Iran sanctions look set to return despite last-ditch China, Russia effort to secure a delay
China and Russia at a Security Council session on Friday put forward a draft resolution, seen by AFP, that would...
Geostrategy
Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas tells UN no role for Hamas in state
Abbas, who addressed UN General Assembly by video after the US took the unusual step of denying him a visa...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Iranian pilgrims at ease during hajj post Riyadh-Tehran detente
MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA- If a landmark reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran has eased tensions in the Gulf, clouds have also...
- An Iranian tour operator who has joined the hajj on several occasions said he was feeling "comfort and safety" in Saudi Arabia.
- More than 86,000 Iranians, including 300 aged over 80, are on this year's hajj, according to Iranian media reports.
Geostrategy
Covid-19 has not gone away, kills 1,000 a week in Europe: WHO
Copenhagen, Denmark - The World Health Organization's European office on Tuesday warned the risk of Covid-19 has not gone away, saying...
- "Whilst it may not be a global public health emergency, however, Covid-19 has not gone away," WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge said
- "Unless we develop comprehensive diagnostics and treatment for long Covid, we will never truly recover from the pandemic," Kluge said
Geostrategy
Hajj attendance falls short of record, as pilgrims crowd Mount Arafat
The data showed most of the faithful came from abroad. The Kingdom's officials had predicted more than 2.5 million pilgrims,...
- The ritual at Arafat is the high point of Hajj. The pilgrims recited Koranic verses on the hill, where the Prophet Mohammed is believed to have given his final sermon.
- Helicopters hovered low overhead, monitoring crowds at the event which has a tragic history of deadly stampedes and fires.
Geostrategy
Global body to fund 26 FAO projects worth $174.7m
ROME, ITALY - Building on growing momentum to tackle environmental problems by addressing the ways in which our food and...
- With these new projects, FAO's partnership with the GEF will have helped countries access over $1.4 billion in financing.
- These 26 projects will support countries to create or improve the management of nearly 17.9 million hectares of protected areas on land and sea
Geostrategy
Over 6,500 arrests after cracking crime chat network, says Europol
PARIS, FRANCE - More than 6,500 people have been arrested following the 2020 dismantling of EncroChat, an encrypted communications tool used...
- Close to 200 arrests were of "high-value targets", said Europol, which assists EU members in international investigations.
- Since 2020, investigators had managed to intercept, share and analyze over 115 million criminal conversations.
Israel summons Ukraine envoy over pro-Russia accusation
On Sunday, the Ukrainian embassy charged that "the current Israeli government" had "opted for a path of close cooperation with...
- Israel has adopted a cautious approach since Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February last year, seeking to maintain neutrality between the warring sides
- In an interview with the Jerusalem Post, Benjamin Netanyahu said that weaponry handed to Ukraine could fall into Iranian hands and be turned against Israel
Geostrategy
International Security Alliance seizes drugs worth US$750mn in global operation
Abu Dhabi, UAE--The International Security Alliance (ISA) has seized narcotics estimated to be worth US$750 million from a large transnational...
- Led by the ISA and Ameripol, the operation saw the participation of 22 countries across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America
- Founded in 2017 by the UAE and France, the ISA coordinated the operation from its secretariat in the UAE with the aim of fighting organized crime
Geostrategy
UAE President discusses strategic ties in a call with Putin
Abu Dhabi, UAE - UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan discussed strategic relations in a phone conversation with...
- Sheikh Mohamed underscored the importance of maintaining stability in Russia and ensuring the safety and security of its people
- President Putin expressed his satisfaction with the progress achieved in various bilateral areas, highlighting growing UAE-Russia relations
Geostrategy
US to defund science for Israeli universities in West Bank
The Biden administration has returned to the long-standing US position of calling for a two-state solution with the Palestinians and...
- Joe Biden's administration reverses a move made under Donald Trump that rejected the wide international consensus that Israel illegally occupies the West Bank
- David Friedman, Trump's ambassador to Israel and champion of Ariel University, accused the Biden administration of embracing the activist movement to boycott Israel
Geostrategy
Ready for prisoner swap with US, says Iran
Iran said it was hoping indirect talks with the United States could lead to a "positive" outcome for a prisoner...
- At least three Iranian-Americans are being held in Iran, including businessman Siamak Namazi, arrested in October 2015 and sentenced to 10 years in prison.
- "We are negotiating for the release of Iranian citizens through parties who play a role in good faith," Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said.
Most Read
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
Iran sanctions look set to return despite last-ditch China, Russia effort to secure a delay
China and Russia at a Security Council session on Friday put forward a draft resolution, seen by AFP, that would...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
Readying for jobs of tomorrow: WEF’s Till Leopold stresses upskilling
Davos, Switzerland -- In the next five years, millions of jobs will be created. Governments, employers, and education institutions, therefore,...
World Economic Forum
Davos25: Working in silos can’t resolve systemic issues, says Catalyst Now’s Galtung
Davos, Switzerland -- Some of the biggest problems in the world today are systemic problems, which cannot be resolved with...
World Economic Forum
Trump pledges historic tax cuts, investment growth, oil price action, and Ukraine peace effort at Davos 2025
The newly inaugurated president remarked that he would “like to meet with President Putin soon” and “get the war ended,”...
Most Read
Geostrategy
EXCLUSIVE: ILO chief urges action on job gap and reskilling at Davos 2025
Davos, Switzerland -- The world labor market is nearing the pre-Covid levels but gender gap and other concerns remain, International...
- Houngbo said he saw the unemployment gap between young women and young men to the disadvantage of women.
- The most important thing is that the private and public sectors need to step up investment in reskilling, he said.
Geostrategy
Nations retreating inward making global cooperation harder, Dr Masood tells TRENDS at Davos
Davos, Switzerland - The world is grappling with challenges that demand collective action, but rising nationalism and geopolitical tensions are...
- The world faces problems that can only be solved if people and countries come together, Dr. Masood said
- He pointed to US-China tensions as a major barrier to addressing shared global challenges
Geostrategy
UNRWA: Reconstructing Gaza Strip exceeds agency’s capabilities due to severe damage
Gaza, Palestine - The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), confirmed today that the reconstruction process...
- UNRWA said that the agency can contribute to rehabilitating the infrastructure in the camps and returning employees to work inside them, and operating their wells.
- The agency emphasized that locating the missing—numbering in the thousands beneath the rubble—requires meticulous planning and the expertise of specialized teams