Astronomers discover blazing Betelgeuse has companion star
Paris, France - Since at least the time of the ancient Egyptians, people across the world have gazed up in...
Science
Malnutrition reaches new heights in Gaza, children most affected, require urgent treatment
As malnutrition surges in war-torn Gaza, tens of thousands of children and women require urgent treatment, according to the UN,...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Israel attacks Damascus, kills five Syrian soldiers
Five Syrian soldiers were killed in an Israeli airstrike near Damascus airport, according to Syrian state media. The Syrian Observatory...
- The monitor said Israel targeted sites where Iran-backed groups are stationed near Damascus airport and in the Damascus countryside
- Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes against its northern neighbour, targeting government troops as well as allied Iran-backed forces and Hezbollah fighters
Arts & Culture
Head of Lebanon’s victorious Mayyas dance troupe chides politicians
Dozens of relatives offered the Mayyas troupe flowers at Beirut airport while thousands of Lebanese were glued to their televisions...
- Nadim Cherfan's comment came as a snub to top Lebanese politicians who had praised the group -- including the country's president and prime minister.
- Mayyas this week snatched a $1 million prize and the chance to headline a Las Vegas show for their extravagant television performance featuring belly dancing
Tunisia decree sets 5 years jail for ‘fake news’
The decree, published in the Official Journal, defines the offence as "deliberating using communication networks and information systems to produce,...
- The decree was condemned on social media after its publication as an attempt to muzzle journalists
- Saied in July last year sacked the government and suspended parliament, before later dissolving the legislature entirely
Market Report
Stocks mostly slide; pound hits 37-year dollar low
Stock markets mostly slumped Friday, while the British pound tanked to a 37-year dollar low as weak UK retail sales...
- Sales by volume dived 1.6 percent in UK last month, more than triple expectations.
- Sterling has hit a series of 1985 lows in recent weeks, also as the US Federal Reserve implements aggressive hikes interest rate hikes.
Geostrategy
Dubai appeals non-extradition of Briton accused of tax fraud
Dubai's attorney general will appeal against a court's refusal to extradite a British national wanted over an alleged 1.7 billion...
- Hedge fund trader Sanjay Shah was arrested in Dubai in June, but the emirate's Court of Appeal last week rejected Denmark's extradition request.
- The appeal by Chancellor Essam Issa Al Humaidan, Dubai's attorney general, will be heard in the Dubai Court of Cassation.
Geostrategy
Israel preparing to connect to gas field disputed by Lebanon
Israeli energy ministry's announcement comes less than 10 days after Energean announced it was "on track to deliver (the) first...
- The United States has mediated the dispute, which escalated in early June when Energean brought a production vessel into the field.
- Last Friday, US mediator Amos Hochstein noted "progress" in the talks, but said that "still more work needs to be done."
Geostrategy
Germany seizes Rosneft’s subsidiaries
Berlin took control of the German operations of Russian oil firm Rosneft to secure energy supplies which have been disrupted...
- The seizures come as Germany is scrambling to wean itself off its dependence on Russian fossil fuels.
- Move covers the companies Rosneft Deutschland GmbH and RN Refining & Marketing GmbH and their corresponding stakes in three refineries: PCK Schwedt, MiRo and Bayernoil.
Economy
Climate-fueled hunger more than doubles in worst-hit countries: report
The analysis, "Hunger in a heating world," found that acute hunger had risen 123 percent over six years in the...
- The countries Somalia, Haiti, Djibouti, Kenya, Niger, Afghanistan, Guatemala, Madagascar, Burkina Faso and Zimbabwe have repeatedly been battered by extreme weather
- An estimated 48 million people across those countries suffer acute hunger, defined as hunger resulting from a shock and causing risks to lives and livelihoods
Economy
Third ‘armed bank withdrawal’ in a week in Lebanon
When a branch of the Byblos bank opened in the southern town of Ghaziyeh, a depositor, reported to be in...
- A man in 50 stormed a branch of Byblos bank in the southern town of Ghaziyeh and threatened bank employs with a gun and demanded his savings
- The man walked away with around $19,000 and turned himself in to the police moments later as a crowd formed in front of the bank to support him
Geostrategy
Xi urges more ‘political trust’ with Turkey in Erdogan meeting
Xi and Erdogan met on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Turkey is a...
- Xi also pushed for more cooperation on his signature Belt and Road global trade initiative
- Xi also met Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iran's Ebrahim Raisi at the regional security summit
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
Astronomers discover blazing Betelgeuse has companion star
Paris, France - Since at least the time of the ancient Egyptians, people across the world have gazed up in...
Science
Company News
Trump stokes opposition to Biden border plan
Geostrategy
Latest News
Palestinians relaunch bid to become UN member state
The Palestinians, who have had observer status at the world body since 2012, have lobbied for years to gain full...
Israel terms killing of aid workers in Gaza ‘grave mistake’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military had "unintentionally" killed the aid workers, calling it a "tragic case" that...
Geostrategy
Tesla reports drop in auto sales
The decline was in part due to a weak sales market in China.
Business
Most Read
Geostrategy
Netanyahu branded ‘traitor’ in fourth night of Israel protests
Former premier Barak said if Netanyahu launches a ground offensive on Rafah, the "hostages will return in coffins. The one...
- Thousands gathered in front of the country's parliament, with hostage families and former prime minister Ehud Barak blaming Netanyahu for the October 7 attacks
- Merav Svirsky, who lost both her parents in the Hamas attack, and whose brother was later murdered in Gaza, said Netanyahu is in no hurry to free the hostages
Economy
World Bank estimates damage to Gaza infrastructure at $18.5bn
The World Bank said in its interim damage assessment, this is equivalent to 97 percent of the combined economic output...
- The bank said the rate of damage appears to be leveling off as few assets remain intact
- The report also found that more than half of Gaza's population were on the brink of famine
Geostrategy
Gaza situation ‘beyond catastrophic’, says UN agency chief
The British-born official, who spent a week in the besieged Palestinian territory last month, said even when aid got through...
- "Everybody we drove by and many we spoke to were gaunt, starving, hungry and looking frail. Everybody was looking for food," said Dominic Allen, the head of UNFPA.
- "Delivery rooms are overwhelmed. A midwife described women giving birth on the floor because they were at maximum capacity," he added.