Battle of the Tech Hubs
The GCC is competing to build world-class technology hubs, investing heavily in AI, infrastructure, and sovereign capital to drive digital...
Economy
Iran says US talks in Oman a ‘good beginning’ as fears of military confrontation grow
The discussions took place in Muscat, with the US delegation led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and the Iranian side...
Geostrategy
Modi’s struggling rivals to vote as India election resumes
New Delhi, India - India's six-week election resumes Saturday, with top rivals of Prime Minister Narendra Modi due to vote in...
- Modi, 73, remains roundly popular after a decade in office and his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is widely expected to win a third term next month
- His prospects have been further bolstered by several criminal investigations into his opponents, sparking concerns from UN rights chief Volker Turk
Geostrategy
Israel launches deadly Gaza strikes, says ready for new truce talks
Palestinian Territories - Israel launched devastating air strikes on Gaza Thursday, while also expressing readiness to resume stalled talks on...
- The Gaza Strip's civil defence agency said two pre-dawn air strikes had killed 26 people, including 15 children, in Gaza City
- Israel has angrily rejected those moves, voicing "disgust" over the ICC request and labelling any recognition of Palestinian statehood a "reward for terrorism."
Geostrategy
Tens of thousands bid farewell to Iran’s Raisi ahead of burial
Men and women thronged the main boulevard of Mashhad, Iran's second city in the northeast where Raisi was born, bidding...
- Posters of Raisi were raised along the streets of Mashhad, particularly around Raisi's final resting place
- Massive crowds had gathered for a funeral procession in the Iranian capital on Wednesday to pay their final respects to the president
Norway, Ireland, Spain to recognize Palestinian state
The announcement is the second diplomatic blow this week after the International Criminal Court prosecutor said he would seek arrest...
- Norway, Ireland and Spain announced that they will recognize a Palestinian state
- The three nations hope other countries will follow but Europe remains split over the issue
Geostrategy
Israel furious as 3 European countries recognize Palestinian state
Israel reacted with fury after three European countries said Wednesday they would recognize a Palestinian state, more than seven months...
- Ireland, Norway and Spain said they would formally recognize the State of Palestine on May 28.
- Israel strongly opposes the move, arguing that it amounts to "rewarding terrorism"
Geostrategy
Medics, WHO say north Gaza hospitals barely operational
North Gaza's last two functioning hospitals, Al-Awda and Kamal Adwan, are barely operational, doctors and the World Health Organization said...
- Israeli forces had fired on the facilities and that snipers had been deployed near one of them.
- Israel's military accuses Hamas of using hospitals as command centers to plan and launch attacks against its forces
Geostrategy
US and UN ‘shocked’ over Israel’s ban on American news agency AP
After shutting down offices and confiscating equipment of the Al Jazeera news channel in Israel, Netanyahu's government has shut down...
- Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid reacted to the decision on X, saying the government "went crazy".
- US news agency Associated Press has won 53 Pulitzer Prizes - one of the highest honors in news journalism
Geostrategy
Israel, Hamas reject bid before ICC to arrest leaders for war crimes
Israel and Hamas, engaged in heavy fighting in the Gaza Strip, both angrily rejected on Monday moves to arrest their...
- Israel slammed as a "historical disgrace" the demand targeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
- US President Joe Biden denounced the ICC bid as "outrageous"
Geostrategy
Amal Clooney helped ICC weigh Gaza war crimes evidence
Washington, United States - Amal Clooney helped the International Criminal Court weigh evidence that led to the decision to seek arrest...
- The British-Lebanese barrister posted a statement on the website of the Clooney Foundation for Justice, which she founded with her husband, American actor George Clooney
- Clooney said she was asked by prosecutor Karim Khan to join an expert panel to "evaluate evidence of suspected war crimes and crimes against humanity in Israel and Gaza."
Geostrategy
Iran media declares President Raisi dead, no official confirmation yet
"The president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi, had an accident while serving and performing his duty...
- Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was also on board along with the governor of East Azerbaijan
- Vice-president Mohmmad Mokhber should take over presidential duties if Raisi's death is officially confirmed
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
Battle of the Tech Hubs
The GCC is competing to build world-class technology hubs, investing heavily in AI, infrastructure, and sovereign capital to drive digital...
Economy
Company News
US promises Gaza food plan after envoy visit
Geostrategy
Latest News
Israel strikes Hamas officials in Qatar, the first of its kind on Qatari territory
Qatar, which has been a key mediator in efforts to broker a truce in Gaza, said Israeli strikes targeted the...
Geostrategy
Ethiopia inaugurates Africa’s biggest dam, drawing Egyptian protest
Guba, Ethiopia -- Ethiopia inaugurated the continent's largest hydroelectric project on Tuesday in what Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called a...
Geostrategy
Israeli strikes in Doha kill Hamas negotiator’s son, Qatari corporal
The strikes have drawn condemnation, including from UN chief Antonio Guterres, who condemned Israel's "flagrant violation" of Qatari sovereignty.
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
UK’s Starmer to meet Palestinian leader Abbas
Prime Minister Keir Starmer was due to meet Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas Monday, as the UK government edges towards...
- The meeting "is part of the prime minister's ongoing efforts to reach a political solution to the ongoing conflict in Gaza," Downing Street said
- Several countries, including Britain have pledged to recognise a Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly later this month
Geostrategy
UN rights chief denounces Israeli ‘genocidal rhetoric’ on Gaza
Volker Turk said "shocking and dehumanizing language" has been used by a number of high-level officials, stressing that "this is...
- In a speech to the UN Human Rights Council, Volker Turk said the occupied Palestinian territory was already "a graveyard".
- The UN estimates nearly one million people remain in and around Gaza City, where it officially declared a famine last month.
Geostrategy
China’s Xi calls on BRICS countries to ‘resist all forms of protectionism’
Beijing, China -- Chinese President Xi Jinping called on the 11-nation BRICS bloc to "resist all forms of protectionism" at...
- "We must uphold the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core and resist all forms of protectionism," he said.
- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had convened a virtual meeting to discuss "the defense of multilateralism".