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
Gaza children fly kites to escape horrors of war
RAFAH, PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES – Meters away from the concrete and steel fence separating the Gaza Strip from Egypt, 11-year-old Malak Ayad flies a...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
195 die in Israel strikes on Gaza camp, hundreds wounded
The Hamas government in Gaza said that 195 people had been killed in Israeli strikes this week on Jabalia refugee...
- Ambulances were set to rush several dozen patients to Egyptian hospitals, and about 400 foreigners or dual nationals were expected to escape.
- Egypt said that eventually it hoped to help evacuate 7,000 foreigners from over 60 countries from the densely crowded territory of 2.4 million people.
Business
Drought forces Panama Canal operator to cut ship traffic
Panama City, Panama - The operator of the Panama Canal, the passageway for cargo ships between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans,...
- Traffic will be reduced to 25 ships a day from Friday, down from 29, and will drop to 18 ships a day by February, the Panama Canal Authority said
- The 50-mile (80-kilometer) long waterway provides direct access between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, bypassing the South American continent
Geostrategy
Nordic countries announce deal to strengthen repatriation of refugees
COPENHAGEN, DENMARK - Nordic migration and justice ministers on Tuesday announced a deal to strengthen efforts for migrants to return to...
- Denmark has spearheaded harder lines on migrants in the Nordics and stepped up initiatives to discourage immigration.
- The first of the three initiatives was to increase collaboration between migration attaches responsible for deportation in the Nordic countries.
Business
NMDC, AD Ports Group ink MoU
The firms will continue to work closely on future global projects.
- The agreement is in line with the objectives of UAE’s national strategy for industry and advanced technology.
- The MoU will help the two firms to work together to strengthen the global maritime industry and support the economic growth of the UAE.
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,
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
Company News
Goldman Sachs, Mubadala ink pact
Business
Latest News
Dubai International Boat Show helps in marine business
DUBAI, UAE – Dubai International Boat Show has wrapped up following a hugely successful week of high-value boat sales, important...
Business
US military begins dropping aid into war-torn Gaza
Israel's top ally the United States said it began air-dropping aid into war-ravaged Gaza, as the Hamas-ruled territory's health ministry...
Geostrategy
Hamas team heads to Cairo for new truce talks
Palestinian Territories - A Hamas delegation was expected to fly to Cairo on Saturday for talks on a truce in...
Geostrategy
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Business
Total value of Saudi Arabia’s export of dates reaches US$389m in 2023
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - According to data released by the National Center for Palms and Dates (NCPD), the value of...
- By the end of 2023, the number of countries importing Saudi Arabian dates had reached 119.
- The total value of date and date-byproduct exports increased by 152.5 percent since 2016.
Business
EU queries Meta about ad-free subscriptions, shadow banning
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - The EU on Friday used new regulatory powers to query Meta about ad-free subscriptions to Facebook and Instagram as...
- The European Commission made a request for information under the mammoth content moderation law known as the Digital Services Act (DSA).
- The EU has launched probes under the DSA to quiz platforms on how they are addressing concerns from consumer protection to children's activity online.
Geostrategy
Hamas says Israeli military action kills 7 hostages in Gaza
Hamas said that seven more hostages seized during its unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7 had died because...
- Hamas seized around 250 Israelis and foreigners during the October 7 attack on southern Israel.
- A spokesman for the UN agency OCHA told reporters that "if something doesn't change, a famine is almost inevitable" in Gaza.