Putin says Russia, Ukraine peace proposals “absolute contradictory”
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Russia and Ukraine's demands for peace were "absolutely contradictory", after two rounds of...
Geostrategy
Conflicts and related fatalities triple since 2000, fueling extreme poverty: WB
Washington, United States -- Conflicts and related fatalities have more than tripled since the early 2000s, fueling extreme poverty, the...
Geostrategy
Business
Italy to scale down its dependence on Russian gas
Italy is ethically obliged to stop buying Russian gas "soon" as the payments are funding the Ukraine war, the country's...
- "We are diversifying our sources with great speed," he said
- Cingolani predicted the country would no longer need Russian gas within 18 months
Geostrategy
Putin hails ‘liberation’ of Mariupol, but nixes steel plant raid
President Vladimir Putin said the ‘liberation’ of Mariupol was a ‘success’ for Russian forces, but also ordered Defense Minister Sergei...
- Taking full control of Mariupol on the Azov Sea would be a major strategic victory for Russia
- It will help Russia connect annexed Crimea to the territories of separatists in eastern Ukraine
Geostrategy
Libya’s oil industry falls hostage again to political schism
The National Oil Company (NOC) has this week declared a halt to operations at two major oil export terminals and...
- The closure is a manifestation of playing out between the parallel administrations of Fathi Bashagha and Abdulhamid Dbeibah
- The shutdowns in Libya further squeeze global supply and represent an additional source of upward pressure for prices.
Economy
ECB to put an end to bond buying in July
The European Central Bank "should" end its stimulus program at the beginning of the third quarter, its vice-president said in...
- The Frankfurt-based institution has been under pressure from rising prices to withdraw its stimulus faster and follow other central banks towards interest rate hikes
- In the eurozone, inflation ran at 7.5 percent in March, the highest figure on record for the currency club and well above the ECB's own two-percent target
Geostrategy
Erdogan claims that Iraq backed Turkey’s push against Kurdish militants
The Turkish leader’s comments came a day after Iraq summoned Turkey’s ambassador to Baghdad to lodge a formal protest against...
- The Turkish leader’s comments came a day after Iraq summoned Turkey’s ambassador to Baghdad to lodge a formal protest against Erdogan’s latest military campaign
- Turkey’s armed forces have reported the death of two soldiers and dozens of Kurdish militants since the launch Sunday of their third offensive in northern Iraq
Economy
Oil prices up as traders weigh demand and supply issues
Oil began inching upward on Thursday after a day of losses over demand concerns linked to the Covid-19 lockdown in...
- The United States has said it will release a substantial portion of its oil reserves to cushion the shortfall
- "Oil is still trading mixed after Tuesday's sharp pullback but is opening in Asia near the midpoint of yesterday's trading range," Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said
Business
Twitter and analysts are wary of takeover bid by Elon Musk
Earlier this month, Elon Musk made an unsolicited bid of $43 million for Twitter, citing better freedom of speech as...
- Moody's estimated it would cost Musk $39 billion to buy all the outstanding shares of Twitter
- That would give Twitter ‘a strong chance’ to repay or refinance its billions of dollars of existing debt
Economy
Third dust storm in two weeks sweeps through Iraq
Iraq was hit Wednesday by its third heavy dust storm in two weeks, temporarily grounding flights at Baghdad and Najaf...
- Two dust storms struck the country earlier in April, leaving dozens hospitalised with respiratory problems
- Iraq is particularly vulnerable to climate change, having already witnessed record low rainfall and high temperatures in recent years
Business
Sweden opens criminal probe into Ericsson Iraq graft
Senior Public Prosecutor Leif Gorts confirmed that the investigation had been launched following reports of potential corruption between 2011 and...
- Senior Public Prosecutor Leif Gorts confirmed that the investigation had been launched following reports of potential corruption between 2011 and 2019
- Ericsson has already agreed to pay $1 billion in penalties to US authorities to close corruption cases in Djibouti, China, Vietnam, Indonesia and Kuwait in 2019
Geostrategy
Ukraine vows to fight to the end in Mariupol as ultimatum expires
Ukraine on Sunday vowed to fight to the end in Mariupol after a Russian ultimatum expired for remaining forces to...
- Ukrainian President described the situation in Mariupol as "inhuman" and called on Western allies to provide heavy weapons.
- "The city still has not fallen," says Ukrainian Prime Minister adding that "Our military is still there and they will fight till the end".
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Putin says Russia, Ukraine peace proposals “absolute contradictory”
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Russia and Ukraine's demands for peace were "absolutely contradictory", after two rounds of...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
Shell eyes $6bn in Nigeria
Business
Alcoa to buy Alumina in all-stock deal
The US aluminum producer will buy Alumina for US$2.2bn.
Business
US airman dead after self-immolating outside Israeli embassy
The shocking act was an escalation of recent protests across the United States against Israel's actions in Gaza. Washington last...
Geostrategy
Majority of WTO members sign investment deal for development
The deal aims to facilitate "the flow of foreign direct investment... particularly to developing and least-developed" countries with the aim...
Economy
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Geostrategy
Gaza deal won’t affect Israel’s Hizbollah fight: Gallant
Negotiations have been underway to strike a possible deal for Hamas to release hostages and pause the fighting in the...
- Gallant said he would assess how Israel was combating increased Hizbollah activity
- 10 Israeli soldiers and six civilians have been killed in the north since October 7
Geostrategy
WTO launches US$50m fund for women entrepreneurs in developing countries
ABU DHABI, UAE - The director general of the World Trade Organization, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Sunday launched a $50 million fund...
- The director general of WTO said the "ground-breaking initiative... embodies our collective commitment to empower women".
- The fund will help businesses run by women in developing countries to adopt digital technologies and increase their online presence.
Geostrategy
Body of Israeli soldier killed in Hamas attack held in Gaza, say campaigners
JERUSALEM - An Israeli soldier seized by Hamas fighters during their October 7 attack was killed the same day and...
- During the October 7 attack, Palestinian fighters abducted around 250 Israelis and foreigners to the Gaza Strip.
- Around 130 are still held captive there. This includes 31 who are believed dead, among them six soldiers.