Crowd braves rain to flock to Pope Leo’s mass in Istanbul
After two days of blue skies and sunshine, the heavens opened, but the downpour did little to dampen the enthusiasm...
Arts & Culture
Trump says Afghan man shot two soldiers near White House
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that an Afghan man who fled the Taliban was the suspect in the shooting of...
Geostrategy
Business
China, Canada retaliate to Trump tariff war as markets fall
Washington, United States -- Mounting trade wars between the United States and its largest economic partners deepened Tuesday as huge...
- Trump had announced -- and then paused -- blanket 25 percent tariffs on imports from major trading partners Canada and Mexico in February.
- The duties will hit over $918 billion in US imports from both countries, and are set to hamper supply chains for key sectors like automobiles and construction materials.
Economy
China says will fight to ‘bitter end’ if US pushes trade war
Pressure from Trump could motivate Beijing to strengthen the kinds of support for the economy seen last year -- interest...
- China is grappling with a prolonged property sector crisis and high youth unemployment
- China plans to deal with an increasingly unpredictable United States, its largest trading partner
Geostrategy
Gazans face food shortages, price hikes as Israel blocks aid amid ceasefire negotiations stalemate
Despite ceasefire negotiations, Gaza’s humanitarian situation remains critical, with markets facing inflation, displaced residents lacking proper shelter, and aid workers...
- Humanitarian groups warn that the aid suspension is worsening an already dire crisis in Gaza.
- Hamas official claims Israel allowed only 15 out of 65,000 promised mobile homes into Gaza
Business
Bitcoin falls below $80,000 first time since November amid market volatility
Hong Kong, China -- Bitcoin sank below $80,000 on Friday for the first time in more than three months as...
- The digital unit fell to as low as $79,525.88 in early Asian trade -- its lowest level since November 11 and sharply down from the record above $109,000 seen just last month.
- The unit saw an eye-watering rally after Donald Trump's election victory in November after he promised on the campaign trail to free up regulations surrounding digital token.
Geostrategy
Mediators hope for end to conflict as next phase of Gaza ceasefire talks in Cairo begins
Mediator Egypt say Israeli, Qatari and US delegations were already in Cairo for "intensive" talks on the next stage of...
- A hostage-Palestinian detainees swap early Thursday was the final one under the initial stage of the truce that took effect on January 19.
- Over the past several weeks, Hamas freed in stages 25 living Israeli and dual-national hostages and returned the bodies of eight others.
Geostrategy
Hamas, Israel prisoner swap advances as talks for ceasefire’s next phase loom
Israeli authorities received four hostage bodies from Hamas, while Palestinian prisoners were welcomed in Ramallah, as ceasefire negotiations involving Egypt,...
- The office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed they had received the coffins of "four fallen hostages", and a process to formally identify them had started in Israel
- The ceasefire has largely halted the war sparked by Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, and seen 25 hostages released alive so far in exchange for more than 1,100 prisoners
Business
Billionaire Bezos announces restrictions on Washington Post opinion coverage
Washington, United States - The Washington Post will no longer run views opposed to "personal liberties and free markets" on...
- "We are going to be writing every day in support and defense of two pillars: personal liberties and free markets," wrote Bezos on social media platform X
- In January, an award-winning political cartoonist for the newspaper announced her resignation after a cartoon depicting Bezos groveling before Trump was rejected
Geostrategy
Deal restored: Hamas, Israel finalize exchange of Palestinian prisoners for bodies of Israeli hostages
Mediators have revived a deal for Israel to release Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the bodies of four Israeli hostages,...
- Palestinian militant group Hamas confirmed the agreement, under Egyptian supervision, saying it was part of the first phase of its ceasefire deal with Israel
- On Sunday, Hamas accused Israel of endangering the five-week-old Gaza truce by delaying the release of 600 Palestinian prisoners
Geostrategy
UN warns of last chance for two-state Israeli-Palestinian solution
Sigrid Kaag, the UN envoy for the peace process in the region, also warned against calls for Israel to annex...
- "The people of the region can emerge from this period with peace, security, and dignity. However, this may be our last chance to achieve the two-state solution," said Kaag.
- Kaag called on Hamas and Israel to agree on the second phase of the ceasefire in the Gaza war and avoid a resumption of fighting.
Geostrategy
US, Russia to appoint negotiators for Ukraine talks; Kyiv protests exclusion, Europe awaits role
Washington noted European nations would have to have a seat at the negotiating table "at some point", following the first...
- Some European leaders, alarmed by President Donald Trump's overhaul of US policy on Russia, fear Washington will make serious concessions to Moscow
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed his nation's exclusion from the Riyadh gathering, which lasted for more than four hours, saying talks should involve European nations
Most Read
Revenue from Saudi cinema may exceed $1bn by 2030KSA, UAE play well as e-gaming trends across GCCExclusive: Middle East’s retail sector rides on AR and hybrid shopping to become $600bn digital economyTECOM Group profit soars 13%UAE startups eye Saudi Arabia for growth, expansionSaudi Arabia leads GCC AI healthcare raceDisparity remains as Saudis, Emiratis see wealth gains
Crowd braves rain to flock to Pope Leo’s mass in Istanbul
After two days of blue skies and sunshine, the heavens opened, but the downpour did little to dampen the enthusiasm...
Arts & Culture
Company News
Latest News
Qatar PM Al Thani urges world to ‘stop using double standards’ and punish Israel
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani urged the international community on Sunday to "stop using double standards"...
Geostrategy
Over 1.4 billion accounts hacked monthly worldwide: Cyber Security Council
Abu Dhabi, UAE -- The UAE Cyber Security Council (CSC) has warned of growing risks linked to users’ digital footprints,...
Geostrategy
Palestinians flee Gaza City under Israeli bombardment
Gaza City, Palestinian Territories -- Palestinian families streamed out of Gaza City on Sunday, some crammed into pick-up trucks, others...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Netanyahu says US an ‘extraordinary friend’ during Rubio visit
Before departing Washington on Saturday, Rubio told reporters that while Trump was "not happy" about the strike, it was "not...
- Nevertheless, the attack has put renewed strain on efforts towards a truce in Gaza, and Rubio acknowledged that the US and Israel were "going to have to talk about" its impact.
- On Sunday, Rubio, wearing a Jewish kippa, offered prayers at Jerusalem's sacred Western Wall alongside Netanyahu and US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee
Geostrategy
Rubio to begin Israel visit in aftermath of Qatar strike
Jerusalem, Undefined -- Top US diplomat Marco Rubio begins a visit to Israel on Sunday, after expressing the Trump administration's...
- The trip is taking place after President Donald Trump rebuked Israel over the unprecedented attack against Hamas leaders meeting in an upscale neighborhood of Doha on Tuesday.
- It marked Israel's first such strike against US ally Qatar and has put renewed strain on diplomatic efforts to bring about a truce in war-ravaged Gaza.
Economy
US Fed poised for first rate cut of 2025 as political tension mounts
The Fed's likely move would follow a monthslong push from President Donald Trump to slash rates, and comes amid growing...
- Since the bank's last reduction in December, it has held interest rates at a range between 4.25 percent and 4.50 percent as policymakers monitor the effects of Trump's sweeping tar
- Analysts now broadly expect a 25 basis points rate cut at the end of its two-day meeting on Wednesday, as hiring slows.