Pro-Palestinian protest leader released from US custody
Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student who was one of the most visible leaders of nationwide pro-Palestinian campus protests,...
Geostrategy
More microplastics in glass bottles than plastic
For water, both flat and sparkling, the amount of microplastic was relatively low in all cases, ranging from 4.5 particles...
Science
Geostrategy
Ukraine dominates social media info war with Russia
People from Ukraine have posted videos showing the success of their forces, and they have become viral.
- The Ukrainian president's daily video addresses, published with English subtitles, have became viral sensations on social media
- Recently, Russia shut down its final bastions of free-speech media, suspended Facebook, and restricted access to Twitter
Economy
US is finally cleaning up its abandoned, leaking oil wells
In the United State, it took more than a century to pass regulations governing record-keeping for wells and their sealing,...
- The US is pockmarked with millions of abandoned oil wells that are unsealed but haven't produced anything in decades
- The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that there are around 3.5 million orphaned wells that can leak oil and brine
Geostrategy
Israel PM meets Putin on Ukraine in ‘risky’ diplomatic move
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's sit-down with Russian President Vladimir Putin was the first by a foreign leader since the...
- Bennett and Putin met for three hours, in a visit that was coordinated with the US, Germany, and France
- Bennett's delegation included housing minister Zeev Elkin, a fluent Russian-speaker born in Soviet-era Ukraine
Geostrategy
Israel president to visit Turkey next week
Erdogan has already said Herzog's planned visit would be an opportunity to 'open a new chapter in relations between Turkey...
- Israeli President Isaac Herzog will visit Turkey to discuss 'potential for expanding collaboration in various fields'
- Herzog will be received by President Erdogan and then he will meet with Jewish community member of Turkey,
Business
Visa, Master card suspend operation in Russia
The cards would continue to work on Russian territory because all payments in Russia are made through a national system...
- Mastercard decided to suspend its network services in Russia while Visa will cease all Russians transactions over the coming days
- Russia's central bank has warned Russians traveling abroad that they should carry alternate means of payment
Economy
Saudi Arabia lifts most Covid-19 restrictions
The decision includes suspending ‘social distancing measures in all open and closed places’ including mosques.
- The Covid-19 pandemic hugely disrupted Muslim pilgrimages, which are usually key revenue earners for the kingdom, bringing in some $12 billion annually
- In 2021, the pandemic forced Saudi Arabia to downsize the hajj for a second year, and just 60,000 fully vaccinated citizens and residents taking part
Geostrategy
Iran welcomes Saudi crown prince’s remarks on ties
Iran's foreign minister on Saturday appeared to welcome recent comments by Saudi Arabia's crown prince about relations between the two...
- "The recent remarks of a high-ranking Saudi official show their desire to establish bilateral relations with Iran, and we welcome that," Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told the media
- The two rivals have held four rounds of talks in Iraq since April aimed at improving relations
Geostrategy
Iran and IAEA see a way to resolve nuclear issues
Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency said Saturday after talks in Tehran that they agreed on an approach to...
- The announcement came shortly before Russia said it would seek guarantees from the United States before it backs the deal
- The nuclear deal is hanging by a thread since the United States' unilateral withdrawal in 2018 under then-president Donald Trump
Egypt appoints its first woman judge to a top court
Radwa Helmi made history on Saturday as the first woman judge to sit on the bench of Egypt's State Council,...
- Radwa Helmi, making her appearance in a Cairo courthouse, was among 98 women appointed last year to join the council
- Women in Egypt, the most populous Arab country, have been fighting an uphill battle for years to secure their rights in all sectors
Geostrategy
The secretive Taliban leader shows his face
One of the Taliban's most secretive leaders, whose only picture on US "most wanted" lists is a grainy semi-covered profile,...
- Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani, who also heads the feared Haqqani Network, has previously only been photographed clearly from behind
- The United States has offered a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to his arrest, saying he was responsible for a string of terror attacks
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Pro-Palestinian protest leader released from US custody
Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student who was one of the most visible leaders of nationwide pro-Palestinian campus protests,...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
Michelin posts record operating profits
Sales at the French firm dipped last year to US$30.5bn.
Business
COP hosts UAE, Azerbaijan, Brazil announce climate ‘troika’
The UAE hosted last year's COP28 conference in Dubai, while Azerbaijan will host this year's summit followed by Brazil in...
Economy
Israeli air strike wounds Hizbollah official in Lebanon
Hizbollah and Israeli army have traded near-daily fire since war broke out on October 7 between Israel and the Palestinian...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Jordan’s king urges Gaza ceasefire in talks with Biden
Speaking at the White House while US President Joe Biden stood next to him, King Abdullah of Jordan said that...
- The US has refused to call for a full ceasefire, angering allies in the Middle East
- It was Abdullah's first face-to-face meeting with Biden since the October 7 attack
Geostrategy
Britain sanctions ‘Israeli settlers’ in West Bank
London, UK - Britain on Monday announced sanctions on four "extremist Israeli settlers" accused of committing human rights abuses against Palestinians...
- The curbs follow what the UK called "unprecedented levels of violence by extremist settlers in the West Bank" over the past year.
- The sanctions represent a rare move by London and Washington against Israelis, as war rages with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Economy
IMF, World Bank say Gaza and Red Sea attacks risk to world economy
World Bank President Ajay Banga said that "what's going on Gaza, but also the challenges of Ukraine... and the Red...
- The Israel-Hamas war raging since October has already hit the Middle East and North Africa region's economy, the IMF chief said.
- She said that if there are other "consequences in terms of where the fighting goes, it could be more problematic for the world as a whole".