Turkey, Iran leaders at Cairo summit urge action to address Gaza, Syria crises
Cairo, Egypt -- The leaders of Turkey and Iran were in Egypt on Thursday for a summit of eight Muslim-majority countries,...
Geostrategy
TikTok under fire: Espionage claims, election influence campaigns and controversies
The platform faces accusations of espionage in the United States, while the European Union has launched an investigation into claims...
Geostrategy
Arts & Culture
Crypto boss Justin Sun eats banana art he bought for $6.2 million
Hong Kong, China -- Crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun on Friday fulfilled a promise he made after spending $6.2 million on an...
- Titled "Comedian", the conceptual work created by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan was sold at a Sotheby's auction in New York last week, with Sun among seven bidders.
- Sun this week also became an advisor to World Liberty Financial, a crypto initiative backed by US president-elect Donald Trump, following a $30 million investment.
Geostrategy
How are countries regulating the wild west of social media for minors?
Paris, France -- A handful of nations are trying to clean up social media with measures including robust privacy provisions and...
- Among the countries taking action is Australia, which on Thursday passed a landmark law banning children under 16 from social media.
- In June 2023 France passed a law requiring social media platforms to check the age of users and obtain parental consent for those under 15 years of age.
Geostrategy
OPEC+ postpones meeting amid signs of ‘discord’ on output plans
The 22-member OPEC+ group led by Saudi Arabia and Russia was due to decide on its 2025 output policy at...
- An OPEC spokesman told AFP that the December meeting will be held online.
- In a bid to boost crude prices, eight OPEC+ members announced earlier this month they were extending supply cuts until the end of December.
Interview
EVs just the start, urban mobility needs a holistic approach
Cities must adopt EVs alongside shared transport, robust infrastructure, clean energy, and inclusivity, says Jamie Wylie, an urban mobility expert.
- One of the biggest hurdles to EV adoption is ensuring a network of accessible, reliable charging stations.
- According to the Global EV Outlook 2024, public charging infrastructure is expected to increase sixfold by 2035, with a focus on cities.
Business
Adani Group says it lost nearly $55 billion as US bribery charges sparked rout
The November 20 bombshell indictment in New York accused billionaire industrialist founder Gautam Adani and multiple subordinates of deliberately misleading...
- Gautam Adani, 62, is suspected of having participated in the $250 million scheme in bribes to secure lucrative government contracts.
- The conglomerate saw $150 billion wiped from its market value in 2023 after a report by short-seller Hindenburg Research accused it of "brazen" corporate fraud.
Business
Saudi Arabia sets Guinness record for largest food cluster
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia has set a Guinness World Record for the largest food cluster in the world...
- Jeddah Food Cluster, which spans over 11 million square meters, has set a new global benchmark.
- MODON announced ambitious plans for the cluster, targeting investments of up to SAR20 billion and creating 43,000 job opportunities by 2035.
Geostrategy
As AI gets real, slow and steady wins the race
Companies explore AI for coding, healthcare, law, and design—yet challenges like regulation, accuracy, and cost impede widespread adoption.
- The tech industry presents a more aggressive adoption curve. Google reports that 25 percent of its coding is now handled by generative AI.
- Athey, an economist of the tech industry, expressed worry about regions where a core profession such as call centers risked being swept away by AI.
Business
Roche to buy Poseida Therapeutics
The $1.5 billion deal is due to close in early 2025.
- The boards of directors of both companies unanimously approved the deal for Poseida, whose shares had closed on Monday at $2.73.
- Poseida Therapeutics' portfolio notably includes customized cell therapies for hematological cancers, solid tumors and auto-immune diseases.
Business
Saudi Arabia’s non-oil exports surge by nearly 23% in Sept 2024
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia's non-oil exports surged by 22.8 percent in September, according to a report by the...
- The September 2024 International Trade Report said national non-oil exports, excluding re-exports, rose by 11.6 percent.
- The report also indicated a 14.9 percent decline in merchandise exports in September 2024 compared to September 2023.
Geostrategy
Iran denies involvement as UAE arrests three people in rabbi killing case
"This murder was carried out in the UAE. The murder of an Israeli citizen and a Chabad emissary, is an...
- Kogan was a former Israeli army soldier, who served in Israel's Givati Brigade, which is infamous for carrying out violent attacks against Palestinians
- The UAE, which normalized relations with Israel in 2020 alongside other countries including Bahrain and Morocco, has confirmed the arrest of perpetrators
Turkey, Iran leaders at Cairo summit urge action to address Gaza, Syria crises
Cairo, Egypt -- The leaders of Turkey and Iran were in Egypt on Thursday for a summit of eight Muslim-majority countries,...
Geostrategy
Company News
Boeing to boost 787 production
Business
Latest News
Crunch time for Saudi-hosted drought, desertification talks
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Landmark talks on desertification are set to conclude in Saudi Arabia this week amid doubts that pledged funds...
Geostrategy
Air passenger numbers to top five billion for the first time in 2025: IATA
Geneva, Switzerland -- Air passenger numbers are forecast to top five billion for the first time next year and the sector's...
Business
UAE to introduce 15% tax rate on corporate profit from Jan 2025
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- The United Arab Emirates, home to the regional headquarters of numerous multinational companies, said Monday it...
Business
Most Read
Assad’s fall reshapes Middle East politics, redefining power dynamics across the region
The Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels shocked the world by swiftly seizing Aleppo and Damascus, overshadowing global focus on the...
- Assad had for nearly 14 years held off an uprising that many believed had been exhausted, but his downfall followed a series of battlefield convulsions for other allies of Iran
- Israel has all but decapitated the Hezbollah leadership in Lebanon since September, while the killing of Hamas figureheads has dealt major blows to Assad's key backer Tehran
Geostrategy
UK Prime Minister to talk trade, Middle East during Gulf visit
London, United Kingdom -- Britain's leader Keir Starmer makes his first trip to the Gulf as prime minister from Sunday, seeking...
- Starmer will first visit the United Arab Emirates and then travel to Saudi Arabia, before stopping off in Cyprus on his way back to London on Tuesday.
- Starmer's trip comes after Britain last week rolled out the diplomatic red carpet for Qatar's emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani who enjoyed a state visit to the UK.
Geostrategy
Trump touts tariffs, mass deportations and NATO skepticism
In his first formal television interview -- and just six weeks before he takes office -- Trump again signaled that...
- He also stressed that his campaign promises of huge tariffs -- including against top US trading partners Canada, Mexico and China -- would be enacted.
- As to whether Americans would see higher prices as a result of those tariffs, Trump said that "I can't guarantee anything. I can't guarantee tomorrow."