Sweden Quran burner arrested in Norway, faces deportation
OSLO, NORWAY – An Iraqi refugee in Sweden who stoked international outrage by repeatedly desecrating the Quran last year has been...
Geostrategy
Business
Ajman’s exports rise 19 percent in H1 2023
AJMAN, UAE – The Ajman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has revealed that the volume of exports from the...
- Ajman’s total exports reached US$1.2 billion in H1 2023, compared to US$1.1 billion during the same period in 2022.
- Ships and boats topped the list of exported products, followed by mineral oils, fish and steel products.
Market Report
Stocks fall after Federal Reserve says it may hike interest rates
Global stocks sank after the US Federal Reserve hinted it could hike interest rates again this year to tame inflation...
- In a move dubbed a "hawkish hold" by analysts, the Fed held borrowing costs but indicated another hike is likely in 2023 to tackle US inflation.
- Sweden's Riksbank and Norway's Norges Bank each raised their key interest rates by a quarter-point.
Geostrategy
Biden pledges to extract ‘costs’ from Iran despite prisoner swap
NEW YORK, US- President Joe Biden said the United States would keep piling "costs" on Iran despite a prisoner swap deal...
- Biden confirmed that he was imposing new sanctions on Iran's intelligence ministry and former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
- His statement did not mention the granting of clemency to five Iranians jailed or awaiting trial for non-violent crimes.
Geostrategy
WHO tells China to provide ‘full access’ to Covid investigators
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - The head of the World Health Organization told the Financial Times he was ready to send a new...
- WHO chief said he had already written to China asking "to give us information " and for the organization to send a team "if they allow us to do so".
- He said WHO would not abandon its investigation and has called on China for transparency in sharing data and carrying out investigations.
Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia participates in global meet to bridge digital divide
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – The Kingdom’s Governor of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) Dr. Mohammed Saud Al-Tamimi participated...
- The meeting aims to enhance the contribution of the communications, space and technology sectors for attaining sustainable development objectives.
- The meeting also aims to propose policies and recommendations to bridge the digital divide and promote and develop the digital economy.
Arts & Culture
Palestine’s pre-historic Tell al-Sultan site on world heritage list, says UNESCO
The United Nations' cultural organization inscribed the "pre-historic site of Tell al-Sultan" located near the occupied West Bank city of...
- The site was inscribed following a three-year candidacy “during which no state party raised any objections”, a UNESCO official said.
- Tell al-Sultan, which predates Egypt's pyramids, is an oval-shaped tell, or mound, located in the Jordan Valley.
Geostrategy
Israel accounts for 46 percent of global Jewish population
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL – The total global Jewish population rose to 15.7 million over the last year, while the number...
- Data showed that the global Jewish population grew by some 100,000 over the past year.
- The US has the second-largest Jewish population in the world, after Israel, - at 6.3 million.
Geostrategy
Diverse business models needed for trade with China, say Union of Arab Chambers
BEIRUT, LEBANON – The secretary general of the Union of Arab Chambers has called for diversified business models to facilitate...
- The secretary general of the Union of Arab Chambers said there was a rise in the variety of goods traded between China and the Arab world in recent years.
- Arab nations and China cannot simply rely on the traditional pattern of cooperation that emphasizes on imports and exports of products.
Geostrategy
EU chief wants global experts panel to confront AI challenges
Von der Leyen said the proposed AI group should be similar to the UN's IPCC panel, whose reports establish scientific...
- Von der Leyen said the proposed AI group should be similar to the UN's IPCC panel, whose reports establish scientific consensus on climate change.
- The EU is leading the charge on regulating AI, and aims to green light what would be the world's first law covering the technology by the end of the year.
Geostrategy
Normalization of Israeli-Saudi ties hit Palestine, security barriers
Despite Israel's strong determination and increasing US mediation efforts, the establishment of diplomatic relations between Tel Aviv-Riyadh still face serious...
- The Chinese-mediated restoration of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran served as a catalyst for US efforts to advance Tel Aviv-Riyadh ties.
- For Israel, the normalization of relations with Arab countries has remained an important strategic goal for years.
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Sweden Quran burner arrested in Norway, faces deportation
OSLO, NORWAY – An Iraqi refugee in Sweden who stoked international outrage by repeatedly desecrating the Quran last year has been...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
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
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
Most Read
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.
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.