Amman Chamber of Industry exports for January-February 2024 reaches $1.3bn
AMMAN, JORDAN - Amman Chamber of Industry (ACI) exports amounted to US$1.3 billion (JD926 million) during the last two months...
Business
UN agency exhorts Israel to allow port for Gaza aid transfer
Rome, Italy - The UN's food agency on Thursday said it was pressing Israel to allow it to use the Ashdod...
Geostrategy
Science
WHO seeks $2.5bn for health emergency responses in 2023
The World Health Organization appealed for US$2.54 billion for its work in 2023 to help millions of people facing health...
- The WHO was currently responding to 54 health crises around the world, 11 of which were ranked as the highest-possible level emergency.
- The United Nations has estimated that a record 339 million people worldwide will need some form of emergency assistance in 2023.
Geostrategy
Iran arrests three female journalists, say reports
Iranian authorities have arrested three female journalists in the past two days, local media said, amid protests triggered by the...
- Authorities say hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have been killed and thousands arrested.
- A media report said the three women had been transferred to Evin prison, where many of those arrested in connection with the protests are being held.
Science
Billions still exposed to toxic trans fat, says WHO
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - Efforts to eliminate industrially-produced fat have a long way to go with five billion people exposed to toxic...
- The World Health Organization called in 2018 for harmful trans fatty acids to be wiped out by 2023.
- They are thought to be responsible for around 500,000 premature deaths from coronary heart disease each year.
Business
RIL posts Q3 profit of US$1.9b
Profit is 15 percent lower than in the same period last year
- Revenue from operations at India's largest company by market capitalisation rose 15 percent year on year, to US$27 billion
- Reliance's board also approved a plan to issue bonds to raise up to US$2.4 billion (200 billion rupees) to fuel further expansion across its diversified businesses.
Geostrategy
EU to expand sanctions on Iran over protest crackdown
The EU will impose new sanctions on 37 Iranian officials and organizations over the crackdown on protests, but is still...
- Demonstrations have swept Iran since the September 16 death of Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini, 22, after her arrest in Tehran.
- Iran has arrested at least 14,000 people in the wave of protests, according to the United Nations.
Business
Google announces 12,000 job cuts globally, cites changing economic reality
Google's parent company Alphabet announced about 12,000 job cuts globally citing a changing "economic reality", becoming the latest US tech...
- Google's parent company Alphabet employed nearly 187,000 workers worldwide at the end of September 2022.
- Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said American employees have already been notified about the cuts.
Economy
UAE Ministry of Finance, Dubai Free Zones Council sign MoU on sharing of information
DUBAI, UAE - UAE Ministry of Finance (MoF) Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Dubai Free Zones...
- The Ministry of Finance makes efforts to ensure that government entities in the UAE are committed to international tax pacts the country has signed.
- Dubai Free Zones Council will provide the necessary tax information to the ministry of finance.
Science
WEF launches initiative to channelize US$3trn for climate and nature
The World Economic Forum launched the Giving to Amplify Earth Action (GAEA), to help unlock the US$3 trillion of financing...
- Present funding is slow and inadequate, and a new approach is needed to get capital flowing.
- Philanthropic giving is nimble, more tolerant of risks and is driven by values and long-term outcomes rather than quarterly returns.
Economy
Global recession likely in 2023, say WEF chief economists
Almost two-thirds of chief economists believe a global recession is likely in 2023, with 18 percent of them considering it...
- In China, expectations of growth are polarized, with respondents almost evenly split between those who expect weak or strong growth.
- One positive signal is that supply chain disruptions are not expected to cause a significant drag on business activity in 2023.
Economy
Countries which transform food system can meet net-zero goals, says WEF report
DAVOS, SWITZERLAND – A  report launched Monday at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 shows how countries can accelerate...
- Food systems, when transformed, can help solve some of the world’s toughest problems, from climate change to resilient livelihoods.
- The report identifies models for businesses and policy-makers and a roadmap of priorities for countries to improve productivity and sustainability.
Amman Chamber of Industry exports for January-February 2024 reaches $1.3bn
AMMAN, JORDAN - Amman Chamber of Industry (ACI) exports amounted to US$1.3 billion (JD926 million) during the last two months...
Business
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Mahsa Amini’s family blocked from leaving Iran for EU rights prize
PARIS, FRANCE - The family of Mahsa Amini, the Iranian Kurdish woman who died in custody, have been banned from traveling...
Geostrategy
Arab world to be center for global change in 2024, says Russian intelligence chief
MOSCOW, RUSSIA - The chief of Russia’s foreign intelligence service, or SVR, believes the Arab world will take center stage...
Geostrategy
Fighting rages in Gaza as war enters third month
Heavy urban combat raged in and around Gaza's biggest cities as the bloodiest-ever war between Israel and Hamas entered its...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Russian oil price cap partially successful
LONDON, UK - A Western price cap imposed a year ago on Russia's oil has had limited success with Moscow increasingly...
- The cap was jointly imposed on December 5, 2022 by the European Union, Australia and the Group of Seven rich countries.
- Initially successful, it lost its impact once President Vladimir Putin's Russia found new buyers for its oil and new tankers to deliver it.
Geostrategy
Asian countries score high in keenly watched PISA education survey
Paris, France - Asian countries dominated the top spots in a keenly watched survey of education capabilities published Tuesday, while levels...
- Singapore took top ranking in the latest assessment, which was carried out in 2022 and involved 690,000 students in 81 participating countries and economies
- Five other Asian education systems -- in Macao, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea -- came next in mathematics, and also scored near the top in reading and science
COP28 UAE
We respect climate science, says COP28 head
DUBAI, UAE - The Emirati president of the UN's COP28 talks said on Monday he respects climate science, after a leaked...
- Sultan Al Jaber also repeated his past statements that a phase out of fossil fuels was "inevitable".
- He acknowledged that global greenhouse gas emissions must be cut by 43 percent by 2030.