US promises Gaza food plan after envoy visit
The visit by Steve Witkoff came as a report from global advocacy group Human Rights Watch accused Israeli forces of...
Geostrategy
Trump’s envoy Witkoff holds talks in Israel on ceasefire as Gaza criticism mounts
Witkoff has been the top US representative in indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas but the discussions broke down last...
Geostrategy
Greenpeace, Arab climate activists slam regional efforts at COP27
The 21-country Arab group at the COP27 climate conference in Egypt "has spent most of its energy spearheading efforts to...
- Greenpeace's Ahmed El Droubi noted that the Arab group's current fossil fuel safeguarding strategy does not reflect the vulnerability of the region
- The Middle East is at high risk of water and food scarcity as well as severe heat waves as a result of climate change
Geostrategy
Qatar emir praises Russia for ‘cooperation’ in preparing World Cup
Two days before the start of the World Cup, Qatar's emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in a call with Russia's...
- Diplomats say Russia has largely been frozen out of preparations since its February invasion
- No senior Russian officials are expected in Doha for the World Cup, but top US diplomat Blinken starts a two-day visit on Monday, the state department said
Market Report
World stocks rally but oil prices tumble
Global main stock markets rallied as investors fished for bargain shares and shrugged off losses elsewhere, but oil prices fell...
- Asian equities experienced mixed fortunes Friday as cautious investors tried to gauge the outlook for Federal Reserve monetary policy.
- The week has been broadly positive for global equities following softer-than-expected US consumer and wholesale price figures.
Geostrategy
Second Russian fertilizer shipment should be for W. Africa, says UN
After a first shipment of Russian fertilizer blocked in European ports heads for Malawi next week, a second batch should...
- The first shipment of 20,000 metric tonnes of nitrogen phosphorus potassium is currently being loaded onto a vessel chartered by the UNWFP.
- There were around 300,000 tonnes of Russian fertilizer blocked in different European ports.
Geostrategy
UN climate talks go into overtime to break deadlock over funding
Representatives from nearly 200 countries have gathered at the COP27 in Egypt for two weeks with the aim of driving...
- But wealthy and developing nations were still struggling to find common ground on creating the fund and on a host of other crucial issues with only hours before the summit.
- For many developing countries the defining issues at the conference is money for the "loss and damage" caused by climate change.
Geostrategy
‘Sweden confirms Nord Stream pipeline sabotage’
Swedish officials confirmed the September blasts which destroyed sections of the Nord Stream pipelines carrying natural gas from Russia to...
- Technical analyzes were continuing in order to "draw more reliable conclusions regarding the incident."
- Sweden's Prosecution Authority said that the investigation will show if anyone can be formally suspected of a crime.
Arts & Culture
There won’t be another World Cup like Qatar 2022
Few countries could have afforded the $200 billion-plus bill that the tiny but super-wealthy emirate has paid for its spectacular...
- The World Cup has become such an expensive and controversial behemoth that FIFA may struggle to find a single country ready to shoulder the task of hosting.
- The tournament is expanding to 48 teams when the circus moves to the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026.
Business
Amazon confirms it has begun laying off employees
US media have previously reported that the platform and its various branches will lay off about 10,000 employees. Amazon did...
- A reduction of 10,000 employees would represent a little less than one percent of the group's total payroll, which had 1.54 million employees worldwide
- Many technology companies that had been hiring heavily during the pandemic have recently announced job cuts, including Meta, Twitter, Stripe and Lyft
UN chief says stop ‘blame game’ at deadlocked climate talks
Developing nations least responsible for global emissions are pushing rich polluters to agree at COP27 on the creation of a...
- Guterres said there was "clearly a breakdown in trust" between developed and emerging economies
- The deadlock on loss and damage is holding up agreement on a broad range of issues that nations are hoping to address at COP27
Business
Twitter exodus begins after Musk ‘hardcore’ ultimatum
Esther Crawford, the platform's director of product development and one of the few managers who have not been fired, who...
- Musk, also the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has come under fire for radical changes at the social media company
- He has already fired half of the company's 7,500 staff, scrapped a work-from-home policy and imposed long hours
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
US promises Gaza food plan after envoy visit
The visit by Steve Witkoff came as a report from global advocacy group Human Rights Watch accused Israeli forces of...
Geostrategy
Company News
Afghanistan special envoys to meet in Doha
Geostrategy
Latest News
Asian shares mixed after Fed minutes, while Nvidia provides support
Asian markets diverged Thursday after minutes from the Federal Reserve's most recent policy meeting indicated officials would keep interest rates...
Economy
Amazon to invest $17bn in Spain
The investment will be made in data centers in Aragon region.
Business
Palestinians optimistic but wary after recognition moves
The agreement signed with Khaldoon Al Mubarak, managing director of the Abu Dhabi government-controlled fund Mubadala, opens "a new era...
Business
Most Read
Geostrategy
Israel furious as 3 European countries recognize Palestinian state
Israel reacted with fury after three European countries said Wednesday they would recognize a Palestinian state, more than seven months...
- Ireland, Norway and Spain said they would formally recognize the State of Palestine on May 28.
- Israel strongly opposes the move, arguing that it amounts to "rewarding terrorism"
Geostrategy
Medics, WHO say north Gaza hospitals barely operational
North Gaza's last two functioning hospitals, Al-Awda and Kamal Adwan, are barely operational, doctors and the World Health Organization said...
- Israeli forces had fired on the facilities and that snipers had been deployed near one of them.
- Israel's military accuses Hamas of using hospitals as command centers to plan and launch attacks against its forces
Business
France and UAE sign AI cooperation deal
France and the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday signed a "strategic partnership" on artificial intelligence (AI) aimed at boosting cooperation...
- In 2017, the UAE became the first country in the world to appoint a minister of state for artificial intelligence, digital economy and remote work
- In April, US tech giant Microsoft announced a $1.5-billion investment in UAE-based artificial intelligence firm G42