
World bank expects Syria's GDP to grow 1 percent in 2025
'The easing of sanctions provides some upside potential; however, progress remains limited as frozen assets and restricted access to international banking continue to hinder energy supply, foreign assistance, humanitarian support, and trade and investment,' the World Bank said in a statement.
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Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi KAUST's Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy Advances Energy Innovation
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), through its Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Storage Technologies (CREST), has launched initiatives to support innovation in energy fields, in alignment with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to transition toward a knowledge-based economy and build sustainable development. These efforts include transforming new ideas into practical solutions, developing prototypes of KAUST inventions and ensuring their reliability, and scaling up these prototypes through collaboration with local and international partners, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday. KAUST has leveraged the center's research to boost energy security, reduce environmental impact, create new job opportunities for youth, and continue advancing education, training, and workforce development. These steps aim to support and localize renewable energy research, boost academic and industrial collaboration, and position the center as a leading research hub and a preferred destination for students, researchers, and faculty members. CREST Chair Professor Husam Alshareef stressed that the center's research, focused on prototype development and technology scaling, enhances energy efficiency, reliability, storage, and sustainability. Many projects are based on innovative technologies developed at KAUST in cooperation with industrial partners. These include advanced photovoltaic cells and new battery chemistries that reduce cooling requirements and fire risks in harsh conditions, as well as lithium extraction and battery recycling to ensure a stable lithium supply and enhance the Kingdom's battery sector, he added. The center conducts research on sustainable cooling technologies aimed at improving the performance of electronic devices such as solar panels and LED lights, thereby extending their lifespan, he went on to say. Additional research includes storing energy in chemical fuels and generating electricity, testing and modeling energy storage technologies, and integrating them across disciplines within the university by merging research strategies involving experts in chemistry, engineering, and software development, he revealed.


Asharq Al-Awsat
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Zelenskiy Spoke with Trump Ahead of Peace Deal Deadline
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Al Arabiya
3 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Zelenskyy speaks with Trump ahead of Putin ceasefire deadline
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that he had had a 'productive' conversation with his US counterpart Donald Trump on ending the war, sanctions on Russia and the finalization of a US-Ukraine drone deal. Trump, who has signaled frustration with Vladimir Putin in recent weeks, has given the Russian president until August 8 to make peace in Ukraine or face tougher sanctions. For the latest updates on the Russia-Ukraine war, visit our dedicated page. 'President Trump is fully informed about Russian strikes on Kyiv and other cities and communities,' Zelenskyy wrote on X, referring to intensifying drone and missile attacks. Trump has threatened to hit Russia with new sanctions and impose 100 percent tariffs on countries that buy its oil, but sources close to the Kremlin told Reuters that Putin was unlikely to bow to the ultimatum. Zelenskyy said Ukraine was also ready to conclude a deal with the US on the purchase of Ukrainian drones that would amount to 'one of the strongest agreements.' He had earlier said the deal was worth around $30 billion. Ukraine is increasingly seeking financing and investment from its foreign partners to bolster its burgeoning domestic arms industry. Zelenskyy said Kyiv's European partners had so far pledged to buy more than $1 billion in US weapons for Ukraine as part of a new scheme.