Morocco’s Atlantic gambit: linking restive Sahel to ocean
Dubai, UAE -- A planned trade corridor linking the landlocked Sahel to the Atlantic is at the heart of an...
Geostrategy
Qatar urges Israel, Hamas to seize ‘window of opportunity’ for Gaza truce
US President Donald Trump voiced optimism on Friday about a new ceasefire in Gaza saying an agreement involving Israel and...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Iran arrests 17 for filming candid camera horror pranks
Iranian police have arrested 17 university graduates on suspicion of filming candid camera horror pranks that boosted their social media...
- Gags included mock murders and a suicide as well as throwing cakes in the faces of passengers on the escalators of the Tehran metro
- The author of the gag filmed on the Tehran metro was open about his motives
Geostrategy
Riyadh, Bangkok restore ties years after gem theft
Riyadh and Bangkok restored their diplomatic relation broken over jewel theft by a Thai-born janitor who stole $20 million worth...
- Saudi Arabia and Thailand have announced they re-established their diplomatic relations, decades after a jewel theft from a Saudi palace
- The move is the result of long-standing efforts at different levels to re-establish mutual confidence and friendly relations, they said in a joint statement
Geostrategy
Qatar emir to meet with Biden in Washington Jan 31: W.House
Qatar, a close US ally, has huge gas reserves and is the world's biggest exporter of liquefied natural gas. Biden...
- Biden and the Gulf state leader will discuss security in the Middle East and "ensuring the stability of global energy supplies."
- The meeting comes as Washington and its European allies are seeking to shore up energy contingency plans should Russia squeeze supplies due to tensions with the West over Ukraine
Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia, Romania sign wide-ranging defense agreement
Saudi Arabia and Romania signed on Tuesday a defense cooperation agreement that covers training, exchange of expertise, technologies, developing communications...
- The pact includes training, exchange of expertise, technologies and developing communications systems.
- The agreement is in line with the two sides’ commitment to promote and encourage international peace, media reports said.
Economy
American companies willing to invest in Tunisia: Ambassador Blome
A number of US companies are willing to invest in basic infrastructure and logistics to support Tunisia's efforts in this...
- Tunisian Transport Minister Rabii Majidi expressed the will to further strengthen cooperation with the United States.
- Both parties exchanged views on the draft bilateral agreement in the field of air transport. The US ambassador urged stepping up talks to materialize this agreement.
Arts & Culture
Museum pulls Arafat caricatures after outrage
The 35-piece exhibit at the museum in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, faced immediate backlash after it was installed on Sunday....
- Activists from Fatah, the Palestinian movement Arafat founded, demanded an investigation into how the images came to be displayed.
- In a statement, the museum insisted the images were merely artistic impressions of a revered Palestinian leader.
Business
Ras Al Khaimah to allow ‘gaming’ at upcoming resort in Marjan
The emirate of Ras al-Khaimah on Tuesday announced a multibillion-dollar deal with casino giant Wynn Resorts and said it will...
- The emirate announced a multibillion-dollar deal with casino giant Wynn Resorts, but did not elaborate on 'gaming', a euphemism for gambling in the US.
- Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority said a new gaming division would require “compliance with all applicable laws and regulations".
Geostrategy
Houthi rebels lose a key district days after UAE attack
Yemen's Houthi rebels were driven out of a key district by the United Arab Emirates-trained Giants Brigade, the militia said...
- The Iran-backed Houthis lost Harib district south of Marib, the strategically vital northern city they have been fighting to topple for months
- The Giants Brigade said "hundreds were killed and wounded on both sides" in battles that lasted for more than two weeks
Geostrategy
Iran ready for ‘direct’ nuclear talks with US
The US said multiple times it was ready to hold direct talks, and now Iran's foreign minister has also said...
- Iran open to direct nuclear negotiations with the US, which declared itself ready to hold talks "urgently" on 2015 nuclear accord
- Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said earlier that negotiating with the 'enemy' does not mean surrendering
Business
Saudi finance minister calls for GCC cooperation
Saudi Arabia's finance minister, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan, has stressed the need for the promotion of the joint Gulf action,...
- During the meeting, the ministers reviewed the progress made on issues related to strengthening the financial and economic cooperation among the GCC states
- The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Finance, Chairman of the current session, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan
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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
Morocco’s Atlantic gambit: linking restive Sahel to ocean
Dubai, UAE -- A planned trade corridor linking the landlocked Sahel to the Atlantic is at the heart of an...
Geostrategy
Company News
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Sudan war threatens UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Regional Network for Cultural Rights said it "strongly condemns the incursion by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)", the paramilitary...
Geostrategy
Turkey’s first astronaut brandishes Erdogan’s ambitions
Erdogan has displayed a keen interest in the mission, which comes against the backdrop of a raging economic crisis and...
Al Jazeera bureau chief leaves Gaza
Scenes of Dahdouh mourning his family and fleeing on foot from Gaza City have been broadcast globally over the weeks...
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World Economic Forum
Women’s health gap costs US$1trn worldwide: report
Women spend a quarter more of their lives suffering from poor health than men, a disparity that includes an unequal...
- The gender health gap causes around 75 million years of life lost due to poor health annually
- WEF officials say analysis proves "investing in women's health must be a priority for every country"
Geostrategy
Deal reached for Gaza hostages to receive medicines
Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majid Al-Ansari told QNA "the medications and aid will leave Doha tomorrow to the city of...
- Netanyahu's office confirmed the deal and saying the medicines will be forwarded by Qatari representatives in the Gaza Strip to their final destination
- The drugs are intended for 45 hostages, according to the French presidency, which said 83 were initially identified as needing medication in November
Geostrategy
Pakistan says two children killed by Iran air strike
The statement did not say where the strike took place, but various Pakistani social media accounts reported blasts in Balochistan...
- "This violation of Pakistan's sovereignty is completely unacceptable and can have serious consequences," Pakistan's foreign ministry said in a statement.
- Tehran and Islamabad frequently accuse each other of allowing militants to operate from the other's territory to launch attacks