US census to include Middle Eastern or North African category
The next US census and federal government forms will include new options for race and ethnicity including a category for...
Geostrategy
Trump tells Israel media ‘you’re losing support’ over Gaza war
Former US president Donald Trump warned Israel in an interview that it was losing support over the war in Gaza....
Geostrategy
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...
- 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
Market Report
Markets fall as Biden set for Middle East diplomacy drive
US and European stock markets mostly fell and oil prices rose as US President Joe Biden prepared for a trip...
- Wall Street opened in the red, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq shedding more than one percent, while Frankfurt and Paris fell 0.6 percent afternoon deal.
- "Understandably, not many people are in the mood to put their hard-earned cash at risk in these uncertain economic times," said an expert.
Geostrategy
World leaders try to contain Israel-Hamas war
As Israel prepares for a ground offensive into the Gaza Strip, the international community has mobilized to try to protect...
- Among the most active international players is the United States, whose Secretary of State Antony Blinken started a tour of six Arab countries.
- The US, like its European allies, is concerned to avoid the opening of a second front with the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.
Geostrategy
Egypt, Israel to allow US citizens to leave Gaza via Rafah crossing
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Egypt and Israel have agreed to let US citizens leave the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing...
- The official said that 500-600 US citizens in the Gaza Strip had reached out for information on leaving the hemmed in territory.
- US officials earlier had voiced interest in letting people flee to Egypt but backtracked after seeing limited support in the region.
Geostrategy
IMF agrees on rise in funding, extra Africa board seat
The IMF announced member nations agreed to increase their contributions to the global lender and give sub-Saharan Africa a third...
- The quotas, which are based on the size of a country's economy, determine how much funding a nation should provide to the IMF.
- IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva and World Bank President Ajay Banga used this week's meetings to urge members to step up funding.
Iran says US ‘can not renege’ on deal to transfer $6bn via Qatar
Tehran, Iran-- Iran said the United States "can not renege" on an agreement to transfer $6 billion in frozen funds through...
- Tehran has come under intense scrutiny since Hamas stormed across Israel's border.
- Iran has insisted it was not involved, but celebrated the Hamas attack as a "success".
US census to include Middle Eastern or North African category
The next US census and federal government forms will include new options for race and ethnicity including a category for...
Geostrategy
Company News
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Global criticism of Israel after ‘massacre’ of Gazans lining for food
Global condemnation flowed after Israeli forces in war-ravaged Gaza opened fire as Palestinian civilians scrambled for food aid during a...
Geostrategy
WTO ministers struggle to forge deals as talks go into overtime
ABU DHABI, UAE – World trade ministers were locked in disagreement Thursday on fisheries subsidies, agriculture and digital customs duties as...
Geostrategy
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
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Business
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...
- Renault is the only European automaker with a presence at this year's industry gala.
- Volkswagen and Stellantis, whose brands include Peugeot and Fiat, decided to skip the event.
Science
Japan’s Moon craft SLIM revives after lunar night
TOKYO, JAPAN – Japan's Moon lander has produced another surprise by waking up after the two-week lunar night, the country's space...
- The unmanned Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) touched down last month at a wonky angle that left its solar panels facing the wrong way.
- As the sun's angle shifted, it came back to life for two days and carried out scientific observations, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said.
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.