AI is learning to lie, scheme, and threaten its creators
In one particularly jarring example, under threat of being unplugged, Anthropic's latest creation Claude 4 lashed back by blackmailing an...
Research
Putin says Russia, Ukraine peace proposals “absolute contradictory”
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Russia and Ukraine's demands for peace were "absolutely contradictory", after two rounds of...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Saad Hariri, former PM of Lebanon, quits politics
Former Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri announced Monday he would not run in upcoming parliamentary elections and was withdrawing from...
- The Sunni Muslim leader said he was "suspending his work in political life" and urged fellow members of his Future party to leave the political arena
- A tearful Hariri, who was first elected to parliament in 2005, also announced he would not run in the legislative polls due in May
Geostrategy
WHO chief says how World can end Covid emergency this year
The countries need to work harder to ensure equitable access to vaccines and treatment, track the virus and its emerging...
- Since the Omicron strain was first detected in southern Africa nine weeks ago, Tedros said 80m cases had been reported to the WHO -- more than in all of 2020.
- Half of the WHO's 194 member states missed the previous target of vaccinating 40 percent of their people by end-2021.
Geostrategy
Taliban, Western envoys meet for Oslo talks
A Taliban delegation headed by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is meeting representatives of the US, France, Britain, Germany, Italy,...
- The closed-door discussions, facilitated by Norway, are being held at the Soria Moria Hotel, on a snowy hilltop outside Oslo
- The Taliban met with Afghan civil society members, including women activists and journalists during the first day of the Norway visit
Geostrategy
Houthi militia launch missile attacks on UAE and Saudi Arabia
The UAE air defense forces have intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles targeting the country, the Ministry of Defense announced...
- The UAE Ministry of Defense confirmed that there were no casualties resulting from the attack
- However, the attack in Saudi Arabia led to two expatriates sustaining minor injuries
Geostrategy
Palestine minister holds first meet with Israel foreign minister
This was the first such encounter between the Jewish state's current foreign minister and a Palestinian official. The Israeli foreign...
- In late December, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz hosted talks with Mahmud Abbas on the latter’s first visit to Israel since 2010
- At that time, Israel's defense ministry announced ‘confidence-building measures’ with the Palestinian Authority
Business
Chabahar trade zone chief arrested in Iran
Prosecutor has placed Abdorahim Kordi in custody, citing a statement from the intelligence branch of Iran's Revolutionary Guards.
- The director general of Iran's Chabahar Free Zone has been arrested for "major offences"
- Chabahar was the only Iranian port with exemptions when US reimposed unilateral sanction in 2018
Geostrategy
Saudi’s role in aviation security hailed at Experts Group Meeting
Saudi Arabia, represented by the General Authority of Civil Aviation, chaired the meeting of a team of aviation security experts...
- Saudi Arabia chaired the meeting of a team of aviation security experts within the Middle East Aviation Security Cooperative Program.
- Representatives from Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Jordan, and the observer states Qatar and Egypt participated in the meeting.
Geostrategy
Thai PM to visit Saudi for first time since gem theft soured ties
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-cha will this week make the first visit by a Thai leader to Saudi Arabia in more...
- Thai-born janitor Kriangkrai Techamong stole $20 million worth of precious gems in 1989 from the home of a Saudi prince, triggering a feud between the countries.
- Saudi Arabia has long accused Thai police of bungling their investigation into the theft, with allegations that the stolen gems were snapped up by senior officers.
Geostrategy
Kuwait steps in to undo Lebanese rift with its Arab neighbors
Kuwait's foreign minister said Sunday that he has given Lebanese authorities a list of suggested measures to be taken to...
- The visit is part of wider efforts to restore trust between Lebanon and its Gulf Arab neighbors
- Lebanon's Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib will visit Kuwait at the end of the month
Geostrategy
Iran urges people to dress warmly to cut gas use
Iran has the world's second largest gas reserves after Russia, and the fourth largest oil reserves. Gas is almost free...
- The record consumption was 748 million cubic meters on November 22, 2021.
- Oil Minister Javad Owji asked people to save gas consumption so that we can pass the next 10 days "without any problem".
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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
AI is learning to lie, scheme, and threaten its creators
In one particularly jarring example, under threat of being unplugged, Anthropic's latest creation Claude 4 lashed back by blackmailing an...
Research
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Millions of Afghans go hungry as winter cold bites
Once flush with humanitarian aid following the US-led invasion of the country, funding to Afghanistan has plummeted since the Taliban...
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...
World Economic Forum
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...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Maritime firm says missile hits Greek ship off Yemen
Dubai, UAE - A missile hit a Greek-owned cargo ship off Yemen, a maritime risk management company said on Tuesday, following...
- "A Malta-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier was reportedly targeted and impacted with a missile while transiting the southern Red Sea northbound," said firm
- The ship, which has visited Israel since the outbreak of war in Gaza and was headed to the Suez Canal, changed course and headed to port after the incident, it said
Geostrategy
Washington seeks ‘de-escalation’ in Middle East, says top US official
Davos, Switzerland - The United States wants a "de-escalation" in the Middle East despite its strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen,...
- "We seek to stop the spread of conflict and to create the conditions for de-escalation," Sullivan said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
- Sullivan said the course of the conflict with the Iranian-backed rebels depended on "those with influence in Tehran and influence in other capitals in the Middle East".
Geostrategy
WTO hopes to finalize fishing agreement
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - The head of the World Trade Organization's fisheries talks voiced optimism  on Tuesday about striking an agreement on...
- The 164 WTO members kicked off a month of negotiations this week at the global trade body's headquarters in Geneva.
- The draft text is intended to help members reach agreement on a so-called "clean text" for submission to ministers in Abu Dhabi.