Trump increasingly ambiguous on Israel amid Gaza war
At the start of Israel's war with Hamas in October, Donald Trump loudly presented himself as the key US ally's...
Geostrategy
UN rights council to consider call for Israel arms sales halt
The UN Human Rights Council on Friday is set to consider a draft resolution calling for a cessation of arms...
Geostrategy
YEARBOOK 2023
From climate action to global aid: Inside UAE’s remarkable year
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The UAE is bidding farewell to 2023, dubbed the ‘Year of Sustainability'. From hosting the relatively...
- UAE launched ALTÉRRA, the world’s largest private investment climate action vehicle, aimed at raising and mobilizing an additional $250bn for climate action.
- Despite global headwinds, CBUAE projects 3.3 percent year-on-year growth projected for the UAE economy in 2024.
Geostrategy
5 WEF reports shaping your 2024 agenda
From AI to the future of jobs and slow climb to gender parity, WEF reports provide insights into some of...
- Buffeted by a global energy crisis, inflationary pressures and geopolitical instability, the move to clean energy has faced a challenging time.
- This year's top 10 emerging technologies will likely become increasingly familiar in the years ahead as they help tackle some of our biggest challenges.
Geostrategy
Google agrees to settle $5bn data privacy breach lawsuit
Google has agreed to settle a consumer privacy lawsuit seeking at least $5 billion in damages over allegations it tracked...
- The lawsuit, filed in a California court, claimed Google's practices had infringed on users' privacy by "intentionally" deceiving them
- Lawyers for the plaintiffs were seeking at least $5,000 for each user it said had been tracked as they visited Google Analytics in private browsing mode
Geostrategy
WHO urges pandemic plans as ‘painful’ Covid ends
Geneva, Switzerland - The head of the WHO said on Tuesday the world needs to properly prepare for future pandemics after...
- WHO head urged nations to seal a "monumental" pandemic accord to plug preparedness gaps that were exposed during the pandemic.
- Tedros said that in terms of emergency preparedness and response, gaps remain in the world's readiness to prevent the next pandemic.
Business
US bans import of Apple Watch due to patent clash
A US import ban on certain Apple smartwatch models came into effect, after the Biden administration opted not to veto...
- Apple last week paused its US sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2.
- The move came into effect on the online Apple Store on December 21, with retail locations ceasing sales December 24.
Geostrategy
Russia extends ban on entry of trucks from EU, UK, Norway, Ukraine
MOSCOW, RUSSIA - The Russian government has extended the ban on the entry of trucks from the European Union, the...
- “The restriction will remain in effect until the circumstances that served as the basis for its introduction are eliminated,” the Russian Cabinet said.
- The ban was introduced in 2022 as a response to the EU’s decision not to allow trucks with Russian and Belarusian license plates through.
Geostrategy
UN General Assembly approves US$3.59bn budget for 2024
NEW YORK, US - The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) approved a US$3.59 billion budget for 2024, including establishing a...
- The UNGA approved around US$50 million as an additional funding for UN Human Rights Council.
- UNGA revealed that it established a multiannual private account for peacemaking and it is used for funding UNPBF.
Geostrategy
Iran slams UN for its failure to stop Israel-Hamas war in Gaza
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi slammed the "inefficacy" of international bodies to halt fighting between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas which...
- The UNSC resolution urged the creation of "conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities", without calling for an immediate end to the fighting,
- "The inability and inefficacy of international organizations has become clear to everyone in the world," the Iranian President said.
Geostrategy
UN resolution urges more aid for Gaza as death toll rises
Fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza raged as the UN Security Council approved a much-delayed resolution to boost aid...
- The resolution also urged the creation of "conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities" but did not call for an immediate end to fighting.
- It came after the UN's World Food Program warned that Gaza's population is at a "high risk of famine".
EU reaches agreement on reforming bloc’s migration laws
Spain, which chaired the lengthy negotiations in its role holding the EU presidency, said on X, formerly Twitter: "A political...
- The reform includes speedier vetting of irregular arrivals, creating border detention centres, and accelerated deportation for rejected asylum applicants
- The accord still needs to be formally approved by the European Council, representing the 27 EU member countries, and the European Parliament before it enters the bloc's lawbooks
Trump increasingly ambiguous on Israel amid Gaza war
At the start of Israel's war with Hamas in October, Donald Trump loudly presented himself as the key US ally's...
Geostrategy
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Israeli forces kill Jordanian in West Bank, says Palestinian ministry
A Jordanian citizen has died after being shot by Israeli forces in the West Bank, Palestinian authorities said, with the...
Geostrategy
Situation in Red Sea has a limited impact on food exports so far, says FAO
ROME, ITALY – The situation in the Red Sea has not yet been reflected in the pace of prices for...
Economy
Trump said he won’t ‘give a penny’ to Ukraine, claims Hungary Prime Minister
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has asserted that former US president Donald Trump told him during a meeting...
Geostrategy
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Economy
Iran agricultural, food exports hit US$5.5bn in 11 months
TEHRAN, IRAN – The Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade said that Iran exported fisheries, livestock, agricultural and food products...
- Iraq was the biggest importer of Iranian agricultural and food products worth US$1.7 billion.
- The UAE was the second largest importer of Iranian agricultural and food products worth $675 million
Economy
GASTAT adopts chain-linking method to calculate Saudi Arabia’s real GDP
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – The General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) said in a press release it issued on Sunday that...
- The fourth quarter 2023 results and the annual results for the same year have been reached at by using the new methodology.
- Saudi Arabia is the first country in the Gulf and Arab regions, and among the first G20 countries, to implement the chain-linking methodology.
Business
Cryptocurrency Ether witnesses meteoric rise since launch
NEW YORK, US – Bitcoin has captured the limelight in recent weeks as it surged to a new record high, yet...
- Launched in 2015, Ether is by far the second-largest digital currency in terms of total value, now estimated at over $460 billion.
- Bitcoin's rise has been well-documented, but Ether's has been even more impressive, surging almost 72 percent year to date.