Trump hails ‘tremendous day for Middle East’ as leaders sign Gaza declaration
As part of Trump's plan to end the Gaza war, Hamas on Monday freed the last 20 surviving hostages it...
Geostrategy
Qantas: stolen data from 5.7 million customers leaked online
Sydney, Australia -- Australian airline Qantas said Sunday that data from 5.7 million customers stolen in a major cyberattack in...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
‘Qatar leads the charge in food security initiatives’
Several ministers of agriculture and food security from UN's Food and Agriculture Organization member states at the event discussed key...
- Qatar plays a major role in advancing food security at local, regional, and global scales, says Qatar’s Municipality Minister
- The country's key initiatives include dairy cow importation, poultry self-sufficiency, and innovative greenhouse techniques
Geostrategy
West blocked Russian assets worth $280bn, says US treasury
Washington, US - The REPO (Russian Elites, Proxies and Oligarchs) task force, set up to search and freeze Russia-related assets, estimates the...
- “The total value of assets is estimated at around $280 billion, the majority of which is held in the European Union,” the US Department of the Treasury said.
- Reportedly, the task force has completed its “initial effort to map and account for Russian sovereign assets that are immobilized and held in REPO member jurisdictions".
Geostrategy
Saudi Nazaha, Interpol discuss ways to enhance cooperation
LYON, FRANCE - President of Saudi Arabia’s Oversight and Anti-Corruption Authority ‘Nazaha’ Mazin bin Ibrahim Al-Kahmous on Friday visited the...
- The two sides discussed cooperation between Nazaha and Interpol in the field of combating corruption and cross-border crimes.
- The discussions touched on recovering funds and assets related to corruption and pursuing fugitives in such cases.
Geostrategy
African Union set to become G20 member with US, EU backing
"I look forward to welcoming the AU as a permanent member of the G20", European Council president Charles Michel told...
- G20 host and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for the pan-African organization to become a permanent member.
- The proposal has won backing from Washington and on Friday the European Union said it would also back the move.
Geostrategy
Tunisia authorities have repressed freedoms, says Journalists union
Jelassi argued that such "methodical censorship" aims to remove the voices of the opposition or civil society organizations from broadcasts...
- Mehdi Jelassi, head of SNJT union said the freedom of the press is increasingly repressed and the authorities are adopting a policy of lockdown and censorship.
- The syndicate also denounced "intimidation" of journalists through judicial prosecution and interrogations that are "purely political".
Geostrategy
20 injured in clashes at Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon
An AFP correspondent in Sidon reported the sound of intermittent automatic weapon fire and rocket launchers emanating from within the...
- The fighting pitted members of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah movement against Islamist militants
- Dozens of families with children fled on Thursday evening from the camp's northern end where the clashes were concentrated
Geostrategy
GCC poised to help MENA in global trade integration
With MENA accounting for just 7.4% of global trade in 2022, GCC's strategic initiatives and resources can pave the way...
- With MENA accounting for just 7.4% of global trade in 2022, GCC's strategic initiatives and resources can pave the way for regional trade integration and global prominence
- Despite challenges like restrictive nontariff measures, red tape, and corruption, GCC-led comprehensive reforms and a global engagement strategy can make MENA a trade hub
Geostrategy
Divisions, Xi’s absence cast shadow on G20 summit in India
The G20 was conceived in the throes of the 2008 financial crisis as a way of managing the global economy....
- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has painted the summit as his country's diplomatic coming of age -- evidence of New Delhi's clout and prestige on the global stage.
- But that notion was called into question by rival leader Xi, who pointedly decided to skip the meeting and send his number two, Premier Li Qiang instead.
Economy
Iran receives US$6.7bn foreign investment in May 2023 EXPO, says official
TEHRAN, IRAN - Foreign companies and governments committed some US$6.7 billion worth of investments during an exhibition that was held...
- The Iranian diplomat said that his country has an ambitious vision to diversify its economy away from crude oil revenues.
- He said that this includes expanding the transportation infrastructure in Iran to significantly increase its cargo transit revenues.
Business
RAKEZ, Indian Economic Trade Organization ink MoU to boost business ties
RAS AL KHAIMAH, UAE - Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) and the Indian Economic Trade Organization (IETO) have signed...
- The collaboration focuses on initiating trade missions and investment forums to help Indian businesses understand what RAKEZ offers.
- The agreement promises customized business services for Indian companies that are tailored to their aspiration of expanding into the MENA region.
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Trump hails ‘tremendous day for Middle East’ as leaders sign Gaza declaration
As part of Trump's plan to end the Gaza war, Hamas on Monday freed the last 20 surviving hostages it...
Geostrategy
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Israel offers 45-day ceasefire if Hamas releases half of remaining Gaza hostages
Hamas has informed the mediators that it is willing to agree to any proposal that includes a permanent ceasefire, a...
Geostrategy
Qatar plans direct investments worth $7.5 billion in Egypt
"The two sides emphasized the importance of strengthening economic cooperation... they agreed to work toward a package of direct Qatari...
Geostrategy
Qatar to invest $2 billion in Indonesia sovereign wealth fund
Jakarta, Indonesia -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said Qatar is set to invest $2 billion in his country's new sovereign...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Trump says Russian strike on Ukraine ‘a horrible thing’
US President Donald Trump on Sunday said a Russian strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy that killed at least...
- "I think it was terrible. And I was told they made a mistake. But I think it's a horrible thing. I think the whole war is a horrible thing," Trump told
- Asked to clarify what he meant by a "mistake," Trump said that "they made a mistake... you're gonna ask them" -- without specifying who or what he meant
Geostrategy
Israel PM says Macron ‘gravely mistaken’ in promoting Palestinian state
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday lashed out at French President Emmanuel Macron over his plans to recognise a...
- Netanyahu was addressing Macron's remarks earlier this week in which he said that France could recognise a Palestinian state within months.
- Macron, in an interview to France 5 broadcast on Wednesday, stated that France could take the step during a UN conference in New York in June
Geostrategy
Iran says talks with US will remain ‘indirect’, to focus solely on nuclear issue, lifting sanctions
Analysts had said the US would push to include on the agenda discussions over Iran's ballistic missile programme, along with...
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff held a first round of talks on Saturday in Muscat
- Analysts had said the US would push to include on the agenda discussions over Iran's ballistic missile programme