Iraqis cover soil with clay to curb sandstorms
Samawah, Iraq -- Deep in Iraq’s southern desert, bulldozers and earthmovers spread layers of moist clay over sand dunes as...
Geostrategy
Yemen separatists say Saudi air strikes will not deter them
A Yemeni military official said around 15,000 Saudi-backed fighters were amassed near the Saudi border -- but were not given...
Geostrategy
Economy
China’s premier tells EU leaders ‘we can’t afford’ massive industrial subsidies
Chinese Premier Li Qiang dismissed EU fears over Beijing's allegedly excessive subsidies to its industry, telling the bloc's leaders "we...
- Speaking during a roundtable with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday, Li insisted that "China is by no means doing what some call a subsidies policy or fiscal subsidies."
- "We would not be stupid enough to use the fiscal funds accumulated through the government and the hard work of our people to sell our products to foreign consumers," Li added
Geostrategy
Syrian, Israeli ministers meet US envoy in Paris: senior diplomat
The US special envoy for Syria said he held talks with Syrian and Israeli officials in Paris on Thursday on...
- "I met this evening with the Syrians and Israelis in Paris. Our goal was dialogue and de-escalation, and we accomplished precisely that," said the envoy, Tom Barrack, on X
- This was the first meeting between the two countries that have technically been at war since 1948, and Israel has occupied the Golan Heights from Syria since 1967
Geostrategy
Macron says France will recognise State of Palestine, angering Israel, US
At least 142 countries now recognise or plan to recognise Palestinian statehood, according to an AFP tally -- though Israel...
- At least 142 countries now recognise or plan to recognise Palestinian statehood, according to an AFP tally -- though Israel and the United States strongly oppose the move
- Several countries have announced plans to recognise statehood for the Palestinians since Israel launched a bombardment of Gaza nearly two years ago
Geostrategy
Iran defends ‘unshakable’ right to enrich uranium ahead of key talks
Iran on Thursday reaffirmed its right to enrich uranium, saying it was "unshakable", on the eve of key talks with...
- Friday's meeting, set to take place in Istanbul, will be the first since Israel's mid-June attack targeting key nuclear and military sites in the Iran sparked a 12-day war
- The hostilities between Iran and Israel broke out just two days before Tehran and Washington were set to resume negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme
Geostrategy
International Court of Justice court paves way for climate reparations
The court said climate change was an "urgent and existential threat" and countries had a legal duty to prevent harm...
- Countries breaching their climate obligations were committing a "wrongful act", the court said in its advisory opinion, which is not legally binding.
- Campaigners and countries on the climate frontlines hailed a milestone moment in the fight for accountability from big polluters most responsible for global warming.
Geostrategy
Israel recalls Gaza negotiators after Hamas responds to ceasefire plan
Mediators have been shuttling between Israeli and Hamas delegations in Qatar for more than two weeks, but the indirect talks have...
- International concern is growing over the plight of the more than two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where the fighting has triggered a dire humanitarian crisis.
- International news organizations, including AFP, urged Israel on Thursday to allow journalists in and out of Gaza, with concern that a lack of food is putting their lives at risk.
Business
First foreign firm takes ownership of Saudi football club
The Harburg Group -- led by American Ben Harburg -- said it had "officially completed the 100 percent acquisition of...
- Last season, Al Kholood finished ninth out of the 18 teams in the Saudi Pro League.
- The Harburg Group currently owns a 6.5 percent stake in Cadiz, a club in Spain's second division.
Geostrategy
Russia, Ukraine begin a fresh round of talks in Istanbul, Kremlin plays down breakthrough hopes
Ukraine said it hoped the two countries would discuss the release of prisoners and lay the ground for a meeting...
- A source in the Ukrainian delegation said the heads of the two delegations held a preparatory meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan ahead of wider talks
- The two sides previously met in the Turkish city in May and June, but managed to agree only on exchanges of prisoners and soldiers' bodies
Geostrategy
India expulsions to Bangladesh unlawful, target Muslims: HRW
New Delhi, India - India has pushed hundreds of ethnic Bengali-speaking Muslims into Bangladesh without due process, Human Rights Watch...
- The Hindu nationalist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has long taken a hardline stance on immigration -- particularly those from neighbouring Muslim-majority Bangladesh
- HRW, a New York-based nonprofit, said India expelled more than 1,500 Muslim men, women, and children to Bangladesh between May 7 and June 15, quoting Bangladeshi authorities
Geostrategy
Hamas confirms it responded to latest Gaza truce proposal
Hamas confirmed on Thursday that it has responded to an Israeli proposal for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, after more...
- "Hamas has just submitted its response and that of the Palestinian factions to the ceasefire proposal to the mediators," the Palestinian militant group said in a statement
- Negotiators from both sides have been holding indirect talks in Doha with mediators in an attempt to reach an agreement on a truce deal
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
Iraqis cover soil with clay to curb sandstorms
Samawah, Iraq -- Deep in Iraq’s southern desert, bulldozers and earthmovers spread layers of moist clay over sand dunes as...
Geostrategy
Company News
Nestle to cut 16,000 jobs
Business
Latest News
AI giants turn to massive debt to finance tech race
New York, United States -- Meta raised $30 billion in debt on Thursday, as tech giants flush with cash turn...
Business
Trump stirs global tensions with surprise nuclear test order
The announcement came in the wake of Russia saying it had tested a nuclear-powered and nuclear-capable torpedo, as well as...
Geostrategy
Amazon shares surge as AI boom drives cloud growth
San Francisco, United States - Amazon's share price skyrocketed by more than ten percent on Thursday after the online retail...
Business
Most Read
Economy
Backed by its sovereign wealth fund, Saudi chases AI ambitions with homegrown firm pitched to global investors
The company, launched in May, is bankrolled by Saudi's powerful Public Investment Fund, which has played a key role in...
- The company, launched in May, is bankrolled by Saudi's powerful Public Investment Fund, which has played a key role in financing the kingdom's gigaprojects
- But Riyadh's ambitions to become a global AI hub face fierce competition from the neighbouring United Arab Emirates, which have invested in AI for years
Business
TotalEnergies net profit soars despite lower oil prices
Paris, France -- French oil and gas giant TotalEnergies reported on Thursday a sharp increase in third-quarter net profit despite...
- The company said net income grew around 61 percent to $3.7 billion compared to the same period last year, even as oil prices fell by more than $10 per barrel year-on-year.
- TotalEnergies shares were down 1.4 percent in afternoon trading while the Paris stock exchange's blue-chip CAC 40 index was 0.7 lower.
Geostrategy
Israel says received bodies of two Gaza hostages from Red Cross
Not including the latest two, Hamas have so far given back the remains of 15 of the 28 deceased hostages...
- Israel launched a wave of strikes on Gaza overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday after an attack that left an Israeli soldier dead in the south of the Palestinian territory.
- Hamas has said its fighters had "no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah" and reaffirmed its commitment to the truce.