MENA Brief | June 18: Oil calms after Trump’s threat rattles markets; UAE-Iran calls, Riyadh Air signs big Rolls-Royce deal
Oil prices steadied Wednesday after Trump’s demand for Iran’s ‘unconditional surrender’ roiled markets and revived supply fears, as regional diplomacy...
Geostrategy
MENA brief Jun 17: ADNOC Drilling appoints new CEO, Riyadh up in startup ranking
The DMCC Crypto Centre welcomed Bitcoin.com, which is setting up its first MENA office in Dubai. The Arab Coordination Group...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Turkey orders expulsion of 10 ambassadors as Erdogan fumes
Several European countries said late on Saturday they had received no official notification from Turkey, while the US said it...
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has ordered the expulsion of the ambassadors of 10 countries, including Germany and the US
- These ambassadors had appealed for the release of jailed civil society leader Parisian-born philanthropist and activist Osman Kavala
Geostrategy
IS says its fighters attacked Kabul power lines
The Islamic State militant group's Afghan branch on Friday said it was behind an explosion that brought down electricity lines...
- The power cut on Thursday was a further blow to Taliban efforts to stabilize Afghanistan two months after they seized control
- The explosion hit a high-voltage line supplying imported power to Kabul and some other provinces
Geostrategy
Algeria rejects Western Sahara talks
Algeria on Friday ruled out returning to roundtable talks over Western Sahara, days after the UN appointed a new envoy...
- Morocco sees the entire Western Sahara as an integral part of its territory and has offered autonomy there while firmly ruling out independence
- The International Crisis Group wrote this month that “Rabat considers Western Sahara a regional issue and the Polisario an Algerian proxy”
Geostrategy
Al-Qaeda leader killed in US drone strike in Syria: Pentagon
A senior Al-Qaeda leader was killed in a US drone strike in Syria, the Pentagon said on Friday. The strike...
- “The removal of this Al-Qaeda senior leader will disrupt the terrorist organization’s ability to further plot and carry out global attacks”
- At the end of September the Pentagon killed Salim Abu-Ahmad, another senior Al-Qaeda commander in Syria
Tunisia most democratic among countries roiled by Arab Spring
Tunisia, where the government of former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was overthrown in 2011, scored 6.59 out of...
- Tunisia, where the government of former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was overthrown in 2011, scored 6.59 out of ten in the 2020 Democracy index
- Libya is now tied with Yemen at the bottom of the list, with a democracy score of 1.95 out of 10
Two years after protests, Lebanon activists set sights on vote
The various opposition groups have yet to decide how they will take part in the upcoming polls.
- The various opposition groups have yet to decide how they will take part in the upcoming polls
- Voters are busy battling to get by on deeply diminished incomes, amid endless power cuts and price hikes
Geostrategy
UAE detains journalist after comments hacked and posted online
The United Arab Emirates said Friday it had detained a journalist after comments they made off the air ahead of...
- The incident occurred shortly before the state-run Abu Dhabi Sports channel's live broadcast of the UAE-Iraq World Cup qualifying match on October 12.
- The charges faced by the journalist could carry a prison sentence of up to five years and a fine up to $136,131.
Geostrategy
OECD nations to ban export credits for coal power
With the latest international climate conference just days away, the proposed ban will halt support to new coal power stations...
- For existing coal-fired power stations, the credits can only be used for pollution mitigation and carbon capture equipment that doesn't extend the service life of the facility.
- Coal is the dirtiest fossil fuel and is responsible for a major chunk of carbon emissions.
Geostrategy
US Iran envoy to hold nuclear talks with European powers
The agreement between Iran and world powers to find a long-term solution to the now two-decade-old crisis over its controversial...
- Trump's successor Joe Biden has said he is ready to re-enter the agreement so long as Iran meets key preconditions.
- The nuclear deal promised Iran step-by-step sanctions relief in exchange for restrictions on its atomic work.
Geostrategy
EU leaders laud Merkel at her last summit
European leaders heaped praise on German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday as she attended what is likely her last EU...
- Merkel has attended a staggering 107 EU summits that saw some of the biggest twists in recent European history
- Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel called Merkel a "compromise machine" who "usually did find something to unite us"
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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
MENA Brief | June 18: Oil calms after Trump’s threat rattles markets; UAE-Iran calls, Riyadh Air signs big Rolls-Royce deal
Oil prices steadied Wednesday after Trump’s demand for Iran’s ‘unconditional surrender’ roiled markets and revived supply fears, as regional diplomacy...
Geostrategy
Company News
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Iran asserts peaceful nuclear agenda amid western concerns
Tehran, Iran - Iran's nuclear program remains peaceful, said Nasser Kanani, the spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs,...
Geostrategy
Turkish SuperCup in Saudi postponed over ‘political slogans’
According to the Saudi sports television channel SSC, "the match has been cancelled. The match will not take place." Scheduled...
Geostrategy
US approves ’emergency’ sale of munitions to Israel
Washington, United States - The United States on Friday announced the approval of a $147.5 million sale of 155mm high-explosive artillery...
Geostrategy
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Opinion
‘Let’s resolve to make 2024 a year of building trust’
"The United Nations will keep rallying the world for peace, sustainable development and human rights. Let’s resolve to make 2024...
- António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, urges global unity in 2024 for rebuilding trust and hope after the significant suffering, violence, and climate crises of 2023.
- In his New Year's message, Guterres stresses unity for trust and hope in 2024, urging collective achievements and wishing a peaceful and happy year.
Geostrategy
South Africa moves ICJ, accuses Israel of ‘genocidal acts’ in Gaza
South Africa launched a case at the International Court of Justice against Israel for what it said were "genocidal" acts...
- There was no immediate comment from Israel, which had earlier denied charges that its military was using disproportionate force in Gaza.
- The war was triggered by the attack on Israel on October 7 and is now nearing its 12th week, with vast areas of northern Gaza in ruins.
Geostrategy
Gaza death toll tops 21,507 as Israel continues bombing
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said at least 21,507 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since war...
- A total of 1,095 have been wounded while taking refuge at UN sites, UNRWA said on social media platform X.
- The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, said 308 people seeking shelter in their facilities have been killed during the war