Iran says it will administer Hormuz as talks make progress on Lebanon security
Mediators Qatar and Pakistan announced the creation of a direct communication channel designed to reduce the risk of misunderstandings and...
Geostrategy
Trump threatens Hormuz tolls as Iran keeps strait closed ahead of Switzerland talks
The developments came ahead of technical talks between U.S. and Iranian officials expected in Switzerland as both sides seek to...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Meta, YouTube face trial over children harm
Opening statements in the first trial began in Los Angeles County Superior Court, where Instagram parent company Meta and Google’s...
- The case may influence thousands of lawsuits alleging social media features harmed young users’ mental health and wellbeing.
- Meta and YouTube have denied the allegations, saying they have implemented tools and policies aimed at improving safety for younger users.
Geostrategy
Bapco Energies declares force majeure on operations
Manama, Bahrain --- Bapco Energies BSC (Closed), Bahrain’s integrated energy company, announced force majeure on its group operations on Monday....
- The company said the move follows the ongoing regional conflict in the Middle East and a recent attack on its refinery complex.
- Bapco Energies said all local market needs remain fully secured through proactive plans to ensure the continuity of supplies and meet domestic demand without disruption.
Geostrategy
US assets outperform as geopolitical shock reshapes markets
The dollar still functions as the world’s primary safe haven, and in moments of acute geopolitical uncertainty, capital flows toward...
- Before hostilities erupted, global positioning had leaned heavily toward non-US outperformance
- Emerging markets, Europe and parts of Asia had been enjoying one of their strongest relative runs against US assets in years
Geostrategy
OpenAI faces backlash over Pentagon AI deal
OpenAI is facing online backlash after signing a deal with the United States Department of Defense to deploy its AI...
- The controversy has also boosted rival AI platform Claude, developed by Anthropic, which recently overtook ChatGPT as the top AI app
- Critics warn that the Pentagon partnership could allow AI technology to be used for surveillance or military purposes
Geostrategy
Riyadh Emerges as Escape Hub for Super-Rich Fleeing UAE After Iran Strikes
With airspace across parts of the Middle East locked down and thousands of flights cancelled or delayed, King Khalid International...
- According to reports, billionaires and senior executives have been leaving Dubai and Abu Dhabi after Iranian drones and missiles targeted multiple locations
- With airspace across parts of the Middle East locked down and thousands of flights cancelled, King Khalid International Airport remains one of the few hubs still operating
Geostrategy
UK withdraws Tehran embassy staff as Trump weighs Iran strikes; JD Vance says “no chance” of long war
Reports suggest some of Trump’s advisers would prefer Israel to initiate any strike, calculating that American public opinion would be...
- The UK government confirmed it had taken “the precautionary measure to temporarily withdraw UK staff from Iran,” adding that its embassy would continue to operate remotely
- At the same time, the US has asked non-emergency staff and family members at its embassy in Jerusalem to leave Israel, reflecting broader fears of regional escalation
Geostrategy
From Wall Street to Cairo: Face-to-face dialogue defines global leadership
True global leadership is forged through sustained, face-to-face dialogue, cross-cultural immersion, and relationships that transcend digital convenience and headline-driven narratives.
- The East-West Art of Dialogue Fellowship bridges American and Egyptian emerging leaders
- Face-to-face dialogue remains central to building durable global leadership networks
Geostrategy
Iran, US hold indirect nuclear talks in Geneva amid rising military tensions
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei described the negotiations as “very intensive” and said there were “constructive proposals” concerning both...
- The talks are being mediated by Badr al-Busaidi, the foreign minister of Oman, which has long acted as a channel between Tehran and Washington
- At the same time, the U.S. has deployed additional warships and aircraft to the region, raising fears of possible military escalation if diplomacy fails
Geostrategy
India to US: 8 nations issue Middle East travel advisories amid Iran tensions
Several governments have urged their citizens to leave Iran immediately, while others are pulling non-essential embassy personnel from sensitive locations,...
- Several governments have urged their citizens to leave Iran immediately, while others are pulling non-essential embassy personnel from sensitive locations, citing security concerns
- The advisories reflect growing concern over regional instability, with governments seeking to safeguard their nationals as geopolitical tensions intensify
Geostrategy
Middle East tensions rise as Iran eyes Chinese anti-ship missiles amid Trump warning
Negotiations between Tehran and Beijing began at least two years ago but gained momentum after a 12-day conflict between Israel...
- The proposed agreement centres on the Chinese-made CM-302 supersonic anti-ship missiles, which reportedly have a range of around 290 kilometres
- Designed to fly low and fast to evade shipborne defence systems, the missiles could substantially enhance Iran’s maritime strike capabilities
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Iran says it will administer Hormuz as talks make progress on Lebanon security
Mediators Qatar and Pakistan announced the creation of a direct communication channel designed to reduce the risk of misunderstandings and...
Geostrategy
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UAE, EU push stronger humanitarian supply chains
Dubai, UAE -- The UAE, the European Union and humanitarian organizations met in Brussels on Thursday to discuss strengthening global...
Geostrategy
Fresh US strikes on Iran trigger retaliatory attacks on Bahrain and Kuwait
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the U.S. attacks and warned that Iran's armed forces would leave "no attack or threat...
Geostrategy
Saudi, UAE startups join World Economic Forum’s global tech cohort
Saudi Arabia was represented by intella, which develops Arabic-language speech recognition and analytics tools, and Nommas Technologies, which provides AI-powered...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Israel and Iran signal restraint after renewed military clashes
Both countries, however, warned that they were ready to launch retaliatory attacks if provoked. The renewed hostilities raised concerns that...
- Diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan and Qatar reportedly urged Washington to press both sides toward restraint.
- The exchange followed Israeli strikes in Iran and Iranian missile attacks on Israel, with both sides citing earlier actions by the other as justification.
Geostrategy
Fresh Israel-Iran attacks overshadow ceasefire efforts across the region
Air raid alerts sounded across Israel, explosions were reported over Jerusalem, and Iranian state media reported blasts in Tehran, Tabriz...
- The escalation comes amid continued fighting in Lebanon, deadlocked US-Iran diplomacy and growing warnings over the conflict's economic fallout.
- Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon this week killed at least 12 people, including Lebanese army Brigadier General Wassam Sabra.
Economy
UN food organization sees global cereal output falling in 2026/27
Dubai, UAE -- Global cereal production is expected to decline by 2% in the 2026/27 season to 2.982 billion tons,...
- Record 2025/26 harvests helped build global cereal inventories despite forecasts of tighter supplies in the coming season.
- Lower wheat and barley trade volumes are expected to offset stronger maize and rice shipments worldwide.