US revoking terrorist designation for Syria’s HTS
An armed coalition led by HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa overthrew then-Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in December, ending half a century...
Geostrategy
Hezbollah chief says won’t surrender under Israeli threats
Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said Sunday his group would not surrender or lay down its weapons in response to Israeli...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Tunisia ex-PM Hamadi Jebali arrested: lawyer
Tunisian police on Thursday arrested former prime minister Hamadi Jebali, an ex-senior figure in the Ennahdha party which is the...
- The arrest comes with Saied's opponents fearing a slide back to the authoritarianism seen under long-time dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali
- Jebali led the Tunisian government from December 2011, a year after the start of the country's revolution, until his resignation in early 2013
Business
UN warns Internet shutdowns can have deadly consequences
Many governments refuse to acknowledge that they ordered any interference in communications, and sometimes put pressure on telecommunications companies to...
- The UN said "the dramatic real-life effects of shutdowns on the lives and human rights of millions of people are vastly underappreciated".
- The #KeepItOn coalition, which monitors shutdown episodes across the world, documented 931 internet shutdowns between 2016 and 2021.
Geostrategy
Najib Mikati picked to form new Lebanon government
The 66-year-old billionaire, who had been widely expected to keep his job, secured 54 votes during parliamentary consultations, giving him...
- President Michel Aoun asked him to form a new government, a task analysts fear could take weeks, if not months, despite the economic emergency facing the country.
- His nearest rival for the post of prime minister-designate was former ambassador to the United Nations Nawaf Salam, who only received 25 votes.
Economy
Tunisia trade unions chief rejects IMF conditions for bailout loan
The head of Tunisia's powerful UGTT trade union confederation on Thursday rejected conditions set by the International Monetary Fund for...
- IMF's regional chief Jihad Azour has said Tunisia "needs to urgently tackle its fiscal imbalances", replace generalized subsidies with transfers targeting the poor.
- But Noureddine Taboubi, head of powerful UGTT trade union confederation, rejected "the painful options they're talking about".
Kuwait dissolves parliament and heads to elect new government
Kuwait's crown prince announced Wednesday the dissolution of parliament and called for new elections amid escalating disputes between the legislative...
- The cabinet, the fourth to be formed in two years, resigned in April, three months after it was sworn in, but continued to act in a caretaker capacity
- Oil-rich Kuwait has been shaken by disputes between lawmakers and successive governments dominated by the ruling Al-Sabah family for more than a decade
Economy
G7 summit to inflict more pain on Russia over Ukraine invasion
Leaders at the upcoming G7 summit in Germany will announce new measures aimed at pressuring Russia over its invasion of...
- The club of wealthy democracies is at the heart of a fierce economic and diplomatic campaign to punish Russia
- After attending the G7 summit, Biden will fly to Madrid for a summit of the NATO military alliance
Geostrategy
US president faces historic leadership task in Europe
Leader of the free world sounds like a superhero character, but the Joe Biden heading this week to twin European...
- Biden will tout the success of a monumental effort to rally the West and breathe new life into NATO
- Biden refers to his presidency as an inflection point in a battle for the survival of Western democracy against the likes of Russian President Putin
Earthquake destroys more than 2,000 homes in Afghanistan
An estimated 2,000 homes have been destroyed by the deadly earthquake in Afghanistan, and a lack of machinery is hampering...
- "We believe that nearly 2,000 homes are destroyed," the UN's humanitarian coordinator for Afghanistan Ramiz Alakbarov told reporters
- Even before the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan's emergency response teams were stretched to deal with the natural disasters that frequently struck the country
Business
Israel to reinstate increase in entry permits for Gaza workers
Israel on Wednesday said it was reinstating an increase in entry permits for Palestinian workers from the blockaded Gaza Strip,...
- COGAT said decision regarding entry through Gaza Strip would take effect in coming days "provided that the security situation in the area remains quiet"
- Earlier, Israel suspended entry permits for Palestinian workers from Gaza in response of the rocket fire from the Palestinian enclave to Jewish state
Economy
US President calls for fuel tax break to fight off inflation woes
Joe Biden pitched a temporary fuel tax break Wednesday to help American drivers face the highest inflation in four decades,...
- In a televised address, Biden called for lifting the federal tax on gasoline of 18 cents a gallon until September
- A handful of states including New York and Connecticut have already suspended fuel taxes or delayed planned tax increases
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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 revoking terrorist designation for Syria’s HTS
An armed coalition led by HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa overthrew then-Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in December, ending half a century...
Geostrategy
Company News
Baidu cancels YY Live deal
Business
Latest News
Qatar says Israel and Hamas are ‘not near a deal’ on Gaza truce
"We are not near a deal, meaning that we are not seeing both sides converging on language that can resolve...
Geostrategy
Hizbollah says launched over 100 rockets at Israeli positions
Hamas ally Hizbollah and Israel have exchanged near-daily cross-border fire since the Gaza war erupted in October, but several Israeli...
Geostrategy
Ronaldo’s Al Nassr dumped out of Asian Champions League quarters
Beaten 1-0 in the first leg in the United Arab Emirates, Ronaldo took the quarter-final to penalties when he held...
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Geostrategy
US hits targets in Yemen as Houthis vow to step up attacks
The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack on the Pinocchio in a statement early Tuesday, maintaining the missile strike "was...
- CENTCOM said that the strikes were carried out after the Houthis fired two missiles
- Houthis said the attacks would be "in support of the oppressed Palestinian people"
Business
Xiaomi announces release date for EV
It will be its first foray into the electric vehicle sector.
- The Beijing-based firm announced in 2021 its planned foray into the electric vehicle sector
- The announcement was accompanied by a photo of the new vehicle, first unveiled in December
Geostrategy
Indian troops begin Maldives pullout after quit order
Following talks with New Delhi, the two sides had agreed to complete a withdrawal of 89 Indian troops and their...
- The Mihaaru newspaper reported that 25 Indian troops deployed in the southernmost atoll of Addu had left the archipelago ahead of March 10
- President Mohamed Muizzu came to power in September on a pledge to kick out Indian security personnel deployed in the Maldives