ATP and Saudi Arabia’s PIF launch new tennis tech platform
NEW YORK and RIYADH — The ATP Tour, in a landmark partnership with the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has unveiled...
Geostrategy
Antarctic climate shifts threaten ‘catastrophic’ impacts globally
Paris, France -- Abrupt and potentially irreversible changes in Antarctica driven by climate change could lift global oceans by meters...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
EU seeks more sanctions on Iran for Russian drone supply
The EU is set to impose more sanctions on Iran for drone supplies to Russia and a crackdown on protests...
- The EU is looking under a separate sanctions package to stop the supply of drone engines from the bloc to Russia and Iran.
- Another 20 individuals and one organization will be added to the asset freeze and visa ban blacklist over the repression of demonstrations in Iran.
Economy
Tourists, cruises, flights to Aqaba on the rise in December
AQABA, JORDAN - The southern city of Aqaba is welcoming an increasing number of local visitors and foreign tourists of...
- The ports of Aqaba are expected to receive eight giant cruise ships carrying about 2,700 tourists each.
- King Hussein International Airport in Aqaba has received 18 flights from abroad in since the beginning of December.
Geostrategy
Arab leaders adopt plan for 2023-2027 to push GCC-China partnership
"China will continue to firmly support the GCC countries in maintaining their own security... and build a collective security framework...
- Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said the Arab-Chinese summit will give a “tangible impetus” to Arab-Chinese cooperation in all its forms.
- Earlier on Friday, a joint Chinese-Saudi statement spoke of "focusing on emissions rather than sources" in tackling climate change, the approach championed by the Gulf nations.
Geostrategy
IFC, UNHCR to jointly boost private sector engagement for refugees, host communities
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, Friday announced a joint initiative to...
- The initiative aims to mobilize private sector projects over the next five years to demonstrate the viability of investments in forced displacement contexts.
- Forced displacement is a growing crisis that is too large and complex for governments and humanitarian agencies to solve alone.
Geostrategy
Israel’s Netanyahu requests more time to form government
The November 1 election put former premier Netanyahu in a position to form a stable, right-wing government, ending an unprecedented...
- President Isaac Herzog on November 13 tapped Netanyahu to form a government with the backing of factions representing 64 out of 120 lawmakers in parliament
- Likud announced early Thursday a deal with a fourth party, Shas, that gave the ultra-Orthodox Jewish party five ministerial positions
Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia, UAE mediation efforts aid the US-Russia prisoner swap
The mediation efforts were led by the Emirati president Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the Crown...
- The mediation efforts were led by the UAE president Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
- Brittney Griner, a top basketball player for the United States, was released in exchange for Russian arms dealer Victor Bout
Geostrategy
Six years later, Saudi King Salman and China’s Xi sign comprehensive strategic partnership agreement
Beijing is ready to expand its crude oil trade with Riyadh and will "list Saudi Arabia as a destination country...
- Beijing is ready to expand its crude oil trade with Riyadh and will "list Saudi Arabia as a destination country for outbound tourism organized by Chinese citizens, says Xi Jinping
- Xi and Saudi Crown Prince witness signing of energy agreements on hydrogen as well as a plan to "harmonize" Vision 2030, with China's trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative
Economy
Abu Dhabi Chamber inks 3 pacts to drive economic growth
ABU DHABI, UAE - As part of its participation in the first edition of the Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition...
- The MoUs are a part of the chamber’s efforts to drive economic growth in Abu Dhabi and support investment in vital sectors.
- As part of its efforts to support start-ups and SMEs, the Abu Dhabi Chamber signed a partnership agreement with the Emirates Development Bank.
Geostrategy
Xi Jinping meets Saudi Arabia’s crown prince on high-stakes visit
About $30 billion in agreements will be signed on Thursday, Saudi state media said, as China seeks to shore up...
- Arab leaders also began to converge on the Saudi capital ahead of a summit with Xi, who will hold separate talks with the six-member GCC.
- The crown prince sees China as a critical partner in his Vision 2030 agenda, seeking the involvement of Chinese firms in mega-projects meant to diversify the economy.
Business
Kazakhstan threatens to ban ArcelorMittal after worker death
ALMATY, KAZAKHSTAN - Kazakhstan threatened Thursday to ban global steel giant ArcelorMittal from operating in the Central Asian country after...
- ArcellorMittal, the world's second largest steel producer, operates a dozen factories and mines in this polluted industrial Kazakh region.
- Kazakhstan has in the past imposed fines on ArcelorMittal for non-compliance with ecological standards.
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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
ATP and Saudi Arabia’s PIF launch new tennis tech platform
NEW YORK and RIYADH — The ATP Tour, in a landmark partnership with the Public Investment Fund (PIF), has unveiled...
Geostrategy
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‘Terrible’ Israel-Hamas conflict ‘must end’: UK’s Sunak
The British government on Friday called for "utmost transparency" and a "wholly independent review" into the killing of seven aid...
Israelis rally against Netanyahu as Gaza war reaches half-year mark
Organizers said about 100,000 people converged at a Tel Aviv crossroads renamed "Democracy Square" since mass protests against controversial judicial...
Israeli strikes target eastern Lebanon: source close to Hizbollah
Israel and Hizbollah have exchanged near-daily cross-border fire since the Palestinian group Hamas carried out an unprecedented attack on southern...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
UN agency chief laments Gaza war as ‘betrayal of humanity’
United Nations - Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza has escalated into a "betrayal of humanity", the United Nations' humanitarian...
- UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths called for a "collective determination that there be a reckoning for this betrayal of humanity".
- "Each day, this war claims more civilian victims," said Griffiths, who will leave his post at the end of June due to health reasons.
Geostrategy
Hamas to stick on truce conditions amid renewed Cairo talks
"The demands ... are complete ceasefire, withdrawal of the occupation forces from Gaza, the return of the displaced to their...
- "Hamas confirms its adherence to the position it presented on March 14 ... and we will not back down from this position," it said in a statement.
- Negotiators were expected in Cairo over the weekend for a renewed push to strike a ceasefire and hostage exchange deal.
Geostrategy
Iran vows to make enemy ‘regret’ killing of revolutionary guards
Tehran, Iran - Iran on Saturday again threatened retaliation for the deaths of seven Revolutionary Guards in a strike on Damascus,...
- Tehran has vowed to avenge Monday's air strike on the Syrian capital it blamed on its arch-enemy Israel, which has not commented.
- The attack levelled the Iranian embassy's consular annex in Damascus, killing seven Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) members.