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...
Business
Global criticism of Israel after ‘massacre’ of Gazans lining for food
Global condemnation flowed after Israeli forces in war-ravaged Gaza opened fire as Palestinian civilians scrambled for food aid during a...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Two Iranian students jailed for 16 years on sabotage charges
They received 10-year terms for "destruction of public installations", five years for plotting against national security and "cooperation with hostile...
- Local media named them as Ali Younessi and Amir-Hossein Moradi of Tehran's Sharif University of Technology.
- In May 2020, the judiciary said the pair were accused of having been in contact with "counter-revolutionary groups".
Business
Alwaleed blinks as Musk buys Twitter
Prince Alwaleed is one of the wealthiest businessmen in the Middle East, but Elon Musk is the richest person in...
- Last week, KHC Chairman and Twitter shareholder Prince Alwaleed rejected Elon Musk's bid to acquire Twitter Inc for $54.20 per share
- Alwaleed had stated that the deal proposed by Musk did not ‘come close to the intrinsic value’ of the popular social media platform
Geostrategy
Russia warns of WW3 as West plans more arms for Ukraine
For months, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been asking Western allies for heavy weapons, vowing that his forces could turn...
- Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has triggered an outburst of support from Western nations that has seen weapons pour into the country
- But Western powers have been reluctant to deepen their involvement, for fear of sparking a conflict against nuclear-armed Russia
Geostrategy
France’s Macron wins new term
Macron is the first French president to win a second term for two decades, but Le Pen's result also marks...
- Macron is the first French president to win a second term for two decades, but Le Pen's result also marks the closest the far-right has ever come to taking power in France
- The 44-year-old president faces a litany of challenges in his second term, starting with parliamentary elections in June, where keeping a majority will be critical
UNRWA may end services to refugees due to funding crunch
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) is facing a financial implosion for the last 10 years,...
- The Commissioner-General of UNRWA, Philippe Lazzarini said this in a message to Palestinian refugees
- He explained that the annual shortfalls to the core program budget have regularly neared $100 million
Business
Saudi Arabia to host Global Cybersecurity Forum in November
The National Cybersecurity Authority is organizing the annual event under the theme Rethinking the Global Cyber Order.
- Over two days, experts from around the world are expected to gather to address the most pressing issues facing the cyberspace
- These include the evolving international order in cyberspace, the state of cybersecurity threats, and the solutions to threats
Geostrategy
UN chief to visit Turkey before trips to Russia and Ukraine
Turkey has been trying to negotiate an end to the conflict between the two countries, hosting meetings between Russian and...
- Antonio Guterres’ trip comes as the Russia-Ukraine war enters its third month, with fierce battles continuing in Ukraine’s east
- Scores of civilians and Ukrainian soldiers are said to be trapped in the besieged port city of Mariupol, with evacuation interrupted
Geostrategy
Parched Iraq’s water resources ‘down 50 percent’
Oil-rich Iraq, despite its mighty Tigris and Euphrates rivers, is classified as one of the world's five countries most vulnerable...
- Iraq which shares the Tigris and Euphrates with Turkey and Syria often protests that their upstream construction of dams has endangered its water resources.
- World has Bank warned that Iraq, a country of 41 million people, could suffer a 20-percent decline in drinking water resources by 2050 due to climate change.
Geostrategy
Iran says ‘political’ issues still holding up nuclear deal
Iran said Wednesday that "technical issues" in the now-paused negotiations to restore its 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers have...
- Iran is engaged for a year in negotiations with France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China directly, and the United States indirectly, to revive the 2015 deal
- The US unilaterally withdrew from the agreement in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to step back from nuclear commitments
Analysis
Europe energy market: Will Qatar replace Russia?
The United States has asked Qatar to supply gas to Europe if Russian supplies were disrupted due to Moscow's military...
- Qatar gas exports account for about 106 billion cubic meters, with 80 percent going to Asia and 20 percent to Europe
- Qatar could cover around 13 percent of Russian gas imports to the European Union and the United Kingdom
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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...
Business
Company News
Latest News
UN conference adopts plan to reduce harmful chemicals
PARIS, FRANCE - A new roadmap to reduce the environmental risks from chemicals and waste was adopted at a United Nations...
Geostrategy
ADB capital reforms unlock $100bn to support Asia and the Pacific region
MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved capital management reforms that unlock US$100 billion in new funding capacity...
Economy
The many ways US government shutdown affects people
WASHINGTON, US - The United States is heading toward a government shutdown this weekend with no foreseeable way out of a...
Geostrategy
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Science
Politicians fail to understand scientific facts of climate, says expert
PARIS, FRANCE - Wavering ambition by governments and a growing belief that science is politically subjective are great causes for concern...
- Several extreme weather events have occurred in 2023, which the European Union's climate monitor says is likely to be the hottest in human history.
- These underscores the urgency of slashing planet-heating greenhouse gas emissions to avert the catastrophic impacts of greater global warming.
Geostrategy
Israel sells Arrow 3 missile defense system to Germany for US$3.5bn
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - Israel's US$3.5-billion sale of its Arrow 3 missile defense system to Germany, sparked by security fears after...
- Israeli arms exports reached a new record of $12.5 billion dollars last year, double the amount from three years earlier, says its defense ministry.
- Israel, together with its top ally the United States, has developed hi-tech systems designed to knock incoming rockets and missiles out of the sky.
Geostrategy
Top army officials from 30 nations review threats in Asia-Pacific
New Delhi, India - Army chiefs and senior officers from 30 countries including the United States met in India on Tuesday...
- US Army chief Randy George said the region was "critically important", speaking to reporters alongside his Indian counterpart Manoj Pande.
- Generals from Japan and Australia, which make up the "Quad" defense cooperation forum alongside Washington and New Delhi, also took part.