Iraq’s first ever director in Cannes wins best feature debut
Hasan Hadi won the top prize for his childhood adventure under economic sanctions in "The President's Cake".
Arts & Culture
Israel security chief accuses PM of demanding personal loyalty
Israel's internal security chief, whom the government is trying to sack, accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday of demanding personal...
Geostrategy
Science
UAE hosts a conference of Arab ministers of higher education
The UAE is hosting the 19th Conference of Arab Ministers of Higher Education and Scientific Research, which is organized by...
- The conference aims to enhance Arab cooperation in the field of higher education and scientific research, to achieve development, progress and sustainability of knowledge
- Dr. Hamad Al Yahyai, Assistant Undersecretary of Curriculum and Assessment Sector at the Ministry of Education, stressed that hosting the 19th conference enhances the UAE’s stature
Business
OPEC names Kuwaiti Haitham al-Ghais as next secretary general
Al-Ghais, who was Kuwait's OPEC governor from 2017 to June 2021, serves as a deputy managing director of the Kuwait...
- OPEC said that al-Ghais was appointed by acclamation and will take up his three-year post on August 1.
- He will replace Nigeria's Mohammed Barkindo, who took over the helm of the organization in 2016 and led it for two terms.
Geostrategy
Baghdad candle vigil honours slain Iran general, Iraqi deputy
On Sunday evening, hundreds of supporters of Hashed al-Shaabi, an Iran-aligned group, gathered at the site, to pay tribute to...
- On Sunday evening, hundreds of supporters of Hashed al-Shaabi, an Iran-aligned group, gathered at the site, to pay tribute to the slain men
- The night-time strike, ordered by then US president Donald Trump, hit a car in which Soleimani and Muhandis were travelling on the edge of the airport
Business
Tesla recalls 700,000 vehicles
Around 200,000 were recalled in China, after 500,000 in the US.
- The vehicles recalled are Model S and Model 3 cars, with Tesla promising to inspect the issue free of charge
- The defects affect the vehicles' backup cameras or cause the hoods to open suddenly while driving
Geostrategy
Iran announces new space launch amid nuclear talks
Iran announced Thursday it has carried out a new space launch, in a move likely to irk Western powers amid...
- Iran insists its space programme is for civilian and defence purposes only, and does not breach the nuclear deal or any other international agreement
- UN Security Council Resolution 2231 of 2015, endorsing the nuclear deal, imposed no blanket ban on Iranian rocket or missile launches
Arts & Culture
Iraqi film students tell their stories from Mosul
In a collaboration between the Mosul fine arts academy, a Belgian theatre company and UNESCO, 19 students are getting a...
- Over a four-month course, students get a taste of everything from writing and shooting to acting and editing
- The students' nine works, each lasting up to five minutes, will be screened in Mosul in February before being presented to European festivals.
Geostrategy
Dubai airport fully operational for first time since pandemic
Dubai airport, one of the world's busiest travel hubs, is fully operational for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic...
- Travel via Dubai increases at the end the year, with foreigners -- who make up the majority of the emirate's population -- heading home for the holidays.
- Since the pandemic began, the UAE has registered over 744,400 cases, including 2,152 deaths.
Investigation
REVEALED: Billions missing from Lebanese Central Bank
Even as Lebanon faces one of the worst economic crises, about US$7 billion remains missing from the Lebanese central bank’s...
- Some of the data sifted by TRENDS point to a US$7 billion scam involving the country’s central bank and the powerful individuals
- The poor and weak policies of Banque du Liban (BDL) may have facilitated a “Ponzi” scheme involving Eurobonds
Geostrategy
OPEC marks fifth anniversary of historic Vienna Agreement
The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) marked its 5th anniversary of the historic ‘Vienna Agreement’ on Tuesday. The...
- The agreement led to the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) between OPEC countries and leading non-OPEC oil-producing nations.
- The Conference, where the pact was signed, saw OPEC Member Countries reinforce their efforts to overcome a then-unprecedented oil market downturn.
Economy
China manufacturing recovers as power shortage eases
Manufacturing activity in China edged up in November due to an easing in power shortages and a drop in some...
- China's non-manufacturing PMI, however, dropped slightly to 52.3 from 52.4 as the country saw fresh coronavirus outbreaks
- Analysts had predicted slowing growth after the recent flare-up of cases in late October, which spread to 21 provinces
Most Read
Revenue from Saudi cinema may exceed $1bn by 2030KSA, UAE play well as e-gaming trends across GCCExclusive: Middle East’s retail sector rides on AR and hybrid shopping to become $600bn digital economyTECOM Group profit soars 13%UAE startups eye Saudi Arabia for growth, expansionSaudi Arabia leads GCC AI healthcare raceDisparity remains as Saudis, Emiratis see wealth gains
Iraq’s first ever director in Cannes wins best feature debut
Hasan Hadi won the top prize for his childhood adventure under economic sanctions in "The President's Cake".
Arts & Culture
Company News
Aramco Q1 profit down 14.5%
Business
Latest News
IHC Q1 net profit $2.17bn
Business
Israel agrees to resume Gaza truce talks next week
A prospective cessation of hostilities also involving the release of hostages held in Gaza and scaled-up aid deliveries has centred...
Flying’s never been safer, risk of death halving every decade: MIT study
Washington, United States -- Flying can be a nerve-wracking experience for many people -- but a new study out Thursday finds...
Geostrategy
Gaza civil defence says Israel strikes on two schools kill more than 18
Senior civil defense official Mohammad al-Mughayyir said 60 people were also wounded and more than 40 still missing in the...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Geostrategy
Turkey joins South Africa’s Israel ‘genocide’ case at ICJ
A Turkish parliamentary delegation accompanied by the Turkish ambassador to the Netherlands filed a "declaration of intervention" at the ICJ's...
- South Africa's Dec 2023 case alleges that Israel's Gaza offensive, launched in retaliation for Hamas' bloody October 7 attack on Israel, breached the 1948 UN Genocide Convention.
- In a ruling January 26, the ICJ told Israel to do everything possible to prevent acts of genocide during its military operations in Gaza, which have left nearly 40,000 dead.
Geostrategy
Bangaldesh Nobel winner Yunus ready to lead after Hasina flees
Dhaka, Bangladesh -- Bangladesh Nobel winner Muhammad Yunus said Tuesday he is ready to head a caretaker government, a day after...
- Microfinance pioneer Yunus, 84, is credited with lifting millions out of poverty -- earning the enmity of ousted Hasina and the wide respect of millions of Bangladeshis.
- Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman announced Monday the military would form an interim government, saying it was "time to stop the violence".
Business
Abu Dhabi to host Loop CEE travel fair for first time in Middle East
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Miral will host...
- The luxury travel fair is being organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Miral.
- Over the course of five days, each exhibitor will have the opportunity to conduct 62 appointments, each lasting for 15 minutes.