US halting some shipments of military aid to Ukraine
The White House said Tuesday it is halting some key weapons shipments to Ukraine that were promised under the Biden...
Geostrategy
British FM David Lammy in Turkey to bolster trade ties
Britain's top diplomat David Lammy held top-level talks in Ankara Monday that touched on developments in the Middle East and...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Macron says abandoning Gaza ‘will kill’ West’s credibility
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that abandoning war-torn Gaza to its fate and giving Israel a "free pass"...
- "If we abandon Gaza, if we consider there is a free pass for Israel, even if we do condemn terrorist attacks, we will kill our credibility," Macron told defence forum in Singapore
- European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday denounced attacks in the past days on civilian infrastructure in Gaza as "abhorrent" and "disproportionate."
Geostrategy
UN declares Gaza the hungriest place on earth, says entire population risks famine
Negotiations to end nearly 20 months of war have so far failed to achieve a breakthrough, with Israel resuming operations...
- Negotiations to end nearly 20 months of war have so far failed to achieve a breakthrough, with Israel resuming operations in Gaza in March, ending a six-week truce
- Thousands of Palestinians rushed into a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation centre on Tuesday, as Israel implemented a new distribution system that bypasses the UN
Geostrategy
Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan to make rare West Bank visit
Prince Faisal will head a delegation to Ramallah, the first such trip since Israel first occupied the Palestinian territory in...
- Prince Faisal's trip was announced as Israel vowed to build a "Jewish Israeli state" in the West Bank, after doubling down on plans to expand settlements there.
- Saudi Arabia sent a lower-level delegation to Ramallah in September 2023, its first since 1967, not long before Hamas's October 7 attack triggered the Gaza war.
Geostrategy
No permit, no hajj: Saudi intensifies crackdown after heat deaths
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia is ramping up a crackdown on unregistered worshippers at next week's hajj pilgrimage, a...
- Regular raids, drone surveillance and a barrage of text alerts are aimed at rooting out unauthorized visitors hoping to mingle among the crowds in and around Makkah.
- The simple message, "No hajj without a permit", is being blared out in a relentless campaign promoted nationwide at shopping centers, on billboards and across media platforms.
Geostrategy
UAE orders all companies to monitor emissions in new climate law
Under the new law, companies are required to report and reduce their emissions of the greenhouse gases that are responsible...
- "By institutionalizing emissions monitoring and climate adaptation, the UAE is setting a compelling example for countries across the region," she said.
- Public and private companies now have to regularly monitor emissions and take steps to reduce them, or risk fines of up to two million dirhams ($545,000).
Geostrategy
Turkey says Ukraine, Russia want ceasefire ahead of possible talks
NATO member Turkey, which has strove to maintain relations with both Kyiv and Moscow, has become a key mediator amid...
- NATO member Turkey, which has strove to maintain relations with both Kyiv and Moscow, has become a key mediator amid US President Donald Trump's push for a deal
- At negotiations in Istanbul on May 16, Ukraine said Russia threatened to accelerate its ground offensive into new regions and made a host of hardline demands
Geostrategy
Islamic State claims first attack on new Syria forces since Assad fall: monitors
The Islamic State (IS) group on Thursday claimed its first attack on Syria's new government forces since the fall of...
- In a statement picked up by SITE Intelligence Group, IS said it had planted an "explosive device" on a Syrian forces' vehicle in the southern province of Sweida.
- Reported attacks by the group in areas controlled by the Islamist-led government, which took power after Assad's ouster in December, have been scarce
Interview
Generative AI’s most prominent skeptic doubles down
Vancouver, Canada -- Two and a half years since ChatGPT rocked the world, scientist and writer Gary Marcus still remains...
- Marcus's criticism centers on a fundamental belief: generative AI, the predictive technology that churns out seemingly human-level content, is too flawed to be transformative.
- The large language models (LLMs) that power these capabilities are inherently broken, he argues, and will never deliver on Silicon Valley's grand promises.
Geostrategy
With AI and more shade, Saudi Arabia set for a searing hajj
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- With artificial intelligence, more shade and misting machines, Saudi authorities are preparing to welcome more than...
- Saudi Arabia's hajj minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah told AFP on Thursday that efforts to mitigate the searing desert heat remained a top focus among authorities.
- This year, Rabiah said authorities have mobilized more than 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials and doubled their efforts to mitigate heat-related risks.
Economy
Global economic outlook worsens, AI emerges as both catalyst and risk
Geneva, Switzerland – The global economic outlook has worsened since the start of the year, as rising economic nationalism and...
- Nearly all the chief economists (97 percent) place trade policy among the areas of highest uncertainty, followed by monetary policy (49 percent) and fiscal policy (35 percent).
- This uncertainty is expected to weigh on key economic indicators, including trade volumes (70 percent), GDP growth (68 percent) and foreign direct investment (62 percent).
US halting some shipments of military aid to Ukraine
The White House said Tuesday it is halting some key weapons shipments to Ukraine that were promised under the Biden...
Geostrategy
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Iranian ballistic missiles target US base in Qatar, the largest in Middle East
No casualties reported in the attack that came a day after the US attacked three key nuclear facilities in Iran....
Geostrategy
EU seeks Gaza progress after Israel found in breach of cooperation deal
Brussels, Belgium -- The EU said Monday that Israel must improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza or else face possible...
Geostrategy
Airlines suspend or reduce flights in Middle East after Iran strikes
British Airways cancelled flights between London's Heathrow Airport and Dubai and Doha on Sunday following the US strikes on Iran....
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Geostrategy
Netanyahu says returning Gaza hostages will take ‘a bit more time’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday insisted gains in the conflict against Iran would help with the country's war...
- "Our successes in Iran are contributing to the successes in Gaza, but it will still take a bit more time," added the Israeli premier
- They were constantly acting on several fronts, he added, "...but we are getting closer, step by step, to our objectives, Netanyahu said
Geostrategy
Iran threatens US bases in response to strikes on nuclear sites
Iran on Sunday threatened US bases in the Middle East after massive air strikes that Washington said had destroyed Tehran's...
- International concern focused on fears that the unprecedented US attacks would deepen conflict in the volatile region after Israel launched a bombing campaign against Iran
- Netanyahu meanwhile said his country's military strikes will "finish" once the objectives of destroying Iran's nuclear and missile capabilities are achieved
Geostrategy
UN’s Syria envoy outraged by Damascus church attack
The United Nations special envoy for Syria denounced Sunday's attack on a church in Damascus that killed at least 20...
- Syria's interior ministry said a member of the Islamic State jihadist group was behind the attack, in which dozens of people were wounded
- UN envoy Geir Pedersen "condemns in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attack at St. Elias Church... which killed and injured civilians who were attending mass."