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
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...
- 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
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
Company News
Goldman Sachs, Mubadala ink pact
Business
Latest News
European Union slaps $1.9bn fine on Apple over violation of rules
Brussels, Belgium - The EU on Monday hit Apple with a more than 1.8-billion-euro fine ($1.9 billion) for violating the bloc's...
Business
Western countries shelve plans to censure Iran at UN nuclear meet
Western powers will not censure Iran over its lack of cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog at its Board of...
Geostrategy
UNRWA head seeks General Assembly support after backlash
The head of the UNRWA is set to defend his organization's work at the General Assembly, after crippling backlash over...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
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...
- It also comes as negotiations continue for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
- US Central Command said the operation was conducted together with Jordan and saw planes drop “over 38,000 meals along the coastline of Gaza.”
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...
- The source said the delegation would submit Hamas's "official answer" to a proposal thrashed out with Israeli negotiators in Paris late last month.
- A Hamas source told AFP that under the proposal, a truce would last for six weeks, with Hamas releasing 42 hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.
Business
Apple’s changes contradicts European rules, 34 firms complain
Brussels, Belgium - Changes Apple is making to its services in the European Union "make a mockery" of new antitrust rules...
- Companies have expressed doubts about how much Apple's changes would ultimately broaden consumer choice and digital competition.
- Apple in January announced it was modifying how its iOS operating system, Safari browser and App Store operate in the 27-nation EU.