Israel says Hamas ‘will be disarmed’ after group proposes weapons freeze
Israel said Thursday that Hamas "will be disarmed" as part of the US-sponsored peace plan for Gaza, after a top...
Geostrategy
UNRWA chief denounces Israeli police’s seizure of agency’s Jerusalem assets
The compound in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem has been empty of UNRWA staff since January, when the law banning its operations...
Geostrategy
Business
OpenAI abandons plan to become for-profit company
San Francisco, United States - OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Monday said the company behind ChatGPT would continue to be...
- The issue had become a serious point of contention for the artificial intelligence trailblazer, with major investors demanding the change to better guarantee returns
- But AI critics worried about the dangers of pursuing big profits on such powerful technology without the oversight of a nonprofit board of directors who acted in society's interest
Geostrategy
Israel cabinet approves plan for Gaza ‘conquest’
Israel resumed major operations across Gaza on March 18 amid deadlock over how to proceed with a two-month ceasefire that...
- It comes as the United Nations and aid organisations have repeatedly warned of the humanitarian catastrophe on the ground, with famine looming again
- The Israeli official said the expanded operations "will include, among other things, the conquest of the Gaza Strip and the holding of the territories
Geostrategy
Trump eyes Erdogan’s help to end Ukraine war
NATO member Turkey has sought to maintain good relations with both of its Black Sea neighbors since the Russian invasion...
- Trump said on his Truth Social network that Erdogan had also invited him to visit Turkey and that the Turkish leader would be meeting him in Washington
- "I look forward to working with President Erdogan on getting the ridiculous, but deadly, War between Russia and Ukraine ended -- NOW!" Trump posted
Iran says Israel’s Netanyahu dragging US into ‘disaster’ in region
Tehran, Iran - Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Monday accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of attempting to drag...
- Araghchi also accused Netanyahu of "attempting to brazenly DICTATE what President Trump can and cannot do in his diplomacy with Iran."
- Iran's top diplomat cited US support for Israel in its war in Gaza against Palestinian group Hamas since the unprecedented October 2023 attack by the militants
Geostrategy
Pakistan conducts second missile test, India readies civil defence drills
Islamabad, Pakistan - Pakistan conducted a second missile test and India ordered civil defence drills in an escalating stand-off over...
- New Delhi blames Islamabad for backing an attack on tourists last month - the deadliest against civilians on the Indian-administered side of the Himalayan territory for years
- Pakistan rejects the accusations, and the two sides have exchanged nightly gunfire since April 24 along the de facto border in Kashmir, the militarised Line of Control
Geostrategy
Damascus club shooting sparks fears of restriction on freedoms
A deadly shooting Monday at a Damascus club, days after another attack on the capital's nightlife, has sparked fears, adding...
- Since the fall of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, the international community has been pressing the new authorities to respect personal freedoms
- The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said gunmen attacked Karawan "with automatic weapons and opened fire, killing a woman and wounding others."
Iran unveils new ballistic missile with 1,200 km range
Iran on Sunday unveiled a new solid-fuel ballistic missile with a range of 1,200 kilometres (745 miles), state television reported,...
- Western nations have raised concerns about Tehran's missile capabilities, accusing it of destabilising the Middle East
- Iran supports the "axis of resistance" network of militant groups opposed to Israel, including Yemen's Huthi rebels
Arts & Culture
Trump says ordering ‘100% tariff’ on all movies produced abroad
Washington, United States - President Donald Trump said Sunday he was ordering new tariffs on all films made outside the...
- The announcement comes as the White House is coming under mounting criticism over its aggressive trade policies that have seen Trump impose sweeping tariffs on other countries
- Trump's post comes after China, which has taken the brunt of the US president's combative trade policies with 145% tariffs on many goods, said it would reduce import of US films
Economy
‘Bombshell’ OPEC+ output hike hits oil price
Oil prices slumped on Monday after eight OPEC+ members announced a sharp increase in production, while Asian stocks treaded water...
- The output increase of 411,000 barrels a day announced by Saudi Arabia, Russia and six other members of the oil cartel on Saturday added to concerns about over-supply
- The price of crude has already been sliding because of fears of a global economic slowdown on the back of US President Donald Trump's tariff onslaught
Huthis report U.S. strikes after missile hits Israel airport, Netanyahu vows revenge and future retaliation
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu warned of future retaliation, saying Israel had acted against Iran-backed Huthis before and “will act in...
- The Huthi-run Saba news agency said the strikes included two targeting Arbaeen street in the capital as well as one on the airport road, blaming them on "American aggression."
- The Huthis, who control swathes of Yemen, have launched missiles and drones targeting Israel and Red Sea shipping throughout the Gaza war, acting in solidarity with Palestinians
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Israel says Hamas ‘will be disarmed’ after group proposes weapons freeze
Israel said Thursday that Hamas "will be disarmed" as part of the US-sponsored peace plan for Gaza, after a top...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
Hamas wants to amend disarmament clause in Trump plan: source close to group leaders
Hamas negotiators held discussions Tuesday with Turkish, Egyptian and Qatari officials in Doha, the source said, requesting anonymity to discuss...
Geostrategy
US offers security guarantees to Qatar after Israel strikes: White House
Washington, United States -- The United States will regard "any armed attack" on Qatari territory as a threat to Washington...
Geostrategy
Israel issues ‘last’ warning for Gazans to flee main city as Hamas weighs truce plan
Israeli forces killed at least 46 people, including 36 in Gaza City. The deceased include two aid workers southwest of...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Business
Amazon adds AI muscle to connected home lineup
New York, United States - Amazon on Tuesday unveiled the latest generation of connected products, featuring enhanced artificial intelligence capabilities...
- Nearly 20 years after the launch of the Kindle e-reader, the Seattle-based online retail giant now offers a family of connected devices
- The company has already made a major move into AI enhancements with the February launch of Alexa+, an upgraded version of the Alexa voice assistant
Geostrategy
Tony Blair: former UK premier central to Trump’s Gaza plan has long been a contentious figure
Tony Blair, Britain's former prime minister whose legacy was heavily tarnished by the 2003 war in Iraq, has long been...
- Blair brings a wealth of experience after spending eight years as the envoy for the Middle East Quartet of the European Union, United Nations, United States and Russia
- Critics argue that he is ill-suited to play peacemaker, as he is reviled by many Arabs and discredited in Britain for joining the US-led invasion of Iraq
Geostrategy
Yemen’s Huthis take responsibility for attack on Dutch cargo ship
Sana, Yemen - Yemen's Huthi rebels claimed responsibility on Wednesday for an attack on a Dutch cargo ship this week...
- The Iran-backed group, which holds swathes of territory in Yemen including the capital Sanaa, has said the attacks on commercial shipping are in support of Palestinians
- The cargo ship MV Minervagracht was hit by a projectile on Monday, wounding two people and sparking a fire, its owner said