Oil prices higher on China boost, Syria uncertainty
Major stock markets diverged as investors reacted to political crises in South Korea and France, and tracked the perspectives for...
Business
Celebrations erupt across Syria to mark end of 50 years of Baath party rule
Bashar al-Assad's whereabouts not clear, but his key backer Russia said he had resigned from the presidency and left Syria....
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Aid to Gaza ‘requires Israel removing’ obstacles, says UN chief
Antonio Guterres repeated his call for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" to alleviate "the plight of Palestinian children, women and men...
- He said the whole world recognises that it's past time to silence the guns in Gaza
- The UN has repeatedly warned of famine in the Palestinian territory, particularly in the north
Arts & Culture
World’s only Dragon Ball theme park launched in Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya City
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – The Board of Directors of the Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC) revealed on Sunday the launch of...
- Nestled within Qiddiya City, just 40 minutes from Riyadh, this never-seen-before anime theme park is set to become a spectacle.
- Inspired by the seven legendary Dragon Balls, visitors can navigate seven distinctively themed zones within the park.
Geostrategy
Red Crescent says Israel army besieges two more Gaza hospitals
PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES – The Palestinian Red Crescent said on Sunday that Israeli forces were besieging two hospitals in southern Gaza,...
- Israel has mounted several raids at and near hospitals in Gaza since the war began last October.
- The medical organization said a volunteer worker at the hospital was killed by Israeli gunfire early on Sunday.
Arts & Culture
Paris crowns champion waiters in one-of-a-kind ‘cafe race’
Paris, France -- Visitors to central Paris were treated Sunday to the sight of hundreds of aproned waiters surging through the...
- First born in 1914, the "course des garcons de cafe" was held on March 24 for the first time since 2011 -- four months before the city hosts the Olympics in July-August.
- The 200 contestants started and finished the race at city hall by the Seine river, set on their way by mayor Anne Hidalgo.
Geostrategy
Gaza fighting rages as UN chief decries ‘horror and starvation’
Guterres urged an end to the "non-stop nightmare" endured by Gaza's 2.4 million people in a visit to the Egyptian...
- Deadly fighting meanwhile rocked Gaza, where Hamas reported 21 deaths on Saturday at an aid distribution point on the outskirts of Gaza City.
- Hamas said they were killed by Israeli "tank fire and shells". Israeli forces also pressed on with their offensive in and around the Al-Shifa hospital complex.
Economy
IMF chief calls upon China to boost growth with pro-market reforms
BEIJING, CHINA – The head of the International Monetary Fund on Sunday called on China to implement "a comprehensive package of...
- Chinese policymakers have so far resisted calls to juice the economy through massive government stimulus.
- Authorities should boost "the spending power of individuals and families" by beefing up China's pension system, IMF said.
Economy
Sprinklers and drip irrigation help Iraqis beat drought
After four years of drought, Iraqi farmer Mohammed Sami was about to abandon his father's parched land, but then a...
- Last year the WFP's water management project helped more than 1,100 farmers "in areas most affected by climate change and drought," said Khansae Ghazi from the UN agency
- The new irrigation systems "use 70 percent less water than traditional methods such as flooding" -- the vastly more wasteful method used for millennia
Geostrategy
Under siege, Sudanese risk their lives to feed each other
Sameh Makki's soup kitchen is barely 100 meters from the market, but it can take two hours to make the...
- When war erupted, the resistance committees of Youth created Emergency Response Rooms to provide civilians in the line of fire with healthcare, evacuation help and food aid
- International aid groups call them the frontline of Sudan's humanitarian response and the United Nations has said ERRs have helped over four million civilians across Sudan
Geostrategy
Chinese-owned tanker hit by Houthi missile in Red Sea
The Panamanian-flagged, Chinese-owned and operated Huang Pu issued a distress call but did not request assistance, US Central Command said....
- CENTCOM said Houthi rebels had launched four anti-ship ballistic missiles in the Red Sea
- It added that, after the attack, US forces engaged six drones launched by the Houthis
Geostrategy
Three wounded in Israeli strikes in east Lebanon
Israel has been launching air strikes deeper into Lebanese territory for several weeks against Hizbollah positions, heightening the threat of...
- The Israeli military said in a statement fighter jets "struck a Hizbollah manufacturing site"
- At least 323 people have been killed in Lebanon, most of them Hizbollah fighters
Oil prices higher on China boost, Syria uncertainty
Major stock markets diverged as investors reacted to political crises in South Korea and France, and tracked the perspectives for...
Business
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Israel vows response as Iran fires missile barrage
Iran launched around 180 missiles at Israel on Tuesday in response to the killings of Tehran-backed militant leaders, prompting alarm...
Updates: Iran launches missile attack on Israel
Iran has launched a missile attack on Israel's commercial hub Tel Aviv, state media reported Tuesday. The official IRNA news...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Iran says will not send forces to confront Israel
An Israeli strike on Beirut Friday killed Hassan Nasrallah, the head of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah that has been...
- "There is no need to send extra or volunteer forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran," said foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanan
- Israel has in recent days been mounting heavy air strikes in Lebanon against the so-called "axis of resistance", a network of Iran-aligned militant groups in the region
Business
Qatar Airways seeking 25% stake in Virgin Australia
Qatar Airways unveiled a bid to take a 25 percent stake in troubled airline Virgin Australia on Tuesday, a deal...
- The deal could significantly shake up Australia's air travel market which is currently dominated by Qantas
- In 2023, Australia's center-left government rejected Qatar's bid to put on 21 extra international flights to and from Australia
Saudi economy to register losses until 2027, says finance ministry
Saudi Arabia anticipates a budget deficit of 2.3 percent of GDP in 2025. Estimates put total government revenues for 2025...
- Saudi Arabia anticipates a budget deficit of 2.3 percent of GDP in 2025
- Estimates put total government revenues for 2025 at approximately US$320 billion, which would create a deficit of US$27bn