Yemen’s Huthis say PM killed in Israeli strike, the most senior Huthi official to have died so far
Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser Al-Rahawi, who was appointed last year, was killed along with other officials in the Israeli attack on...
Geostrategy
Israeli minister calls to annex Gaza if Hamas doesn’t surrender
Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Thursday called on the government to begin annexing parts of the Gaza Strip if...
Geostrategy
Economy
Curbing oil dependency Saudi priority, says Economy Minister
Despite its goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2060, the country remains hugely dependent on crude oil exports...
- Soaring crude prices following Russia's invasion of Ukraine allowed Saudi to post in 2022 its first budget surplus in nine years, giving it firepower for economic development.
- And at Davos, Saudi officials announced a joint initiative with the Davos forum organizers to accelerate high-tech innovation in the country via the metaverse.
Morocco says to boost military ties with Israel
It followed the United States' recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara region, in a quid pro quo...
- The two countries agreed to further strengthen cooperation and expand it to other areas, including in intelligence, air defence and electronic warfare
- The announcement on Tuesday follows the first meeting of the monitoring committee for Moroccan-Israeli defence cooperation in the Moroccan capital
Geostrategy
Tunisia president’s former top aide jailed in absentia, say media reports
TUNIS, TUNISIA - Tunisian President Kais Saied's former chief of staff was sentenced in absentia on Tuesday to prison over audio...
- Nadia Akacha had been a key aide to Saied until she quit in January last year, citing "fundamental differences of opinion" over the national interest.
- A constitutional lawyer like the president, she was appointed as Saied's legal adviser in late 2019 before becoming his chief of staff in January 2020.
Geostrategy
European Union takes on US, China over clean tech in Davos
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen slammed what she described as "aggressive attempts" to convince Europe's clean technology operations...
- "China subsidies its industry and restricts access to its market for EU companies," she said, warning the EU would "not hesitate" to probe such aid that distorts the market.
- Speaking after von der Leyen, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He called for an end to "Cold War mentality" and repeated Beijing's opposition to "unilateralism and protectionism".
Economy
Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, Statistics Center sign data collaboration pact
ABU DHABI, UAE - Statistics Center – Abu Dhabi (SCAD) and the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) have signed...
- The pact was inked on the sidelines of the 15th edition of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2023.
- This is a part of a strategy to develop an advanced statistical ecosystem which provides high-quality statistics through a decentralized model.
Economy
UAE Ministry of Finance, Dubai Free Zones Council sign MoU on sharing of information
DUBAI, UAE - UAE Ministry of Finance (MoF) Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Dubai Free Zones...
- The Ministry of Finance makes efforts to ensure that government entities in the UAE are committed to international tax pacts the country has signed.
- Dubai Free Zones Council will provide the necessary tax information to the ministry of finance.
Geostrategy
Financial innovation vital but checks needed for stability: Saudi minister
Mohammed Al-Jadaan also warned of risks if the central bank digital currency was introduced as it will require citizens to...
- Saudi Arabia is likely to be among the world's fastest-growing economies in 2023, he said, citing the IMF global economic growth expectations for 2023.
- He also emphasized the importance of financial institutions, such as banks, for countries in combating global shocks, while continuing to develop technology in this sector.
Geostrategy
Iran releases celebrity chef held in crackdown, say activists
PARIS, FRANCE - Iran has released a prominent chef and Instagram influencer who was detained earlier this month in its crackdown...
- Navab Ebrahimi, known for his videos promoting Persian cooking, was arrested in Tehran on January 4 and taken to the city's Evin prison.
- Iran has arrested at least 14,000 people in protests sparked by the September 16 death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurdish woman.
Egypt’s economic turmoil squeezes struggling middle class
Steve Hanke, an economist at Johns Hopkins University who measures inflation based on purchasing power parity and factoring in black...
- Egypt's official annual headline inflation hit 21.9 percent in December, and food prices surged 37.9 percent
- According to the World Bank, nearly one-third of Egypt's 104 million people already live below the poverty line
Geostrategy
FNC looks to deepen parliamentary cooperation with Morocco
Abu Dhabi, UAE-- The UAE and Morocco have agreed to deepen parliamentary cooperation between the two countries in order to...
- The two sides reviewed aspects of enhancing parliamentary cooperation for the benefit of their peoples, highlighting the depth of the UAE-Morocco fraternal ties
- The UAE's support for sustainability efforts, enhancing energy security and climate action was emphasized in the meeting
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Yemen’s Huthis say PM killed in Israeli strike, the most senior Huthi official to have died so far
Ahmed Ghaleb Nasser Al-Rahawi, who was appointed last year, was killed along with other officials in the Israeli attack on...
Geostrategy
Company News
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Bahrain calls for Mideast peace conference at Gaza-focused Arab League
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa was addressing fellow heads of state and government at the 22-strong grouping in Manama,...
Geostrategy
Israel says more troops to ‘enter Rafah’ as operations intensify
Israeli forces took control earlier in May of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing with Egypt, in a push...
Geostrategy
Hamas chief says group to decide on post-war Gaza rule with Palestinian factions
Ismail Haniyeh on Wednesday said the movement will be involved in deciding post-war rule in Gaza along with other Palestinian...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Hezbollah commander among two killed in Israeli strike: source
Lebanese state media said an Israeli strike on a car in the country's south killed two people Tuesday, with a...
- Hezbollah said that one of its fighters, a field commander, Hussein Makki, was "martyred on the road to Jerusalem'
- At least 413 people have been killed in Lebanon in seven months of cross-border violence,
Geostrategy
Palestinians mark ‘Nakba’ anniversary as thousands flee Gaza’s Rafah
Tens of thousands of civilians fled the southern Gaza city of Rafah ahead of a threatened Israeli ground offensive, as...
- Nearly 450,000 Palestinians have been displaced from Rafah since May 6
- Right-wing activists stopped and ransacked at least seven Gaza-bound aid trucks coming from Jordan
Quarter of Gazans displaced again as fighting rages north to south
Fighting has flared in north Gaza four months after the army said Hamas's command structure there had been dismantled, and...
- Clashes have rocked the densely crowded far southern city of Rafah but also flared again in northern and central Gaza months after troops and tanks first entered those areas
- US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel on Tuesday said that while Washington backed military pressure on Hamas, it was not the only way to "fully defeat" the group