NATO tests war preparedness on eastern flank facing Russia
On the Mures river in central Romania, French armoured vehicles and Romanian trucks board a motorised floating bridge, part of...
Geostrategy
Death becomes a growing business in ageing, lonely South Korea
Busan, South Korea -- Rows of coffins line a university classroom in the South Korean port city of Busan, ready...
Geostrategy
Economy
UAE vows full backing for GCC economic integration by 2025
Dubai, UAE - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the economic integration of the Gulf...
- The UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister Bin Touq called for developing the mechanisms of economic integration within the GCC
- The UAE urged finalization of the customs union, the establishment of a common GCC market, and the utilization of AI to bolster developmental endeavors
Fresh fighting rocks south Lebanon Palestinian camp
The United Nations' agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) had warned last week that armed militants were occupying its schools in...
- The fighting in the Ain al-Helweh camp once again pitted members of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas's Fatah movement against Islamist militants
- Dozens of families with women and children were fleeing from the camp's northern end where the clashes were concentrated, the AFP correspondent said
Geostrategy
US, Saudi, India, UAE eye railway accord at G20 summit: report
New Delhi, India - President Biden, along with the leaders of India, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE),...
- The initiative aims to establish a comprehensive railway network connecting the Gulf and Arab nations while also facilitating connections to India
- The primary objective of this project is to strengthen the US presence and influence in the Middle East, especially as China's role in the region grows
Geostrategy
Expansion may offer limited economic boost to BRICS
The anticipated inclusion of six nations into BRICS, including Saudi Arabia and UAE, is expected to ease tensions among them,...
- The anticipated inclusion of six nations into BRICS, including Saudi Arabia and UAE, is expected to ease tensions among them, and foster increased bilateral collaboration
- After expansion, the bloc will represent 30% of global GDP, 45% of the population, control 80% of oil production, and account for 16% of global trade by next year
Geostrategy
Saudi crown prince says ready for economic partnership with BRICS
DUBAI, UAE – Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in a telephonic conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin has...
- The Russian president and the Saudi crown prince discussed the outlook for BRICS expansion.
- The two leaders reviewed cooperation between the two countries within the OPEC+ agreement framework.
Geostrategy
Lebanese army blocks entry of 1200 Syrian migrants
Millions of Syrians have fled abroad since their country's civil war broke out in 2011 following the government's repression of...
- It had announced on August 23 that it turned back 700 Syrians attempting to enter the eastern Mediterranean country irregularly.
- Lebanon, which has been mired in a crippling economic crisis for more than three years, says it hosts nearly two million Syrians.
Economy
Turkey to showcase market-friendly turn at investment roadshow
inance Minister Mehmet Simsek told reporters he would then travel to New York and European economic powerhouses Germany and Britain...
- The Merrill Lynch veteran's attempt to talk up his reforms were boosted by a World Bank announcement that it was looking to boost its commitment to Turkey from $17bn to $35bn.
- Turkey suffered a lira crash in 2021 that set prices spiraling by 85% over a year when Erdogan forced the central bank to slash the interest rate far below that of inflation.
Economy
UN calls for age limits for AI tools in schools
The UN's education body UNESCO warned that public authorities were not ready to deal with the ethical issues of rolling...
- A UNESCO official said AI can be a tremendous opportunity for human development, but it can also cause harm and prejudice"
- UNESCO guidance said AI tools have the potential to help children with special needs, act as an opponent in "Socratic dialogues"
Geostrategy
EU asks Turkey to address democracy before membership
EU chief Charles Michel said last month that the bloc should get ready to admit new members from eastern Europe...
- Ankara secured a pledge from Brussels to resurrect stalled membership negotiations in exchange for lifting its blockade of Sweden's drive to join NATO.
- But Ankara accuses Brussels of never seriously considering membership for what would be the largest majority-Muslim nation of the 27-nation bloc.
Geostrategy
2023 likely to be hottest year in human history, says EU climate monitor
"2023 is the year that climate records were not just broken but smashed," said Mark Maslin, a professor of climatology...
- The average global temperature in June, July and August was 16.77 degrees Celsius (62.19 degrees Fahrenheit), surpassing the previous 2019 record of 16.48C.
- "The three months that we've just had are the warmest in approximately 120,000 years, so effectively human history," C3S deputy director Samantha Burgess told AFP
NATO tests war preparedness on eastern flank facing Russia
On the Mures river in central Romania, French armoured vehicles and Romanian trucks board a motorised floating bridge, part of...
Geostrategy
Company News
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China says on ‘right side of history’ in trade standoff with US
Since returning to the presidency in January, US President Donald Trump has imposed 10 percent tariffs on most US trading...
Geostrategy
Trump thinks Zelensky ready to give up Crimea to Russia
US President Donald Trump said he believed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was ready to concede Crimea to Russia as part...
Geostrategy
Khamenei orders probe into port blast as Iran’s nuclear talks, regional tensions simmer in background
The New York Times quoted a person with ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, speaking on condition of anonymity...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia and Qatar to settle Syria’s World Bank debt
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia and Qatar announced on Sunday that they would settle Syria's debt to the World...
- Both Gulf states have played a key role in the diplomatic outreach to Syria's new rulers since the ouster of longtime strongman Bashar al-Assad in December.
- The statement came just days after Syria's central bank governor and finance minister attended the IMF and World Bank spring meetings for the first time in more than 20 years.
Geostrategy
Massive explosion at Iran’s Shahid Rajaee Port kills 18, injures 800
Although the cause of the blast was not immediately clear, the port's customs office said in a statement carried by...
- The NYT, quoting a person with ties to the Revolutionary Guard, reported that what exploded was sodium perchlorate, a major ingredient in solid fuel for missiles.
- "The intensity of the fire in Shahid Rajaee Port has increased and it is possible that the fire could spread to other areas and containers," state TV said late Saturday.
Business
Trump trade war pushes firms to consider stockpiling
Even if they don't all acknowledge it so openly, firms in many different sectors are stockpiling their products in the United...
- Whether it's the luxury, electronics or pharmaceutical sectors, US President Donald Trump's unpredictability complicates the calculations of firms.
- Some companies didn't wait for Trump's April 2 announcement of massive "reciprocal" trade tariffs: they had already begun shipping more of their goods to the United States.