Made-for-TV pageantry as Trump brings Putin in from cold
Anchorage, United States - Stepping foot on Western soil for the first time since he ordered the invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin basked in choreographed pageantry courtesy of Donald Trump -- but was also confronted by signs of US power. In made-for-television images, Putin and Trump each flew in their...
Putin visits Mariupol in occupied Ukraine territory, his first visit invasion
Just hours after Putin visited Crimea to mark the ninth anniversary of the peninsula's annexation, video distributed by the Kremlin showed him landing by helicopter in Mariupol, the port city that Moscow captured after a long siege last spring. The Russian leader took a tour of the city and was...Ukraine grain deal extended, says Turkey’s President
Turkey announced the extension of a deal that has allowed exports of Ukrainian grain to resume following Russia's invasion, but it was unclear if it had been prolonged for 60 or 120 days. Russia said it had agreed to a 60-day extension, while Ukraine's infrastructure minister said the deal had...EU unveils plans to scale up net-zero technology
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM- The European Commission proposed the Net-Zero Industry Act to scale up manufacturing of clean technologies in the EU and make sure the Union is well-equipped for the clean-energy transition, local media reports said.This initiative was announced by President Ursula von der Leyen as a part of the Green...Iran-US nuclear talks dead for now, says acclaimed scholar
The degree of anger and sympathy for the protesters, particularly among the American and European public, makes it near impossible to reach a nuclear deal, believes Vali Reza Nasr.Inditex hits record profit
Zara owner is the world's biggest fashion retailer.Grain deal talks ongoing after Russian proposal, says UN
Consultations to prolong Ukrainian grain exports deal are continuing, the UN said, after a Russian proposal for just a 60-day extension cast doubt over its fate. "The United Nations will do everything possible to preserve the integrity of the agreement and ensure its continuity," Jens Laerke, spokesman for the United...Oil prices fall 2% as Silicon Valley Bank demise rattles markets
New York, United States - Oil prices fell over 2 percent in volatile trading on Monday as the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank roiled equities markets and raised fears of a fresh financial crisis, but a recovery in Chinese demand provided support, Reuters reported.Brent crude futures settled down $2.01, or...‘US role in Middle East is stabilizing but diminishing’
The world is facing a new environment where powerful global leaders and corporate leaders are creating uncertainty and risk, Eurasia Group chief Ian Bremmer tells TRENDS.Russia agrees to grain export deal extension for 60 days
Russia has agreed to extend the Ukraine grain export deal following talks with the United Nations - but only for a further 60 days. Moscow said it wanted to see "tangible progress" on a parallel agreement on Russian exports before the deal comes up for renewal again.ADNOC Gas gains US$9.2bn on first day after IPO
Shares in ADNOC Gas were heavily oversubscribed even after the offering was expanded from 4.0 to 5.0 percent of issued share capital in response to strong interest.UAE, Ukraine keen on parliamentary, economic ties
MANAMA, BAHRAIN - Speaker of the UAE Federal National Council Saqr Ghobash discussed ways to enhance cooperation with First Deputy Chairman of Ukraine Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) Oleksandr Kornienko on the sidelines of the 146th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union held here.During the meeting, they discussed parliamentary cooperation between the two...In Israel, Pentagon chief raises Iran, Ukraine concerns amid judicial reform stir
Austin's talks with his hosts were centred on the changing geopolitics of the region, which is currently roiled by rising threat from Iran and the ongoing war in Ukraine.Grain deal not being implemented properly, says Russia
MOSCOW, RUSSIA - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday that extending a deal that allowed grain exports from Ukraine to resume was becoming "complicated" as he claimed it was not being properly implemented.Russia's military intervention last February saw Ukraine's Black Sea ports blocked by warships until a deal last summer...Turkey’s opposition scrambles to select consensus candidate
Analysts view the opposition's failure to put aside their differences just two months before the vote as one of the main factors working in Erdogan's favour. Erdogan's public approval plunged after he unleashed an unusual economic experiment in late 2021 that tried to fight inflation by drastically cutting interest rates.Norway earns record oil, gas revenue after Ukraine war prices rise
Norway earned 1.5 trillion kroner ($140 billion) in revenues from oil and gas, according to estimates by Statistics Norway (SSB). It was "by far the highest ever recorded in the statistics" and almost three times the 498 billion kroner earned in 2021, according to SSB.More interest rate hikes may be needed, says ECB’s Lagarde
FRANKFURT, GERMANY - More interest rate increases may be needed beyond the one coming later this month, European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde said Thursday, as inflation in the eurozone remains stubbornly high."At this point in time, it's possible that we continue on that path," Lagarde told Spain's Antena 3 television...Poor nations to call for help at Qatar summit
The Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) was twice postponed because of coronavirus. A plan of action was agreed at the UN general assembly last year, and no major cash pledges are expected at the Qatar meeting. The presidents will be there - with thousands of...High vegetable prices, inflation hit Moroccans ahead of Ramadan
The situation has been made worse by a crisis facing the agricultural sector, which makes up 14 percent of gross domestic product. The worst drought in four decades has been compounded in recent weeks by a snap of unusually cold weather. The government has boosted subsidies on some basic products...Super-rich Russians lift UAE property market to record heights
There might be a global slowdown in the property market, but thanks to Russian buyers, the UAE, in contrast, has seen a stunning growth in the sector.Commodities hurt by a crisis of confidence
Inflationary pressures, meanwhile, have eased by less than expected. Continued strength in the numbers has forced the Fed to turn up the hawkish rhetoric, and the market has responded by raising the expected terminal Fed funds rate while at the same time sending bond yields and the dollar higher, he...Kremlin, on China plan, says no conditions for peace ‘at the moment’ in Ukraine
The Russian foreign ministry on Friday thanked Chinese efforts but said that any settlement of the conflict needed to recognise Russia's control over four Ukrainian regions. Russia claims to have annexed the regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson but never fully controlled them. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his...NATO taking part in war by arming Ukraine, says Putin
Putin was speaking on the sidelines of a patriotic concert in Moscow on Thursday on the eve of the first anniversary of the start of Russia's full-scale offensive in Ukraine.Poor and war-weary Yemenis cut trees for fuel, cash
A more than eight-year-long war between Saudi-backed government forces and pro-Iran Houthi rebels has devastated Yemen, the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula. The war has caused hundreds of thousands of deaths both directly and indirectly, and pushed the nation to the brink of famine.Germany’s Scholz arrives in India to expand business ties
New Delhi, India--German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived in India on Saturday seeking to deepen business ties between the world's number four and five economies and push for progress on an EU trade deal despite differences over Ukraine."We want to further strengthen our bilateral relationship with India and our cooperation on global...Eni posts record profit in 2022
Sales jumped 73 percent to 132.2 billion euros.G7 mulls more sanctions on Russia ahead of invasion anniversary
A senior US official said last week that the United States and its G7 allies planned to unveil "a big new package of sanctions" around the February 24 anniversary, including measures to crack down on the evasion of existing sanctions.Dubai airport arrivals double in 2022 as more Russians pour in
The UAE has maintained a neutral stance towards Russia's war in Ukraine, which is nearing its one-year anniversary. The Gulf nation has emerged as a top destination for rich Russian emigres fleeing the impact of Western sanctions.Blinken reaches Turkey to support quake-hit country
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Turkey to show support to the earthquake-hit country and NATO ally which has had tumultuous ties with Washington. His visit comes after a 7.8-magnitude tremor hit southeastern Turkey and northern Syria killing nearly 45,000 people but his trip had been planned before...Ukraine and IMF reach deal paving way for ‘full-fledged’ loan
Washington, United States--The IMF said Friday it has reached a staff-level agreement with Ukrainian authorities that opens doors to a full-fledged loan, which would also support the country's bid to join the European Union.Ukraine was seen to have "strong" performance under a four-month program with the International Monetary Fund, meeting its...Centrica 2022 profit US$4bn
Firm's profit rose due to gas and crude oil prices spike.Airbus earns record net profit
The company delivered 661 aircraft last year.Private sector has potential to support govts, global organisations, says UNICEF Director
“Large numbers of boys and girls being out of school since the pandemic, failing to resuming their education as quickly as we want is a huge issue for UNICEF. We want them in a journey from learning to earning as soon as possible so that they can have their bright...Israel says it will legalise nine West Bank settlements
Netanyahu said earlier Sunday during a meeting of his government he wanted to "strengthen settlements", which are illegal under international law. The measures apply to Israeli Arabs as well as to Palestinians with resident status in east Jerusalem, part of the city annexed by Israel. The measures apply to Israeli...UAE leads as ease in doing business makes prospects bright for small startups, self-employed across GCC
The market for small startups and self-employed entrepreneurs will boom due to lower startup cost amidst policy reforms and more incubators and shared offices, says an expert.IEA calls special meeting as gas crisis ‘not over’
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said the measures taken following Russia's invasion of Ukraine helped European nations whether Russia cutting off most of its gas supplies. The IEA said the meeting is expected to identify and endorse measures to improve the balance between gas supply and demand.Saab 2022 net profit at $211m
Revenue rose as countries boost military spending.BP posts loss on Russia exit
The company posted annual loss of $2.5 billion.Israel PM in France, hopes to gain support on Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold talks with French President Emmanuel Macron hoping to gain support against Iran's nuclear program. Israel's Paris embassy said the pair would discuss "the international effort to stop the Iranian nuclear program". The prime minister has also said Israel is considering sending military aid...No objection to Russia joining Asian football body: Saudi Arabia
Speaking at the AFC Congress in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia's Sports Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal said he didn't see a problem with Russia shifting allegiances to Asia.OPEC+ committee recommends to stay course on oil ouput cuts
Vienna, Austria--A committee of major oil producers recommended Wednesday to maintain the cartel's current reduced output strategy, as the global economic outlook remains uncertain and the war in Ukraine drags on.The 13 members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) led by Riyadh and their 10 allies led by...ExxonMobil posts bumper profits
The oil company's profits during Q4 stood at $12.8bn.Canadian Prime Minister holds talks with Jordanian king
The two countries reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering international security and stability and to continue to work together to overcome regional and global challenges.Europe extends sanctions against Russia for six more months
They have been routinely extended for six-month periods over the past eight years. The EU has imposed nine rounds of sanctions on Moscow since it launched a major cross-border offensive last year. Some eastern European nations had sought to extend the sanctions by one year this time.Libya signs US$8bn deal with Italy to develop offshore sites
Looking to develop offshore hydrocarbon sites, Libya's National Oil Corporation has signed an $8-billion deal with Italian energy company ENI. The deal is expected to be inked on Saturday at an official ceremony. The development of the offshore sites is hoped to produce 850 million cubic feet of gas per...Iran vows to address high inflation, currency devaluation
Iran's economy has been subject to increasing pressure with fresh sanctions imposed by Western countries over the authorities response to protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini.European economy to perform better than expected, says Lagarde
The rhetoric has shifted from talk of a recession in the 20-nation club to "a small contraction", she said, with some major economies like Germany possibly dodging a contraction altogether.Scholz pledges support for Ukraine, but silent on battle tanks
Despite pressure on him to authorize delivery of tanks to Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged support to the war-scarred country for "as long as necessary". Germany's allies in Europe have implored the country to agree to the export of Leopard heavy tanks to help Ukraine repel Russia's invasion.Energy security key driver of climate investments
The US Inflation Reduction Act signed by President Biden last year, is the most significant climate pact since the Paris Agreement in 2015, says IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.Egypt’s economic turmoil squeezes struggling middle class
Steve Hanke, an economist at Johns Hopkins University who measures inflation based on purchasing power parity and factoring in black market exchange rates, estimated Egypt's real inflation rate at 101 percent. The economy, dominated by state and military-owned enterprises, had already struggled after successive blows, from years of political unrest...Europe will return to Russian gas, says Qatar energy minister
ABU DHABI, UAE - European countries will eventually resume higher imports of Russian gas, Qatar's energy minister and gas company CEO predicted on Saturday, warning that market volatility could last for years.Russian gas exports to Europe plunged after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine but Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, head of QatarEnergy, said...