Iran agricultural, food exports hit US$5.5bn in 11 months
TEHRAN, IRAN – The Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade said that Iran exported fisheries, livestock, agricultural and food products...
Economy
Aid boat ready to set sail from Cyprus for Gaza
A boat laden with food for Palestinians in war-ravaged Gaza was "ready" to set sail from Cyprus, an NGO said,...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
52 nations facing debt payment issues need urgent help: UNDP
Achim Steiner, head of the United Nations Development Programme, said that 25 of the 52 were spending more than a...
- Steiner did not name the countries involved but the UNDP last week released a report which called for a 30 percent write-off of external debt for 52 countries at 2021 values.
- Poor nations' debt has multiplied over the past decade because of the coronavirus pandemic, high food and fuel bills and financial crises.
Science
Ocean conference participants pledge US$19bn
Panama City, Panama - Delegates to a global conference on saving the world's oceans pledged US$19 billion, the host country Panama...
- European Union announced it would dedicate $865 million to ocean-related projects this year
- The total included a $6 billion from the United States, announced by White House climate envoy John Kerry
Geostrategy
Six EU countries urge Israel to stop settlement expansion in West Bank
LONDON, UK- Six European countries on Saturday called on Israel to stop expanding its settlements in Palestine's West Bank.Britain, France,...
- The EUs envoy to the Palestinians has called for accountability and action after Israeli settlers went on a rampage.
- Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Poland have condemned the recent attack on Israeli citizens by Palestinian groups
Business
VW 2022 net profit at $16.7bn
Firm booked profit despite supply chain disruptions.
- German automaker Volkswagen on Friday said it booked a higher profit in 2022 despite supply chain disruptions and increased costs.
- The group expects vehicle deliveries to rise to around 9.5 million this year, from 8.3 million in 2022.
Geostrategy
UN nuclear chief heads to Iran after near weapons-grade uranium find
UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi is expected in Tehran for discussions with officials after International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors...
- The IAEA chief's visit comes amid deadlock in negotiations on reviving the 2015 deal
- Iran last week said it had not made any attempt to enrich uranium beyond 60 percent purity
Business
UAE best country globally for expat lifestyle, says HSBC survey
Abu Dhabi, UAE - The United Arab Emirates is the best country for expat lifestyle, according to a survey by...
- A total of 36 percent of the people surveyed said chances of having a better lifestyle is the main reason for relocating to the UAE.
- Another reason for the survey was to find about the changes in people’s lives post pandemic which includes the changes in their financial lives.
Geostrategy
Renewables help offset rise in coal emissions in 2022, IEA says
"The impacts of the energy crisis didn't result in the major increase in global emissions that was initially feared –-...
- "Without clean energy, the growth in CO2 emissions would have been nearly three times as high," he added.
- The IEA noted that CO2 emissions grew the fastest from oil, at 2.5 percent, but still remain below pre-pandemic levels.
Geostrategy
UAE’s FNC highlights role of parliaments in addressing climate change
RABAT, MOROCCO - UAE's Federal National Council (FNC) highlighted the critical role of parliaments in addressing the repercussions of climate...
- The FNC stressed on the need to strengthen the economic, social and environmental cooperation between countries.
- The UAE’s clean energy production capacity is expected to reach 14 gigawatts by 2030.
Market Report
US, European stocks dip as traders mull US rates outlook
US and European stocks dipped as dealers fretted that the Federal Reserve would push interest rates higher than expected and...
- Oil prices rebounded, while the pound extended gains won on Brexit deal alterations.
- Eurozone bond yields surged higher, with the yield on the benchmark German 10-year government bond rising to a 12 year high.
Geostrategy
US federal agencies given 30-day deadline to enforce TikTok ban
Office of Management and Budget director Shalanda Young in a memorandum called on government agencies within 30 days to "remove...
- The ban does not apply to businesses in the United States not associated with the federal government, or to the millions of private citizens who use the hugely popular app.
- However, a recently introduced bill in Congress would "effectively ban TikTok" in this country, according to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Iran agricultural, food exports hit US$5.5bn in 11 months
TEHRAN, IRAN – The Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade said that Iran exported fisheries, livestock, agricultural and food products...
Economy
Company News
Fertiglobe Q3 revenue of $525m
Business
Latest News
Maritime agencies report explosion off Yemen coast
Dubai, UAE - A "possible explosion" struck a key shipping lane off Yemen on Monday, two maritime agencies said, the latest...
Geostrategy
Moroccan officials questioned in EU graft probe
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - Several Moroccan officials have been questioned as part of a high-profile investigation into alleged bribery by the north...
Geostrategy
UK shoots down ‘suspected’ drone attack in Red Sea
London, UK - A UK destroyer has brought down a suspected attack drone in the Red Sea, defense minister Grant Shapps...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Number of journalists killed on job in 2023 declines despite Gaza: RSF
In the first 11 months of 2023, 45 journalists were killed carrying out their work, down from 61 last year,...
- While some 63 journalists have been killed in Middle East since the October 7, only 17 of those deaths fell under RSF's definition
- The decline is due to efforts by inter-governmental organizations and NGOs to combat impunity, as well as to greater "prudence" by reporters themselves
Geostrategy
Digitalization has high environmental costs, says UNCTAD meet
DUBAI, UAE - With global attention on the COP28 climate summit, UNCTAD’s eWeek 2023 highlighted digitalization’s potential to accelerate climate...
- Data-driven technologies like the Internet of Things, robotics and artificial intelligence can enhance climate change monitoring.
- The digital transformation has left its mark on the planet through raw material depletion, energy and water use, pollution and waste.
Economy
Global trade likely to decline in 2023 due to changing trade patterns, geopolitics
DUBAI, UAE - The outlook for 2024 remains “highly uncertain and generally pessimistic,” UNCTAD says in the Global Trade Update,...
- Other elements affecting trade include lower demand in developed countries, less trade in East Asia and an uptick in trade-restrictive measures.
- The elements also include an uptick in trade-restrictive measures and lengthening supply chains, particularly between China and the US.