World Bank estimates Syria reconstruction costs at $216 billion
"The conflict has damaged nearly one-third of Syria’s pre-conflict gross capital stock, with direct physical damages to infrastructure, residential buildings, and...
Geostrategy
Southern EU countries call for ‘immediate release’ of Gaza aid
Countries of the so-called MED9 group -- Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain -- met on...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Impressive turnout on main day of UAE’s parliamentary polls
ABU DHABI, UAE - Emiratis are casting their votes on Saturday, the main day of the Federal National Council elections,...
- Voting started at 8am and ended at 8pm, amid impressive turnout from members of electoral colleges to cast their votes.
- The election was a landmark event in the country's history, as it saw the highest voter turnout in any previous election.
Geostrategy
Seven civilians killed in Syrian government forces shelling
Beirut, Lebanon - Shelling by government forces targeting several locations in rebel-held northwest Syria killed seven civilians including four children...
- The Damascus regime has been bombing opposition-held areas in apparent retaliation for an attack on a military academy graduation ceremony.
- "Seven civilians, including four children, were killed in ground bombardment by regime forces on several locations" on Saturday, a war monitor said.
Geostrategy
Riyadh willing to boost oil output to facilitate normalization deal with Israel
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia has signalled its willingness to increase oil production to earn goodwill for a historic...
- Saudi officials have reportedly informed the White House that they are open to raising oil production if crude prices remain high, the WSJ reported
- Saudi Arabia's offer to increase oil production in 2024 represents a shift from its stance last year when it rejected a US request to raise production to lower oil price
Research
Most Arab youth against normalization with Israel, more so Palestinians: survey
Dubai, UAE - The majority of Arab youth are against the normalization of relations with Israel, with Palestinians and Iraqis...
- The normalization is opposed by the 98% of youth in Saudi Arabia, the biggest Arab power which is currently engaged in talks to normalize relations with Israel
- Other Arab countries with most opposition among youth to any normalization with Israel include Libya (98%) followed by Sudan (97%), Jordan (97%), Kuwait (86%) and others
Geostrategy
Israel ‘at war’ with Palestinian fighters, after rocket attack
Hamas militants fired barrages of rockets at Israel from multiple locations across the Palestinian territory, according to the accounts of...
- Hundreds of residents fled their homes in eastern Gaza to move away from the border with Israel.
- Hamas appealed to fighters in the West Bank and "our Arab and Islamic nations" to join the battle.
Geostrategy
Iran denounces ‘political’ Nobel Peace Prize
Slamming the Nobel Committee for what he called as "false claims", Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said the committee awarded the...
- The spokesperson said the prize was a "deviation from its initial objectives"
- Nobel committee chairwoman hailed Mohammadi for her "brave struggle"
Geostrategy
UAE president and US senator discuss bilateral strategic alliance
Abu Dhabi, UAE--UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed discussed how to deepen strategic alliance with the US in a meeting...
- The meeting saw the two countries reiterating their commitment to promoting development and reinforcing stability across the Middle East and beyond
- The two leaders talked at length on regional and international developments and discussed efforts by the UAE and US to strengthen global peace and stability
Business
Dubai’s weeklong real estate transactions exceed US$2.5bn
DUBAI, UAE - A total of 1,445 real estate transactions worth over US$2.5 billion (AED 9.5 billion) were conducted during...
- The Dubai Land Department report showed that 248 plots were sold for US$476 million.
- The DLS report said 1,197 apartments and villas were purchased for US$865 million.
Geostrategy
‘Act of cruelty’: 150 cats dumped in UAE desert, dozens die
Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Some 150 cats have been found left for dead in the desert in the United Arab...
- Emirati authorities announced they had opened an "investigation into the incident of abandoned cats" in the Abu Dhabi desert.
- All "administrative and legal measures" would be used against the perpetrators of this "inhumane" act, the authorities said.
Geostrategy
Russia to discuss revoking Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
Moscow, Russia - Russia will soon discuss revoking the ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, the speaker of the...
- Russian official Vyacheslav Volodin made the announcement a day after President Vladimir Putin evoked the possibility of such a move.
- "This is in line with the national interests of our state. And it will be a mirror response to the United States which has not yet ratified the treaty," he said.
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
World Bank estimates Syria reconstruction costs at $216 billion
"The conflict has damaged nearly one-third of Syria’s pre-conflict gross capital stock, with direct physical damages to infrastructure, residential buildings, and...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
India and Pakistan: a history of armed conflict over Kashmir
New Delhi, India - India and Pakistan exchanged heavy artillery along their contested frontier in Kashmir on Wednesday in a...
Geostrategy
India launches strikes on Pakistan, Islamabad vows to ‘settle the score’
Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif accused Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of launching the strikes to "shore up" his...
Geostrategy
Turkey, Israel must ease tensions in Syria: analysts
Six months after Bashar al-Assad's fall, Turkey and Israel are both operating in Syria with starkly opposing agendas, stoking fears...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Geostrategy
Hamas says Gaza truce talks pointless as Israel wages ‘hunger war’
Hamas on Tuesday dismissed as pointless ceasefire talks with Israel, accusing it of waging a "hunger war" on Gaza, where...
- The comments from Hamas political bureau member Basem Naim followed Israel's approval of a military plan involving the long-term "conquest of the Gaza Strip."
- Nearly all of the Palestinian territory's 2.4 million people have been displaced at least once during the war, sparked by Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel
Syria state TV relaunches, months after Assad’s ouster
Damascus, Syria - Syrian state television officially relaunched on Monday with a trial broadcast almost five months after the ouster...
- After Syria's new authorities took power in December, state media and other television channels, radio stations affiliated with Assad's government suspended broadcasting
- The channel showcased its new branding and broadcast images of Damascus and Ummayad Square, where the Public Authority for Radio and Television headquarters are located
Geostrategy
Israel cabinet approves plan for Gaza ‘conquest’
Israel resumed major operations across Gaza on March 18 amid deadlock over how to proceed with a two-month ceasefire that...
- It comes as the United Nations and aid organisations have repeatedly warned of the humanitarian catastrophe on the ground, with famine looming again
- The Israeli official said the expanded operations "will include, among other things, the conquest of the Gaza Strip and the holding of the territories