Muscat, Oman--Oman annual inflation rate reached 0.69 percent by the end of June 2023, according to the monthly consumer price survey data issued by the Oman's National Center for Statistics and Information. The inflation rate was driven by the increase in most of the main groups that make up the...

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA- The Argentine government said it will use a loan from Qatar amounting to $775 million to make a payment to the International Monetary Fund as it awaits approval of a disbursement from the IMF for $7.5 billion. The credit operation would allow Qatar to lend Argentina Special Drawing...

Dubai, UAE--Oil prices soared more than a dollar a barrel on Friday to record a sixth consecutive week of gains, after top producers Saudi Arabia and Russia extended supply cuts through September, adding to undersupply concerns. Brent crude futures rose $1.10, or 1.3%, to settle at $86.24 a barrel, while...

Life in Bahrain largely moves indoors during the summer months, with the ever-present Arctic blast of air-conditioning systems.

Users who registered with the Worldcoin cryptoproject in Kenya were offered 25 free Worldcoin tokens worth about 7,000 shillings ($45), drawing thousands of people to multiple sign-up points in the capital Nairobi. Interior minister Kithure Kindiki said authorities were "concerned" by the project and launched investigations to ascertain "the safety...

Abu Dhabi, UAE - Oman and Etihad Rail Company (OERC) signed a deal with Jindal Shadeed Iron & Steel (Jindal) to establish a sustainable end-to-end transport logistics solution between Jindal’s steel complex at Sohar Port and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), via the UAE-Oman Rail Network. The deal is a...

Dubai, UAE - Human rights groups have accused Saudi Arabia of detaining five relatives of a US citizen who pursued a commercial lawsuit in Pennsylvania against royals including Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The five detainees appeared briefly on Monday at the Specialized Criminal Court in Riyadh, which was established in...

Tehran, Iran - Iran's Revolutionary Guards launched naval drills on Wednesday near strategic Gulf islands controlled by Iran but claimed by the United Arab Emirates, state media said. The manoeuvres, which were being held mainly near Abu Musa island but also around Greater and Lesser Tunb, came two weeks after the...

Washington, United States - They are ubiquitous in the United States, controversial in Europe and coveted in South Asia. As heatwaves intensify across the world, air conditioning has taken center stage. For better or for worse, these power-hungry appliances are among the most common adaptations to a warming world. They have...

In the unbearable midday heat, a Libyan patrol near the border with Tunisia comes across a black African man collapsed on the reddish-brown desert sand. The man is one among hundreds of migrants arriving daily in Libya after being abandoned in the desert borderland by Tunisian security forces, according to...

The Safer, a floating storage and offloading facility, has been moored around 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the port of Hodeida since the 1980s. It has not been serviced since war broke out eight years ago between rebels, who control the capital Sanaa and the waters where the Safer is...

Jakarta, Indonesia-- Saudi Arabia and Indonesia have discussed defense and military cooperation in a meeting between Indonesian Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz.  According to SPA, the two officials discussed bilateral relations and military and defense cooperation, as well as other...

Doha, Qatar - Qatar Finance and Business Academy (QFBA) has signed a cooperation agreement with Education Above All Foundation to provide educational opportunities for underprivileged students of both genders. This will enable them to continue their higher education at QAFB in collaboration with Northumbria University, for both bachelor's and master's...

Singapore, Singapore - Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp on Tuesday urged football authorities to address the late closure of the transfer window in the Saudi Arabia league, fearing it may have a detrimental effect on European clubs. Speaking in Singapore on the eve of his team’s pre-season friendly against German champions Bayern...

European regulators in January had dismissed the previous legal basis -- "legitimate interest" -- Meta had used to justify gathering users' personal data for targeted advertising.

The closed-door meeting was one of the highest-level known gatherings of US and Afghan government officials in months, with the Washington team headed by Special Representative Thomas West and Kabul's by Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. The US statement did not, however, identify the Afghan representatives -- describing them only...

Amman, Jordan--Jordan’s economy has seen a 47.6 percent increase in investments in the first half of 2023, according to data released by the government. The kingdom's aggregate investments amounted to $844.8 million in the first six months of the year, up from $571 million over the same period in 2022....

DUBAI, UAE - Dubai Customs has, to date, processed 214 customs transactions worth US$38.7 million (AED142.2 million) under cover of the International Road Transport (TIR Carnet) system, the global customs transit procedure. Dubai Customs cleared the first transit consignment under the TIR carnet in 2020. Dubai Customs is a signatory...

Baghdad, Iraq--A fire at an electricity substation in southern Iraq triggered a nationwide power outage Saturday, authorities said, just as demand peaks amid the searing summer heat. Electricity is a sensitive political issue in Iraq as despite the country's huge oil reserves, its dilapidated power grid is incapable of meeting peak demand...

SHARJAH, UAE – The seventh edition of Al Dhaid Date Festival continues to captivate participants and visitors alike, in a celebration of heritage, competition and taste. Organized by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), the event has been hosted at Expo Al Dhaid and offers an enticing platform...

Tehran, Iran--Iranian authorities have banned the editor-in-chief of reformist daily Etemad "from any press activity for a year" over coverage of last year's nationwide protests, the newspaper reported on Saturday. The journalist, Behrooz Behzadi, was "accused of publishing false content", Etemad said, citing a decision by the prosecutor's office following a...

Amman, Jordan--Jordan's exports to the European Union (EU) shot up 23.4 per cent during the first five months of 2023 to $192 million compared to $155 million for the same period last year. According to Jordan News Agency (Petra), foreign trade data issued by the Department of Statistics indicated an...

Paris, France - Italy and Turkey have asked to jointly host the 2032 European Championship, UEFA announced on Friday. European football's governing body said it had "received a request" from the Italian (FIGC) and Turkish (TFF) football federations "to merge their individual bids into one joint bid". In 2021, UEFA initiated...

The battered country, where half a million died in the conflict, has also suffered the impacts of climate change, from searing summer heat to prolonged drought. The flow of the Euphrates -- one of the region's mighty streams, where the world's earliest civilizations flourished -- has been further impacted by...

The bill must also be approved by the senate before being ratified by King Abdullah II and published in the official gazette.

Manama, Bahrain-- for "exceeding the scope of the permit." The owner had exceeded the scope of the permit which was issued to him, in accordance with the provisions of the Real Estate Sector Regulation Law,  promulgated by Law No. 27 of 2017 and its amendments and executive edicts. In a statement issued...

In Spain, the thermometer has shot 15 degrees above normal summer season levels. Italy has also laboured under heatwaves with the island of Sardinia melting under 48 Celsius while, on Monday, Tunis endured 49C. Tourism plays a key role in the region's economies -- the sector accounts for nearly a...

On Saturday authorities said six migrants drowned off northern Morocco trying to reach Spain. Mohamed Zendour, of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH), told AFP a boat went down near Dakhla, in the disputed Western Sahara, on Monday, resulting in the latest fatalities.

Tehran, Iran - Iranian authorities have arrested several followers of the Bahai faith accused of spying for Tehran's arch-foe Israel, local media in the Islamic republic reported on Tuesday. The Bahais, Iran's largest non-Muslim religious minority, are not recognised by the state and often targeted over alleged ties to Israel --...

Violence linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this year has killed at least 201 Palestinians, 27 Israelis, one Ukrainian and one Italian. They include, on the Palestinian side, combatants as well civilians and, on the Israeli side, three members of the Arab minority.

Kuwait City, Kuwait--The Kuwait National Petroleum Company (KNPC) has exported the first shipment of 95 octane motor fuel and low-sulfur to European markets. Ghanim Al-Otaibi, the deputy CEO of Fuel Supply Operations and official spokesman for KNPC, said that the volume of the shipment that was exported from Mina Al-Ahmadi...

The painful PMI data comes as the European Central Bank is eyeing a further rate hike this week in its quest to tame inflation.

Osaka, Japan - Paris Saint-Germain have given Saudi club Al Hilal permission to speak to Kylian Mbappe after tabling a world record 300-million-euro ($333 million) bid, a source close to the negotiations told AFP on Monday. The Riyadh-based club has made a formal offer by letter, the source said, but such...

Authorities in Iraq -- a key conduit for the amphetamine-type drug -- regularly announce such operations in which large hauls of captagon are seized, often coming from Syria with which it shares 600-kilometre (370 miles) porous border.

Amman, Jordan--Jordan and Algeria are looking to boost trade and parliamentary relations to further enhance bilateral ties between the two countries. The discussion on boosting bilateral ties came up in a meeting between the head of the Jordanian-Algerian Parliamentary Committee Marwa Saoub and Algerian Ambassador to Jordan Abdulkarim Behha on...

On Sunday, around 300 people demonstrated in the region's second city Sulaimaniyah against the new sentence imposed on Sherwani. NGO Community Peacemaker Teams said Saturday Sherwani did not get a fair trial, but a Kurdistan government body, after reviewing the proceedings, said Sunday that powers of attorney between prisoners were...

DUBAI, UAE - In Dubai’s economic growth story, family businesses stand tall as architects of growth, innovation and value creation. Generating over 40 percent of the emirate’s GDP, the sector represents Dubai's indomitable spirit of enterprise. Now, as the emirate seeks to unlock a new phase of high-powered growth for...

Cairo, Egypt--Egypt and Indonesia will ramp up trade exchange as the two countries look to strengthen the overall ties. This came during the seventh round of political talks between Egypt and Indonesia which was held in Jakarta. Middle East News Agency (MENA) quoted the Egyptian Foreign Ministry as saying that...

Italy and the European Commission have sought to step up engagement with Tunisia, promising funding if the country undertakes to stem emigration from its territory. According to the UN, more than 100,000 migrants arrived by sea to Europe -- most to Italy -- in the first six months of 2023,...

The demonstrators marched through the Swiss city in opposition to the 1923 treaty, while organisers urged the international community to reconsider the agreement and its consequences for the Kurdish people. The demonstrators, who came from across Europe, gathered by Lake Geneva before marching uphill to the Palais de Rumine where...

NEW DELHI, INDIA – The UAE is committed to playing an active role in global efforts to shape a better future for societies and people through creating jobs, Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratization said. He said the UAE is also committed to enhancing human resources’...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia--Saudi Arabia will host the MENA Climate Week 2023 in Riyadh on October 8-12, in coordination with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC). The MENA week’s activities and events will be “Global Stocktake” to assess the progress made towards realizing the climate changes objectives outlined...

LEIDEN, NETHERLANDS - In a Dutch museum the sound of hip-hop blares out next to sarcophagi and statues, in what curators say is an attempt to show the influence of ancient Egypt on black musicians. A photo of superstar Beyonce dressed as Queen Nefertiti sits next to ancient busts, while a...

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - The Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced the establishment of Sawani Company to enable the growth of the camel farming industry in the Kingdom and actively contribute to its sustainable development. The company aims to be a leading producer of camel dairy products, supporting Saudi Arabia’s wider...

Parliament's law committee approved the proposal, which would limit the "reasonability" clause that allows the judiciary to strike down government decisions, in a marathon debate that ended late on Wednesday. After the panel's endorsement, "with nine Knesset members supporting and seven opposing" according to a statement from parliament, the bill...

Cairo, Egypt-- Egypt is looking to resume exports of liquefied natural gas exports by October, according to the country's petroleum minister Tarek El Molla. The North African country's production is used at home during the summer when temperatures are very high, but in the winter months the country has excess...

Amchît, Lebanon--In a pristine patch of Lebanon's north coast, a rare marine visitor has fueled opposition to a seafront development, in a country where unchecked construction has obstructed access to beaches. Residents of Amchit say a Mediterranean monk seal sometimes visits the area, taking refuge in the crystal-blue waters of a...

DUBAI, UAE – Participants at a webinar strongly supported governments providing incentives or regulatory frameworks to encourage greater participation in green finance initiatives. The webinar was organized by Dubai Chamber of Commerce, one of the three chambers operating under Dubai Chambers. Held by the chamber’s Center for Responsible Business as...

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the strikes also targeted positions of the Syrian army's elite Fourth Division near the airport in the town of Dimas. One Syrian pro-regime fighter and two foreign, Iran-affiliated combattants were killed in the strikes, the Observatory said.

The Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed in March, has further enhanced bilateral economic collaboration. The CEPA sets the stage for increased non-oil intra-trade, job creation, and a significant boost in UAE exports to Turkey.