Syria to start replacing currency from Jan 1: central bank chief
Syria's central bank chief said Thursday that the country's currency would start to be replaced with a revamped version from...
Economy
Israel to invest $110 billion over the next decade to develop its own independent arms industry
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel would invest $110 billion over the next decade to develop its own...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Summit on Palestinian statehood planned for Sept in Paris or New York
The conference, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, was originally planned for mid-June to revive work on the long-standing diplomatic...
- The meeting, which would be at ministerial level, would seek to "advance the recognition of a Palestinian state for a certain number of states who have not yet recognized it."
- But it would also work "on normalization and Israel's regional integration with Arab and Muslim countries."
Science
Birth of a solar system observed for first time
The new planetary system is forming around the baby star HOPS-315 -- which resembles our own Sun in its youth...
- Young stars are surrounded by massive rings of gas and dust called protoplanetary discs, which is where planets form.
- Inside these swirling discs, crystalline minerals that contain the chemical silicon monoxide can clump together.
Geostrategy
Israel launches strikes in Syria’s Druze area in defence of religious minority
Israel has sought to portray itself as a defender of the community, while also warning the Syrian government against maintaining...
- Damascus deployed troops to the area after clashes between Druze fighters and Bedouin tribes killed many people, with Syria's defence minister declaring a truce in Sweida city
- Residents, however, told AFP the announcement had little discernible effect on the ground, accusing government troops and their allies of rampaging through Druze neighbourhoods
Geostrategy
Trump says any ‘credible’ Epstein files should be released
President Donald Trump said Tuesday the US Justice Department should release all "credible" information from its probe into notorious sex...
- Trump is facing the most serious split of his political career from his famously loyal right-wing base over suspicions that his administration is hiding details of Epstein's crimes
- Trump's latest comments mark a softening of his stance -- he had voiced frustration in the Oval Office and online about his supporters' fixation on Epstein, urging them to move on
Geostrategy
Divided EU leaves action against Israel on Gaza ‘on table,’ if humanitarian situation does not improve
The measures range from suspending the entire accord or curbing trade ties to sanctioning Israeli ministers, imposing an arms embargo...
- EU foreign policy chief Kallas has put forward 10 potential options after Israel was found to have breached a cooperation deal between the two sides on human rights grounds
- The measures range from suspending the entire accord or curbing trade ties to sanctioning Israeli ministers, imposing an arms embargo and halting visa-free travel
Research
Trump to unveil investments to power AI boom
Washington, United States - US President Donald Trump heads to Pennsylvania on Tuesday to announce energy and infrastructure deals intended...
- Trump will make the announcement at the inaugural Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit at Carnegie Mellon University
- The tech world has fully embraced generative AI as the next wave of technology, but fears are growing that its massive electricity needs cannot be met by current infrastructure
Business
China’s Baidu to deploy driverless cars on Uber
Beijing, China -- Chinese internet giant Baidu plans to launch its driverless cars on ride-hailing app Uber in Asia and...
- Uber users in these locations may have the option of choosing to ride in a fully driverless Apollo Go car after they request a trip.
- Driverless taxis are already on the roads with limited capacity in China, most notably in the central city of Wuhan.
Geostrategy
Drone attack shuts Iraq oil field run by US company
Arbil, Iraq -- A drone strike forced a US company to suspend operations at an oil field in Iraq's autonomous...
- The attack followed a similar drone strike a day earlier on an airport in neighboring Arbil province, which hosts US troops.
- Long plagued by conflict, Iraq has frequently experienced such attacks, often linked to regional proxy struggles pitting Iran against the United States and its ally Israel.
Geostrategy
Lavrov meets Xi in Beijing: Russian foreign ministry
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with China's leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Tuesday, Moscow said, as the top Russian...
- Russia's TASS news agency reported that Xi met Lavrov after the Chinese president held a "general meeting" with SCO foreign ministers
- The Russian foreign minister arrived in China following a visit to North Korea, where he received assurances of support in its conflict with Ukraine
Arts & Culture
Egypt grand museum delay puts tourism hopes on hold
Cairo, Egypt - In the shadow of the Grand Egyptian Museum, souvenir shop owner Mona has been readying for the...
- Originally scheduled to fully open this month, the museum was expected to attract up to five million visitors annually, fuelling optimism across Cairo's battered tourism sector
- Though parts of the museum have been open for months, the main draw - the treasures of Tutankhamun - will remain under wraps until the official launch
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
Syria to start replacing currency from Jan 1: central bank chief
Syria's central bank chief said Thursday that the country's currency would start to be replaced with a revamped version from...
Economy
Company News
Latest News
UAE edge closer to World Cup after beating Oman
Arts & Culture
Iran proposes regional currency to boost trade
Tehran, Iran -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday proposed that Iran and its regional trading partners establish a shared...
Geostrategy
OpenAI says a million ChatGPT users talk about suicide
San Francisco, United States -- Data from ChatGPT-maker OpenAI suggest that more than a million of the people using its...
Geostrategy
Amazon to cut 30,000 office jobs: media reports
Amazon will lay off tens of thousands of office workers as the e-commerce and tech giant trims costs amid ramped-up...
Business
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Geostrategy
Erdogan hails Eurofighter jets deal as ‘new symbol’ of strategic ties with Britain
"We regard this step as a new symbol of the strategic relations between our two close allies," he said after...
- "We regard this step as a new symbol of the strategic relations between our two close allies," he said after signing the agreement with visiting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer
- Turkey has been looking to modernise its air force and has been pushing to acquire 40 European-made fighter jet, which are jointly produced by Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain
Geostrategy
Israel insists it calls shots in Gaza despite signing up to a US-brokered ceasefire
Under the terms of a US-brokered ceasefire, as Israeli forces withdraw after the end of two years of brutal fighting...
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would decide for itself where and when to strike its foes and which countries would be allowed to send troops to police the trucehe
- "Israel is an independent state. We will defend ourselves by our own means and we will continue to determine our fate," Netanyahu said. "We do not seek anyone's approval for this."
Geostrategy
Long-shot socialist Mamdani in touching distance of becoming NY mayor
New York, United States - An unknown local lawmaker just a few months ago, leftist Zohran Mamdani has burst onto...
- Since his surprise victory in the Democratic Party primary in June, New Yorkers have become used to seeing his bearded, smiling face on television
- The 34-year-old election frontrunner was born in Uganda to a family of Indian origin and has lived in the United States since he was 7, becoming a naturalized US citizen in 2018