Missile attack sets tanker ablaze off Oman as US blames Iran
The latest incident follows weeks of escalating tensions over a US-backed maritime corridor through Omani territorial waters, a route Iran...
Geostrategy
Adani, Abu Dhabi’s IRH to invest $11.5bn in Odisha aluminum project
Dubai, UAE -- Adani Enterprises and Abu Dhabi-based International Resources Holding (IRH), an IHC Group company, have agreed to establish...
Business
Geostrategy
IEA feels the heat as Washington pushes pro-oil agenda
Paris, France -- No stranger to ire from oil-producing nations, the International Energy Agency (IEA) is facing pressure from the...
- The United States, the world's biggest oil producer, is threatening to withdraw from the global energy authority unless internal changes are made.
- In recent years, the IEA has increasingly charted a decline in fossil fuels and a massive renewables boom.
Geostrategy
Who recognises the State of Palestine, who doesn’t, and why does it make a difference?
Here is an overview of diplomatic recognition of the state, which was unilaterally proclaimed by the Palestinian leadership in exile...
- Several other countries including France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Malta are expected to follow suit during a summit on the future of the two-state solution
- Russia, alongside all Arab countries, almost all African and Latin American countries, and most Asian countries including India and China are already on the list
Geostrategy
Embattled Turkey opposition re-elects leader at party congress
Turkey's main opposition CHP re-elected its leader Ozgur Ozel at an extraordinary congress Sunday as the party fights off a...
- The move comes as the Republican People's Party (CHP), seeks to shore up its leadership as opponents of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have faced a series of lawsuits and arrests
- At Sunday's 22nd extraordinary congress in the capital Ankara, delegates overwhelmingly re-elected Ozel who won all 835 valid votes cast as another 82 were ruled invalid.
Geostrategy
Israel’s Netanyahu says peace with Lebanon and Syria possible
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that Israel's war with Lebanese militant group Hezbollah had created the possibility for peace...
- Syria and Israel have technically been at war since 1948, but the two countries opened direct negotiations after the ouster of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad
- In Lebanon, meanwhile, Israel has continued to strike Hezbollah targets despite a November ceasefire that sought to end more than a year of hostilities with the Iran-backed group
Geostrategy
India again refuse handshake with Pakistan in Asia Cup
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- India skipper Suryakumar Yadav again refused to shake hands with Pakistan's Salman Agha as he...
- India angered Pakistan with a 'no handshake' stance in their previous meeting at the same venue in Dubai.
- It was the first cricketing clash between the rival nations since a four-day cross-border conflict in May left more than 70 people dead.
Geostrategy
UAE Council warns 98% of cyberattacks rely on social engineering
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The UAE Cyber Security Council has cautioned that social engineering remains the most common tool used...
- The Council’s Cyber Pulse campaign is raising awareness about the risks of social engineering and urging the public to verify sources before sharing personal data.
- The council recommended monitoring official alerts and keeping up to date with cybersecurity guidance to remain protected.
Business
Dubai Integrated Economic Zones posts record $91 billion trade in 2024
Dubai, UAE – The Dubai Integrated Economic Zones Authority (DIEZ) recorded its highest-ever trade performance in 2024, with total trade...
- The Authority’s zones handled 444,300 tons of goods last year, with electronics and precious metals driving 94 percent of overall trade.
- Dubai’s overall non-oil trade also reached record levels in 2024, with DIEZ contributing its largest-ever share.
Geostrategy
Seismic shift: UK, Australia and Canada recognize Palestinian state
Portugal was also to recognize Palestinian statehood, as Israel came under huge international pressure over the war in Gaza where...
- A poll released by YouGov on Friday showed two-thirds of young Britons aged 18-25 supported Palestinian statehood.
- Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy acknowledged at the UN in July that "Britain bears a special burden of responsibility to support the two-state solution".
Geostrategy
White House says $100,000 H-1B visa fee to be one-time payment
Washington, United States -- The White House issued a major clarification Saturday to its new H-1B visa policy that had...
- H-1B visas allow companies to sponsor foreign workers with specialized skills to work in the United States, initially for three years but extendable to six.
- Such visas are widely used by the tech industry. Indian nationals account for nearly three-quarters of the permits allotted via lottery system each year.
Geostrategy
Landmark shift: Britain to recognize Palestinian state today
The United Kingdom has historically been a staunch supporter of Israel but has shifted position as Israel has intensified the...
- The small Palestinian territory has since suffered vast destruction, death and lack of food that have resulted in a major humanitarian crisis.
- Starmer said in July that Britain would formally recognize the State of Palestine if Israel did not take "substantive steps" towards a ceasefire with Hamas.
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Missile attack sets tanker ablaze off Oman as US blames Iran
The latest incident follows weeks of escalating tensions over a US-backed maritime corridor through Omani territorial waters, a route Iran...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
Saudi, Qatar airlines adjust flights as regional tensions disrupt travel
Dubai, UAE -- Airlines has extended the suspension of flights to several Gulf destinations as regional tensions continue to affect...
Geostrategy
G7 ministers consider oil reserves as markets face volatility
In a statement following a virtual meeting with International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol, the ministers said they...
Geostrategy
The shift from innovative to native: Unlocking where real AI value lies
There are, of course, technical hurdles to overcome, too, one of which is modernizing legacy systems. Many enterprises still operate...
Opinion
Most Read
Geostrategy
Bapco Energies declares force majeure on operations
Manama, Bahrain --- Bapco Energies BSC (Closed), Bahrain’s integrated energy company, announced force majeure on its group operations on Monday....
- The company said the move follows the ongoing regional conflict in the Middle East and a recent attack on its refinery complex.
- Bapco Energies said all local market needs remain fully secured through proactive plans to ensure the continuity of supplies and meet domestic demand without disruption.
Geostrategy
US assets outperform as geopolitical shock reshapes markets
The dollar still functions as the world’s primary safe haven, and in moments of acute geopolitical uncertainty, capital flows toward...
- Before hostilities erupted, global positioning had leaned heavily toward non-US outperformance
- Emerging markets, Europe and parts of Asia had been enjoying one of their strongest relative runs against US assets in years
Geostrategy
OpenAI faces backlash over Pentagon AI deal
OpenAI is facing online backlash after signing a deal with the United States Department of Defense to deploy its AI...
- The controversy has also boosted rival AI platform Claude, developed by Anthropic, which recently overtook ChatGPT as the top AI app
- Critics warn that the Pentagon partnership could allow AI technology to be used for surveillance or military purposes