Hong Kong - The Saudi Arabia-China Entrepreneurs Association (SCEA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC). The agreement was signed during the eighth Belt and Road Summit, a two-day event themed "Ten Years of Cooperation for Mutual Benefit," which saw participation from...

CAIRO, EGYPT - An Egyptian court has sentenced prominent dissident Hisham Kassem to six months in prison, his lawyer and political movement said, a move barring him from taking part in campaigning for next year's presidential election. It comes one day after Egypt's only candidate campaigning so far for the election,...

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL – The total global Jewish population rose to 15.7 million over the last year, while the number of those living in Israel hit 7.2 million, the Jewish Agency said. The agency’s data showed that the global Jewish population grew by some 100,000 over the past year. Israel...

Slamming the new sanctions imposed by the Western countries on the Islamic republic, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani termed them as "illegal and undiplomatic actions." The US, Britain and the EU announced new sanctions against many entities on the eve of the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini's death in...

Moscow, Russia--The UAE and Russia are looking to strengthen the bilateral cooperation in higher education, scientific research, space, and engineering between the two countries. In this regard, Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Education, and Valery Falkov, Minister of Science and Higher Education of Russia, held discussions in Moscow. Al...

Paris, France - Irish regulators on Friday handed out a 345-million-euro ($369-million) fine to TikTok over data breaches, part of a battle between the European Union and big tech firms on issues from tax avoidance and hate speech to data privacy and monopolistic practices. Here is a summary of the tussles...

TRIPOLI, LIBYA - Over a decade of bloody power battles in Libya have resulted in vital infrastructure falling into disrepair, culminating in the catastrophic death toll in Sunday's flood, politicians and analysts have said.   Wracked by conflict and division ever since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moamer...

The International Monetary Fund renewed its criticism of Lebanon for failing to enact reforms demanded by creditors in return for releasing billions of dollars in emergency bailout loans. “Lebanon has not undertaken the urgently needed reforms,” said the IMF's Ernesto Ramirez Rigo in a statement at the end of a...

Tehran, Iran - Iran has seized two oil tankers allegedly carrying smuggled fuel in the Gulf and arrested their crews, state television announced on Friday. "The Revolutionary Guards naval forces seized two ships over the course of the last two days," state television said, citing Mohammad-Sharif Shirali, a Guards commander. "The...

HANOI, VIETNAM  - A delegation of 80 Saudi businessmen, representing over 50 companies, and representatives from national specialized bodies and centers visited Zamil Steel Building Vietnam Co. (ZSBVC) here. The visit aims to explore investment opportunities, enhance trade, investment and industrial cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. During the visit,...

TEHRAN, IRAN  – The foreign minister of Qatar said the procedures for the transfer of Iran’s unfrozen foreign assets to Qatari banks will be finalized within the next week. Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani made the comments in a telephonic conversation with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian...

Houthis headed for Riyadh on an Omani plane, days after Saudi de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Oman's sultan on his way back from the G20 summit in India. Oman has played a role as mediators in the conflict. "Optimism exists regarding the mediation and the Omani...

SIDON, LEBANON - Palestinian fighters agreed a new ceasefire on Thursday after more than a week of deadly violence in Lebanon's largest refugee camp, two Palestinian officials told AFP. At least 17 people have been killed and around 100 wounded in the fighting in Ain al-Helweh refugee camp, on the outskirts...

BEIJING, CHINA – Chairman of China’s National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Zhao Leji held talks in Beijing with the speaker of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Saqr Ghubash. Zhao said that under the two countries' leaders, China and the UAE have continuously consolidated their...

"We condemn the decision of the Tunisian authorities to refuse entry for the delegation," the delegation, made up of five MEPs, said in a statement. "This conduct is unprecedented since (Tunisia's) democratic revolution in 2011", it said.

The Houthis' visit, expected within the coming days, will raise hopes of a breakthrough in the quagmire conflict that has left hundreds of thousands dead through direct and indirect causes such as famine. It comes five months after Saudi officials held talks in Sanaa, and as a UN-brokered ceasefire continues...

BEIRUT, LEBANON – The secretary general of the Union of Arab Chambers has called for diversified business models to facilitate the growing economic ties between Arab countries and China. In an interview ahead of the sixth China-Arab States Expo, which is scheduled to take place from September 21 to 24...

TEHRAN, IRAN - Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to Iran Abdullah bin Saud al-Anzi has said that relations between the two countries will be strong in all areas, including trade, economy and investment. Speaking to IRNA in Tehran, the Saudi envoy expressed satisfaction with the start of a new chapter in his...

The report published on Wednesday by the UK-based organization Save the Children said that nearly 400 children in Gaza, at least two children per day, were denied permits to travel to the West Bank and receive critical treatment in the first six months of 2023.

The Ain al-Helweh refugee camp, on the outskirts of the southern city of Sidon, has been rocked by violence since last week. The clashes have pitted members of the Fatah movement, which controls the camp, against hardline Islamist militants, excluding Hamas.

Moscow, Russia--Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un discussed the possibility of sending a North Korean into space, Russian news agencies quoted Putin's spokesman as saying. President Putin and the North Korean leader held talks on Wednesday at a spaceport in Russia's far east. "We talked about the fact that if the...

During more than a decade of war in Syria, Israel has launched hundreds of air strikes on its territory, targeting Iran-backed forces and Hezbollah fighters as well as Syrian army positions. Israel rarely comments on individual strikes it carries out on targets in Syria, but it has repeatedly said it would not allow Iran...

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-- The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) intends to deepen the process of dialogue with the international community in order to achieve achieve global security and stability, and resolve all conflicts through peaceful means. This was stated by the GCC Secretary General Jassem Mohamed Al-Budaiwi while participating in the...

Von der Leyen said the proposed AI group should be similar to the UN's IPCC panel, whose reports establish scientific consensus on climate change. "I believe we need a similar body for AI –- on the risks and its benefits for humanity. Yes, with scientists, but also tech companies and...

"We are confident that the Russian army and people will win a great victory in the just fight to punish evil groups who pursue hegemony, expansion, and ambition," Kim told Putin, raising a toast during an official dinner following one-on-one talks.

The airline is already under fire over soaring ticket prices, allegations it sold tickets for cancelled flights, and claims that it pressured the government to stop international rival Qatar Airways from offering more flights to Australia. The country's Federal Court ruled last year that Qantas's outsourcing of ground staff jobs...

Supporters of the powerful Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada Sadr set the Swedish embassy in Baghdad alight on the night of July 20, after a Stockholm-based Iraqi refugee desecrated the Koran in Stockholm. The internal security forces court in Baghdad on Tuesday found 18 police officers guilty of failing to carry...

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - Baghdad has asked Sweden to extradite Iraqi refugee Salwan Momika, who stoked international outrage by desecrating the Quran, he and his lawyer told AFP on Tuesday. "Iraq wants him extradited because he burnt a Quran outside the mosque (in Stockholm) in June," lawyer David Hall told AFP after...

Despite Israel's strong determination and increasing US mediation efforts, the establishment of diplomatic relations between Tel Aviv-Riyadh still face serious obstacles.

Around 100 million more people are able to access the internet since last year's census by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the UN agency for information and communication technologies.

The IEA's annual World Energy Outlook, due out next month, will show that "the world is on the cusp of a historic turning point," executive director Fatih Birol wrote in the FT.

The industry is responsible for 37 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions and growing urbanization is spurring the construction of new buildings made from carbon-heavy materials, especially concrete and steel.

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - The Red Cross appealed on Tuesday for more than $100 million to provide desperately needed assistance in Morocco, days after a powerful earthquake killed nearly 2,900 people. "We are seeking 100 million Swiss francs (US$112 million) to be able to deliver on the most pressing needs at this...

The 40-year-old explorer developed stomach problems while examining the depths of the Morca Cave, a remote complex of twisting underground passageways in southern Turkey's Taurus Mountains. The cave, Turkey's third deepest, reaches nearly 1.3 kilometers (0.8 miles) below ground at its lowest point.

A Russian news agency said that Kim's had crossed the border into the Primorsky region, with images showing a train with dark green carriages being pulled along a track by a Russian Railways locomotive. According to Kremlin spokesman, Kim will meet Putin in the Far East later this week. North...

President Joe Biden's administration has insisted that Iran will only be allowed to use the money to buy food, medicine and other humanitarian goods. Iran had generated the $6 billion in question by selling its oil to South Korea, a close US ally, which froze the funds after the US...

Burhan, the northeast African country's de facto leader since a 2021 coup, has been fighting the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo since April 15. His Asmara visit "affirmed Eritrea's support for Sudan and its territorial integrity," according to a statement from Sudan's ruling...

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - The second pilot of a helicopter that crashed off the coast of the United Arab Emirates has been found dead, authorities said Monday, days after he was declared missing. A first pilot was confirmed dead on Friday after the Bell 212 helicopter went down the night before...

An Israeli delegation attended a UNESCO meeting in Riyadh, marking the country's first publicly announced visit to Saudi Arabia as speculation grows about a potential normalization of ties. The five-member delegation arrived, an Israeli official told AFP, for the meeting to update UNESCO's world heritage list of cultural and historic...

TEHRAN, IRAN - The US Bureau of Statistics in its latest report said the trade between Iran and the United States in the first seven months of 2023 registered a 26 percent growth compared to the same period last year. The two countries traded over $31 million worth of non-oil...

"Climate change is pushing millions of people into famine. It is destroying hopes, opportunities, homes and lives. In recent months, urgent warnings have become lethal realities again and again all around the world," Turk said. "We do not need more warnings. The dystopian future is already here. We need urgent...

New Delhi, India--Brazil's leader withdrew on Monday his personal assurance that Russia President Vladimir Putin would not be arrested if he attends next year's G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, saying it would be up to the judiciary to decide. Putin missed this year's gathering in the Indian capital New...

The number of victims in Sunday's "Qouro market massacre" had risen to 46 by evening, said the local resistance committee, one of many groups that used to organize pro-democracy protests and now provide assistance during the war. The committee revised an earlier toll of 30 killed and added there were...

The International Federation for Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has warned that the next 24 to 48 hours will be critical for saving lives as the death toll keeps rising. At the same time, global aid and support has begun to pour into Morocco, led by the UAE, Qatar,...

NEW DELHI, INDIA – The Chief General Manager of the Reserve Bank of India's Department of Payment and Settlement Systems, said that the country is looking forward to more meaningful cooperation with the UAE in the field of digital payments. Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines...

PARIS, FRANCE - Rescuers in Morocco were scrambling on Sunday to reach people trapped under the rubble after a powerful earthquake that killed more than 2,000 people and decimated entire villages. Here's what we know so far:   Strongest-ever in Morocco A 6.8-magnitude quake, according to the US Geological Survey -...

JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA - The Board of Executive Directors (BED) of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) approved to finance projects worth US$800 million for improving the living conditions of the people in member countries and attaining Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). IsDB President Dr. Mohammed Al-Jasser said that the projects were...

Annual inflation in Egypt hit 39.7 percent in August, official figures showed, an all-time high for the country as it grapples with a punishing economic crisis. It comes after an unrelenting economic crisis that has seen the currency shed half its value against the US dollar since early last year.

G20 leaders have been deeply riven over the Ukraine war since Moscow's invasion last year, with Russian President Vladimir Putin skipping the summit entirely to dodge political opprobrium. Leaders of the Group of 20, which brings together Russia and China as well as some of Ukraine's most ardent backers, have...

More bad news for the wind energy sector, which is at the heart of the UK's plan to become a net zero carbon emitter by 2050, arrived this week when the government's auction of permits to build offshore wind farms failed due to a lack of takers. Russia's invasion of...