Building futuristic sustainable urban cities starts from the underground up
Underground innovation, digitization, and AI are vital for sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future cities, says Sam Wiffen, director and founder...
Interview
Risks are interconnected, need collaborative solutions, says WEF’s Mark Elsner
Davos, Switzerland – Mark Elsner, Head, Global Risks Initiative, World Economic Forum sat with TRENDS during WEF’s summit in Davos...
World Economic Forum
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...
- The UNRWA's ability to carry out its mandate is "seriously threatened," Lazzarini said.
- The agency has been at the center of controversy since Israel accused about a dozen of its employees of involvement in the October 7 attack.
Business
Dubai International Boat Show helps in marine business
DUBAI, UAE – Dubai International Boat Show has wrapped up following a hugely successful week of high-value boat sales, important...
- The exhibition is recognized as one of the most influential boat shows in the world.
- The exhibition has wrapped up following a hugely successful week of boat sales.
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.
Business
Total value of Saudi Arabia’s export of dates reaches US$389m in 2023
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - According to data released by the National Center for Palms and Dates (NCPD), the value of...
- By the end of 2023, the number of countries importing Saudi Arabian dates had reached 119.
- The total value of date and date-byproduct exports increased by 152.5 percent since 2016.
Business
EU queries Meta about ad-free subscriptions, shadow banning
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - The EU on Friday used new regulatory powers to query Meta about ad-free subscriptions to Facebook and Instagram as...
- The European Commission made a request for information under the mammoth content moderation law known as the Digital Services Act (DSA).
- The EU has launched probes under the DSA to quiz platforms on how they are addressing concerns from consumer protection to children's activity online.
Geostrategy
Hamas says Israeli military action kills 7 hostages in Gaza
Hamas said that seven more hostages seized during its unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7 had died because...
- Hamas seized around 250 Israelis and foreigners during the October 7 attack on southern Israel.
- A spokesman for the UN agency OCHA told reporters that "if something doesn't change, a famine is almost inevitable" in Gaza.
Science
Energy-related global CO2 emissions hit record levels in 2023, says IEA
PARIS, FRANCE – Energy-related carbon dioxide emissions rose to a record level in 2023, but the growth slowed from previous years...
- CO2 emissions from energy rose by 1.1 percent in 2023, increasing by 410 million tonnes to a record 37.4 billion tonnes.
- Without the drought and water shortfalls, global carbon emissions from power generation alone would have fallen last year.
Economy
World resource extraction could surge 60 percent by 2060, UN warns
Paris, France - Extraction of Earth's natural resources could surge 60 percent by 2060, imperiling climate goals and economic prosperity, the...
- The hunger for natural resources -- everything from food to fossil fuels -- keeps growing by an average of more than 2.3 per cent per year, it said.
- Extraction and processing of the huge amount of resources accounts for over 60 percent of planet-warming emissions, the report said.
Building futuristic sustainable urban cities starts from the underground up
Underground innovation, digitization, and AI are vital for sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future cities, says Sam Wiffen, director and founder...
Interview
Company News
Latest News
Death toll in Israeli strikes on Syria climbs to 52, says monitor
Beirut, Lebanon - The death toll in Israeli air strikes on Syria has risen to 52, including 38 government soldiers and...
Geostrategy
Turkey says Erdogan to meet Joe Biden at White House on May 9
Istanbul, Turkey - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with US counterpart Joe Biden at the White House on May...
Geostrategy
US census to include Middle Eastern or North African category
The next US census and federal government forms will include new options for race and ethnicity including a category for...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Russia says ‘evidence’ links Ukraine to Moscow attack
MOSCOW, RUSSIA - Russia said on Thursday it had evidence the perpetrators of last week's massacre at a concert hall outside...
- Russian officials alleged the suspects had received "significant amounts of money and cryptocurrency from Ukraine".
- The officials said that said another man "involved in financing the terrorists" had been identified and detained.
Economy
Rise in remittances hikes demand for Jordanian dinar, says chamber of commerce
AMMAN, JORDAN – Rising remittances from the Kingdom’s citizens working abroad has contributed to increasing demand for Jordanian dinar.Exchange companies...
- There are positive indicators suggesting a stabilization in Jordan’s economy.
- Presently the currency exchange sector comprises 250 firms across Jordan.
Geostrategy
US defense chief tells Israeli counterpart that Gaza toll is ‘too high’
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told his Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant that civilian casualties in Gaza are "too high". A...
- A senior Pentagon official said that US Defense Secretary had discussed his hopes that negotiations would "soon produce the release of all hostages."
- The United States has backed Israel with both military and diplomatic support.