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Saudi state-run al-Ekhbariya television showed several Saudi officials welcoming Erdogan as he arrived at the venue of a Saudi-Turkish business forum in the Red Sea city of Jeddah. Erdogan is expected to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, later on Monday. "Turkey will have a serious investment opportunity in the defence industry, infrastructure and superstructure investments in the three countries," he said. Ekhbaria carried live footage showing Saudi Investment Minister Khaled al-Falih addressing dozens of businessmen from both sides at the Saudi-Turkish business forum in Jeddah. Turkey's budget deficit surged to 219.6 billion lira ($8.37 billion) in June, seven times the deficit a year earlier, data showed on Monday.

Persons: Tayyip Erdogan, Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Ekhbaria, Khaled al, Cevdet Yilmaz, Mehmet Simsek, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Yilmaz, Huseyin Hayatsever, Ali Kucukgocmen, Daren Butler, Aziz El Yaakoubi, William Maclean Organizations: Saudi Crown, . Investments, United, Turkish, Saudi Investment, Thomson Locations: ISTANBUL, RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Saudi, Turkish, Red Sea, Jeddah, Ankara, United Arab Emirates, Istanbul, Qatar, UAE, Nahyan

☆ India ties up with UAE to settle trade in rupees
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( Arpan Chaturvedi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NEW DELHI, July 15 (Reuters) - India has signed an agreement with the United Arab Emirates that will allow it to settle trade in rupees instead of dollars, boosting India's efforts to cut transaction costs by eliminating dollar conversions. The two agreements will enable "seamless cross-border transactions and payments, and foster greater economic cooperation", said a statement from the Reserve Bank of India on Saturday. India, the world's third biggest oil importer and consumer and whose central bank last year announced a framework for settling global trade in rupees, currently pays for UAE oil in dollars. An official with knowledge of the details of the agreement said India could make its first rupee payment for UAE oil to Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC), Reuters reported on Friday. The Reserve Bank of India said the two central banks agreed to link India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and UAE's Instant Payment Platform (IPP).

Persons: Narendra Modi, Modi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Arpan Chaturvedi, Clelia Organizations: United Arab, India's, UAE, Reserve Bank of India, Abu Dhabi National Oil Co, Reuters, Thomson Locations: DELHI, India, United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi, Asia

☆ Turkey expects $10 billion in Gulf investments after upcoming Erdogan visit, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Orhan Coskun | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ANKARA, July 7 (Reuters) - Turkey expects Gulf countries to make direct investments of about $10 billion initially in domestic assets as part of President Tayyip Erdogan's trip to the region in two weeks, according to two senior Turkish officials. Direct investments worth about $10 billion "should come within a short time and this is crucial," said one of the officials. "Expectations are high for the Gulf visit. Reuters reported after the visit that Turkey came away expecting direct investments soon. The official said the expected investments from Gulf states would "show confidence in the Turkish economy since it would be direct investments, which is extremely important."

Persons: Tayyip Erdogan's, Erdogan, Abu Dhabi, Cevdet Yilmaz, Mehmet Simsek, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Yilmaz, Jonathan Spicer, Ros Russell Organizations: Turkish, United Arab Emirates, Reuters, Thomson Locations: ANKARA, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Riyadh, Doha, Abu, Ankara, UAE, Nahyan, Turkish

☆ Leaders of Russia, UAE hold phone call on mutiny attempt in Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 26 (Reuters) - Leaders of Russia and the United Arab Emirates held a phone call, the Kremlin and UAE's state news agency said on Monday. According to the Kremlin, United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahayan was interested in hearing an assessment of the situation in Russia in connection with the Wagner group mutiny on June 24. "Having received comprehensive information, the Emirati leader declared full support for the actions of the Russian leadership." UAE's state news agency WAM said both leaders discussed bilateral relations and reaffirmed the need to preserve the stability of Russia and the safety of its people. (This story has been corrected to change the title of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to 'United Arab Emirates president' instead of 'Abu Dhabi crown prince' in paragraph 2)Writing by Maxim United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-NahayanRodionov Editing by Chris Reese and Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Nahayan, Wagner, WAM, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu, Chris Reese, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Russia, United Arab Emirates, Kremlin, Maxim United Arab Emirates, Thomson Locations: Russia, Abu Dhabi

☆ Abu Dhabi's ADNOC, AI firm G42 plan IPO of technology joint venture AIQ -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Hadeel Al Sayegh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBAI, June 22 (Reuters) - Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Abu Dhabi artificial intelligence company G42 are having early discussions about a possible flotation of their joint venture technology firm AIQ, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. AIQ, which is 60% owned by ADNOC and 40% by G42, uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to optimise processes, improve planning and increase profitability for ADNOC and the wider oil and gas industry. AIQ recently hired veteran investment banker Youssef Salem as chief financial officer, the sources said. G42, which is backed by Abu Dhabi state fund Mubadala Investment Co, AIQ and Salem did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It listed its gas business in March after raising $2.5 billion from the IPO, which was the world's biggest in the first quarter.

Persons: AIQ, Youssef Salem, Salem, Abu, OpenAI, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed, Nahyan, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, ADNOC, Hadeel Al Sayegh, Stephen Coates Organizations: Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Reuters, ADNOC, Moelis, Mubadala Investment, U.S, Microsoft Corp, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Abu Dhabi, U.S, Salem

☆ Qatar and UAE embassies resume work on Monday, Qatar's foreign ministry says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Foreign Minister of Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani during a joint press conference with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on July 14, 2017. Qatar and the United Arab Emirates' respective embassies reopened on Monday to resume work after the two Gulf states agreed to restore diplomatic ties, Qatar's foreign ministry said. The restoration of ties comes amid a broader regional push for reconciliation and more than two years after Arab states ended a boycott of Doha that had shattered the Western-allied Gulf Arab bloc. The Qatari ministry said in a statement that the two foreign ministers, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, had held a phone call as the two embassies reopened on Monday. Reuters reported in April that the two Gulf states were in the process of restoring diplomatic relations.

Persons: Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim, Mevlut Cavusoglu, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Organizations: Turkish Foreign, United Arab Emirates, Reuters, Doha Locations: Qatar, Qatar Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al, Thani, Doha, Arab, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Islam, Iran, Riyadh, Cairo, Saudi, Yemen

☆ Qatar and UAE embassies resume work on Monday -Qatar foreign ministry
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

DOHA, June 19 (Reuters) - Qatar and the United Arab Emirates' respective embassies reopened on Monday to resume work after the two Gulf states agreed to restore diplomatic ties, Qatar's foreign ministry said. The restoration of ties comes amid a broader regional push for reconciliation and more than two years after Arab states ended a boycott of Doha that had shattered the Western-allied Gulf Arab bloc. The Qatari ministry said in a statement that the two foreign ministers, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, had held a phone call as the two embassies reopened on Monday. Reuters reported in April that the two Gulf states were in the process of restoring diplomatic relations. Reporting by Nayera Abdallah and Andrew Mills, writing by Aziz El Yaakoubi; Editing by David Goodman and Gareth JonesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Nayera Abdallah, Andrew Mills, Aziz El Yaakoubi, David Goodman, Gareth Jones Organizations: DOHA, United Arab Emirates, Reuters, Doha, Thomson Locations: Qatar, Doha, Arab, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al, Thani, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Islam, Iran, Riyadh, Cairo, Saudi, Yemen

While on a working visit to Russia, the UAE president briefly toured the country’s pavilion at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). For the UAE, this is a “calculated risk” it is willing to take, part of the Gulf nation’s policy of de-escalation and dialogue in an increasingly polarized world, a top UAE official told CNN in exclusive comments on Thursday. “This polarization has to be broken,” Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, said. Meanwhile, its bilateral trade with Russia increased by 68% to $9 billion in 2022, mostly Russian exports to the UAE. But the UAE’s policy towards Russia has invited warnings from the US that individuals and institutions that allow Russia to evade sanctions risk losing access to G7 markets.

Persons: Mohamed bin Zayed, ” Sheikh Mohammed, Putin, ” Anwar Gargash, “, Sheikh Mohamed, Gargash, ”, ” Gargash, Brittney, Victor Bout, Sheikh Mohamed’s, Griner, Dina Esfandiary, Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Esfandiary Organizations: UAE CNN —, West, United Arab Emirates, St ., Economic, UAE, CNN, Putin, Crisis Locations: Abu Dhabi, UAE, Ukraine, Russia, St, St . Petersburg, “, Europe, East, North Africa, United States, Al Dhafra, Israel, China, Iran, Turkey, SPIEF, Emirates

The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is in talks with The Sovereign Wealth Fund of Egypt (TSFE) about the deal, said two sources with knowledge of the matter, who declined to be named. The fund is considering acquiring a stake of up to 30% in the hotels, the sources said, without naming them. Relations between Egypt and Qatar soured in the wake of the Arab Spring uprisings that toppled former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia has led efforts to rebuild ties with Qatar and, along with Egypt, re-established diplomatic relations in 2021. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in Baghdad in August 2021 for the first time since ending the dispute.

Persons: Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abdel Fattah El Sisi, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, St Regis Saadiyat, Egypt's TSFE, Agatha Christie's, Hosni Mubarak, Abdel Fattah al, Sisi, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad, Hadeel El, Andrew Mills, Patrick Werr, Louise Heavens, Mark Potter, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Abu, Abu Dhabi Executive Council, St Regis, United, United Arab Emirates, Read, Qatar Investment Authority, Sovereign Wealth Fund of Egypt, Regional, Qatar, Thomson Locations: Abu Dhabi, Egypt, Qatar, United Arab, DUBAI, Harrods, London, Aswan, Saudi Arabia, Thani, Baghdad, Ukraine, Hadeel El Sayegh, Dubai, Doha, Cairo

☆ Flush with cash, the Middle East is ramping up investment in soccer as a soft power push
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Michael Considine | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Manchester City's victory in the UEFA Champions League final over Inter Milan was historic for a number of reasons. Manchester City's win, heavily backed by UAE money, comes as Saudi Arabia and Qatar look to ramp up their investment in the sport. The UAE's Sheikh Mansour purchased the club in 2008 and has since proceeded to spend more on transfers than any other club in world soccer. The scale of the investment has attracted criticism, with human rights group Amnesty International saying the UAE's spending amounts to one of soccer's "most brazen attempts to 'sportswash' a country's deeply tarnished image." "But in terms of soft power, image reputation, nation branding, I think it's significant as well."

Persons: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Mohammed bin Zayed, Sheikh Mansour, it's, Simon Chadwick, CNBC's Organizations: Manchester, UEFA Champions League, Inter Milan, English Premier League, soccer, United Arab Emirates, Manchester City's, Manchester United, Amnesty, CNBC, Manchester City, Skema Business School Locations: Abu Dhabi, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar

☆ Manchester City Completes Historic Trophy Sweep with Champions League Title
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Joshua Robinson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates winning the Champions League Final in Istanbul on Saturday. Photo: PHOTO: sedat suna/ShutterstockISTANBUL—Two years after he acquired Manchester City, then a sad-sack English soccer club in the shadow of a crosstown rival, a young royal from Abu Dhabi went to watch his team play in person for the first time. His name was Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, his family was incalculably wealthy, and his new plaything was facing Liverpool. That was in 2010.

Persons: Erling Haaland, sedat, Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Organizations: Manchester City, Liverpool Locations: Istanbul, Shutterstock ISTANBUL, Abu

☆ Manchester City wins Champions League for first time, beating Inter Milan 1-0 in tense Istanbul final
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-10 | by ( Aimee Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

This was not only a night when City won its first Champions League. In beating three-time champion Inter, Pep Guardiola’s side became only the second English team to achieve the treble, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the same season. Rodri pictured scoring the winner which secured City the Champions League trophy. Manchester City has won the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League this season. Will City dominate the Champions League like it has the Premier League?

Persons: Manchester City’s, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Pep, Alex Ferguson, Shaun Botterill, Bernardo Silva, Erling Haaland, André Onana, Nicolò Barella, Ederson, Rodri, Federico Dimarco’s, Romelu Lukaku, Catherine Ivill, Sheikh Mansour –, –, ” Guardiola, Guardiola, “, ”, Martin Rickett, Abu, Umit Bektas, Jack Grealish, I’ve Organizations: CNN, Manchester, Abu Dhabi United Group, Champions League, Inter Milan, City, Inter, Premier League, FA, Manchester United, City . Manchester City, League, Monaco, Tottenham, Real Madrid, BT Sport, Inter’s, Etihad, Reuters Locations: Istanbul, Europe, City . Manchester, Liverpool, Lyon, Chelsea, Manchester City, Abu Dhabi, Will City, Barcelona

☆ Middle Eastern investors are pouring money into US media, sports, and entertainment — here are the 9 most active players and their key leaders
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Lucia Moses | Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Investors in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates are pouring money into Western media and entertainment. Sovereign funds and other entities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE are pouring millions into US media and entertainment, and they're finding plenty of takers. The channels for money from Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Middle East are complex. Insider broke down the key entities — their owners, leaders, and high-profile investments and joint ventures — in the top three Middle Eastern nations pouring money into US entertainment and media. It describes itself as the largest media company in the Middle East and North Africa and runs one of the largest TV news channels, Al Arabiya.

Persons: Jamal Khashoggi's, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, —, WME, Jimmy Finkelstein's, Abu Dhabi's, It's, Yasir Al, Rumayyan, Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim, Sam Barnett, Peter Smith —, Christina Wayne, SRMG, Mohammed bin Salman, Alrashid, Johnny Depp, Jeanne du Barry, Sharon Stone, Bruno Mars, Luca Guadanigno, Vince McMahon's, Turki Al, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Dayel, Mansoor bin Ebrahim Al, Mahmoud, Peter Chernin, Nasser Al, Germain, BeIN, Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad, Khalifa Al, Vincent, Asghar Farhadi's Oscar, Nart Bouran, JAF, Jeff Zucker, Graydon Carter's, it's, Semafor, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mansour, Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber Organizations: United, Sovereign, Saudi, Washington Post, Saudi Crown, Endeavor, UFC, IMI, Abu Dhabi Media Investment Corporation, Public Investment Fund, Saudi Aramco, Newcastle United, English football, PGA, MBC, Shahid, Netflix, Vice Media, Variety, MBC Group's, Antenna Group, Cineflex Studios, NBCUniversal International, Amazon, AMC, Saudi Research, Media, Publicly, Red Sea, Cannes, Penske Media Corporation, Bloomberg Media, Vince McMahon's WWE, country's General Entertainment Authority, Development, Cultural Development Fund, George Washington University, American University . Qatar Qatar Investment, Qatar Investment Authority, Providence, BeIN Media, Paris Saint, Miramax, Paramount, Doha Film, Doha Film Institute, H.E, Hollywood Reporter, United Arab Emirates Abu, Investment Authority, UAE, Abu, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Hollywood, Dubai Studio, Dubai Media City, National Geographic, BBC News, International Media Investments International Media Investments, National, CNN, Sky News Arabia, Reuters, JAF Communications, Grid, RedBird Capital Partners, Punchbowl News, New York Times, Manchester City, The, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Locations: Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Saudi, East, North Africa, Al Arabiya, Netherlands, Greece, Dubai, Jeddah, SRMG, Riyadh, Doha, Europe, Americas, ViacomCBS, Qatari, Thani, Abu Dhabi

☆ From bears to sharks to orcas, here's what to do if you find yourself up against these apex predators
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Here's what to do if you run into a bear, a shark, an orca, or other potentially dangerous mammals. Here's what you should do if you encounter any of these apex predators and how you can avoid an attack. REUTERS/Jim UrquhartThere are two kinds of bears you're likely to run into while outdoors in North America, depending on where you are: grizzly bears and black bears. The park service says you should try to find a safe place like a car or building. Bison have injured more people in Yellowstone, one of the country's most visited national parks, than any other animal, according to the National Park Service.

☆ Manchester City win Premier League title as Arsenal lose
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, May 20 (Reuters) - Manchester City were confirmed as Premier League champions for the fifth time in six seasons on Saturday without even having to kick a ball after second-placed Arsenal's challenge ended in defeat away at Nottingham Forest. City have now joined an elite group of clubs to win three successive English top-flight titles, with Huddersfield Town, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United the only others. "The Premier League is without doubt the most demanding and competitive league in the world so that tells you everything about what an achievement this is," he said. That quality and consistency helps sum up what Manchester City stand for and ensures the club will continue to strive for success going forward." Defeat at Forest means Arsenal have won only two of their last eight matches in the league.

☆ Syria's Assad shakes hands, kisses cheeks with onetime foes at Arab League summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( Maya Gebeily | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

May 19 (Reuters) - Every handshake would count, and Syria's President Bashar al-Assad had plenty of them at Friday's Arab League Summit - along with hugs and kisses - from his onetime foes in the region. As Assad lined up for the League's family photograph, he shook hands with his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. One after the other, Arab leaders welcomed Syria's return to the Arab league and during his own address, Assad repeatedly said that Syria belonged to the Arab world. Syria's state news agency had reported that the Emir and Assad shook hands and spoke briefly on the sidelines before the summit began - but there was no statement on Qatari media. An Arab official told Reuters that the Emir did not hold any bilateral meetings and left the summit before Assad spoke.

ABU DHABI—Last year, the United Arab Emirates became a hub for Russian money and cut oil production, boosting Moscow’s war chest and drawing protests from Washington. The country’s leader skipped a call from President Biden as the U.S. rallied support for Ukraine. Now, Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has been invited for a state visit to Washington, and the U.S. and U.A.E. are hammering out a formal agreement on defense and commerce after jointly committing $100 billion for clean-energy projects—a major Biden administration goal. All the while, the Emiratis have expanded ties with Russia and another U.S. rival, China.

CNN —The United Arab Emirates has invited Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to attend the United Nations’ COP28 Climate Summit, which will take place from November 30 in Dubai. The UAE embassy in Damascus said in a post on Twitter on Sunday that Assad had received an invitation to attend COP28 from Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi. If Assad attends, it would be his first global summit since the start of the country’s brutal civil war in 2011, and could cause diplomatic tensions for countries which continue to impose sanctions on his regime. A COP28 spokesperson told Reuters in a statement this week: “COP28 is committed to an inclusive COP process that produces transformational solutions. This can only happen if we have everyone in the room.”In March, Assad visited the UAE on an official invitation for the first time since the Syrian civil war began.

☆ If you see a killer whale, 'never enter the water.' What to do during an orca encounter, according to a whale expert.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-12 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A whale expert told Khaleej Times you should "never enter the water" if you see a killer whale. There was even one incident where killer whales sank a sailboat. Nigel Killeen / Contributor / Getty ImagesLuckily, there have never been any recorded fatal orca attacks on humans in the wild, Natoli told Khaleej Times. "Try not to approach them from the back or from the front, stay on their side instead," Natoli told Khaleej Times. By contrast, in the United Arab Emirates, Natoli told Khaleej Times that sightings are rare in the region, with only about one every year and a half.

☆ Top Biden aide discusses Yemen peace efforts with Saudi crown prince
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, May 7 (Reuters) - U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a visit to the kingdom on Sunday and reviewed what the White House called "significant progress" in Yemen peace efforts, the White House said. Sullivan, President Joe Biden's top White House national security aide, also thanked the crown prince for Saudi support to U.S. citizens during evacuation from Sudan, the statement added. U.S. special envoy Tim Lenderking travelled to Oman and Saudi Arabia earlier this month to seek to advance Yemen peace efforts, the State Department said. A Saudi-led military coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015 after the Iran-aligned Houthis ousted the government from the capital Sanaa. But the White House statement made no mention of Israel.

☆ Etihad Airways signs deal to allow bookings using AI within chat app BOTIM
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DUBAI, May 2 (Reuters) - Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi's state carrier, on Tuesday signed an agreement with technology firm Astra Tech that allows customers to make flight bookings using artificial intelligence within chat app BOTIM, Astra Tech said. Astra Tech has said its GPT is the first that works in the Arabic language. "Through the BOTIM GPT module developed by Astra Tech, flights and other travel-related services are integrated into the Botim app, offering a convenient and innovative way for customers to book Etihad flights," Astra Tech said. Astra Tech bought BOTIM last year for an undisclosed sum from about 12 investors, Astra Tech founder and BOTIM CEO Abdallah Abu Sheikh told Reuters last month. BOTIM is one of the top three digital remittance providers in the UAE, one of the other services the app provides, Sheikh said.

☆ Brazil's Lula calls for 'peace group' to broker Ukraine-Russia deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

He cited Xi and the president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, both of whom he met this week. Lula had previously said the group should gather countries not "encouraging" war, adding that nations that are supplying weapons should be convinced to stop doing so. Germany earlier this year reportedly asked Brazil to supply arms as well, but Lula refused. Lula had a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy earlier this year. Reporting by Gabriel Araujo and Eduardo Simoes in Sao Paulo; Editing by Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Saudi money is flowing to US media and entertainment, from Live Nation to LIV Golf, 5 years after Jamal Khashoggi's murder: 'The ice has thawed'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Claire Atkinson | Lucia Moses | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +20 min

Sovereign funds and other entities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE are pouring millions into US media and entertainment. Insider identified some key people connecting Middle East investors with American companies. Saudi Arabia is trying to pitch itself to the world as a cultural and economic reformer and spur tourism. Vince McMahon's WWE has a long-term partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with a major live WWE event there slated for May. Vince McMahon's WWE was one of the first US companies to create unique events in Saudi Arabia.

☆ 9 Middle Eastern funds and investors pouring money into US media, sports, and entertainment
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Lucia Moses | Claire Atkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Governments and investors in the Middle East are pouring money into Western media and entertainment. Sovereign funds and other entities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE are pouring millions into US media and entertainment, and they're finding plenty of takers. The channels for money from Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Middle East are complex. Insider broke down the key entities — their owners, leaders, and high-profile investments and joint ventures — in the top three Middle Eastern nations pouring money into US entertainment and media. It describes itself as the largest media company in the Middle East and North Africa and runs one of the largest TV news channels, Al Arabiya.

☆ UAE's ruler breaks with tradition and appoints his son as crown prince
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailUAE's ruler breaks with tradition and appoints his son as crown princeUAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan passed over his brothers, promoting them to senior roles and effectively pushed them out of the succession. CNBC's Hadley Gamble reports.

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