Lavrov and Rubio discuss Putin-Trump summit, Zelensky seeks invite to the meeting
Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov and US counterpart Marco Rubio discussed preparations for an upcoming summit between Vladimir Putin and...
Geostrategy
Trump says Gaza ceasefire still in force after Israeli strikes, suggests Hamas leadership didn’t violate truce
Asked by reporters whether the truce was still in effect, Trump said: "Yeah, it is". The US president, who helped...
Geostrategy
Economy
Middle East economic growth to fall in 2023, says World Bank
WASHINGTON, US - The growth of the economies in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is expected to fall...
- The region’s gross domestic product is expected to fall to 1.9 percent in 2023 from 6 percent in 2022, due to oil production cuts.
- The decline in growth this year is expected to be more pronounced in the oil exporting countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Geostrategy
X removes headlines from news articles shared by users
The changes brought a good deal of criticism, journalist Tom Warren of The Verge website posting on X: "It's the...
- Elon Musk said the change was for "aesthetic" reasons -- news and other links now appear only as pictures with no accompanying text
- When the changes to links were first mooted in August, Musk posted: "This is coming from me directly. Will greatly improve the esthetics."
Geostrategy
Israeli forces kill two Palestinian fighters in occupied West Bank
Tulkarem, Palestinian Territories - Israeli forces killed two Palestinian fighters in the occupied West Bank on Thursday, the Palestinian health ministry...
- Israel's military said a gunfight had erupted after soldiers identified a "suspicious vehicle" near the area's Shufa village
- The incident came after reports that an Israeli vehicle was shot at in the area, according to the army statement
Geostrategy
Qatar, Iran discuss cooperation in free zones, investment
DOHA, QATAR - Minister of State and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Free Zones Authority Ahmad bin...
- The Qatari minister and the Advisor to the Iranian President discussed reinforcing cooperation between the two countries.
- The Iranian leader and accompanying delegation toured the Free Zones at Ras Bufontas and Umm Alhoul Free Zone.
Geostrategy
Turkish strikes on Kurdish targets kill two in Syria: monitor
Turkey has also launched strikes on positions of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq since Sunday, when two...
- One of the strikes on the Kurdish-controlled region of Hasakeh hit a car, killing two people, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights
- In another strike, "Turkish drones targeted a factory north of Hasakeh, injuring three workers", said Farhad Shami, the spokesman for the Kurdish-led SDF
Economy
Largest climate fund seeks new funding for vulnerable
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) was set up as part of the landmark 2015 Paris Agreement to funnel grants and...
- The Green Climate Fund says Thursday's conference in Germany will allow it to invest more in a decade it sees as critical for climate action
- It has laid out a 50by30 vision to manage $50 billion by 2030, almost triple its current capital of $17bn, to focus efforts on developing countries
Geostrategy
Keir Starmer, former human rights lawyer, may be Britain’s next prime minister
Labour heads into its annual conference in Liverpool, northwest England, this weekend enjoying double-digit leads in opinion polls ahead of...
- When Starmer took charge of the party three years ago after the disastrous reign of socialist Jeremy Corbyn, he vowed to unite it and get it back on a path to power
- The 61-year-old has moved the main opposition back to the centre ground, quietened dissent among the left, and rooted out anti-Semitism within its ranks
Geostrategy
Iraqi Prime Minister to visit Moscow for talks with Russian president
Baghdad, Iraq - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani is scheduled to embark on a two-day visit to Moscow from...
- Prime Minister Al-Sudani is set to leave Iraq on October 9, with a planned meeting between him and President Putin on October 10
- Iraqi state media previously reported that the trip would serve as an opportunity to strengthen ties and foster collaboration between the two nations
Geostrategy
Iran condemns Britain for criticism of satellite launch
Last week, the Islamic republic said it had successfully launched the Noor-3 imaging satellite by its three-stage Qassed rocket, in...
- Britain slammed Iran for what it termed as disregard of international restrictions
- Iran hit back on Wednesday, denouncing the British statement as "interventionist"
Geostrategy
Israeli minister’s historic address in Saudi Arabia marks diplomatic turning point
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - In a historic diplomatic event, Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi delivered a speech in Saudi Arabia...
- Karhi, dressed in a blue suit and a crocheted skullcap, addressed the audience in English from his seat, holding a handheld microphone
- US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is reportedly scheduled to visit Israel and the West Bank, indicating the continued commitment to the diplomatic process
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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
Lavrov and Rubio discuss Putin-Trump summit, Zelensky seeks invite to the meeting
Russia's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov and US counterpart Marco Rubio discussed preparations for an upcoming summit between Vladimir Putin and...
Geostrategy
Company News
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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...
Geostrategy
Trump eyes Erdogan’s help to end Ukraine war
NATO member Turkey has sought to maintain good relations with both of its Black Sea neighbors since the Russian invasion...
Geostrategy
Iran says Israel’s Netanyahu dragging US into ‘disaster’ in region
Tehran, Iran - Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of attempting to drag...
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Geostrategy
Damascus club shooting sparks fears of restriction on freedoms
A deadly shooting Monday at a Damascus club, days after another attack on the capital's nightlife, has sparked fears, adding...
- Since the fall of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, the international community has been pressing the new authorities to respect personal freedoms
- The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said gunmen attacked Karawan "with automatic weapons and opened fire, killing a woman and wounding others."
Iran unveils new ballistic missile with 1,200 km range
Iran on Sunday unveiled a new solid-fuel ballistic missile with a range of 1,200 kilometres (745 miles), state television reported,...
- Western nations have raised concerns about Tehran's missile capabilities, accusing it of destabilising the Middle East
- Iran supports the "axis of resistance" network of militant groups opposed to Israel, including Yemen's Huthi rebels
Huthis report U.S. strikes after missile hits Israel airport, Netanyahu vows revenge and future retaliation
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu warned of future retaliation, saying Israel had acted against Iran-backed Huthis before and “will act in...
- The Huthi-run Saba news agency said the strikes included two targeting Arbaeen street in the capital as well as one on the airport road, blaming them on "American aggression."
- The Huthis, who control swathes of Yemen, have launched missiles and drones targeting Israel and Red Sea shipping throughout the Gaza war, acting in solidarity with Palestinians