Trump at Davos demands ‘immediate’ Greenland talks but rules out force
Trump's quest to take control of Greenland, which he said was needed for national and international security, dominated his address...
Geostrategy
UAE is converting talent, trust, and technology into a Knowledge Nation
Dr. Lolowa AlMarzooqi, Associate Vice Provost at New York University Abu Dhabi, tells TRENDS that the UAE’s real competitive edge...
Interview
Business
Video gamers set for world’s biggest trade show, likely to generate $180bn
Paris, France -- The world's largest video game trade show, Gamescom, opens its doors on Tuesday in Germany at a sensitive...
- Organizers expect the event, which runs until Sunday in the western city of Cologne, to welcome more than 300,000 people.
- The industry is expected to generate more than $180 billion in revenue this year and attract more than 3.4 billion players, according to the Newzoo analyst firm.
Geostrategy
Not facing a deal but imposition of American diktats: Hamas
"To say that we are getting close to a deal is an illusion," Hamas political bureau member Sami Abu Zuhri...
- As efforts towards a truce continued, so did the killing in Gaza and Lebanon. An Israeli air strike in Lebanon killed 10 Syrians, including a woman and her two children.
- In Gaza, the civil defense authority said an Israeli air strike killed 15 people from a single Palestinian family, taking Gaza death toll to 40,047.
Geostrategy
United Nations calls Israeli settler attack in West Bank ‘horrific’
Geneva, Switzerland -- The United Nations on Friday said a deadly Israeli settler attack on a Palestinian village in the occupied...
- "There are even reports of weapons being distributed to the settlers. So there is clearly a state responsibility in this regard." said UN HR office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani.
- "This really is the crux of the matter: the impunity that the perpetrators of such grave violations have been enjoying," she said.
Business
Gold hits record high, oil prices slide on weak Chinese demand
Expectations of US interest rate cuts weakened the dollar, while oil prices tumbled as weak Chinese demand expectations offset turmoil...
- Oil prices slumped more than 1.5 percent. "The significant price recovery on the oil market has run out of steam in recent days," said Commerzbank analyst Carsten Fritsch.
- "For one thing, the feared retaliatory strike by Iran (on Israel) has so far failed to materialize, which has probably favored a partial pricing out of the risk premium," he said.
Business
UAE, Saudi Arabia lead Middle East IPO surge in second quarter
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The IPO market in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region remained resilient during the...
- A total of 14 IPOs recorded total proceeds of US$2.64 billion, up 45.3 percent compared to the same period last year.
- The UAE’s Alef Education Consultancy LLC and Spinneys 1961 Holding Plc accounted for 33.8 percent of the region’s total proceeds for the quarter.
Geostrategy
UN, EU and US decry extremist Israeli minister’s prayer at Al-Aqsa
"We are against any efforts to change the status quo within the holy sites," said deputy spokesman Farhan Haq. "Al-Aqsa...
- The EU strongly condemned "the provocations by Israeli Min. Ben Gvir who, during his visit to the Holy Sites, advocated for the violation of the status quo".
- The United States said Ben Gvir had hurt efforts for talks towards a Gaza ceasefire, adding the US stands for historic status quo.
Geostrategy
OPEC says Chinese economy pulling down oil demand
Paris, France -- Uncertainty about Chinese economic growth is weighing on global oil demand this year, OPEC said on Monday, leading...
- "The world oil demand growth forecast for 2024 is revised down slightly by 135,00 barrels a day from the previous month’s assessment," OPEC said.
- OPEC blamed the declining prices on "concerns about China's economic performance" as well "as easing geopolitical risk premiums and mixed economic indicators."
Geostrategy
Calls for Gaza truce grow, Hamas wants Biden plan implemented
Biden had said the first phase of the proposed roadmap would include a "full and complete ceasefire" lasting six weeks,...
- The second phase would see the remaining living hostages released as the warring sides negotiate "a permanent end to hostilities", followed by "a major reconstruction plan for Gaza
- Israel has accepted the invitation from the United States, Qatar and Egypt to send negotiators for talks planned for Thursday.
Business
ADQ to invest $1bn in Sotheby’s
ADQ will acquire newly issued shares of Sotheby’s to support its growth.
- ADQ’s said the deal reflects its strategic commitment to pursuing value-accretive investment opportunities that contribute to Abu Dhabi's economic diversification.
- Patrick Drahi, who acquired Sotheby’s in 2019, will also invest additional capital alongside ADQ and remain Sotheby’s majority owner.
Geostrategy
‘Children torn apart’: Israel strike rains hell on Gaza dawn prayers
Dawn prayers were shattered by the early morning triple air strike from Israeli warplanes, which gutted Al-Tabieen religious school and...
- "Israel is genociding the Palestinians one neighborhood at the time, one hospital at the time, one school at the time," said UN Rapporteur Francesca Albanese.
- In a report issued in March, Albanese said there were "reasonable grounds" to determine that Israel had committed several acts of "genocide" in its war in Gaza.
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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
Trump at Davos demands ‘immediate’ Greenland talks but rules out force
Trump's quest to take control of Greenland, which he said was needed for national and international security, dominated his address...
Geostrategy
Company News
ADNOC Gas awards contracts
Business
Latest News
Is Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Saudi Arabia? Cryptic post fuels speculation
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Questions swirled over Cristiano Ronaldo's future in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, hours after the superstar indicated...
Arts & Culture
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
Microsoft strikes deal with Elon Musk to host Grok AI
Seattle, United States - Microsoft on Monday said its business cloud servers will now host technology from xAI, days after...
Science
Most Read
Geostrategy
US announces new sanctions against Iran amid talks
The United States announced new sanctions Monday against Iran over its nuclear program, despite ongoing negotiations between the two countries...
- The latest sanctions target three Iranian citizens and an Iranian entity with links to Tehran's Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research,
- The discussions began last month and aim to seal a new accord that would prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon. Tehran denies seeking to build one
India and Pakistan rivalry boils after Kashmir attack
India took a raft of punitive diplomatic measures against arch-rival Pakistan on Wednesday, accusing Islamabad of supporting "cross-border terrorism" after...
- India's measures, including the suspension of a key water-sharing treating and closure of the main land border crossing
- The killings have shocked New Delhi, as they marked a dramatic shift targeting civilians and the area's vital tourism industry
Geostrategy
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...
- Ronen Bar's accusations, in a sworn statement to the Supreme Court, are the latest twist in a legal and political saga pitting him against Netanyahu
- Bar's dismissal, announced by the government last month but frozen by the court, triggered mass protests