Author: Saqr el-Attar

SINGAPORE – The Chinese embassy in Singapore on March 18 asked its citizens in the Republic to “stay away” from gambling, adding that cross-border gambling violates Chinese laws. The embassy, in a statement on its official WeChat account, “solemnly reminded” Chinese citizens in Singapore to steer clear of gambling, which is strictly prohibited by law in China. “Even if overseas casinos are opened legally, cross-border gambling by Chinese citizens is suspected of violating the laws of our country and face the risk of punitive actions,” said the embassy, warning that embassies may not be able to provide consular protection for…

SYDNEY, Dec 13 (Reuters) – Australia Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Wednesday the country had supported a UN resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza out of concern for civilians in the besieged enclave, in a rare split with close ally the United States. After dire warnings by U.N. officials over a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza in the two month long war between Israel and Hamas militants, the 193-member U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire with 153 countries including Australia voting in favour and 23 abstaining. Ten countries voted against including the U.S. and Israel,…

A third wave of Russian forces is attacking the eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiivka and systematically shelling the center of the industrial hub, its Ukrainian head said Friday. The nearly-encircled town near the Russian-held regional stronghold of Donetsk has faced a fierce onslaught for more than a month. “The third wave (of assaults) began. They are attacking from all directions, from the flanks of the south and north, as they did before. They are attacking the industrial zone,” Vitaly Barabash, the head of the town, said. Avdiivka has been on the front line since 2014 and is part of the…

China, Saudi Arabia and Iran on Friday urged for the “immediate cessation of military operations in Gaza” and the flow of “sustainable relief” to Palestinians in the tiny enclave. The call was made in a joint statement after a meeting for the deputy foreign ministers of the three countries in the Chinese capital Beijing held to follow up on the reconciliation agreement, known as the Beijing Agreement, between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The statement also said the three officials “expressed concern about the ongoing situation in the Gaza Strip as a threat to regional and international peace and security.” They…

Brussels (3/12) Governments may be doing great while the people suffer. Bombing of the Nordstream 2 pipeline, carrying cheap Russian natural gas to industry and consumers in Europe, is exerting a cascading effect on companies and employment, eventually to be reflected in rising places and sharpening inflation. Russia is steadily experiencing price increases for a variety of goods and services, Russian media report. Is there obviously not a link to the sanctions placed on Russia and the seizure of Russian funds and savings abroad? Punishment for Russia’s “Special Military Operation” to purportedly protect Russian-speaking citizens in eastern Ukraine from state…

LVIV, Ukraine, Nov 5 (Reuters) – Ukraine’s defence minister ordered on Saturday an investigation into an alleged Russian ballistic missile attack on Ukrainian assault brigade, after reports that more than 20 soldiers were killed during an awards ceremony. “My condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers from the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Transcarpathian Brigade,” Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said in a social media statement, adding that he had ordered a “full investigation.” In a separate statement on the Telegram messaging app, Ukraine’s Armed Forces said that Russia attacked the Zaporizhzhia region with the Iskander ballistic missile. “Servicemen were…

Doha, Qatar: Qatar has solidified its standing as a global tourism hotspot, said a top official during the opening of the second edition of the Qatar Travel Mart (QTM) at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) yesterday. Chairman of Qatar Tourism, H E Saad bin Ali bin Saad Al Kharji said in his welcoming address that the country has firmly positioned itself as a world-class destination for tourism. Notably, the country has witnessed a remarkable surge in visitors, with nearly three million individuals exploring its attractions, surpassing figures from the last five years, he explained. Qatar Tourism’s data show the…

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s space industry holds great potential for growth after recording $400 million in revenue in 2022, according to a recent report. The sector, expected to reach an average annual value of $2.2 billion from 2023 to 2030, holds significant opportunities, as highlighted by a document from the Saudi Communications, Space and Technology Commission. The development of distinct sovereign capabilities for spacecraft is expected to become a pivotal subsector within the Kingdom. The report highlighted the small satellite manufacturing market is projected to reach $68 billion in the region by 2030. Furthermore, around 148 satellites are set to be launched…

Gaza, for centuries, was a thriving oasis and a Mediterranean outlet for traders from Arabia, at the crossroads between Asia and Africa. The location of this strategic crossroads served as a stepping stone for conquerors from the Middle East to conquer Egypt, like the Ottomans in 1516. Instead, any common people who dream of taking over the Middle East from Egypt must ensure control of Gaza. In 1799, Napoleon Bonaparte, defeated before the walls of Acre, had to return empty-handed to Cairo, not without crossing Gaza again. On the other hand, in 1917, General Allenby defeated the Ottoman army in…

Brussels (3/11 – 34) Dubai is calling for a united front to spur the development of generative artificial intelligence to maximise its potential and reap economic benefits, the chief executive of the Dubai Future Foundation has said. Countries need to come together to prepare society for the innovation and to help bridge the gap between policies and the advancement of the emerging technology, which has a reported business opportunity of as much as $4.4 trillion, Khalfan Belhoul said at the Dubai Assembly for Generative AI conference on Wednesday. The industries with highest AI potential include banking, software and platforms, energy, communications and media, and health, according to the DFF.…