Death toll in Israeli strikes on Syria climbs to 52, says monitor
Beirut, Lebanon - The death toll in Israeli air strikes on Syria has risen to 52, including 38 government soldiers and...
Geostrategy
Rise in remittances hikes demand for Jordanian dinar, says chamber of commerce
AMMAN, JORDAN – Rising remittances from the Kingdom’s citizens working abroad has contributed to increasing demand for Jordanian dinar. Exchange...
Economy
Geostrategy
Moroccan officials questioned in EU graft probe
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - Several Moroccan officials have been questioned as part of a high-profile investigation into alleged bribery by the north...
- The interviews in Morocco were conducted by local authorities in the presence of Belgian investigators.
- The questionings were the first in the country since Brussels launched a sprawling graft probe in 2022.
Geostrategy
UK shoots down ‘suspected’ drone attack in Red Sea
London, UK - A UK destroyer has brought down a suspected attack drone in the Red Sea, defense minister Grant Shapps...
- Britain announced last month that it was sending HMS Diamond, one of its most advanced naval vessels, to the Gulf to shore up its presence in the region.
- The deployment followed the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Hamas and the seizure of an Israeli-linked cargo vessel by Iranian-backed Yemeni Houthi rebels
COP28 UAE
IEA boss says COP28 bid farewell to fossil fuels
PARIS, FRANCE - While the UN's COP28 climate summit marked a pivot moment, when the world pledged to say "goodbye" to...
- It gave an unmistakable signal to investors that if you continue to invest in fossil fuels you may well have serious business risks
- It gives a signal to the investors for clean energy that they may be more profitable than many people now believe they are.
Number of journalists killed on job in 2023 declines despite Gaza: RSF
In the first 11 months of 2023, 45 journalists were killed carrying out their work, down from 61 last year,...
- While some 63 journalists have been killed in Middle East since the October 7, only 17 of those deaths fell under RSF's definition
- The decline is due to efforts by inter-governmental organizations and NGOs to combat impunity, as well as to greater "prudence" by reporters themselves
Geostrategy
Digitalization has high environmental costs, says UNCTAD meet
DUBAI, UAE - With global attention on the COP28 climate summit, UNCTAD’s eWeek 2023 highlighted digitalization’s potential to accelerate climate...
- Data-driven technologies like the Internet of Things, robotics and artificial intelligence can enhance climate change monitoring.
- The digital transformation has left its mark on the planet through raw material depletion, energy and water use, pollution and waste.
Economy
Global trade likely to decline in 2023 due to changing trade patterns, geopolitics
DUBAI, UAE - The outlook for 2024 remains “highly uncertain and generally pessimistic,” UNCTAD says in the Global Trade Update,...
- Other elements affecting trade include lower demand in developed countries, less trade in East Asia and an uptick in trade-restrictive measures.
- The elements also include an uptick in trade-restrictive measures and lengthening supply chains, particularly between China and the US.
Business
PM issues law forming Dubai Investment Fund to oversee government investments
DUBAI, UAE – Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has issued Law...
- The law endows the Fund with the financial and administrative independence to pursue its objectives along with the legal mandate to do so.
- Dubai Investment Fund will be responsible for investing Dubai Government funds, surpluses and the general reserve locally and internationally.
Geostrategy
Russia, Saudi say sovereign Palestine state vital for regional peace
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – Russia and Saudi Arabia expressed concern on the present situation in Gaza and said that a...
- The two sides discussed the developments in Palestine and expressed their deep concern about the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
- Russia and Saudi Arabia stressed on the need to stop military operations in the Palestinian territories, and the need to protect civilians.
Geostrategy
Russia’s Putin offers assistance in Gaza Strip de-escalation
MOSCOW, RUSSIA - Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered assistance in helping to deescalate the tense situation in the Gaza...
- This offer was made during a telephonic conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- The two leaders discussed continued cooperation regarding the evacuation of Russian nationals and family members from the region.
Geostrategy
Joint ministerial committee meets US secretary of state
Washington, US – A committee of the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit under the chairmanship of Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin...
- A ministerial committee led by Saudi foreign minister holds discussions with US Secretary of State.
- The committee asked the US to influence Israel and called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Death toll in Israeli strikes on Syria climbs to 52, says monitor
Beirut, Lebanon - The death toll in Israeli air strikes on Syria has risen to 52, including 38 government soldiers and...
Geostrategy
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US President orders military to set up a port in Gaza for aid, say officials
President Joe Biden will tell Congress that he has ordered the US military to set up a port in Gaza...
Geostrategy
UN agency exhorts Israel to allow port for Gaza aid transfer
Rome, Italy - The UN's food agency on Thursday said it was pressing Israel to allow it to use the Ashdod...
Geostrategy
Hamas expresses dissatisfaction over Israel’s stance on Gaza truce
A senior Hamas official confirmed that the group's delegation in talks seeking a Gaza truce left Cairo for consultations in...
Geostrategy
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Business
European Union slaps $1.9bn fine on Apple over violation of rules
Brussels, Belgium - The EU on Monday hit Apple with a more than 1.8-billion-euro fine ($1.9 billion) for violating the bloc's...
- The $1.9 billion penalty is the third-biggest antitrust fine ever imposed by the European Commission
- The iPhone maker immediately vowed to appeal the first ever antitrust fine slapped on Apple by Brussels
Geostrategy
Western countries shelve plans to censure Iran at UN nuclear meet
Western powers will not censure Iran over its lack of cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog at its Board of...
- The issues include expanding its nuclear work, deactivating agency surveillance devices for monitoring Iran's nuclear program and barring senior inspectors.
- The so-called E3 group -- France, Germany and the United Kingdom -- initially planned to censure Iran for its lack of cooperation with the agency.
Geostrategy
UNRWA head seeks General Assembly support after backlash
The head of the UNRWA is set to defend his organization's work at the General Assembly, after crippling backlash over...
- The UNRWA's ability to carry out its mandate is "seriously threatened," Lazzarini said.
- The agency has been at the center of controversy since Israel accused about a dozen of its employees of involvement in the October 7 attack.