Nigeria refinery aims to be world’s biggest with expansion
Lagos, Nigeria -- Nigeria's Dangote oil refinery, already the largest in Africa, aims to become the biggest in the world...
Geostrategy
The armed groups clashing with Hamas in Gaza
Shortly after a ceasefire took effect in Gaza, clashes erupted between armed groups, some backed by Israel and others loyal...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Iran foreign minister’s Tokyo visit: Japan to raise Russia arms supply
Tokyo, Japan - Iran's foreign minister visited Japan on Monday for the first time since 2019, in a rare trip to...
- Amir-Abdollahian met Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, with both hailing the opportunity to have face-to-face talks in Tokyo.
- Amir-Abdollahian's visit to Japan is the first by a top Iranian diplomat since December 2019, and the first under President Ebrahim Raisi.
Geostrategy
Lebanon urges calm after Gulf states issue travel advisory
"The situation in Ain al-Helweh camp has now calmed down," Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi said referring to south Lebanon's restive...
- Thirteen people were killed in several days of violence that erupted on July 29, pitting two groups of Palestinians against each other.
- Last week, Arab Gulf countries -- some of which have already banned their citizens from travelling to Lebanon -- issued warnings urging their nationals to exercise caution.
Business
Aramco Q2 profits drop 38%
The oil company's profits fell sharply to US$30.08 billion.
- Production from the world's biggest crude exporter was down after Riyadh in April announced cuts of 500,000 barrels per day
- The kingdom's daily production is now approximately nine million bpd, far below its reported daily capacity of 12 million bpd
Geostrategy
Trump to seek new judge in election conspiracy trial
The twice-impeached Republican, who is seeking a return to the White House in 2024, has unleashed a stream of invective...
- Team Trump wanted to push the deadline to Thursday, but the judge said they must abide by the current deadline of 2100 GMT Monday
- Former vice president Mike Pence, a key figure in the case, said Sunday that he would not object to testifying in Trump's trial
Geostrategy
Saudi-hosted talks on Ukraine war end with resolve to continue efforts for peace
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia-- More than 40 representatives of countries from around the world gathered in Jeddah, pledging to continue holding...
- More than 40 representatives of countries from around the world agreed on the importance of contuining consultations that could pave way for peace in Ukraine
- The Jeddah talks were part of the effort initiated by the Crown Prince, Prime Minister Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud since March 2022 to resolve the conflict
Geostrategy
Iraq asks US, UK to extradite suspects in massive graft scandal
Iraq's judiciary issued arrest warrants at the beginning of March for four men, including a former finance minister and staff...
- The case, which has been dubbed "the heist of the century", sparked outrage in oil-rich but corrpution-plagued Iraq.
- At least $2.5 billion were stolen between September 2021 and August 2022 through 247 cheques that were cashed by five companies.
Geostrategy
UAE sends military vehicles to aid Chad in counter-terror efforts
Chad is a neighbor of Niger, where a coup late last month toppled one of the last pro-Western leaders in...
- The two countries had signed a military cooperation agreement in June during a visit by Chad's president, General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno.
- The UAE, which has been developing its own defense industry, has also been increasing its engagement with African nations.
Geostrategy
Iran appoints West-sanctioned official as supreme court chief
TEHRAN, IRAN - Iran on Sunday appointed Mohammed Jafar Montazeri, who is under US and British sanctions, to head the Islamic...
- Mohammed Jafar Montazeri was placed under US sanctions in December, with Washington identifying him as having a role in the prosecution of protesters.
- Britain followed suit in January and imposed punitive measures against Montazeri following the execution of British-Iranian Alireza Akbari for spying.
Israelis take to streets again to protest judicial overhaul
The reform package has split the nation and triggered one of the biggest protest movements in Israel's history since being...
- The government views the reform, which would give politicians more power over the courts, as a necessary step to curb overreach by unelected judges
- Parliament last month passed the first key component of the reform package, which limits judicial oversight of some government decisions
Infographics
Middle East makes mark in Global Soft Power Index
TRENDS Infographics explores prominent Arab nations in the latest Global Soft Power Index, with the UAE leading the way by...
- TRENDS Infographics explores prominent Arab nations in the latest Global Soft Power Index, with the UAE leading the way by entering the top 10, a first for the Middle East
- Other GCC countries, including Oman, also show improvements in the index, which measures nations' influence and reputation across various sectors and a variety of metrics
Nigeria refinery aims to be world’s biggest with expansion
Lagos, Nigeria -- Nigeria's Dangote oil refinery, already the largest in Africa, aims to become the biggest in the world...
Geostrategy
Company News
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Hamas official says ‘necessary to reach a ceasefire’ in Gaza
A Hamas official told AFP on Tuesday that it was "necessary to reach a ceasefire" in the Gaza Strip, three...
Geostrategy
Amid Israeli warning of military action, Iran says deal can be reached if US shows goodwill
Trump made the surprise announcement that his administration would open talks with Iran during a White House meeting on Monday...
Geostrategy
After Instagram restrictions, Meta to introduce teen accounts for Facebook
Paris, France -- Meta on Tuesday announced that it was extending its teen accounts to its social network Facebook, after...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Yemen rebels say targeted Israel army site, US warships in Red sea: statement
Yemen's Huthis said they targeted a military site in Israel and attacked two US destroyers in the Red Sea Monday,...
- The Iran-backed group carried out a military operation targeting an Israeli military target in the occupied area of Yaffa (Tel Aviv)
- The Huthis also claimed to have targeted "two US destroyers with several cruise missiles and drones" in the Red Sea
Geostrategy
Netanyahu meets Trump for tariff and Gaza talks
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Donald Trump at the White House on Monday, becoming the first foreign leader to...
- Netanyahu and Trump are also set to discuss Gaza, where a short-lived US-brokered truce between Israel and Hamas has collapsed, and growing tensions with Iran
- Trump greeted Netanyahu outside the West Wing and pumped his fist, before the two leaders went inside for a meeting in the Oval Office.
Geostrategy
PA alone must be in charge of post-war Gaza, say France, Egypt and Jordan
Cairo, Egypt -- The leaders of France, Egypt and Jordan on Monday said the Palestinian Authority alone must be in...
- French President Emmanuel Macron earlier said that Palestinian group Hamas should have no role in governing the Gaza Strip once its war with Israel is over.
- King Abdullah stressed the need for "a just and comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution", a Palestinian state alongside Israel.