Author: Steven Sahiounie

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s business environment has witnessed a drastic shift in recent years as employers consider artificial intelligence a critical tool for their operations.

The “weaponization” of the US dollar through the seizure of frozen Russian assets could prompt a global shift away from the greenback, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday, citing a former International Monetary Fund (IMF) official.  

Slow economic growth will push France out of the list of the world’s ten largest economies within five years, according to an updated global outlook from the International Monetary Fund.

Russia’s financial stability will not be affected if the US seizes its frozen assets, Bank of Russia Governor Elvira Nabiullina told journalists on Friday.

Russia warns the United States and NATO against taking any actions that undermine its security, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. “We are sending clear and unequivocal signals to the United States and NATO warning them about potentially catastrophic consequences of their policy toward jeopardizing Russia’s security,” she said. “Regrettably, the level of nuclear risks have risen dramatically as a result of the West’s destructive policy, which is fraught with a direct military confrontation between nuclear powers,” she said, adding that Russia never stops efforts to ensure nuclear deterrence. “Apart from that, Russia regularly reviews its doctrines to assess…

The North Atlantic Alliance bears direct responsibility for the Ukrainian crisis, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Wang Wenbin told a news briefing. “NATO bears indisputable responsibility for this crisis. The alliance should give thought to its role, stop shifting the blame and effectively take practical action for the political settlement of the crisis,” he said. Wang added that China was not providing weapons to the conflicting parties and strictly controlled dual-use goods, including the export of drones. He said that “more than 60% of the weapons components and dual-use items imported by Russia come from the United States and Western countries.”…

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi drew a distinction between Islamic Republic’s relations with Africa and those of Western nations, saying on Friday that the latter want Africa “for themselves” to serve their own agenda while Iran wants an Africa for Africans. “The West’s view of Africa is to secure their own interests; they want Africa for themselves. We want Africa for Africa. This is the difference between the two approaches in the world,” Raisi said at the second Iran-Africa Summit in Tehran. He stressed the importance of understanding Africa’s capabilities and potentials. “Despite sanctions and threats, the Islamic Republic of Iran…

Another suspect in the terror attack on Moscow’s Crocus City Hall music venue has been arrested, a police spokesman told TASS. “One more potential suspect in the Crocus terror attack case has been detained. Investigators are probing into his role in the terror attack,” he said. The detention was reported earlier by the RBC media outlet, which said that police had detained Tajik national Djumokhon Kurbonov. In all, eleven suspects, including four perpetrators, have been arrested. The terror attack on the Crocus City Hall concert venue in the city of Krasnogorsk just a stone’s throw from Moscow’s city limits was…

The long-running dispute between Israel and Palestine is no ordinary conflict but rather a struggle between oppressors and the oppressed, said the Turkish foreign minister on Friday. “The conflict between Israel and Palestine has ceased to be a war and has turned into a struggle of the oppressors and the oppressed,” Hakan Fidan told a joint news conference with Winston Peters, his counterpart from New Zealand. The conflict also evolved into “struggle between the founders of the international system and the oppressed within this system,” he added. He said Israel has not only been killing Palestinians but also international law.…

Beijing and Washington are free to choose their friends and partners, Chinese President Xi Jinping said at a meeting with visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “Both sides may have their own friends and partners and should not confront each other or do harm to each other,” he was quoted as saying by China’s Central Television. China sticks to the principle of non-alignment with any blocs, he said and called on the United States “to refrain from teaming up in small groups.” “China is glad to see the self-confident and open United States and hopes that it will positively assess…