News

Dubai will play host to the Solar Asset Management MENA Conference, the biggest gathering of solar industry stakeholders which will take place on 17-18 November. A massive $15bn worth of solar projects are expected to be operational in the next five years in the Middle East while the current solar …

The autumn edition of the Arab Knowledge Forum for Sustainable Development began today, under the title, “Preserving our Land, Discovering our Talents,” and with the participation of 800 students from national universities. The forum is being held under the patronage, and in attendance of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, …

Moscow has hosted the second meeting of the UAE-Russian Industrial, Technological and Scientific Cooperation Team. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Mattar Hamed Al Niyadi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Industry, and Alexei Vladimirovic, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce of Russia. During the meeting, both sides highlighted …

Protesters blocked roads across Lebanon on Sunday in demonstrations against deteriorating conditions in a country grappling with an economic and financial crisis. Tires were set ablaze on several major roads in Beirut, paralyzing the capital. Several hundred people chanted “Down with capitalism” and “Leave!” as they marched along a main …

A fire broke out in the Haramain high-speed rail station in Saudi Arabia’s coastal city of Jeddah, injuring at least five people, the authorities said on Sunday. Plumes of black smoke were still rising from the roof of the station at least four hours after the fire broke out at …

The long-time personal bodyguard of Saudi Arabia’s King Salman was shot dead by a friend while at a private residence in the western city of Jeddah, in what the state broadcaster described as “a personal dispute”. State media did not give details about the row that sparked the shooting on …

A fuel shortage is deepening Yemen’s humanitarian crisis, forcing drivers to wait for days in queues that stretch back from some petrol stations as far as the eye can see. The new shortage is just one of many problems causing suffering in the civil war being fought by the Iran-aligned …

The Dubai Future Council for Transportation has met to discuss trends of transportation infrastructure and measures ought to be embraced by cities as part of their efforts for addressing future transportation needs. It also examined the practices of some cities, such as Oslo, and their expectations of the future of …

The Board of Directors of the Securities and Commodities Authority,SCA, has approved in its recent meeting in Dubai a roadmap for SCA’s initiative on financial inclusion. Financial inclusion is defined as the availability and equality of opportunities to access financial services. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy and …

As part of the United Arab Emirates’ commitment to continue its support to UN-Women, the UAE has announced a financial contribution of 15 million dollars to support the mandate of the UN-Women over the next three years. The UAE’s new pledge, which was announced on the sidelines of the General …

Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem on Saturday demanded an immediate withdrawal of all U.S. and Turkish troops from his country and warned that Syrian government forces had the right to take countermeasures if they refused. The United States has around 1,000 troops in Syria tackling Islamic State militants. Turkey has …

Yemen’s Houthi movement said on Saturday it had carried out an attack near the border with the southern Saudi region of Najran and captured several army officers, but there was no immediate confirmation from Saudi Arabian authorities. The Houthis’ military spokesman said in a statement that three “enemy military brigades …

Israeli forces shot dead a Palestinian during protests along the fortified Gaza-Israel border on Friday, the Palestinian health ministry said. They named the dead as Saher Othman, 20, and said 52 others were wounded during the often violent demonstrations, 27 of them by live fire. A spokeswoman for the Israeli …

Saudi Arabia said on Saturday it would issue fines for 19 offences related to public decency, such as immodest dress and public displays of affection, as the Muslim kingdom opens up to foreign tourists. The Interior Ministry decision accompanies the launch of a visa regime allowing holidaymakers from 49 states …

Iraq’s Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi has approved the reopening on Monday of the Qaim border-crossing with Syria, state news agency INA said, the latest sign of normalization between Baghdad and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government. The crossing will be reopened for travelers and trade, INA reported on Friday, citing …

Dubai Land Department (DLD) continues to showcase its presence through its stand at Cityscape Global 2019, currently being hosted by Dubai. Besides its remarkable activity in welcoming visitors as well as local and foreign delegations, especially investors wishing to familiarise themselves with the investment horizon in the Emirate, DLD, through …

Emirati astronaut Hazza Al Mansoori began his second day aboard the International Space Station, ISS, by communicating with the team at the ground stations in Moscow, Dubai, and Houston, and informed them of his daily schedule. Two live sessions, one via video and one via radio, were organised between Al …

The United States offered to remove all sanctions on Iran in exchange for talks, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Friday upon returning to Tehran from the United Nations General Assembly in New York, according to his official website. “The German chancellor, the prime minister of England (Britain) and the …

Russia and Turkey are holding talks about the possible sale of Russian-made Sukhoi SU-35 fighter jets to Turkey, but it is too early to talk about a concrete deal, RIA news agency cited a senior Russian official as saying on Friday. Turkey has been at odds with the United States …

When Palestinian entrepreneur Majd Mashharawi left Gaza for the first time in 2017, she counted herself lucky to be among a small minority able to get away from a place described by its residents as the world’s largest open-air prison. But during her visit to Japan, what most caught her …

The British-flagged Stena Impero tanker left Iran’s Bandar Abbas port on Friday and was heading for Dubai so the crew could be repatriated, the owner said, after the ship was detained in July by Iranian forces during a row with Britain. The Stena Impero was seized by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards …

Germany is in close consultations with “our European and regional partners about ways forward to de-escalate the situation” in the Arabian Gulf region, a top German official told the Emirates News Agency, WAM. “Germany condemns the attacks on the two oil installations in Khurais and Abqaiq in Saudi Arabia on …

A new cohort of startups have been admitted to the Hub71 Incentive Programme in a bid to grow their companies and set up operations at the tech ecosystem, Hub71. Originating from different sectors and countries, the seven startups include British fintech company, dopay; Egypt-based Furnwish; Tunisian ProvenMed International; Trukker; and …

Etisalat today announced it was recognised as ‘Best Regional Wholesale Carrier’ at the prestigious Telecoms World Middle East Awards gala event in Dubai. This marks a record sixth year that Etisalat has won this award. Etisalat was shortlisted among top telecom companies for its success in the wholesale business as …

Russia is expanding its Hmeimim air base in Syria and rebuilding a second landing strip to allow the facility to serve more aircraft, Russian news agencies cited an unnamed Defence Ministry official as saying on Thursday. The ministry has also set up new buildings to house aircraft at the site …

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on Thursday for his pre-trial hearing next week on corruption allegations to be broadcast live, saying that “the time has come for the public to hear everything, including my side”. Following a deadlocked Sept. 17 election, Netanyahu is fighting for a fifth term in …

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince said he bears responsibility for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi last year by Saudi operatives “because it happened under my watch,” according to a PBS documentary to be broadcast next week. Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom’s de facto ruler, has not spoken publicly about the …

Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi – the world’s first Warner Bros. branded indoor theme park – has succeeded in claiming a Guinness World Records title for the “Largest Gathering of People Wearing Capes,” as it recently celebrated Batman’s 80th anniversary. Taking place at the park’s Gotham City and Warner Bros. …

As part of its ongoing efforts to bolster joint coordination with other federal entities to drive digital transformation in the UAE, the Ministry of Finance, MoF, has held a workshop to introduce smart screens at the ministry’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi. Several MoF officials, along with representatives from the Ministry …

To commemorate the UAE’s first manned mission to space, Montegrappa, an Italian company of luxury products, has launched a unique fountain pen commissioned for the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, celebrating Hazza Al Mansoori, the first Emirati Astronaut in space. MBRSC is also responsible for the development of various projects …

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that if the United States wanted an agreement beyond the 2015 nuclear deal it has abandoned “you should … pay more” and appeared to reject talks with U.S. President Donald Trump for now. “Our response to talks under pressure is no,” Rouhani said …

Saudi Aramco has asked banks to submit proposals for a project finance loan of more than $1 billion, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said. The state oil company’s request for proposals (RFPs) was sent this week, one of the sources said. It was not immediately clear from …

Iran’s English-language Press TV said on Wednesday Iran was offering to agree to enhanced inspections of its nuclear program, if the U.S. Congress ratifies the 2015 nuclear deal and Washington lifts all sanctions. “Iran’s proposed amendment to the nuclear deal calls for early approval of an additional protocol by Iran’s …

By Firas Samuri   More than a month has passed since the liberation of Khan-Sheikhun from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militants. The Syrian government initiated the restoration of the town’s infrastructure just after the siege was lifted. Although all the radicals have been destroyed or prisoned, the traces of their activity …

September 24, 2019 by Graham E. Fuller • Blog • Tags: International Conflict, US foreign policy • Graham E. Fuller (grahamefuller.com)   I’ve recently had discussions with friends over whether US domestic issues should outweigh those of foreign policy in the coming elections. The urgency of domestic issues are of …

The world’s attention will be set towards UAE Mission 1 to the International Space Station, ISS, on 25th September, as Emirati prime astronaut Hazza Al Mansoori carries out a historic mission on board the Soyuz MS-15 spacecraft. Al Mansoori will head to space with Russian commander Oleg Skripochka and NASA …

The 19th edition of the Sharjah International Narrators Forum, SINF, an event bringing together storytellers, narrators, performers and experts from across the world, launched its festivities on Tuesday in the presence of H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah. Held under the …

Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre, DIEDC, has received a senior financial delegation from Indonesia that aimed to learn about the Islamic economy system in the UAE and explore opportunities for cooperation. The delegation comprised senior officials from Bank Indonesia – the central bank of the country – and the Indonesia …

UAE entities are expected to invest up to US$7 billion in India’s food sector in the next three years as part of the UAE-India food corridor project that aims to secure the UAE’s food security, an Indian minister told Emirates News Agency, WAM. These entities, coordinated by Dubai-based Emaar Group, …

Saudi Arabia has waived fees on expatriate workers employed in the industrial sector, one of the main economic segments eyed for development, for five years, a cabinet statement said on Tuesday. “The government will bear the cost of fees for expatriate workers on behalf of licensed industrial institutions as of …

Air strikes blamed on the Saudi-led coalition killed at least 16 people in Yemen’s Houthi-controlled Dalea province on Tuesday, two residents and the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV said. The strikes came four days after the Houthis, a group aligned with Iran, said they would stop aiming missile and drone attacks at …

Israel’s securities regulator said on Tuesday it was investigating a senior executive at carbonated drink-machine maker SodaStream on suspicion of insider trading prior to its $3.2 billion acquisition by PepsiCo (PEP.O) last year. The executive, whose name has been placed under a gagging order, was detained on Monday and released …

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival Benny Gantz launched negotiations on Monday over a proposed Israeli unity government and a key politician said the focus was on who would lead it first under a rotation deal. After failing to secure a clear victory in the second election in six …

British-flagged tanker Stena Impero, detained by Iran in July, is still in the country despite Iranian officials saying it was free to leave, Stena Bulk CEO Erik Hanell said on Tuesday. Iran’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Hamid Baeidinejad, said on Twitter on Monday the Swedish-owned vessel was free to …