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...
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...
Geostrategy
Business
For Saudi fan, road to World Cup is a desert trek
Wearing a wide-brim hat and a backpack to which Abdullah Alsulmi'd affixed Saudi and Qatari flags, he said: "I consider...
- To keep his load light, Alsulmi subsists on food he can buy at petrol stations, often chicken and rice, while showering and washing his clothes at mosques
- Alsulmi sets out at sunrise and walks until 10 or 10:30 am, but then the heat forces him to break for a few hours before resuming in the afternoon and continuing until sundown
Economy
Month before COP27, host Egypt faces heat over rights, climate action
Cairo voiced disappointment that King Charles III, a long-time champion of the environment, cancelled a plan to attend and speak...
- Egypt will from November 6 host the 27th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, in the Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh
- Critics have questioned the choice of venue, pointing to Egypt's mixed record on the environment and on civil rights, with thousands of dissidents in jail
Economy
Lebanon years away from gas riches despite Israel deal: analysts
With the demand for gas rising worldwide because of an energy crisis sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Lebanon hopes...
- Following years of US-mediated negotiations, the rival states now appear to be nearing agreement
- A deal would allow "offshore exploration activities to continue, but that doesn't mean that Lebanon has become rich
Science
Nobel winner’s discoveries can lead to cancer breakthroughs
The multitude of applications made possible by Carolyn Bertozzi's findings are impressive: delivering treatments with extreme precision, understanding better how...
- When Carolyn Bertozzi started her research in 1997, the Stanford professor was aiming only to observe the evolution of certain molecules on the surface of cancer cells
- Using bioorthogonal chemistry, "we made a new type of medicine, which basically acts like a lawnmower," says Bertozzi
Economy
Climate change made 2022 drought ‘at least 20 times likelier’
Producers in Europe and China have warned of significantly lower than expected harvests in crop staples due to the dry...
- The three months from June-August were the hottest in Europe since records began
- The exceptionally high temperatures led to the worst drought the continent has witnessed since the Middle Ages
Economy
Fitch lowers outlook for UK rating to negative
The failure to flesh out her economic plan failed to calm the jittery markets, however, and the pound slid 2.01...
- Almost a month since she succeeded Boris Johnson, Truss has alienated voters, financial markets and many of her own lawmakers
- Fitch said that the large and unfunded fiscal package announced as part of the new government's growth plan could lead to a significant increase in fiscal deficits
Geostrategy
Iran summons UK envoy to protest ‘meddlesome statements’
Taking exception to what it calls interference in its internal affairs, Iran has summoned British ambassador Simon Shercliff to hear...
- Foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kananiin, in an Instagram post, accused "Western governments" of meddling in Iran's affairs
- The British foreign ministry on Monday summoned Iran's top diplomat in London to criticise the way Iranian authorities are handling the protests
Economy
Saudi Winter Games: Gulf is new hub for global sports competitions
In 2021, Dubai hosted qualifying slaloms for the Beijing Winter Olympics in the refrigerated dome of a huge shopping mall...
- Saudi investors have bought English football club Newcastle and are financing the breakaway LIV golf tour
- The rivalry with the Qatari and Emirati neighbours, regional pioneers in sports diplomacy, remains constantly in the background
Economy
Oil prices rise as OPEC+ agrees to cut output by two million barrels a day
Oil prices had slid in recent weeks back to the levels before the war in Ukraine on concerns of a...
- In Vienna, ministers from the 13-nation OPEC cartel and a group of 10 exporters led by Russia agreed to reduce production by two million barrels a day from November
- It is the biggest cut since the height of the Covid pandemic in 2020 and came despite concerns it could fuel inflation further and push central banks to hike interest rates
Geostrategy
EU okays new sanctions on Russia post Ukraine annexation
The latest package -- the eighth since Russia's invasion in February -- is now going through a final approval procedure...
- Details of the sanctions were not given, but imposition of a price cap on Russian oil exported globally is the likely decision.
- They could also expand the blacklist of people subject to EU travel bans and asset freezes for their role is supporting Kremlin.
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
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...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
Fujifilm ups biotech plant investment
The cost of investment in North Carolina plant is $1.2 billion.
Business
Israel on alert after Iranian threat as Gaza war grinds on
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned Wednesday that Israel "must be punished and will be punished", days after one...
Geostrategy
Most equity markets fall as US inflation data dims rate cut hopes
The losses tracked a sell-off on Wall Street and saw the dollar strike a 34-year high against the yen, fueling...
Business
Most Read
Geostrategy
Israel slams Irish PM for not mentioning Gaza hostages
Israel's foreign ministry denounced Ireland's new prime minister for not mentioning the hostages held by fighters in Gaza during a...
- Harris "forgot" to "mention the 133 Israeli hostages who have been rotting in Hamas tunnels for the past six months," Israel's foreign ministry said
- Israel is also furious with Ireland over its intention to recognise a Palestinian state
Geostrategy
Hamas leader’s family killed in Gaza strike as truce talks drag on
The strike came as talks in Cairo aimed at a ceasefire and a hostage release deal dragged on without signs...
- Hamas said in a statement that three of Haniyeh's sons and four of his grandchildren were killed in the air strike
- Israel confirmed the killings, saying the sons were "Hamas operatives" who were "on their way to carry out terrorist activities"
Business
ByteDance profits jump 60%
Sales also grew to nearly $120 billion from $80 billion.
- ByteDance has grown into one of the world's biggest tech firms -- best known in most countries as the creator of video app TikTok -- since its birth in a Beijing apartment 12 years
- A privately held firm, ByteDance does not release revenue and profit figures but media estimates of its earnings put it on par with some of the biggest firms in the world.