Latest news with #MiddleEast
Wall Street Journal
21 minutes ago
- General
- Wall Street Journal
Gazans Confront a Stark Choice: Risk Death to Get Food, or Starve
For many in Gaza, it is an agonizing daily choice. Should they risk a trip through combat zones to visit one of the enclave's four functioning aid-distribution sites that are frequently scenes of chaos and violence? Or should they try to make it another 24 hours, or more, without food. Mahmoud al-Tarifi's 22-year-old son, Osama, set out for a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation center near the Netzarim corridor, an Israeli-patrolled zone that bisects Gaza. His family hadn't eaten a filling meal in weeks, Tarifi said, and Osama wanted to get rice, dried beans or other supplies.
Arab News
28 minutes ago
- Business
- Arab News
STC Bank launches new savings product ‘Numu+'
STC Bank has launched a unique savings product — 'Numu+' — which will encourage customers to save through an innovative concept. It includes valuable rewards and gifts, such as luxury cars, cash, and electronic devices, offered by the bank as an incentive to grow their personal savings. 'Numu+' was primarily designed as an account that enables customers to save through a unique experience via the bank's app. The product is in line with Vision 2030, specifically the Financial Sector Development Program, and the goal of raising the savings rate across the Kingdom from six to 10 percent. It also continues STC Bank's efforts to introduce innovative digital products that enhance the financial solvency of various customer segments. STC Bank's continued growth is driven by its customer-centric digital financial services platform, which allows individual users to open a bank account with an IBAN number. This allows customers to enjoy a host of benefits, including the 'Numu+' savings service, instant local and international transfers at competitive rates via mobile numbers, card services, an online store, expense monitoring and financial planning features, and other daily financial transactions, all of which have become easier than ever before.
Wall Street Journal
29 minutes ago
- Politics
- Wall Street Journal
The Best Judge of ‘Real Peace' in the Mideast
The most important thing to note about 'A Hebron 'Emirate' or a Colonial Deception?' (op-ed, July 10) is that the author, Mahmoud Jabari, writes from Geneva. He lives there, while the Palestinians whose peace proposal he criticizes live in Hebron or part time in East Jerusalem. Mr. Jabari claims to have left during the second intifada. That was 20 years ago. Surely those on the ground have a better grip on life there and how to improve it than he. Mr. Jabari writes that his family had long lived in Hebron and 'didn't leave by choice. The violence of the second intifada and the relentless aggression of Israeli settlers made staying impossible.' The area where Mr. Jabari lived, H2, is populated by about 35,000 Palestinians who actually 'didn't leave by choice' and didn't find 'staying impossible.' They're still there.
Khaleej Times
an hour ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE: DP World to upgrade, operate Syria's Port of Tartus in $800-million, 30-year deal
DP World has signed a landmark 30-year concession agreement with Syria's General Authority for Land and Sea Ports to develop and operate the Port of Tartus. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa. Under the deal, DP World will invest $800 million throughout the concession period to upgrade the port's infrastructure, aiming to transform it into a major regional trade hub. The enhanced Port of Tartus will serve as a key gateway linking Southern Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, boosting connectivity and regional commerce. "This agreement marks an important step forward for the Port of Tartus and Syria's maritime sector," said Qutaiba Ahmed Badawi, chairman of Syria's General Authority for Land and Maritime Ports. "Partnering with DP World will allow us to modernise and strengthen the efficiency of our trade infrastructure as we continue to rebuild key trade lanes, support the national economy, and provide more opportunities for the Syrian people," he added. Meanwhile, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman and Group CEO of DP World, said that they see strong potential in Tartus to serve as a vital trade gateway. "(We) look forward to strengthening regional connectivity and economic opportunity through this investment. We believe in the power of trade to help drive long-term stability and prosperity for Syria and the region," said Sultan. The agreement follows a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on May 16 between the two sides after the lifting of US sanctions paved the way for the investment. The MoU outlined plans to develop, manage, and operate a multi-purpose terminal at Tartus, with cooperation on establishing industrial and free trade zones. DP World is a subsidiary of the UAE investment company Dubai World. Syria is seeking to attract foreign investments to boost its struggling economy, and the deal was signed in the same week that US President Donald Trump announced plans to lift of sanctions on Syria during a visit to Riyadh.
Times of Oman
an hour ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
France and Oman: Common vision and shared ambition
On the occasion of the French National Day, I would like to express my gratitude to the Omani authorities and the Omani people for their warm welcome, as well as to the French community and to all the friends of France in Oman. I took up my duties in this friendly country one year ago, and since then I have experienced every single day the friendship between France and the Sultanate, between the people of France and the people of Oman. After arriving in Oman in August 2024, I have quickly been given the honour to present my credentials to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik to whom I would like to express my sincere gratitude for his warm welcome and his guidance on deepening the historic and fraternal bilateral relationship between our two countries. I would also like to extend my most sincere thanks to His Excellency Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al-Busaidi, Minister of Foreign Affairs, for his constant support and friendship, as well as to all the representatives of the Government and Administration in Oman, who spare no effort to further enhance the excellent relationship between France and the Sultanate. Same as the Sultanate of Oman, France remains committed to the resolution of conflicts through negotiation, a position that has been reiterated by the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, with regard to Ukraine, Iran and Gaza. That is why in the recent period, the French President has called twice by telephone His Majesty the Sultan, in particular to thank him for the role played by the Sultanate in the release of a French national detained in Iran. Indeed, the international law remains our compass, thus I expressed France's full support for the negotiation processes that were conducted by the Omani authorities under the aegis of His Excellency Sayyid Badr Al-Busaïdi, between Iran and the United States. I also reiterate France's call for an end to the tragedy of the Palestinian population in Gaza, for the immediate resumption of humanitarian aid distribution and for the release of all hostages. We must give both Israelis and Palestinians a political perspective that will allow peaceful coexistence and security for all. It is in this spirit that a conference will be held in New York on the two-state solution, following a French initiative supported by its Arab and international partners. These French positions were also expressed by a high-profile parliamentary delegation from the France-Gulf Friendship Group, which met, in Muscat, with the highest figures in the Omani legislative sphere last April. The past year has also been very fruitful and active in terms of developing economic relations, strategic cooperation, and scientific and cultural cooperation between France and Oman. Recently, French companies such as TotalEnergies and EDF Power Solutions have invested 2 billion euros in Oman in key energy sectors in support of the Oman 'Vision 2040'. In May 2025, the MARSA LNG project in Sohar was inaugurated, representing the largest foreign investment of the year in Oman. More than forty French companies in all major sectors are present in Oman, investing and contributing to the development of the Sultanate's economy and the creation of jobs for Omanis as part of the Omanisation programme. These elements gave us the opportunity to host in October 2024 an important mission of MEDEF International, France's largest business association. The mission was composed of numerous French companies interested in the opportunities offered by the Omani economy, which is resolutely committed to an unprecedented diversification thanks to its 'Vision 2040' plan. It is also in support of a closer economic cooperation that we had the honour, in early 2025, of welcoming in Oman a delegation from the Normandy Region, led by the President of this Region and including many business representatives, who forged promising links with public and private companies of the Sultanate and strengthened equestrian cooperation between France and Oman, both of which excel in this field. Our strategic and defence cooperation is also very intense: the visit of the Chief of Staff of the French Armed Forces, who met his Omani counterpart in early 2025, was an opportunity to reinforce the excellence of our relationship of trust and to renew France's commitment both in terms of reciprocal training and operational cooperation. Our cooperation is also intense and is being strengthened year by year in many other fields like education with the establishment of higher education scholarships in France, co-financed by both countries; medicine with Omani doctors being sent to France to specialise; justice with a significant increase in cooperation between magistrates, particularly in the fields of training and exchange of expertise; health with the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding between French and Omani institutions in the field of cancer treatment; and space with the positioning of very high-level French offers in the satellite sector, a particularly promising field in Oman. France in Oman relies mainly on its diplomatic team, as well as on the French-Omani Centre, the French International School in Muscat, the French Omani friendship association, the French Foreign Trade Committee and the French-Omani joint business council for raising high our common ambitions and shared values. I would like to express my gratitude to all of them for their commitment to fostering excellent relations between our two countries. It is therefore with pleasure and pride that I extend my sincerest wishes for success and prosperity to all our Omani friends, our fellow citizens residing in Oman, as well as to all the friends of France who recognize themselves in our values of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.
