US, Qatar, Turkey to join third day of Gaza peace talks in Egypt
Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Turkey's intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, Trump's special Middle East envoy Steve...
Geostrategy
Iran says cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog ‘no longer relevant’
Iran's top diplomat said Sunday that cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog was no longer relevant following the reimposition...
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Geostrategy
Egyptian President Sisi pardons jailed activist Ahmed Douma
Egyptian activist Ahmed Douma, a leading figure of the country's 2011 uprising who has spent the last decade behind bars,...
- A court in 2019 had sentenced Douma to 15 years in prison on charges of clashing with security forces in the capital two years earlier.
- Egypt's top appeals court later in 2019 upheld the 15-year sentence, which also included a fine of US$372,000.
Geostrategy
Iran president meets diplomat freed by Belgium in prisoner swap case
TEHRAN, IRAN - Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has met with diplomat Assadollah Assadi, recently freed by Belgium in a high-profile prisoner...
- The Iranian diplomat was sentenced in Belgium to 20 years in prison for his role in a plot to blow up an Iranian opposition event in 2018 in Paris.
- The diplomat was liberated on May 26 in an Oman-mediated exchange that saw Iran releasing Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele.
Geostrategy
Over 113 Emirati projects in Ethiopia, trade exceeds $6bn, says UAE envoy
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA - UAE Ambassador to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Mohammed Salem Al Rashidi said that the...
- Masdar signed a joint development agreement with the Ethiopian government in January 2023 in Abu Dhabi to develop two solar power plants.
- Ethiopia is a key investment partner for the UAE in East Africa, as it has a large and emerging consumer market of over 100 million people.
Geostrategy
Morocco king turns 60 as challenges abound in kingdom
The monarch is credited with effectively maintaining stability in a volatile region -- in part through suppressing criticism -- as...
- Since his coronation following the death of his father, the monarch has retained a firm grip on economic policy, foreign affairs, and defence and security in his country
- On the international stage, Mohammed VI has diversified partnerships that were once primarily focused on former colonial ruler France and other European nations
Taiwan says 42 warplane incursions after launch of China military drills
China announced earlier Saturday that it had "launched joint air and sea patrols and military exercises of the navy and...
- Twenty-six of the warplanes involved crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, the island's ministry of defence said in a statement
- Eight vessels also participated in the drills, which Chinese state media said were intended to simulate "real combat conditions", the ministry said
Geostrategy
BBC, Guardian journos among 54 UK citizens in Russia’s stop-list
Moscow, Russia - Moscow has expanded its stop-list as a retaliatory measure barring 54 UK citizens from entering Russia, the...
- The list now includes Lucy Frazer, UK secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport, "who is promoting Russia’s international sports isolation."
- Other UK nationals on the list include journalists from the BBC, Guardian Media Group, the Daily Telegraph, as well as Karim Khan, prosecutor with the ICC
Turkish Cypriot forces assault Cyprus peacekeepers: UN
The confrontation occurred in Pyla, an ethnically mixed village in the UN-patrolled area between the internationally recognised Republic of Cyprus...
- EU condemned the incident, as well as Britain, France and US, who in a joint statement expressed "serious concern at the launch of unauthorised construction" of the road
- Authorities in the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, who say the road project is aimed at easing the plight of its people, dismissed the UN mission's allegations
Geostrategy
India and Saudi Arabia discuss visit of Crown Prince to India
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - India and Saudi Arabia are in discussions regarding a state visit by Crown Prince Mohammed bin...
- The discussions are said to be centered around the Crown Prince's visit after the G20 summit on September 9-10 which he would also be attending
- Saudi Arabia is a major supplier of oil to India, and the two countries have been working to develop renewable energy projects together
Economy
Saudi Arabia and India sign agreement on digital economy
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Saudi Arabia and India signed on Friday an agreement on digitization and electronic manufacturing. The agreement...
- The agreement seeks to enhance Saudi-Indian cooperation in the fields of digital infrastructure, e-health, and e-learning
- It also aims at building robust strategic partnerships that promote innovation and the growth of the digital economy
Geostrategy
Russian foreign minister to lead delegation at UN General Assembly
MOSCOW, RUSSIA - Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved the composition of the country’s delegation to the 78th session of...
- In recent years, Russia’s delegation to the UN General Assembly has been headed by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
- The 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly will begin in New York on September 19.
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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
US, Qatar, Turkey to join third day of Gaza peace talks in Egypt
Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Turkey's intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, Trump's special Middle East envoy Steve...
Geostrategy
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Turkey opposition pushes for early polls as Swedish reporter jailed
Istanbul, Turkey -- The Turkish opposition on Sunday worked to keep up the momentum of the protest movement triggered by...
Geostrategy
‘Day of funerals,’ Gazans mark grim Eid under Israeli strikes
At dawn, many Gazans gathered across different parts of the territory to offer traditional morning Eid prayers, an AFP correspondent...
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First orbital rocket launched from Europe crashes seconds after blast-off
Oslo, Norway -- The first orbital rocket launched from continental Europe crashed seconds after blast-off Sunday, in a closely watched...
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Geostrategy
Trump says Iran faces ‘bad, bad things’ if no nuclear deal after Tehran responds to a letter from him
"I sent them a letter just recently, and I said: you have to make a decision, one way or the...
- Trump in 2018 pulled the United States out of an agreement to relieve sanctions on Iran in return for curbs on its nuclear program
- Tehran has refused to negotiate directly with Washington under these circumstances, but has held out the possibility of indirect talks
Geostrategy
Pro-Palestine rallies held in many countries on Quds Day
Quds (Jerusalem) Day commemorations were launched in 1979 by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic republic, which has...
- Crowds gathered in the streets of Tehran after supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged the Iranian people to protest against "the enemies' tricks".
- Thousands also gathered in the Yemeni capital Sanaa in demonstrations described by the rebels' TV channel as "the largest in the Arab Islamic world".
Geostrategy
Iran says it has responded to Trump’s nuclear talks letter
Iran has sent a response to a letter from US President Donald Trump that called for nuclear talks and warned...
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asked by reporters on his plane over the Caribbean whether the US has received the letter, said: "I'm not going to comment on that yet."
- He said that the United States had expected there to be a response and "obviously at that point, the president will decide what steps if he any he wants to take next".