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MUST-READS

  • Chart: FIFA World Cup: The Biggest Stage of All?

    When Qatar and Ecuador kick off the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Sunday, it is the beginning of what is arguably the biggest sporting event in the world. While maybe not the greatest spectacle in sports – that honor goes to the Super Bowl, which is bridging the gap between sports and entertainment unlike any other event – the quadrennial FIFA World Cup is probably the most followed competition in the world of sports.

  • Opinion: Iran protests – What is the endgame?

    The central slogan of “woman, life, freedom” is progressive and supported by millions of Iranian women. That said, it is not enough to attract the large faction of society struggling to put food on the table. While according to the ministry of labor 30 million Iranians live in “absolute poverty”,  a report by the semiofficial Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA) maintains that seven out of ten (59 million) of the Iranian population live under poverty line.

  • What does the US think of India’s oil imports from Russia?

    India is now among the largest buyers of Russian oil. Russia’s share in India’s overall oil imports now stands at 12%, up from a minuscule 2% at the beginning of this year.

  • Fintech in Saudi: How is the Kingdom faring?

    Between September 2021 and August 2022, Saudi Arabia welcomed 65 new fintech companies, bringing the total number of active players to 147, up 79% year-on-year, according to Fintech Saudi’s latest annual report. Since the 2018 launch of Fintech Saudi, a joint initiative by the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) and the Capital Market Authority (CMA), the number of fintech entities in Saudi Arabia has grown 14.7 times.

  • Could offshore aquaculture make fish farming more sustainable?

    Advocates say this is the future of fish farms, which now account for the bulk of the fish we eat. Fish farming has been fraught with issues, from crowded pens to the use of antibiotics and GMO feed. But in the ocean, there’s more room for fish to spread out and contaminants to dissolve, they say. And industrial offshore fish farming also gives depleted fish stocks a chance to replenish.

  • How many fossil fuel lobbyists are at COP27?

    There are 33,449 registered attendees as the COP27 climate summit in Egypt right now, making it the second-biggest Conference of the Parties on record after last year’s in Glasgow. Of these, 636 are lobbyists for fossil fuel companies or fossil-reliant energy companies, according to a Nov. 10 analysis by the advocacy group Global Witness.

  • Is rare killing of US citizen tied to battle over Iraq’s top spy agency?

    A shadowy Shiite armed group has claimed responsibility for the rare assassination of an American citizen in Baghdad. Given the perpetrator’s apparent links with Asa’ib Ahl Al-Haq, which is maneuvering to lead Iraq’s main intelligence and security agencies, speculations have emerged of grander political objectives being at play. Of further note, the assassination has been followed by reported Israeli airstrikes along the Iraq-Syria border.

  • Commentary: Punish Riyadh or play it cool? How the United States can renegotiate its relationship with Saudi Arabia.

    In some Saudis’ view, if extenuating circumstances require the United States to downgrade its end of the deal a bit, Washington should not mind when extenuating circumstances (such as a projected global downturn in oil demand) cause Riyadh to do the same. Saudi analysts who do not understand the cumbersome process of US weapons transfers watch the speed with which the United States has moved defensive arms to Ukraine and ask why Washington did not do the same after the 2019 Iran-backed attack on Saudi oil facilities in Abqaiq or continued attacks thereafter.

  • Burj Binghatti: The world’s tallest residential tower?

    Although the final height of Burj Binghatti has not been disclosed yet, we know that New York’s Central Park Tower – the structure that currently holds the title – is 472.4m high. Currently, the tallest residential tower in Dubai, the Princess Tower, stands at 393m.

  • Opinion: Will Iraq’s new prime minister bring change — or more of the same?

    After a year-long crisis in Iraq triggered by contested elections, Iraq finally has a government headed by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani. While this ends the political impasse, it’s unclear whether his new cabinet will bring about change or usher in more of the same.