Doctors’ aid group slams US-backed Gaza relief scheme over deadly roll-out
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which began operating last month and has largely replaced established humanitarian organisations, "is degrading Palestinians by...
Geostrategy
US Supreme Court curbs power of individual judges to block Trump
In a 6-3 ruling stemming from Trump's bid to end birthright citizenship, the court said nationwide injunctions issued by district...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Iraq voices protest at Turkey’s offensive in Kurdistan region
Iraq on Tuesday summoned Turkey's ambassador to Baghdad in protest against the new Turkish offensive targeting rebels in the north's...
- Turkey has launched an air and ground offensive against militants of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq
- Designated as a terrorist group by Ankara and its Western allies, the PKK has waged insurgency against the Turkey since 1984
Economy
Temporary aid can offset inflation hit to families: IMF official
Faced with surging inflation that is hitting poor families especially hard, which has sparked unrest in some countries, policymakers should...
- "We've seen already in some countries people protesting when they see the price of food or basic items increasing very rapidly," said IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas.
- Governments can alleviate impact of the price jumps with "targeted measures to try to support vulnerable populations", he said.
Geostrategy
Iran says ‘political’ issues still holding up nuclear deal
Iran said Wednesday that "technical issues" in the now-paused negotiations to restore its 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers have...
- Iran is engaged for a year in negotiations with France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China directly, and the United States indirectly, to revive the 2015 deal
- The US unilaterally withdrew from the agreement in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to step back from nuclear commitments
Science
UN says Lebanon child vaccination rates drop 30%
Child vaccination rates in Lebanon have dropped by more than 30 percent, compounding a health crisis marked by drug shortages...
- Since 2019, Lebanon is grappling with a financial crisis that the World Bank says is of a scale usually associated with wars
- The currency has lost more than 90 percent of its value and in excess of 80 percent of the population now lives below the poverty line
Business
Credit Suisse ‘faces’ Q1 loss
The Swiss banking giant said it has taken a hit from the Ukraine war, litigation.
- The bank said its results would be affected to the tune of 200 million Swiss francs ($211 million) in lost revenue and provisions for credit losses.
- Credit Suisse said it was also setting an extra 600 million Swiss francs aside for litigation that dates back more than a decade.
Geostrategy
Israel PM bans far-right lawmaker from Jerusalem march
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Wednesday barred far-right lawmaker Itamar Ben Gvir from entering Muslim areas of Jerusalem's Old...
- Tensions in Israeli-occupied east Jerusalem have spiked in recent weeks, amid nearly a month of deadly violence in Israel and the occupied West Bank
- Ben Gvir had announced he would take part in a rally on Wednesday evening, saying he would march through the Damascus Gate
Business
European car sales take a hit from Ukraine war
European car sales sank in March as Russia's invasion of Ukraine added more problems to a sector already struggling with...
- Passenger car registrations fell 20.5 percent compared to the same period last year, with 844,187 units sold
- The war has led to shortages of other parts, such as the cables used in car wiring harnesses and of which Ukraine is a manufacturer
Geostrategy
UK court orders Assange’s extradition to US for trial
A UK court on Wednesday issued a formal order to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the United States to...
- The ruling Wednesday by a magistrate in central London brings the long-running legal saga in the UK courts closer to a conclusion
- Washington wants to put him on trial in connection with the publication of 500,000 secret military files relating to the US-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
Economy
Arab economies expected to grow by 5% in 2022: AMF
The expected growth rate for 2022 reflects the rise in the growth of the Arab oil-exporting economies to 5.6 percent...
- The expected growth rate for 2022 reflects the rise in the growth of the Arab oil-exporting economies to 5.6% due to the anticipated increases in the output of the oil sector
- The growth rate of the Arab oil-importing economies is expected to reach a moderate level of 3.7 percent, reflecting the challenges facing their internal and external balances
Business
L’Oreal luxury makeover sales glow
The company's first quarter sales jumped nearly a fifth.
- The 19 percent rise in sales to 9.06 billion euros ($9.8 billion) beat the analyst consensus of 8.8 billion euros established by Factset
- "Against the backdrop of the invasion of Ukraine and strengthened sanitary measures in China, L'Oreal had a strong first quarter," said chief executive Nicolas Hieronimus
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Doctors’ aid group slams US-backed Gaza relief scheme over deadly roll-out
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which began operating last month and has largely replaced established humanitarian organisations, "is degrading Palestinians by...
Geostrategy
Company News
Shell eyes $6bn in Nigeria
Business
Latest News
WTO convenes ministers in UAE with slim hopes for breakthrough
The World Trade Organization's 13th ministerial conference (MC13), scheduled to run until Thursday in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the...
Economy
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...
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...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
US says talks came to ‘understanding’ on possible Gaza truce
"Representatives of Israel, the United States, Egypt, and Qatar met in Paris and came to an understanding among the four...
- "That work is underway. And we hope that in the coming days, we can drive to a point where there is actually a firm and final agreement on this issue."
- Negotiations for a ceasefire have resumed in Doha between the four countries, as well as Hamas representatives, state-linked Egyptian media reported Sunday.
Arts & Culture
Africa’s largest mosque inaugurated officially in Algeria’s capital
The vast mosque, which can hold 120,000 worshippers, first opened for prayers in October 2020, but President Abdelmadjid Tebboune was...
- It also boasts the world's tallest minaret -- 267 meters (875 feet) -- fitted with elevators and a viewing platform that looks out over the capital and the Bay of Algiers.
- The mosque's interior, in Andalusian style, is decorated in wood, marble and alabaster. The mega-project cost more than $800 million dollars and took seven years to build.
Geostrategy
Hawkish economic approach on China has bipartisan support in US, say analysts
WASHINGTON, US - In a shift from tit-for-tat tariffs and strong-arm tactics to tech restrictions and investment curbs, US policy towards...
- Despite differences between Democrats and Republicans, analysts expect Washington's approach to Beijing will only become tougher.
- Biden has largely maintained Trump-era tariffs, rolled out export control restrictions to curtail China's ability to buy and make certain high-end chips.