DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ The Western tourists going to Iraq for vacation
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-21 | by ( Richard Collett | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +18 min

“It was peaceful, calm, and rather quiet,” Driskill told CNN Travel after visiting Iraq in 2024. “Every year we’re seeing more people come to Iraq than before,” he told CNN Travel. Newenham first visited in August 2021 and told CNN Travel that she never imagined Iraq becoming one of her favorite travel destinations. Anmar Khalil/AP“Visiting the [ninth-century] Great Mosque of Samarra is a must,” he told CNN Travel. For Sarah Sanbar, Iraq researcher at Human Rights Watch, tourism to the country is allowing visitors to see the real Iraq.

Persons: Tommy Driskill, ’, ” Driskill, Saddam Hussein’s, Iraq’s, Driskill, ”, “ I’m, I’ve, “ We’ve, ” Robert Kyle Molina, Molina, Ali Al Makhzomy, ” Al Makhzomy, Janet Newenham, Newenham, “, ” Newenham, they’ve, Pope Francis, Al Makhzomy, Ur, Sergio Arce, Bil, Anmar Khalil, Imam Hussain, Abbas, Hussain ibn Ali, Prophet Mohammed, Arce, I’d, Jan Bakker, James Wilcox, we’ve, Travel’s Molina, Sarah Sanbar, Iraq —, ” Sergio Arce, Sanbar, ‘, ’ Heck Organizations: CNN, CNN Travel, Tourism Capital, US Department of State, United, Foreign, Commonwealth, Development, Human Rights Watch, ISIS, Bil, US State Department, US, Federal Government, Baghdad International Airport, European, Kurdistan Regional Government Tourism Board, International, Federal, “, Vatican Media, Reuters, Borders, Erbil Marathon, Sergio Arce Military Locations: Hawaii, Baghdad, Iraq, Iraqi Kurdistan, Babylon, Kurdistan, Iraqi, Karbala, European Union, Kurdistan Chronicle, Federal Iraq, Mosul, “, Janet Newenham Iraq, Cork, Ireland, Baghdad . “ Iraq, Islam, ” Iraq, East, Palestine, Eden, Samarra, Al, Arba’een, Sweden, Iran, Kuwait, Pakistan, India, Erbil, Berlin’s, Today, birdwatch

CNN —When Elisa Smithers was deployed to Iraq in 2005, there was a ban on women serving in ground combat operations. But she returned home to find she wasn’t offered the same support by the US Department of Veterans Affairs that male combat veterans were offered, Smithers said. Women account for roughly 17.5% of the Defense Department’s active-duty force, according to 2022 data from the agency. Hegseth has specifically criticized having women in roles where strength “is the differentiator,” he said on the podcast last week. She also worries any course reversal on women serving in combat will have a sweeping impact on women serving in other government jobs.

Persons: Elisa Smithers, Smithers, wasn’t, Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth, –, he’s, ”, Hegseth, “, hasn’t, ” Hegseth, Shawn Ryan, ” Smithers, we’ll, Elizabeth Beggs, Let’s, ” Beggs, Beggs, who’ve, Lory Manning, “ I’m, …, ” Manning, it’s, Manning, we’ve, Brandy Cottrill, Cox, “ It’s, ‘ That’s, Sen, Tammy Duckworth, Anna Moneymaker, Illinois Sen, Duckworth, MAGA, Wendy Coop, Wendy Coop Wendy Coop, ” Coop, Coop, don’t, that’s, she’s Organizations: CNN, National Guard, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Fox News, Army, Defense, Warriors, US Army, Army National Guard, Department of Veterans Affairs, Navy, Army Rangers, Army Special Forces, Marine, “ Seals, Rangers, Green Berets, Service, Action, American Civil Liberties Union, “, National Center for Veterans Analysis, Combat, Veterans Families, US Coast Guard, US Army Special Operations Command, US National Guard, Capitol, US Navy, US Naval Academy Locations: Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Washington , DC, Illinois, St, Augustine , Florida

☆ Singapore's DBS eyes Malaysian bank stakes in expansion push, Reuters reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Deliberations are in very early stages, however, the sources said, and any formal negotiations for an acquisition of a stake in a Malaysian bank would need approval from the Malaysian central bank, or Bank Negara Malaysia. "We do not comment on market rumors and speculation," said a spokesperson for DBS, Southeast Asia's biggest lender by assets. Alliance Bank, the second smallest listed bank in Malaysia by total assets, and Bank Negara Malaysia did not respond to requests for comment after business hours on Friday. DBS is the only Singaporean bank without a retail banking presence in Malaysia. Local rivals Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation and United Overseas Bank both have retail banking operations in Malaysia.

Persons: Piyush, Gupta, Tan Su Shan, Anwar Ibrahim Organizations: DBS Group Holdings, DBS, Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd, Kuwait Finance House's, Bank Negara Malaysia, Temasek, Alliance Bank, Kuwait Finance House, Local, Oversea, Chinese Banking Corporation, United Overseas Bank, Gupta, Malaysian Locations: Malaysia, Singapore, Temasek, Kuwait, Malaysian, Bank, China, India, Indonesia, Taiwan

☆ Bahrain Finance Minister: ‘Rising tide will lift all economies in the GCC’
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-08 | by ( Jacopo Prisco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Like many other Middle Eastern economies, Bahrain has been trying to move away from its dependence on fossil fuels. In October, the National Bank of Bahrain launched a Bitcoin investment fund, aimed at institutional investors — a first for the GCC. At the Gateway Gulf event, Bahrain’s Minister of Tourism announced the construction of 16 new hotels totaling over 3,000 rooms. However Al Khalifa believes that the success of its GCC partners will ultimately prove beneficial for Bahrain. “All of us are working together to increase economic activity, increase the pie for the whole region, and this rising tide will lift all of the economies of the region.”

Persons: ” Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, CNN’s Richard, ”, ” Al Khalifa, —, Steffen Hertog, Abu Dhabi, Hertog, Al Khalifa Organizations: CNN, Bahrain’s, Finance, National, Gulf Cooperation Council, United, United Arab Emirates, GCC, World Bank, National Bank of, Tourism, London School of Economics, Political Science, “ Locations: Bahrain, Gateway, ” “ Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab, National Bank of Bahrain, “ Dubai, Dubai, Abu, Saudi

☆ UK's ultra-rich feel the pinch from Labour's tax-raising budget
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-05 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

New arrivals to the U.K. will receive 100% U.K. tax relief for their first four years, so long as they have been non-resident for the last 10 years. That's in addition to the £21.1 billion the independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) forecast to be raised by earlier changes to the non-dom regime announced by the Conservatives in March. "Although the draft legislation has now been released, the Government still has time to create a new non-dom system that works for internationally-mobile individuals," Porter said in a statement. If they'd gone for the tiered (system), there would have been howls that you've given into the fat cats. "If they'd gone for the tiered (system), there would have been howls that you've given into the fat cats," he said.

Persons: Mike Kemp, Rachel Reeves, Reeves, Times Rich, David Lesperance, Lesperance, Steven Porter, Porter, they'd, Leslie Macleod Miller Organizations: Ford, Labour, Finance, —, Times, Associates, CNBC, Conservatives, Treasury, Government, Foreign Investors, Britain, Lesperance Locations: Kuwait, Burlington, Bond, London, United Kingdom, City, That's, Italy, Switzerland, Dubai

Israel is also heavily backed by the United States, which has supplied more than 29,000 guided bombs, artillery rockets and assorted missiles since 2009. A spiraling conflict between Iran and Israel, one of the United States’ closest allies, could pull U.S. forces positioned throughout the region into the fray. Israel has told the United States that it will not attack Iran’s nuclear or oil facilities in its expected attack. Though highly unlikely, an Israeli strike on Iran’s oil facilities could prompt Iran or its proxies to target refineries in Saudi Arabia or the U.A.E. This April, Iran’s attack involving more than 300 drones and missiles, in retaliation for Israel’s killing of seven Iranian officials in Syria, shattered that supposition.

Persons: Arash Khamooshi, Abbas Araghchi, Biden, emboldening Israel, Chang W, Lee, Yahya Sinwar, Israel Organizations: Iranian Revolutionary Guard, The New York Times, International Institute for Strategic Studies, United, Senior Pentagon, The Defense Department, Area Defense, Defense, New York Times, United Arab, United Nations Locations: Israel, Gaza, Yemen, Lebanon, Iran, United States, Tehran, U.S, Gulf States, Guam, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Hormuz, Persian, Palestine Square, Gaza . Credit, Syria

☆ Washington’s Arab allies engage with Iran as US efforts to stem Middle East violence falter
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-22 | by ( Mostafa Salem | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Abu Dhabi, UAE CNN —Growing unease over the United States’ inability to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East is prompting some of Washington’s closest Arab allies to significantly increase engagement with its primary regional adversary: Iran. Arab nations that had spent decades brawling with Iran for regional influence are now opting to engage with it again. Despite seeing an opportunity to weaken Iran’s regional influence, Arab nations are now signaling neutrality. “The Gulf (Arab) monarchies’ priority is not to be directly involved in a proper regional conflagration. Still, regional states rely heavily on their military relationship with the US.

Persons: State Anthony Blinken, Yahya Sinwar, Israel, Blinken’s, Hassan Nasrallah, Ismail Haniyeh, Prince Mohamed bin Salman, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Hitler, ”, Abbas Araghchi, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Abdel Fattah Al, ” Araghchi, Crown Prince Sabah, Cinzia Bianco, ” Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh, ” Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al, Hamad Al, ” Hasan Alhasan, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, ” Anwar Gargash, Joe Biden’s, Abu, ” Bianco, Jake Sullivan Organizations: UAE CNN, State, Saudi Arabia’s, Iranian, Saudi, Bahraini, Crown, CNN, European Council, Foreign Relations, ” Kuwaiti Crown, Kuwait News Agency, Reuters, Middle, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Israeli, United Arab Emirates, US, US National, Atlantic Festival Locations: Abu Dhabi, UAE, United States, Washington’s, Iran, Republic, Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Tehran, Riyadh, Tehran’s, Amman, Egypt, Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Cairo, Doha, Muscat, Manama, Crown Prince, Crown Prince Sabah Al, Sabah, Kuwait City, Islamic Republic, ” Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Saudi, Washington, Yemen, China, Washington ,

☆ UK trade deals with India and Gulf nations are 'the priority,’ business minister says
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-14 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON — The U.K.'s business minister said Monday that securing trade deals with India and Gulf nations remains "the priority" for the Labour government, with talks between Britain and the Gulf Corporation Council expected to resume as soon as next week. U.K. Business and Trade Minister Jonathan Reynolds told CNBC that negotiations with a six-strong group of Gulf countries would reconvene "very soon — maybe as soon as next week," while talks with India also remain a priority. U.K. free trade deals were touted as a key benefit of Brexit, with former Prime Minister and Brexiteer Boris Johnson vowing to secure one with India "by Diwali" 2022. The trade minister has also previously said that the government was pursuing trade talks with Israel, South Korea, Switzerland and Turkey. "It's important to recognize, whilst we don't do foreign policy through trade deals, British engagement commercially – country to country, business to business – is in itself a good thing," he said.

Persons: of Trade Jonathan Reynolds, Jonathan Reynolds, Reynolds, Boris Johnson, It's, Sunil Barthwal Organizations: State, Business, Trade, of Trade, Labour, Gulf Corporation, CNBC, Investment, London's, Conservative, GCC, United, United Arab Emirates Locations: London, United Kingdom, India, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab, Israel, South Korea, Switzerland, Turkey

☆ Why oil and gas markets are dreading the risk of supply disruption in the Strait of Hormuz
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-08 | by ( Sam Meredith | In Samuelmeredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

In 2022, oil flow in the Strait of Hormuz averaged 21 million barrels per day, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Saul Kavonic, senior research analyst at MST Financial, said supply disruptions along the Strait of Hormuz could send oil prices significantly higher. Oil prices traded more than 3% on Monday, extending gains even after notching their sharpest weekly gain since early 2023 last week. "But seeing where the oil price sits right now the market doesn't seem to hold much probability for such a development at all," he added. "A significant disruption to these flows would be enough to push oil prices to new record highs, surpassing the record high of close to $150/bbl in 2008," he added.

Persons: Alan Gelder, Wood Mackenzie, CNBC's, Iraq —, Gelder, Saul Kavonic, Kavonic, Bjarne Schieldrop, SEB, Brent, Schieldrop, Warren Patterson, Patterson Organizations: Nurphoto, U.S . Energy Information Administration, Energy, Brent, U.S, West Texas, ING, bbl, United Arab Emirates, Space Shuttle Columbia Locations: Persian, Bushehr, Iran, Hormuz, Oman, Strait, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, UAE, Gulf, Muscat

☆ ‘Never a boring moment:’ The couple who left Canada to live in former Soviet Central Asia
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-03 | by ( Tamara Hardingham-Gill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

New adventureThe couple lived in Nukus, the sixth-largest city in Uzbekistan, for four years. “It’s difficult sometimes, to get back to normal living,” Zora says of their desire to keep moving from place to place. But it’s also a wonderful city with beautiful architecture.”When asked of her favorite thing about living in Uzbekistan, Zora says that this was undoubtedly her students. When asked what she missed about living in Canada, Zora confesses that going to see blockbuster movies that aren’t dubbed over was high up there on the list. Although they will be returning to Canada briefly, Zora says they have no intention of remaining there permanently.

Persons: Zora, Dave Keffer, ”, they’d, “, ” Zora, Dave, Zora Keffer, “ It’s, “ There’s, can’t, it’s, Nukus, Zora Keffer Zora, you’ve, Khiva, ” Zora’s, “ You’ve, “ That’s, we’ll Organizations: CNN, United, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan –, ”, Google Locations: United Arab, Canada, Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Soviet, West, Czechoslovakia, Nukus, Kuwait, mull, – Nukus, Russia, Ukraine, Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, North America, “

☆ Oil rises as Middle East conflict deepens, gains capped by global supply outlook
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Oil prices ticked higher in early trade on Thursday as investors weighed the escalating conflict in the Middle East and the potential for disruption to crude flows, against an amply-supplied global market. But an unexpected build in U.S. crude inventories on Wednesday helped ease some supply concerns and curbed oil price gains. Some investors remained unfazed as global crude supplies have yet to be disrupted by unrest in the key producing region, and spare OPEC capacity tempered worries. OPEC has enough spare oil capacity to compensate for a full loss of Iranian supply if Israel knocks out that country's facilities. "The effectively available spare capacity might be much lower if renewed attacks on energy infrastructure on countries in the region happen," said Giovanni Staunovo, analyst at UBS.

Persons: derek, East, Jim Simpson, Giovanni Staunovo Organizations: Brent, . West Texas, Energy Information Administration, ANZ, East Daley Analytics, Reuters, OPEC, UBS Locations: Kuwait, Saudi Arabian, Israeli, Beirut's Bachoura, Iran, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Gulf

Sovereign wealth funds out of the Middle East are emerging as key backers of Silicon Valley's artificial intelligence darlings. In the past year, funding for AI companies by Middle-Eastern sovereigns has increased fivefold, according to data from Pitchbook. Few venture funds have deep enough pockets to compete with the multibillion-dollar checks coming from the likes of Microsoft and Amazon . MGX was launched as a dedicated AI fund in March, with Abu Dhabi's Mubadala and AI firm G42 as founding partners. For the U.S., having sovereign wealth funds invest in American companies, and not in global adversaries like China, has been a geopolitical priority.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Prince Mohammed bin Salman's, Uber, LIV, UAE's Mubadala, MGX, Abu Dhabi's Mubadala, Anthropic, Andreessen Horowitz, Jamal Khashoggi, It's, Bpifrance, WeWork spiraled, Jared Cohen, there's Organizations: United, CNBC, Microsoft, Gulf Cooperation Council, Saudi Public Investment Fund, Abu, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Qatar Investment Authority, BlackRock, Global Infrastructure Partners, Saudi, U.S, Saudi Company, Artificial Intelligence, Washington Post, SoftBank, Goldman Sachs Global Institute Locations: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Pitchbook, Abu Dhabi, Temasek, Singapore, China, UAE

☆ European travelers will have to pay to enter the UK in 2025
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Tamara Hardingham-Gill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —European travelers visiting the UK without a visa will soon be required to pay a £10 (around $13) waiver fee. This will be extended to include most other nationals, including those from the US but excluding Europeans, in November. By next spring, the program will be expanded again to incorporate European nationals. Jordanian nationals can no longer apply for an ETA to enter the UK, according to the UK government website. Meanwhile, the roll out of the European Union’s ETIAS, valid for three years, which will cost travelers 7 euros (about $7.50,) has been postponed to 2025.

Persons: Yvette Cooper, ” Cooper Organizations: CNN, Qatar, European Union, UK, United Locations: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, United States

"Our research infers that fliers are doing more research to understand and potentially avoid Boeing aircrafts," she said. "First of all, there are more discount carriers operating Airbus (A320s) than Boeing (737s) particularly in Asia," he said. watch nowThe study is a historical analysis of commercial flight safety, which does not predict how Boeing's issues may play out in the future. But Barnett indicated he's confident about the future of commercial aviation. Why avoiding Boeing is difficultThough competition among airlines is fierce, aircraft manufacturing has long been dominated by the United States' century-old Boeing company and its European competitor, Airbus.

Persons: Danielle Harvey, Brendan Sobie, Arnold Barnett, Barnett Organizations: Boeing, Alaska Airlines, Sobie Aviation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, of Air Transport Management, MIT, U.S . Federal Aviation Agency, National Transportation Safety Board, European Union, New Zealand, United Arab Emirates, CNBC Travel, Airbus, Airlines, Max Locations: Asia, United States, Europe, Australia, Canada, China, Israel, Japan, New, Bahrain, Bosnia, Brazil, Brunei, Chile, Hong Kong, India, Jordan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Alaska

CNN —Israeli attacks killed at least 19 Palestinians, including children, and injured numerous others across Gaza on Sunday, according to health officials and Gaza’s Civil Defense. CNN video shot at the hospital shows several body bags at the morgue and people carrying the wounded, including children. Gaza’s Civil Defense said another airstrike hit tents in the Al-Mawasi area, which the Israeli military has designated a “humanitarian zone” for displaced Palestinians, killing at least four people. Since then, Israeli attacks have killed more than 39,000 people and injured over 90,000 others since October 7, according to figures by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza. CNN cannot independently verify the death toll, partly because Gaza is inaccessible to the international media.

Persons: Khan Younis, “, ”, Israel Organizations: CNN, Gaza’s Civil Defense, Nasser Hospital, Civil Defense, Kuwait Specialized Field, Palestinian Ministry of Health Locations: Gaza, Khan, Kuwait, Gaza City, Deir, Israel

☆ US-Mexico border security is stretching troops thin, placing demands 'not related to their military mission set,' National Guard chief says
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-19 | by ( Steve Beynon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

For decades, the National Guard has had some level of presence on the southwest border. The border mission is mostly static security and surveillance, but troops typically are not allowed to interact directly with migrants or suspected smugglers. It also has been contributing to retention issues that have plagued the Army National Guard. The move sparked numerous questions on the ethics and legality of privately funding National Guard operations — and came as Noem was boosting her national profile. The National Guard has frequently been caught in the middle between state politicians and federal officials.

Persons: —, Daniel Hokanson, Military.com, Greg Abbott's, Chip Somodevilla, Hokanson, Herika Martinez, Christine Wormuth, JOSEPH PREZIOSO, Kristi Noem, megadonor Willis Johnson, Noem Organizations: Service, National Guard, Guard's, Business, Gov, Lone Star, Capitol Hill, US, Army National Guard, Army Guard, Guardsmen, Texas National Guard, AFP, Getty, Army, Guard, Massachusetts National Guard, South Dakota Republican Gov, Governors Locations: Mexico, Texas, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Africa, AFP

CNN —Israel says it targeted Hamas’ top military official, Mohammed Deif, in an airstrike in southern Gaza, with local authorities saying at least 71 Palestinians were killed in multiple strikes in the same area. Deif – the leader of Hamas’ Qassam Brigades – was targeted Saturday in an airstrike based on precise intelligence in Al-Mawasi, a camp west of the city of Khan Younis, an Israeli security official told CNN. The Israeli military said it in the process of verifying whether Deif was killed in the strike. Deif was targeted alongside the head of the Khan Younis brigade, Rafe Salama, the security official added. The Gaza Health Ministry reported at least 71 people killed in the same Al-Mawasi area in Israeli strikes, with nearly 300 people injured.

Persons: CNN — Israel, Mohammed Deif, –, Hamas ’, Khan Younis, Deif, Rafe Salama Organizations: CNN, Gaza Health Ministry, Nasser Locations: Gaza, Khan, Kuwait

CNN —At least 71 Palestinians have been reported killed in an Israeli strike on a displacement camp in southern Gaza which Israel said targeted Hamas’ military chief, who was an alleged mastermind of the October 7 attacks. “I cannot describe to you the magnitude of the tragedy,” one resident told CNN. Mohammed Deif – the leader of Qassam Brigades, Hamas’ military wing – was the figure targeted, an Israeli security official told CNN. Palestinians gather near damage caused by an Israeli strike at a tent camp in Al-Mawasi area on Saturday. A 2014 Israel strike killed his wife, seven-month-old son and three-year-old daughter.

Persons: Mohammed Deif –, Qassam, Deif, Khan Younis, Rafe Salama, Mohammed Salem, “, ”, Hammoud, Aida Hamdi, Salama, Trevor Ball, Yoav Gallant, Herzi Halevi, Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al, Masri, El Deif Organizations: CNN, ’, Gaza Health Ministry, Nasser, Boeing, US, Israeli, Shin, Reuters Locations: Gaza, Israel, Al, Kuwait, Khan, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv

☆ Why an Israel-Hezbollah war would be far more dangerous today than the last time around
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Ben Wedeman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Since its inconclusive 2006 war with the Lebanese militant group, Israel has been planning for a re-match. During the 2006 war, in the experience of this correspondent, it was rare to encounter Hezbollah fighters. In the event of war, full-scale war, both sides will be able to inflict significant pain on the other. In the entire 34-day war of 2006 Hezbollah is estimated to have fired around 4,000 rockets – a daily average of 117. At 6 a.m. on July 13, 2006 – less than 24 hours after the start of the war – Israeli warplanes bombed and knocked out Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport.

Persons: CNN —, Benny Gantz, Hassan Nasrallah, – Nasrallah, Avihu Shapira, Gantz, Beirut’s Rafic, –, Israel, Iran’s, Qais Al, Ahl Al, Haq, Lebanon “ Organizations: CNN, Reichman University, Israel, Getty, Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport, Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion International, Washington Locations: Lebanon, Herzliya, Israel, Lebanese, Haifa, Syria, Gaza, Iraq, Iran, It’s, Israel’s, Yemen, Red, Jordan, America, Tehran, Damascus, Hormuz, Persian, Germany, Sweden, Kuwait, Netherlands

☆ U.S. chip curbs in Middle East just 'business as usual,' Ooredoo CEO says after Nvidia deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-26 | by ( Emma Graham | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Washington does allow the export of some Nvidia chips to the region, and Nvidia, AMD and Intel have all indicated plans to create less powerful chips for export to the Chinese market. Ooredoo earlier this week signed a partnership with Nvidia , marking the chipmaker's first large-scale entry into the Middle East market. Qatari telecoms provider Ooredoo told CNBC Wednesday that its new tie-up with Nvidia is compliant of all U.S. regulations and will still allow it to have access to the latest technology. Ooredoo told CNBC that the deal is compliant of all U.S. regulations. Ooredoo also committed to investing $1 billion to boost its regional data center capacity even before announcing its partnership with Nvidia.

Persons: Ooredoo, Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo, CNBC's Dan Murphy Organizations: Nvidia, AMD, Intel, United, Ooredoo, CNBC, United Arab Emirates, Microsoft, Qatar Investment Authority Locations: United States, China, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Algeria, Tunisia, Maldives, Qatari, Washington, Abu Dhabi

A simple principle underpins a contentious Thursday decision by the U.S. and key allies to tap profits from Russian sovereign assets in support of Ukraine: Moscow must make reparations. Questions have also been raised over the legality of setting such a precedent: Russia has been cut off from its frozen assets, but retains their ownership. The proposal must now pass various legal hurdles and be backed by European states, where the majority of frozen Russian assets are held. Further loans secured against the interest accrued by Russian frozen assets could be forthcoming, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen signaled on Thursday. The annual summit comes as most of the G7 leaders face their own domestic upheavals including national elections and falling approval ratings.

Persons: Charles Michel, CNBC's Steve Sedgwick, Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Putin, we're, Biden, Michel, Janet Yellen, Yellen, We're, Russia's, Ursula von der Leyen, Georgia Meloni Organizations: U.S, West, . Security, Kyiv, Treasury, Bank, European Commission Locations: Ukraine, Moscow, Russia, Russian, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan . U.S, Kuwait, U.S, Borgo Egnazia, Puglia

☆ U.S. ignored evidence major U.K. bank was helping fund sanctioned Iranian groups, whistleblower says
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Recent documents submitted to a U.S. federal court allege that major British bank Standard Chartered helped finance sanctioned Iranian entities and terrorist groups, and that relevant evidence was ignored by American authorities. The latest court filings, provided by former Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) employee turned whistleblower Julian Knight, claim that U.S. officials lied by denying that he provided them with evidence of far greater wrongdoing by the bank. The officials then applied to dismiss his whistleblower case against the bank as "meritless" in 2019 in order to shield it, Knight alleged. Knight, who led a Standard Chartered transaction services unit between 2009 and 2011, was one of two whistleblowers who gave U.S. investigators confidential bank statements in 2012 and 2013. The authorities in question, including an FBI agent, said that the whistleblowers' claims "did not lead to the discovery of any new … violations."

Persons: Julian Knight, Knight Organizations: Chartered, Standard Chartered Bank, International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, Iran's Revolutionary Guard, Hamas, Hezbollah, United Arab, BBC, FBI, CNBC, U.S . Department of Justice, ., U.S Locations: U.S, London, Iran, New York, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Germany

CNN —Munitions made in the United States were used in the deadly Israeli strike on a displacement camp in Rafah on Sunday, a CNN analysis of video from the scene and a review by explosive weapons experts has found. Footage obtained by CNN showed swathes of the camp in Rafah in flames, with scores of men, women and children frantically trying to find cover from the nighttime assault. “The warhead portion [of the munition] is distinct, and the guidance and wing section is extremely unique compared to other munitions. Asked for comment on the munitions used in the Rafah strike at Tuesday’s briefing, Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters: “I do not know what type of munition was used in that airstrike. Hagari said the deadly fire which occurred following the strike was not caused solely by weapons used by the Israeli military.

Persons: –, Joe Biden, CNN geolocated, Chris Cobb, Smith, ”, Cobb, Trevor Ball, Ball, Richard Weir, Chris Lincoln, Jones, Sabrina Singh, “, Biden, Daniel Hagari, Hagari, ” Hagari, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel Organizations: CNN — Munitions, CNN, Gaza Health Ministry, Israel, United Nations, Kuwait Peace, Boeing, British, US Army, Human Rights Watch, Pentagon, US National Security Council, US, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Locations: United States, Rafah, Gaza’s, Gaza, Rafah –, Israel, Kuwait, California, Stockholm

Rafah, Gaza and Jerusalem CNN —Dozens of people were killed on Sunday after a fire broke out following an Israeli airstrike on a camp for displaced Palestinians in Rafah, Gaza. “Several civilians are still trapped inside the camp, which was attacked without warning,” a Palestinian man filming the fire said. Palestinians mourn over the bodies of relatives killed in an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, the Gaza Strip on Monday. It was among the deadliest strikes by the Israeli military on Gaza’s southernmost city since Israel began its operation there on May 7. Qatar, another key mediator, said Israel’s strike could “hinder” ongoing negotiations, and called the attack a “serious violation of international law.”Palestinians gather at the site of an Israeli strike on a camp housing internally displaced people in Rafah, Gaza on Monday.

Persons: ”, Jehad, ” Avichay Adraee, Yifat, Yerushalmi, “, ” Israel, Staff Yassin Rabia, Khaled Nagar, peered, Abed Rahim Khatib, Mohammad Abu Al Subeh, Abu Al Subeh, “ It’s, ” Abu Nidal Al Attar, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Israel, Emmanuel Macron, Critics, Israel’s, Eyad Baba Organizations: Jerusalem CNN, CNN, Gaza Health Ministry, Hamas, Sunday, Israel Defense Forces, IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, IDF, West Bank, Staff, International Court of Justice, United Nations ’, Ministry of Health, Getty, UN, ” Medical, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, ICJ Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Israel, “, rummaging, Kuwait, Nuseirat, Egypt, Qatar, AFP

☆ Raisi’s funeral is about a lot more than the late Iranian president
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-23 | by ( Tamara Qiblawi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Unlike previous Iranian presidents, Raisi seemed content to serve as an empty vessel that carried out the reactionary policies of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the final arbiter on policymaking. So, when foreign dignitaries from a whopping 68 countries gathered for Raisi’s funeral on Thursday, they may not have been preoccupied with thoughts of the late president. Iranians follow a truck carrying the coffins of the late President Ebrahim Raisi and his companions during a funeral ceremony in Tehran, Iran. “This (funeral) is a way for countries to show the progress they have made in repairing relations with Iran,” said Parsi. He could also decide to change tack, opening it up so that Iran’s next president enjoys broad popular support.

Persons: Ebrahim Raisi’s, Raisi, Ali Khamenei, Hassan Rouhani, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad –, Qassem Soleimani, Quincy Institute Trita Parsi, –, Ismail Haniyeh, Ebrahim Raisi, Majid Saeedi, Donald Trump, ”, Khamenei, “, ” Mohammad Ali Shabani, Amwaj.media, CNN’s Becky Anderson, that’s Organizations: CNN, Quincy Institute Trita, United Arab, Getty, Obama, country’s Guardian Council, Supreme Locations: East, Iran, ” Washington, Gaza, Tehran, Israel, Damascus, Turkey, India, China, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Kuwait, Europe, Islamic Republic, country’s

Search resuls for: "Kuwait"

25 mentions found