UAE airspace closed; Gulf nations on alert amid Iran's strikes on US bases
Media reports indicate that the airspace of the United Arab Emirates has been closed following Iran's attack on American bases in Qatar, Youm7 reported.
Bahraini authorities activated air raid sirens recently, coinciding with Iran's bombardment of American bases in Qatar and Iraq. Similarly, Kuwaiti authorities sounded air raid sirens at the Ali Al Salem Air Base in the country a short while ago.
Media reports also stated that an Iranian attack targeted American bases in Iraq concurrently with those in Qatar.
Earlier, Hebrew media reported hearing explosions in the skies over the Qatari capital, Doha. A report from an Israeli source mentioned that Iran launched six missiles at American bases in Qatar.
For its part, Axios reported that 'the United States is preparing for an Iranian attack on American bases in Gulf countries.'
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Egypt Independent
3 hours ago
- Egypt Independent
Chinese experts at Al-Masry Al-Youm symposium warn that US and Israel are harming global economy
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Xiuming also touched on aiding friendly countries to China, such as Egypt, in in its economic advancement through investment projects as well as combating poverty. He explained that there is a common goal through a strategy for all countries, taking into account that each region and nation has its own characteristics. He emphasized that transferring China's experience does not necessarily have to be an exact translation, as each country has a specific population range compared to China, which exceeds 1.4 billion people. Xiuming assured that China has not and will never follow colonialism, and supports 'progress and peace for all'. Thus through the 'Belt and Road' initiative, Beijing is working to promote economic and security peace, and numerous mega projects are underway, such as the Administrative Capital in Cairo. Beijing commended the progress of the projects achieved in Egypt, which will benefit future generations. Xiuming also pointed out that through his visit to Cairo, he is better learning on how to benefit from the Belt and Road Initiative, address obstacles, solve problems, and overcome them. America's tariffs threaten global economic security A Professor of Economics at the Institute of Chinese Studies and Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Xie Yiqing, discussed the issue of tariffs imposed by the US on many countries around the world. China bore the brunt of these unjustified tariffs, which has impacted both the US and China. Despite Washington's 90-day reprieve, China was already impacted within a month. If tariffs are reimposed, it will harm the global economy, with businesses closing and tourism impacted. She explained that China feels responsible and is not against the American government, but warned that Trump's administration is harming the world at a time Beijing seeks to be fair in its decisions. 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Yet despite the international conflicts and disputes, optimism in the global economy remains. The benefits of Artificial Intelligence Li explained that in order to develop the global economy, scientific research must be advanced through technological revolution and artificial intelligence in order to promote globalization, which the Belt and Road Initiative is part of. However China will not force anyone to fall under the initiative, and instead it exists to generate profits and provide job opportunities. He called for the importance of long-term scientific cooperation and economic development, which will lead to political stability rather than chaos. Li noted that Beijing is working to embrace AI and harness its potential for greater benefits, as it has already had an impact on everything through research, job creation through innovation, and improved living conditions. The Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Shanghai, Wu Xiuming, believes that AI is a means, not an end. Through its revolution in this field, it has been able to change everything. At Shanghai University and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, transportation research takes at least a week, while the DeepScience AI application has succeeded in completing it in 30 minutes. So it works to shorten the time, and in the midst of the information revolution, it has an impact on energy, electricity, and all jobs. He gave an example of how, in order to advertise a product on the beach, and to work on having a model go, and choosing the appropriate time and circumstances, all estimates indicate that it would take several months to film it, AI has shortened that to just 30 minutes. AI has also made impressive results in the medical field through the analysis and examination of genetic and incurable diseases, and the administration of medications and treatment by entering the medical history of the patient. This means that AI will bring about a strong breakthrough in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, which will be even more accurate. He continued: 'Within the next three to five years, there will be a comprehensive change in artificial intelligence and the revolution it will bring about. However, it will not eliminate jobs or provide alternatives, nor will it eliminate human labor – rather, they will employ it. Therefore, the outlook is not pessimistic, as it will eliminate real jobs. On the contrary, it will eliminate jobs that are useless and will create major jobs that will benefit the international community.' 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China's efforts to reduce poverty and achieve common prosperity were emphasized, including prioritizing agriculture, laying the foundation for food security, strengthening targeted poverty reduction to help the rural poor prosper, and promoting rural revitalization through the 'Ten Thousand Villages' project. It is also leading the transformation towards rural modernization, narrowing the 'income gap,' enhancing income distribution, and reforms to reduce social polarization. Experts stressed that poverty reduction remains a common challenge for countries around the world. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Chinese government has launched large-scale and sustained efforts to alleviate poverty, achieving remarkable results. Beijing has succeeded in eliminating poverty for about 100 million people. 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Al-Ahram Weekly
4 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Trump cuts off US trade talks with Canada over digital tax on tech firms - International
President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he was halting trade negotiations with Canada in response to its decision to proceed with a digital services tax targeting large U.S. technology firms. Trump, in a post on his social media network, said Canada had just informed the U.S. that it was sticking to its plan to impose the digital services tax, which applies to Canadian and foreign businesses that engage with online users in Canada. The tax is set to go into effect Monday. The digital services tax will hit companies including Amazon, Google, Meta, Uber and Airbnb with a 3 percent levy on revenue from Canadian users. It will apply retroactively, leaving U.S. companies with a $2 billion U.S. bill due at the end of the month. Calling the move 'a direct and blatant attack on our country,' Trump said Washington would not continue talks while Ottawa imposed what he described as an unfair measure aimed at American companies. 'Based on this egregious Tax, we are hereby terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately. We will let Canada know the Tariff that they will be paying to do business with the United States of America within the next seven day period,' Trump said in his post. Trump's announcement was the latest swerve in the trade war he's launched since taking office for a second term in January. Progress with Canada has been a roller coaster, starting with the U.S. president poking at the nation's northern neighbor and repeatedly suggesting it would be absorbed as a U.S. state. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday that his country would 'continue to conduct these complex negotiations in the best interests of Canadians. It's a negotiation.' Trump later said he expects that Canada will remove the tax. 'Economically we have such power over Canada. We'd rather not use it,' Trump said in the Oval Office. "It's not going to work out well for Canada. They were foolish to do it.' When asked if Canada could do anything to restart talks, he suggested Canada could remove the tax, predicted it will but said, 'It doesn't matter to me.' Carney visited Trump in May at the White House, where he was polite but firm. Trump last week traveled to Canada for the G7 summit in Alberta, where Carney said that Canada and the U.S. had set a 30-day deadline for trade talks. Canada and the U.S. have been discussing easing a series of steep tariffs Trump imposed on goods from America's neighbor. The Republican president earlier told reporters that the U.S. was soon preparing to send letters to different countries, informing them of the new tariff rate his administration would impose on them. Trump has imposed 50 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum as well as 25 percent tariffs on autos. He is also charging a 10 percent tax on imports from most countries, though he could raise rates on July 9, after the 90-day negotiating period he set would expire. Canada and Mexico face separate tariffs of as much as 25 percent that Trump put into place under the auspices of stopping fentanyl smuggling, though some products are still protected under the 2020 U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement signed during Trump's first term. Addressing reporters after a private meeting with Republican senators Friday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declined to comment on news that Trump had ended trade talks with Canada. 'I was in the meeting,' Bessent said before moving on to the next question. About 60 percent of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85 percent of U.S. electricity imports as well. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager to obtain. About 80 percent of Canada's exports go to the U.S. Daniel Beland, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal, said it is a domestic tax issue, but it has been a source of tensions between Canada and the United States for a while because it targets U.S. tech giants. 'The Digital Services Tax Act was signed into law a year ago so the advent of this new tax has been known for a long time,' Beland said. "Yet, President Trump waited just before its implementation to create drama over it in the context of ongoing and highly uncertain trade negotiations between the two countries.' Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Al-Ahram Weekly
6 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Thousands mourn top Iranian military commanders and scientists killed in Israeli strikes - Region
Thousands of mourners lined the streets of downtown Tehran on Saturday for the funeral of the head of the Revolutionary Guard and other top commanders and nuclear scientists killed during a 12-day war with Israel. The caskets of Guard's chief Gen. Hossein Salami, the head of the Guard's ballistic missile program, Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh and others were driven on trucks along the capital's Azadi Street as people in the crowds chanted: 'Death to America' and 'Death to Israel.' Salami and Hajizadeh were both killed on the first day of the war, June 13, as Israel launched a war it said meant to destroy Iran's nuclear program, specifically targeting military commanders, scientists and nuclear facilities. Several strikes hit residential areas, killing family members and civilians nearby. There was no immediate sign of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the state broadcast of the funeral. Khamenei, who has not made a public appearance since before the outbreak of the war, has in past funerals held prayers for fallen commanders over their caskets before the open ceremonies, later aired on state television. Over 12 days before a ceasefire was declared on Tuesday, Israel claimed it killed around 30 Iranian commanders and 11 nuclear scientists, while hitting eight nuclear-related facilities and more than 720 military infrastructure sites. More than 1,000 people were killed, including at least 417 civilians, according to the Washington-based Human Rights Activists group. In response, Iran fired more than 550 ballistic missiles at Israel, most of which were intercepted, but those that got through caused damage in many areas and killed 28 people. Saturday's ceremonies were the first public funerals for top commanders since the ceasefire, and Iranian state television reported that they were for 60 people in total, including four women and four children. Authorities closed government offices to allow public servants to attend the ceremonies. Iran has always insisted its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes. But Israel said its military campaign was necessary to prevent Iran from building an atomic weapon. Khamenei's last public appearance was June 11, two days before Israel launched attacks on Tehran, when he met with Iranian parliamentarians. On Thursday, however, he released a pre-recorded video, in his first message since the end of the war, filled with warnings and threats directed toward the United States and Israel, the Islamic Republic's longtime adversaries. The 86-year-old downplayed U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites as having not achieved 'anything significant' and claimed victory over Israel. Although, US President Donald Trump has claimed the US strikes 'completely and fully obliterated' Iran's nuclear programme, insisting it has been set back by decades, Iran is believed to have moved a portion of its highly enriched uranium stockpile ahead of the strikes, something it told the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it planned to do. Still, Rafael Grossi, the IAEA director general, told Radio France International that damage to the Fordo site—located deep in a mountain—was 'very, very, very considerable'. He said the site's centrifuges, 'quite precise machines', would likely have suffered 'important physical damage' from multiple 30,000-pound bombs. 'These centrifuges are no longer operational,' he said. Grossi has faced growing criticism inside Iran for issuing contradictory statements that officials say created political cover for US and Israeli attacks on the country. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran had not yet decided whether to grant access to IAEA inspectors to assess the damage. 'They will be kept out for the time being,' he said, speaking on Iranian state television late on Thursday. He added that US military intervention had further derailed diplomatic efforts. 'The American decision to intervene militarily made it more complicated and more difficult,' he said, referring to the prospects of resuming talks on Iran's nuclear programme. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
