Trump to sign ‘big, beautiful’ bill on US Independence Day
Trump pushed Republican lawmakers to get his unpopular "One Big Beautiful Bill" through a reluctant Congress in time for him...
Geostrategy
Russia becomes first country to recognise Taliban
Afghanistan's government said on Thursday that Russia had become the first country to officially recognise its rule, calling it a...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
UAE arrests Briton over $1.7 billion Denmark tax fraud
A 52-year-old Briton has been arrested in Dubai over a $1.7 billion dividend-tax fraud case in Denmark, the Gulf emirate's...
- The police said Sanjay Shah, a suspect in the dividend-tax fraud case in Denmark, was arrested with the aim of subsequent extradition for prosecution in Denmark.
- They said the arrest was carried out in close cooperation with Emirati authorities and under a bilateral extradition treaty signed in March 2022.
Business
UAE firm to screen passengers at four Afghan airports for three years
The Taliban have tasked a United Arab Emirates firm with the security screening of passengers and luggage at Afghan airports,...
- While some domestic and international flights are operating out of the capital's only airport, significant support is needed for major foreign airlines to resume a full service.
- Abu Dhabi-based GAAC said it will manage screening at Kabul, Herat, Kandahar and Mazar-i-Sharif airports for the next three years.
Geostrategy
Tunisia President sacks 57 judges, tightening grip on judiciary
Tunisian President Kais Saied on Thursday sacked 57 judges accused of corruption and other crimes, after passing a new law...
- In the early hours of Thursday, the official gazette published a list of judges who had been dismissed, and who may face prosecution
- A former head of the dissolved body is among those who lost their jobs on Thursday, along with a former anti-terror court spokesman and a former customs chief
Business
Diamonds forge cornerstone of Israeli-Indian relations
Israel's Diamond Exchange is home to some 30 Indian companies making India the foreign nation with the biggest number of...
- Since India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, the Hindu nationalists have agreed several large contracts with Israel
- Israel sources raw stones from around the world, while many Indian companies specialise in polishing the rocks into gleaming gems
Business
Algeria ex-football star Rabah Madjer on trial for fraud
Prosecutors in Algeria on Thursday said ex-football star Rabah Madjer should be jailed for 18 months, during his ongoing trial...
- Madjer, who owned two newspapers, is accused of continuing to bank revenues from public advertising for a year after the papers were closed
- Algeria's national publishing and advertising agency (ANEP) has demanded the return of fees as well as the payment of damages
Business
Saudi women break another barrier to be auto mechanics
An auto repair garage in Saudi Arabia is turning to an untapped source for new car mechanics: Saudi women, who...
- Expanding women's rights is central to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 agenda, intended to diversify the oil-dependent economy
- Ola Flimban, a 44-year-old mother of four, first heard about the jobs from a social media post, and immediately asked her husband, Rafat Flimban, if she could apply
Economy
Morocco launches agency to regulate medicinal cannabis
Morocco's national regulatory agency overseeing the use of cannabis for medical use met for the first time Thursday in one...
- Chaired by Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit, the "National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities" approved its organisation chart and budget for the year 2022
- The agency will be responsible for controlling all stages of the production chain, from the import of seeds to the marketing of cannabis products
Geostrategy
Tunisia’s President Kais Saied sacks 57 judges, tightens grip on courts
Tunisian President Kais Saied on Thursday sacked 57 judges accused of corruption and other crimes, after passing a new law...
- Saied had at a meeting accused unnamed judges of corruption, stalling "terrorism" cases, sexual harassment, collusion with political parties and obstruction of justice.
- Ghazi Chaouachi, whose Democratic Current party has 21 seats in the now-frozen parliament, told journalists in Tunis that the decision was aimed at "settling scores against judges"
Geostrategy
A probe shines light on global antiquities trafficking
Ex-director of the Louvre in Paris, Jean-Luc Martinez, was charged over the purchase of a pink granite stele depicting the...
- Egyptian authorities say the number of illegal digs jumped massively in recent years to hit 8,960 in 2020.
- France has seen an uptick in looting from archaeological sites, said Xavier Delestre, who works for the regional cultural authorities based in Marseilles
Economy
OPEC to boost oil production as prices surge and EU bans Russian imports
Major oil producers led by Saudi Arabia and Russia on Thursday decided to open taps wider than expected amid soaring...
- Analysts had expected OPEC+ producers to stick to their policy of modest output increases, as they have done since May 2021.
- OPEC+ drastically slashed output in 2020 as demand slumped when the world locked down under the coronavirus pandemic.
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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
Trump to sign ‘big, beautiful’ bill on US Independence Day
Trump pushed Republican lawmakers to get his unpopular "One Big Beautiful Bill" through a reluctant Congress in time for him...
Geostrategy
Company News
Spain will not join US-led Red Sea coalition
Geostrategy
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Despite oil riches, Libyans hit by plummeting purchasing power
Libya earns around $20 billion per year in net revenues from oil and gas exports, which accounts for around 95...
Reincarnation and realpolitik: Dalai Lama’s succession dilemma
Tibetan activists are keenly aware that his death will mark a major setback in his push for more autonomy for...
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Geostrategy
US vows to hold Houthis ‘accountable’ for deadly strike
The Houthi rebels have been defiantly hitting ships in vital commercial waters in professed solidarity with the Palestinians as Israel...
- Houthi ship strikes "have not just disrupted international commerce but now tragically killed a number of them," State Department spokesman said
- Matthew Miller said that US was also encouraging other countries to make clear to the Houthis that "these attacks are irresponsible"
Geostrategy
China top diplomat terms war in Gaza a ‘disgrace for civilisation’
The foreign minister said that the catastrophe in Gaza once again reminded the world that "the fact that the Palestinian...
- Wang Yi said that no reason can justify the continuation of the conflict
- He also said China supports "full" UN membership for a Palestinian state
Geostrategy
Envoys push for Gaza truce before Ramadan begins next week
While negotiators in Cairo tried to surmount tough stumbling blocks, fighting again raged in Gaza where the UN warns famine...
- US President Joe Biden called on Hamas to accept the truce plan
- Hamas has insisted on a complete halt to the fighting in Gaza