Urgent need for ‘global approach’ on AI regulation: UN tech chief
Geneva, Switzerland -- The world urgently needs to find a global approach on regulating artificial intelligence, the United Nations' top...
Geostrategy
Gaza civil defence says Israeli forces kill 28 people
Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli military operations killed at least 23 people on Friday across the Palestinian territory, with...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Biden to meet Saudi Crown Prince during his visit next week: White House
Biden is expected to press for increased Saudi oil production in the hope of taming spiraling fuel costs and inflation...
- Biden is expected to press for increased Saudi oil production in the hope of taming spiraling fuel costs and inflation at home
- The White House emphasized Biden will address "greater collaboration" in the Middle East region on issues such as air defense
Geostrategy
European Union warns of worst Palestinian displacement in ‘decades’
An EU envoy warned Thursday over the possible mass displacement of Palestinians from a West Bank area at the centre...
- About 27 buildings have been demolished in Masafer Yatta in West Bank, where Israeli SC ruled that its 1,000 residents 'failed to prove" their claim of permanent residents.
- In the early 1980s the army declared the 3,000-hectare (30 square kilometre) territory a restricted military area and claimed it was uninhabited.
Geostrategy
Boris Johnson steps down as Conservative Party leader
Johnson announced that he would step down after a slew of resignations from his top team in protest at his...
- The leadership election will take place over the summer and the victor will replace Johnson by the party's annual conference in early October, the BBC and others reported.
- Defence minister Ben Wallace and Rishi Sunak, whose departure as finance minister on Tuesday sparked the exodus, were among the early frontrunners to succeed Johnson.
Geostrategy
Arab parliament welcomes Yemen truce during Eid
The pan-Arab legislature expressed its hope that the humanitarian truce would contribute to ending the war.
- The pan-Arab legislature expressed its hope that the humanitarian truce would contribute to ending the war
- The Arab Parliament urged Yemeni parties to commit to stopping all military operations and abiding by the Saudi initiative announced in March 2021
Business
TotalEnergies of France pulls out of Russian oil project
Russian oil firm Zarubezhneft will take over its remaining 20 percent stake in the Kharyaga project in the Arctic pending...
- It has promised to stop purchasing Russian oil and gas by the end of the year, and make no further investments there
- TotalEnergies had already ceded a 20 percent stake in the project and the role of operator to Zarubezhneft
Geostrategy
Iran media reports arrest of several foreign diplomats
Iran's Revolutionary Guards arrested several foreign diplomats including a Briton, accusing them of "spying", the Fars news agency and state...
- The British government quickly denied that any of its personnel had been arrested, describing the reports as "completely false"
- State television however reported that the Briton, identified as Giles Whitaker, the UK government's deputy head of mission in Iran, was only expelled from "the area"
Geostrategy
Belgium ratifies controversial prisoner-swap treaty with Iran
Belgium's parliament on Wednesday approved a controversial prisoner-swap treaty with Iran in the first reading of a text that still...
- The treaty has been slammed by an Iranian dissident group, the NCRI and as well as some US lawmakers and Amnesty International
- Tehran also holds a Swedish-Iranian academic from Brussels university under the "espionage" charges, and has sentenced him to death
Geostrategy
Iran denies making demands beyond nuclear deal
The US has during latest indirect negotiations accused Iran of raising issues "wholly unrelated" to the nuclear deal.
- The US has during latest indirect negotiations accused Iran of raising issues "wholly unrelated" to the nuclear deal
- The US walked out of the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 under then president Trump, who reimposed biting sanctions on Tehran
Economy
Kurdish Iraq decries ‘unjust pressure’ from Baghdad in oil row
Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region Wednesday deplored "unjust pressure" from the federal government's oil ministry, days after the judiciary nullified oil...
- The move comes as the Kurdish region and the federal government remain locked in a tug-of-war over the management of hydrocarbons
- Iraq's supreme court in February ordered Kurdistan to deliver the oil produced in its territories to the federal government
Economy
Sri Lanka appeals Russia for fuel and resumption of tourist flights
Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic downturn since it gained independence from Britain in 1948.
- The Island nation has suffered months of blackouts, rampant inflation and critical shortages of food and petrol.
- Russia and Ukraine were among the top sources of tourists for Sri Lanka before February's conflict began.
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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
Urgent need for ‘global approach’ on AI regulation: UN tech chief
Geneva, Switzerland -- The world urgently needs to find a global approach on regulating artificial intelligence, the United Nations' top...
Geostrategy
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US and UK launch fresh strikes against Houthis
The new wave of strikes "specifically targeted 18 Houthi targets across eight locations in Yemen" including weapons storage facilities, attack...
Geostrategy
Israeli negotiators to arrive in Qatar for hostage talks
According to local media reports, the country's war cabinet endorsed the decision to dispatch negotiators to Qatar to continue talks...
Geostrategy
Jordan, Oman chambers eye enhancing trade ties, cooperation
AMMAN, JORDAN – Jordan Chamber of Commerce (JCC) and Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Saturday discussed enhanced cooperation...
Business
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UAE to provide US$10m grant to support WTO initiatives, says foreign minister
ABU DHABI, UAE – Emirates Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has announced that the UAE...
- Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed expressed pride that the UAE is hosting the WTO’s MC13, the organization’s highest decision-making body, from February 26-29.
- He welcomed all leaders and representatives of the 166 member states to Abu Dhabi for crucial negotiations on key trade issues and discussions.
Geostrategy
Gazans suffer from hunger, displacement as war rages
Palestinian Territories - At the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, Abu Gibril was so desperate for food to feed...
- The World Food Program said its teams reported "unprecedented levels of desperation" while the UN warned that 2.2 million people were on the brink of famine.
- On Friday, the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said a two-month-old baby died of malnutrition in hospital in Gaza City, seven kilometers away from Jabalia.
Geostrategy
Israeli strikes kill dozens in Gaza as truce talks continue in Paris
The negotiations come after a plan for a post-war Gaza unveiled by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu drew criticism from...
- Hamas said on Saturday morning that Israeli forces had launched over 70 strikes on civilian homes in Deir al-Balah, Khan Yunis and Rafah.
- An Israeli air strike on Friday destroyed the Gaza home of well-known Palestinian comedian Mahmoud Zuaiter, killing at least 23 people.