US defense chief tells Israeli counterpart that Gaza toll is ‘too high’
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant that civilian casualties in Gaza are "too high". A...
Geostrategy
Passenger air traffic has reached pre-pandemic levels, says ICAO
MONTREAL, CANADA – In the first quarter of 2024, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) projected that passenger air traffic...
Business
Geostrategy
COP28 wide open to private sector, says climate talks chief
ABU DHABI, UAE - Upcoming UN climate talks in Dubai will be open to the private sector on an unprecedented scale,...
- Sultan Al Jaber, the COP28 president has consistently tried to frame the climate crisis as an economic opportunity.
- He said about 70 ministers and 100 delegations are attending the two-day talks, more than double the usual number.
Economy
Federal Reserve likely to pause interest rate hikes
The Federal Reserve will likely announce it is holding interest rates at a 22-year high on Wednesday, as it looks...
- Interest rate hikes slow down inflation by raising the cost of borrowing from the bank, which dampens economic activity and weakens the labor market.
- Since peaking at more than seven percent in June last year, inflation as measured by the Fed's favored yardstick has fallen by more than half.
Geostrategy
Iran, Russia to invest $38bn in developing INSTC
TEHRAN, IRAN – The Iranian head of Solyanka Port in Russia said that the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is a...
- The Iranian head of Solyanka Port spoke of the measures taken by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line (IRISL ) to develop the INSTC route.
- The IRISL group purchased 30 rail wagons, 5,400 containers and ordered the construction of 21 equipped vessels for strengthening maritime routes.
Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia selected as member of UN’s AI Advisory Body
New York, United States-- United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres Friday announced the selection of Saudi Arabia to the UN Advisory...
- UN Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence (AI) consists of 39 members representing government and private and civil-society organizations.
- Shura Council member Dr. Latifa bint Mohammad Al-Abdulkareem will represent the Kingdom at the UN AI Advisory Body.
Geostrategy
India shocked at Qatar death penalty for 8 ex-naval officers
NEW DELHI, INDIA - India said on Thursday that eight of its citizens had been sentenced to death by Qatar in...
- India said it would "take up the verdict with Qatari authorities" and would continue to "extend all consular and legal assistance" to the prisoners.
- “We have initial information that the Court of First Instance of Qatar has today passed a judgement in the case,” India’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
Business
Lebanon national carrier halves flights amid fears of Israel war
BEIRUT, LEBANON - Lebanon's national carrier on Friday said it was cutting more than half of its flights as tensions along...
- Only eight of the Middle East Airlines company’s 22 planes would operate as of next week, with the rest of the fleet relocated to other airports.
- Other airlines, including Swiss International Air Lines and Germany's Lufthansa have already temporarily suspended Beirut flights,
Geostrategy
Israel army orders evacuation of northern city after Lebanon clashes
KIRYAT SHMONA, ISRAEL - The Israeli military announced plans to evacuate the northern city of Kiryat Shmona on Friday, after days...
- Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah and allied Palestinian factions have traded cross-border fire with Israel for days.
- Israeli authorities have been steadily evacuating communities near the Gaza border and along the country's northern frontier.
Business
Air Arabia launches non-stop flights between UAE’s Sharjah, Egypt’s Giza
SHARJAH/ ABU DHABI, UAE - Air Arabia announced the launch of a new route operating between Sharjah and Giza city...
- The non-stop flights will connect Sharjah International Airport with Giza and will have a frequency of five weekly flights.
- British Airways announced that it will launch daily flights from London to Abu Dhabi next year.
Business
PIF announces pricing of inaugural $3.5bn global sukuk issue
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - The Public Investment Fund (PIF) on Thursday successfully priced its first dollar-denominated Shariah-compliant trust certificates (sukuk)....
- The issuance will be listed on the London Stock Exchange’s International Securities Market (ISM).
- The sukuk issuance was more than seven times oversubscribed, with orders exceeding $25 billion,
Business
Emirati investments in Turkey reach $5.6 billion in 2022
ABU DHABI, UAE – Ahmet Burak Daglioglu, Head of the Investment Office of the Turkish Presidency, said that the cumulative...
- UAE currently stands as Turkey's 13th largest trade partner for exports and the 15th largest for imports.
- From 2014 to 2022, the total foreign direct investment from Turkey to the UAE amounted to approximately $1.1 billion
US defense chief tells Israeli counterpart that Gaza toll is ‘too high’
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant that civilian casualties in Gaza are "too high". A...
Geostrategy
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Iran launches imaging satellite Pars 1 from Russia
Iran announced the launch of a remote sensing and imaging satellite into orbit from Russia, according to state media. The...
Geostrategy
Zelenskyy in Saudi Arabia to discuss war; meets Mohammed bin Salman
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his accompanying delegation arrived here on Tuesday. The Ukrainian President...
Geostrategy
Renault Scenic model wins Car of the Year at Geneva auto show
Renault unveiled a new electric vehicle and its Scenic model won the Car of the Year award at the first...
Business
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Business
Goldman Sachs, Mubadala ink pact
The two firms have signed a $1 billion private credit deal.
- The partnership will be managed by Private Credit at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, with a dedicated team across multiple Asia Pacific markets.
- This mandate will enable both firms to continue scaling their investment activity in the large and growing Asia Pacific credit market.
Geostrategy
WTO launches US$50m fund for women entrepreneurs in developing countries
ABU DHABI, UAE - The director general of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Sunday launched a $50 million fund...
- The director general of WTO said the "ground-breaking initiative... embodies our collective commitment to empower women".
- The fund will help businesses run by women in developing countries to adopt digital technologies and increase their online presence.
Geostrategy
British lawmaker suspended over ‘Islamophobic’ comments
London, UK - Britain's ruling Conservatives on Saturday suspended their former deputy chairman from the parliamentary party, after he refused to...
- Pressure had been growing on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Tories to act following lawmaker Lee Anderson's contentious remarks.
- On the right-wing GB News channel, Anderson claimed Islamists had "got control" of Khan, who was the first Muslim mayor of London.