LONDON: In July 2018, a senior Iranian official made an announcement that raised eyebrows around the Middle East. The Islamic Republic, said Manouchehr Manteqi, head of the Headquarters for Development of Knowledge-Based Aviation and Aeronautics Technology and Industry, was now capable of producing drones self-sufficiently, without reliance on foreign suppliers or outside technical know-how. International … Read more
KABUL/PESHAWAR: Afghans say access to international markets through Pakistan is still the most viable option for their landlocked country, as bilateral trade talks took place in Kabul this week to resolve obstructions amid heightened border tensions. The neighboring countries have traded blame in recent months over who was responsible for a recent spate of militant attacks … Read more
Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories: The southern Gaza Strip came under intense Israeli bombardment overnight, despite international pressure for an immediate ceasefire in the Palestinian territory where famine is looming.Besieged Gaza is in desperate need of aid and the United States said it would continue airdrops, despite pleas from Hamas to stop the practice after the … Read more
RIYADH: The Saudi capital will soon be home to new offices and commercial projects thanks to the launch of the Durrat King Khalid Fund, inaugurated by Riyad Capital. Established in partnership with Saudi real estate firm Al-Ramz, the new initiative aims to develop a qualitative project within the office property sector, positioned in a prime … Read more
AL-MEAIBDI, Iraq: Iraq enjoys tremendous oil wealth but many hard-scrabble farmers in the north say crude spills have contaminated their lands, piling on pressure as they already battle drought. Amid the hills of Salaheddin province, puddles of the viscous black liquid pollute the otherwise fertile and green fields, rendering vast swaths of farmland barren. “The … Read more
Gates Foundation CEO urges billionaires to increase philanthropic contributions in annual letter LONDON: In his annual letter published on Thursday, Mark Suzman, CEO of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, urged philanthropists to increase their donations and take immediate action to address the unparalleled struggles countries face in combatting poverty, diseases, and inequality. The Gates … Read more
Riyadh exhibition unveils literary and artistic career of Prince Khalid Al-Faisal Riyadh: A politician, an avid painter, a poet and a patron of the arts, Prince Khalid Al-Faisal redefined creativity in his cultural work, defining its components while serving the Kingdom and its people as the governor of Aseer region, minister of education, and currently … Read more
WASHINGTON: Nearly three years after President Joe Biden took office vowing “America is back,” the country’s international image is taking a beating as his administration backs Israel in its war with Hamas.In one step back from the newfound isolation, the United States on Friday, after painstaking negotiations, let through a UN Security Council resolution on … Read more
9 Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza City ambush in sign that Hamas resistance is still strong DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip: Palestinian militants carried out one of the deadliest single attacks on Israeli soldiers since the Gaza invasion began, killing at least nine in an urban ambush, the military said Wednesday, a sign of the stiff … Read more
RIYADH: Small and medium enterprises in Saudi Arabia are set to benefit from an enhanced online platform designed to provide essential data for identifying market trends. The “Atlas Business Platform” will supply SMEs and entrepreneurs with major business indicators categorized by region, sector, and products that will help shape strategic decisions.