Strait of Hormuz disruption threatens trade flows: UNCTAD
UNCTAD data shows Brent crude oil prices rose above $90 per barrel, while natural gas prices also increased sharply after...
Geostrategy
Bapco Energies declares force majeure on operations
Manama, Bahrain --- Bapco Energies BSC (Closed), Bahrain’s integrated energy company, announced force majeure on its group operations on Monday.The...
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Geostrategy
Egypt to present ‘vision’ for Gaza reconstruction without displacement amid Trump threat to halt aid
The statement came a day after US President Donald Trump said he could "conceivably" halt aid to Egypt and Jordan...
- The foreign ministry said Egypt "hopes to cooperate" with Trump's administration on the matter, with the goal of "reaching a fair settlement of the Palestinian cause"
- It said its plan would provide for the reconstruction of Gaza "in a clear and decisive manner that ensures the Palestinian people stay on their land
Geostrategy
Jordan king set for tense Trump talks as Gaza truce under strain
The talks come a day after Trump said he could "conceivably" halt billions of dollars in US aid to both...
- King Abdullah is a key US ally but last week rejected "any attempts" to take control of the Palestinian territories and displace its people.
- Every year, Jordan receives around $750 million in economic assistance from Washington and another $350 million in military aid.
Trump warns ‘all hell’ will break loose if Gaza hostages not returned after Hamas delays exchanges
The January 19 truce halted 15 months of Gaza fighting, freeing Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, but tensions...
- The truce that went into effect on January 19 largely halted more than 15 months of fighting in the Gaza Strip saw five groups of Israeli hostages freed
- But tensions have been running high since a shock proposal by Trump to take over the Gaza Strip and remove its more than two million inhabitants
Geostrategy
Under US takeover plan, Palestinians will have no right of return to Gaza: Trump
Trump told Fox News Channel’s Bret Baier that "I would own it" and that there could be as many as...
- Arab League chief Ahmed Aboul Gheit said on Sunday that the thinking behind Netanyahu's remarks "is unacceptable and reflects a complete detachment from reality"
- The Saudi foreign ministry stressed its "categorical rejection to such statements that aim to divert attention from the continuous crimes in Gaza
Geostrategy
Egypt to host emergency Arab summit on Palestinians: foreign ministry
Cairo, Egypt -- Egypt will host a summit of Arab nations on February 27 to discuss "the latest serious developments" concerning...
- The "emergency Arab summit" comes as Egypt has been rallying regional support against US President Donald Trump's plan to relocate Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan.
- The remarks have prompted global backlash, and Arab countries have firmly rejected the proposal, insisting on an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.
Geostrategy
Israel orders negotiators to Doha after fifth hostage-captive swap completed under truce deal
Hamas official Bassem Naim warned that Israel’s "procrastination" in implementing the agreement could jeopardize the ceasefire, as negotiations began on...
- Israel confirmed 73 hostages remain in Gaza, with 34 presumed dead
- Hamas defended the hostages' condition, calling it "acceptable" under Gaza’s crisis
Geostrategy
Israel to receive US-made bombs and Hellfire missiles worth $7.4 bn despite past curbs under Biden administration
The State Department has signed off on the sale of $6.75 billion in bombs, guidance kits and fuses, in addition...
- The proposed sale of the bombs "improves Israel's capability to meet current and future threats, strengthen its homeland defense, and serves as a deterrent to regional threats
- And the missile sale would "improve Israel's capability to meet current and future threats by improving the ability of the Israeli Air Force to defend Israel's borders
Geostrategy
Trump condemned for ICC sanctions over Israel, US probes
The United Nations and the European Union also urged Trump on Friday to reverse the decision ordering asset freezes and...
- The sanctions could impact the court's technical and IT operations, including evidence gathering. There are fears victims of alleged atrocities may hesitate to come forward.
- Antonio Costa, who heads the European Council representing the EU's 27 member states, wrote on X that the move "undermines the international criminal justice system".
World Economic Forum
Art and culture retain power to humanize the Intelligent Age, says WEF’s Fowler
Davos, Switzerland -- In an age where artificial intelligence is reshaping our lives, the World Economic Forum's Arts and Culture...
- I see talent emerging in the MENA region, UAE especially. Saudi Arabia is extremely exciting at the moment with the focus they're placing on culture, Fowler said.
- The UAE is extremely forward-thinking. They absolutely have a finger on the pulse when it comes to technology and how technology can be integrated into everyday life.
Geostrategy
UAE, France discuss bilateral ties, sign AI cooperation deal
Paris, UAE - UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and French President Emmanuel Macron of France explored various...
- Both sides emphasized collaboration in AI, climate action, energy, and sustainable development initiatives
- They signed the UAE-France Framework for Cooperation in AI, including a 1GW AI Campus investment
Strait of Hormuz disruption threatens trade flows: UNCTAD
UNCTAD data shows Brent crude oil prices rose above $90 per barrel, while natural gas prices also increased sharply after...
Geostrategy
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OpenAI faces backlash over Pentagon AI deal
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Saudi Arabia’s sports fund invests in DAZN streaming service
Paris, France - Saudi Arabian sports investment fund SURJ, linked to the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, has acquired a minority stake...
Business
War-weary Gazans reel from ‘500 days of humiliation’
Gaza City, Palestinian Territories -- For 500 days since an unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel triggered the Gaza Strip's deadliest war,...
Geostrategy
Netanyahu and Rubio align on aggressive strategies toward Hamas and Iran in Jerusalem talks.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have pledged to "open the gates of hell"...
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BRICS summit planned for July in Rio, says current chair Brazil
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Leaders of the countries known as BRICS will hold a summit in Rio de Janeiro in...
- Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira said that the summit will be held July 6-7 and feature leaders of 20 countries with full or associate status in the bloc
- The BRICS group has expanded significantly since its inception in 2009, and now includes countries such as Iran, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates
Geostrategy
Lavrov, Rubio pledge to restore dialogue and work on settling Ukraine conflict, says Moscow
The call came ahead of an expected summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin amid mounting concern from Ukraine and...
- The call came days after the US president's call to Putin ended almost three years of no contact between Moscow and Washington during the Ukraine conflict
- According to Moscow, Lavrov and Rubio pledged to "maintain a channel of communication to resolve the accumulated problems in US-Russian relations".
Geostrategy
Three Gaza hostages set for release after ceasefire crisis abates
Jerusalem, Undefined - Israel said Friday it had received the names of three hostages to be freed by militants in exchange...
- The hostages due for release Saturday are Israeli-American Sagui Dekel-Chen, Israeli-Russian Sasha Trupanov and Israeli-Argentinian Yair Horn
- The January 19 ceasefire has been under massive strain since US President Donald Trump proposed a takeover of the territory