economy
Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia seizes 30 tons of mildly narcotic shrub khat
Khat, or qat, is a leaf which is packed into the cheek and slowly chewed, releasing chemicals similar to amphetamines...
- Saudi border authorities seized 29.2 tons of khat in the country's south, near the border with Yemen, as well as in the north, near Jordan.
- More than 360 smugglers were arrested, most of them Yemeni but also some Ethiopians and Saudis, SPA said.
Business
China allows 44 foreign video games for first time since crackdown
Beijing moved against the country's vibrant gaming sector last August as part of a sprawling crackdown on big tech companies.
- Beijing moved against the country's vibrant gaming sector last August as part of a sprawling crackdown on big tech companies.
- China's gaming regulator, the National Press and Publication Administration, on Wednesday said it had approved 44 new imported games in December.
Geostrategy
Rare hail brings winter white to desert hotspot Kuwait
Kuwait City, Kuwait--Kuwait, one of the hottest countries on Earth, has been hit by a rare hail storm that delighted children...
- Pictures and videos of southern roads partially blanketed in hail and ice spread online to celebrate the rare weather event.
- Kuwait's meteorological department said precipitation since Tuesday had reached up to 63 millimetres but that the weather was clearing up.
Israel thanks Morocco for protecting Jews during Holocaust
The letter from Herzog - marking two years since Morocco normalized ties with Israel - was the first occasion an...
- Herzog mentioned Jews settling in Morocco following their expulsion from Spain in late 15th century, before noting Morocco's protection of Jews during World War II
- Rabat cut relations with Israel in 2000 following the outbreak of the second Palestinian intifada but in December 2020, the two countries formalized ties
World economy faces more pain in 2023 after a gloomy year
Economists expect Germany and another major eurozone economy, Italy, to fall into recession. Britain's economy is already shrinking. Rating agency...
- Many countries are now grappling with cost-of-living crises because wages are not keeping up with inflation
- Consumer prices in the Group of 20 developed and emerging nations are expected to reach eight percent in the fourth quarter
Geostrategy
Israeli envoy to Turkey presents credentials to Erdogan
Turkey, too, has appointed an ambassador to Israel. A presidential decree in November named Sakir Ozkan Torunlar to the post,...
- Bilateral relations between Israel and Turkey began to fray in 2008 following an Israeli military operation in Gaza
- Despite past tensions between the two, Erdogan last month congratulated Benjamin Netanyahu on his victory in the general election
Economy
Oil prices show no volatility as Russia unveils export ban
New York, US--Russia on Tuesday banned oil sales to countries and companies that comply with a price cap agreed by...
- The price ceiling of $60 per barrel agreed by the European Union, G7 and Australia came into force in early December and seeks to restrict Russia's revenue
- Russia has said the cap will not affect its military campaign in Ukraine and expressed confidence it would find new buyers
Geostrategy
Iran to show ‘no mercy’ toward opponents of Islamic republic: Raisi
The "riots", as Tehran generally refers to them, were triggered by the September 16 death in custody of Iranian-Kurdish Amini,...
- Iranian officials say hundreds of people have been killed, including members of the security forces, and thousands have been arrested nationwide
- Iran has accused hostile foreign powers, including the United States and some European countries, of stoking the unrest
Economy
Jobs for Emiratis: UAE pushes work for own citizens
The UAE - like other oil-rich Arab Gulf states - has often used the public sector as an employment vehicle...
- Just 12 percent of the country's more than nine million residents are UAE nationals, with over 90 percent of private sector jobs taken by foreigners
- The government is now strong-arming private firms into hiring local talent, with the aim of ensuring Emiratis make up 10 percent of the private sector workforce by 2026
Economy
Investigators from Europe to visit Lebanon in central bank chief probe
A team of investigators from Europe will visit Lebanon next month to probe into the wealth of central bank governor...
- The visit aims to conduct investigations into financial affairs linked to Salameh
- A Lebanese prosecutor probing Salameh on suspicion of financial misconduct requested charges be issued against him based on preliminary investigative findings
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
Only 1.5% of Gaza farmland usable, reveals latest satellite survey published by FAO
The survey, which dates from July 28, found that 8.6 percent of Gaza's farmland was accessible, but only 1.5 percent,...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
Apple drops electric car plans
Business
Palestinians flee as Israeli forces return to Gaza’s north
The flare-up in the northern Gaza Strip's Shujaiya district, which witnesses and medics said caused numerous casualties, comes as fears...
Geostrategy
Saudi pushes equal pay at launch of women’s tennis finals
The Women's Tennis Association (WTA) announced in April that Riyadh would host the next three editions of the tour finals...
US offers $5 million reward for Bulgarian ‘cryptoqueen’
SOFIA, Bulgaria -- The United States announced Wednesday a reward of up to $5 million for information that could lead to...
Business
Most Read
Geostrategy
Iran picks new president at turbulent time
Iranians vote on Friday to elect a new president from six candidates, including a lone reformist who hopes he can...
- In the 2021 election that brought Raisi to power, voters shunned the polls
- Six candidates, five conservatives and one reformist, are competing in Iran's presidential election
Israel top court rules ultra-Orthodox men must serve in army
Jerusalem, Undefined - Israel's top court ruled unanimously on Tuesday that the state must draft ultra-Orthodox Jewish men into military service,...
- The High Court of Justice's decision on the politically charged issue comes as calls grow for ultra-Orthodox men to enlist
- Ultra-Orthodox Jews adhere to a strict interpretation of Jewish custom and largely live in insular communities in Israel and elsewhere
Geostrategy
WikiLeaks founder Assange freed in US plea deal
Assange had been detained in the high-security Belmarsh prison in London since April 2019. He was arrested after spending seven...
- Assange, who from 2010 published hundreds of thousands of secret US documents as head of the whistleblowing website WikiLeaks, was freed Monday from a high-security British prison
- The judge on Wednesday sentenced him to five years and two months in prison - with credit for the same amount of time he spent behind bars in Britain