"We as South Africans sense, see, hear and feel to our core the inhumane discriminatory policies and practices of the Israeli regime as an even more extreme form of the apartheid that was institutionalized against black people in my country," said Vusimuzi Madonsela, South Africa's ambassador to the Netherlands, where...

The resolution, which Algeria had been working on for three weeks, had demanded "an immediate humanitarian ceasefire that must be respected by all parties." "Proceeding with a vote today was wishful and irresponsible... we cannot support a resolution that would put sensitive negotiations in jeopardy," said Washington's ambassador to the...

“This economy merges national skills and technological solutions, creating an advanced model that contributes to achieving the goals of the national strategy for the digital economy. This strategy aims to significantly increase the contribution of the digital economy to the non-oil GDP over the next decade,” he adds.

Lula's remarks on Sunday sparked outcry in Israel after the Brazilian leader said the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip "isn't a war, it's a genocide" and compared it to "when Hitler decided to kill the Jews". On Sunday, the head of Yad Vashem, Dani Dayan, said that Lula's remarks...

Overall, Israel's GDP grew by 2.0 percent in 2023, short of the 2.3 percent projection made by the Bank of Israel after the war's outbreak in October, the Central Bureau of Statistics figures showed.

"The Palestinians have endured colonialism and apartheid... There are those who are enraged by these words. They should be enraged by the reality we are suffering," Al-Maliki said. The ICJ is holding hearings all week on the legal implications of Israel's occupation since 1967, with an unprecedented 52 countries expected...

Technology investment and corporate partnerships can play a crucial role in driving significant emission reduction, Hans Kobler of Energy Impact Partners tells TRENDS.

“This is a genuine milestone for our nation. The expansion of foreign trade is a pillar of the UAE’s economic strategy, a driving force of growth and diversification, and a catalyst for sectors that focus on innovation, knowledge, and advanced technology,” he adds, hailing the results as “particularly notable".

Climate finance plays a critical role in protecting Virunga National Park through innovative solutions like hydroelectric energy, director Emmanuel de Merode tells TRENDS.

Achieving Zero Trust Data Resilience is not an overnight task but a journey requiring organizational alignment, continuous adaptation, and the implementation of robust backup and recovery practices to safeguard against modern cyber threats, adds Russell, the Vice President, Enterprise Strategy at Veeam.

Two emerging construction processes gaining popularity, especially in the MENA region, are 3D printing of concrete structures and offsite construction. These methodologies significantly reduce material waste, enhance construction quality, offer more controlled and safer work environments, and optimize project timelines, he adds.

"The recognition of a Palestinian state is not a taboo for France," he said at a joint press conference in Paris with Jordan's King Abdullah II. Macron also repeated a warning against Israel attacking the city of Rafah, the southernmost point in the besieged and bombarded Palestinian territory of Gaza.

Palestinian Territories -- The health ministry in Gaza said five patients died Friday due to lack of oxygen at one of the war-torn Palestinian territory's few operating hospitals that had been raided by Israeli forces. "A fifth patient at Nasser hospital was martyred as a result of the stopping of...

The raid came after days of intense fighting between troops and Hamas around the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis -- one of the largest medical sites in southern Gaza, and one of the few hospitals that are still operational in the territory. The health ministry in Gaza reported that thousands...

"The immense loss suffered by Palestinian journalists in this war will have long-term impacts for journalism not just in the Palestinian territories but for the region and beyond. Every journalist killed is a further blow to our understanding of the world." CPJ has previously attacked what it calls "persecution" of...

While love, loneliness, and excitement are easily exploitable emotions, any factor impacting someone’s emotional state can make them a target. Recently, criminals in the region have exploited the vulnerabilities of the unemployed, with an uptick in those posing as fake job recruiters or placing fraudulent ads online, he adds.

In a telephone call that saw Macron toughen his tone, the French leader expressed France's "firm opposition" to an Israeli offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, saying it "could only lead to a humanitarian disaster of a new magnitude" and create a new risk of regional escalation, according...

"A woman was killed along with her child and her stepchild in a strike that targeted Sawwaneh," while a fourth civilian was killed in a strike on a building in Adshit, the security source told AFP. Nine other people were wounded in the strikes on south Lebanon, the source added.

"The CFO's role as an ESG guardian and promoter varies significantly across organizations. CFOs with limited ESG experience should deepen their understanding by connecting with different business areas to see how sustainability affects each function and by engaging with investors on the subject," she adds.

CIA director William Burns met with Mossad chief David Barnea in Cairo for a new round of talks on a Qatari-brokered plan to temporarily halt fighting in exchange for Hamas freeing hostages. The two intelligence chiefs were joined by Qatar's prime minister and Egyptian officials, Egyptian media reported -- two...

"We've collaborated closely with the World Governments Summit for over a decade. It presents a vital opportunity to foster innovative thinking and concentrate on best practices. Indeed, each year, it allows us to focus keenly on the current challenges and opportunities," he adds.

Despite maintaining its ties with Israel since the Israel-Hamas war began in October, the UAE has been at pains to express solidarity with Palestinians as anger mounted in the Arab world over the conflict.

Talks have been underway for weeks to secure a second truce in the four-month war, which would see more hostages freed in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

The Appeals Court in The Hague sided with a group of human rights organizations that argued the parts contributed to violations of law by Israel in its war with Hamas.

UN human rights chief Volker Turk urged world powers to "restrain rather than enable" as fears of a looming ground incursion grew among more than one million Palestinians trapped in the territory's far south. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to send ground troops into the crowded Rafah area as...

AI is playing a critical role across the biomedical spectrum, from accelerating drug discovery to improving care delivery systems, says Dr Alex Zhavoronkov of Insilico Medicine.

He highlights the UAE's strategic priorities, including the future of fiscal policy, the application of sustainable fiscal policies to foster financial empowerment, trust, and transparency, shaping the future, sustainable development, innovation, boosting economic growth, and fostering competitive business environments.

From Saudi Arabia to the UAE and Qatar to Kuwait, governments across the region compete to jumpstart industrial sector but doubts remain whether it can be pulled off.

Foreign governments, including Israel's key ally the United States, and aid groups have voiced deep concern over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's vow to extend operations. Rafah, on the border with Egypt, has remained the last refuge for Palestinians fleeing Israel's relentless bombardment elsewhere in the Gaza Strip.

In late 2020, Morocco established diplomatic ties with Israel under the Abraham Accords brokered by the United States which saw similar moves by the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. As part of the deal, Rabat received Washington's recognition of its claim to sovereignty over the disputed territory of Western Sahara.

China's GDP is expected to grow 5 percent this year as the country has significantly recovered from COVID-19, Xiaoyan Zhang of Tsinghua University tells TRENDS.

Emphasizing the importance of holding meetings and mutual visits, Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohamed Al-Thani notes this would bolster cooperation between both parties, thereby developing the trade volume and mutual investments of the two countries, enhancing the bilateral relations.

There is a need to align AI goals between public and private sectors to balance cost reduction with job creation and enhancement, Dr. Arturo Bris of IMD tells TRENDS.

The number of checkpoints and barriers in the Palestinian territory has greatly increased since October 7, adding hours to already lengthy commutes and forcing residents to either wait at the checkpoints or take long detours. Largely unaffected are the 490,000 Israelis living across the West Bank in settlements -- considered...

She emphasizes the significant impact of technology on the healthcare sector and highlighted the 'Let's Talk Innovation' Symposium's focus on critical topics such as AI, supply chain management, and their role in driving innovation at the event aimed at including the perspectives of young people to ensure the participation of...

"Through effective and constructive collaboration with various local and international partners, we have succeeded in establishing an integrated energy transition system that embraces innovation as its core approach," he adds, highlighting the importance of investing in the youth and developing their skills, as they will play a key role in...

"There's a lot of work to be done, but we are very much focused on doing that work and hopefully being able to resume the release of hostages that was interrupted" after a week-long truce in November, he said. The US top envoy, on his fifth Middle East tour since...

The region is on a growth track due to modernization, education, and broad integration with global economies, Joshua Friedman of Canyon Partners tells TRENDS.

"(US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome) Powell's focus on verifying inflation's trajectory is in line with the central bank's dual mandate of ensuring price stability and maximum sustainable employment. The bond market's reaction, with rising yields, signifies a shift in expectations about the inflationary landscape and the Fed's anticipated response," he...

Industries are increasingly investing in transformative technologies, including cybersecurity, sustainable solutions and AI, Sapthagiri Chapalapalli tells TRENDS in an interview.

"Numerous opportunities exist in sustainable investments, especially in sectors like building systems, renewable energy, water, food and agriculture, shipping, among others. Additionally, there's a noticeable increase in financing for sustainable investments from high-net-worth individuals, family businesses, and institutional funds globally," she adds.

US politics need reform, strategic foresight, and principled governance to address domestic and global challenges, says noted American financier Anthony Scaramucci.

For EU leaders, it is their way or the highway as the wealthy, powerful bloc seeks to tame opposition and browbeat defiant countries and individuals into submission.

The UAE's top diplomat reiterated the UAE's steadfast support for UNRWA, emphasizing that in light of current challenges, sustaining its humanitarian efforts has become an urgent priority. "This requires collective efforts from the international community to support the agency and all UN efforts to provide relief to the Palestinian people,"...

GCC cities such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Riyadh showcase dynamic growth, rivalling global metropolises, says Julien Hawari, CEO & Founder of Special Edition and Million.

Africa is moving away from stereotypes of poverty and incapacity to a narrative of ability and competitiveness, Sithembile Ntombela maNdaba, the CEO of Brand South Africa, tells TRENDS.

Strategic initiatives and a focus on domestic tourism help Saudi Arabia's tourism sector experience unprecedented growth, positioning it as a future global travel leader.

Hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have fled south to Rafah since the outbreak of the war, with the former city of 200,000 now housing more than half of Gaza's two million-plus population, a WHO representative said Friday. The United Nations' humanitarian agency OCHA said it was deeply concerned about...

“Culture and arts are an integral part of building communities and a key pillar of Ras Al Khaimah’s sustainable development,” adds Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi as he opened the 12th edition of Ras Al Khaimah Art Festival, organized by Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Public...

The GCC -- with countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar -- plays an important role in the energy transition, Dr. Atul Arya of S&P's Global tells TRENDS.