Palestinians recount ‘black hole’ of Israeli detention
Jerusalem, Undefined -- Denied contact with his lawyer for months, now freed Palestinian prisoner Shady Abu Sedo said he lost...
Geostrategy
At COP30, nations target the jet set with luxury flight tax
Rooted in the idea that a small elite of premium flyers should pay more for their outsized contribution to global...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Blinken likely to visit Saudi, Israel, West Bank in October to discuss normalization
Tel Aviv, Israel - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is considering a trip to the Middle East in October...
- The US State Department has also issued a statement marking the third anniversary of the historic Abraham Accords
- US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Middle East czar Brett Mcgurk have also made visits to Riyadh in July and last week
Economy
UAE to launch digital-response platform to aid disaster-hit countries
New York, US--The UAE has announced the launch of a new digital response platform that will support disaster-affected countries to...
- The digital-response platform will let disaster-hit countries to communicate what aid is needed, allowing partners to accelerate aid delivery
- The UAE private sector during the last five years has made contributions to the tune of US$ 250 million to humanitarian efforts globally
Geostrategy
Europe’s tussle with Big Tech involves dominance, data, disinformation
Paris, France - Irish regulators on Friday handed out a 345-million-euro ($369-million) fine to TikTok over data breaches, part of a...
- Ireland issues the most stringent fines on this front as Dublin hosts the European offices of several big tech firms and data privacy is enforced by local regulators.
- The EU has had little success in getting tech companies to pay more taxes in Europe, where they are accused of funneling profits into low-tax economies.
Geostrategy
Libya flood toll is partly due to years of division, say analysts
TRIPOLI, LIBYA - Over a decade of bloody power battles in Libya have resulted in vital infrastructure falling into disrepair, culminating...
- Libya has been wracked by conflict and division ever since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011.
- Tripoli-based prime minister blamed the tragedy on the absence of adequate development plans and the "effect of the years" on the dams.
Geostrategy
UAE, China’s Hainan Province ink multiple deals to boost trade, economic ties
DUBAI, UAE - The UAE and China's Hainan Province have signed four major private-sector agreements aimed at boosting the rapidly...
- UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade promoted the country’s unrivalled access to global markets, which have been enhanced by CEPA program.
- He highlighted the growing relationship between Hainan and the UAE, which resulted in bilateral non-oil trade doubling in 2022 to reach $900 million.
Geostrategy
Iran seizes two oil tankers and arrests crews for alleged fuel smuggling
Tehran, Iran - Iran has seized two oil tankers allegedly carrying smuggled fuel in the Gulf and arrested their crews, state...
- "The seized tankers... flying the flags of Panama and Tanzania were transporting more than 1.5 million litres (400,000 gallons) of Iranian oil and gas," an official said.
- In recent weeks, the US military has intensified its presence in the Gulf, accusing Iran of seizing vessels, or attempting to, in this shipping lane.
Business
Turkey-China nuclear power plant deal possible soon: Minister
Dubai, UAE -- The talks between Turkey and China to build a nuclear power plant in eastern Thrace are progressing and...
- Senior officials from the Chinese government visited eastern Thrace and saw the sites where the construction is planned, Middle East Eye reported.
- Russia is already building a power plant in Akkuyu that will become partly operational next year.
Business
Saudi business delegation visits ZSBVC steel factory in Vietnam
HANOI, VIETNAM - A delegation of 80 Saudi businessmen, representing over 50 companies, and representatives from national specialized bodies and...
- The visit aims to explore investment opportunities, enhance trade, investment and industrial cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Vietnam.
- The visiting delegation was briefed on the production lines at Zamil Steel Building Vietnam Co and witnessed the skill of the workers.
Geostrategy
Transfer of Iran’s unfrozen foreign assets to Qatari banks soon
TEHRAN, IRAN – The foreign minister of Qatar said the procedures for the transfer of Iran’s unfrozen foreign assets to...
- Qatar has been a mediator in talks that led to a prisoner exchange deal between Iran and the United States.
- The deal involves the release of five prisoners from each side and the unfreezing of some US$6 billion worth of Iranian funds.
Saudi hosts Yemen’s Iran-backed rebels for talks on ending war
Houthis headed for Riyadh on an Omani plane, days after Saudi de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met...
- Senior Houthi figures took off from Yemen's capital Sanaa for their first public visit to oil-rich Saudi since Riyadh began spearheading a military intervention
- The official Saudi Press Agency said Riyadh "invited a delegation from Sanaa to visit the kingdom" to complete talks held in the Yemeni capital earlier this year
Palestinians recount ‘black hole’ of Israeli detention
Jerusalem, Undefined -- Denied contact with his lawyer for months, now freed Palestinian prisoner Shady Abu Sedo said he lost...
Geostrategy
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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...
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
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Geostrategy
Pakistan conducts second missile test, India readies civil defence drills
Islamabad, Pakistan - Pakistan conducted a second missile test and India ordered civil defence drills in an escalating stand-off over...
- New Delhi blames Islamabad for backing an attack on tourists last month - the deadliest against civilians on the Indian-administered side of the Himalayan territory for years
- Pakistan rejects the accusations, and the two sides have exchanged nightly gunfire since April 24 along the de facto border in Kashmir, the militarised Line of Control
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