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
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.
Geostrategy
WFP warns fund cuts could push 24m people to brink of starvation
Geneva, Switzerland - The World Food Program said Tuesday that shrinking funding was forcing it to drastically slash rations in many...
- WFP said it had been struggling to meet growing global needs for food assistance while facing a funding shortfall of over 60 percent this year.
- WFP estimates that 345 million people worldwide are facing acute food insecurity, at level three or higher on the UN's five-scale food insecurity classification.
Geostrategy
Building less, repurposing more key to low construction sector emissions
The industry is responsible for 37 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions and growing urbanization is spurring the construction of...
- Mushrooming urban environments -- which add new buildings in an area equivalent in size to Paris every five days -- damage life-sustaining ecosystems.
- Building less and repurposing existing structures generates 50-75 percent fewer emissions than new constructions, a report said.
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
Latest News
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 was...
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
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...
Science
Most Read
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.
Geostrategy
UAE to provide US$10m grant to support WTO initiatives, says foreign minister
ABU DHABI, UAE – Emirates Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has announced that the UAE...
- Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed expressed pride that the UAE is hosting the WTO’s MC13, the organization’s highest decision-making body, from February 26-29.
- He welcomed all leaders and representatives of the 166 member states to Abu Dhabi for crucial negotiations on key trade issues and discussions.