New shipping service in Saudi Arabia launched
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has announced the addition of the new shipping service 'NRS' by...
Business
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
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
Market Report
Oil prices rise following Red Sea attacks
Oil prices shot up three percent as more companies suspended shipping through the Red Sea following attacks on vessels by...
- Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels said on Monday that they had attacked two "Israeli-linked" vessels in the Red Sea..
- Ships must travel through the Red Sea to use the Suez Canal, a key transit route for cargo and oil..
Geostrategy
Maritime agencies report explosion off Yemen coast
Dubai, UAE - A "possible explosion" struck a key shipping lane off Yemen on Monday, two maritime agencies said, the latest...
- The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations issued a warning of a potential explosion striking near a vessel passing through the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
- "The captain reported... the 'explosion' occurring two nautical miles off one of the vessel's quarters while it was transiting," said maritime security firm Ambrey.
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.
New shipping service in Saudi Arabia launched
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has announced the addition of the new shipping service 'NRS' by...
Business
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Thousands rally in London seeking a truce in Gaza
London, UK - Thousands of protesters marched in central London on Saturday to call for a ceasefire in Gaza amid ongoing...
Geostrategy
Amman Chamber of Industry exports for January-February 2024 reaches $1.3bn
AMMAN, JORDAN - Amman Chamber of Industry (ACI) exports amounted to US$1.3 billion (JD926 million) during the last two months...
Business
Aid boat ready to set sail from Cyprus for Gaza
A boat laden with food for Palestinians in war-ravaged Gaza was "ready" to set sail from Cyprus, an NGO said,...
Geostrategy
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Business
Saudi Tourism Authority, Trip.com Group sign global agreement
BERLIN, GERMANY – Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) and Trip.com Group have announced a significant global partnership, which will drive greater...
- The joint effort aims to bring over 350 thousand additional tourists to Saudi over the course of the agreement.
- The partnership is vital as it coincides with exceptional growth and transformation in the global tourism industry.
Geostrategy
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...
- US officials said the "significant capability will take a number of weeks to plan and execute".
- US officials were careful to stress that American troops would not be on the ground 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...
- "We have several requests with the Israelis," World Food Program (WFP)Â Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau told AFP in Rome.
- "We want to use the Ashdod port, which would be much more efficient than going through Jordan or even Egypt," Skau said.