COP30 deal under threat as nations clash over fossil fuels
The draft text unveiled by COP30 host Brazil made no mention of "fossil fuels" or the word "roadmap" that President...
Geostrategy
Meta to remove under-16 Australians from Facebook, Instagram on December 4
Australians younger than 16 will be removed from Facebook and Instagram on December 4, tech giant Meta said Thursday, as...
Business
Business
Saudi Aramco’s quarterly profit drops 15% on low oil prices
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- Energy giant Saudi Aramco reported a 15 percent year-on-year drop in third-quarter profit on Tuesday, citing prices...
- The fall in net income to $27.56bn from $32.58bn in 2023 is the seventh consecutive quarterly drop for Aramco, one of the world's biggest companies by market capitalization.
- Aramco is the chief source of revenue for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030 reform agenda, which aims to remodel the Gulf kingdom's crude-reliant economy.
Economy
Most Asian markets rise ahead of toss-up US election
Asian markets mostly rose Tuesday a day before results from the US presidential election rolled in, with opinion polls showing...
- Uncertainty about the outcome led to warnings that investors could be in for a period of volatility
- Wall Street's three main indexes ended in the red
Economy
Eight OPEC+ members extend oil supply cuts until year end
Supply cuts seek boosting oil prices amid uncertain demand and accelerating supply, with an eye on the imminent US presidential...
- Persistent downside pressure on oil prices due to sluggish Chinese and weakening global demand outlook
- "The US presidential election will have a significant impact on the oil market"- Analyst with Rystad Energy
Geostrategy
Israel escalates strikes in Lebanon, Gaza as Netanyahu visits Northern Border, and Hezbollah claims missile attack
Israel intensifies airstrikes across Lebanon and Gaza, escalating cross-border violence as Netanyahu urges troops to push Hezbollah back and prevent...
- Netanyahu's visit came after an air strike killed at least three people near the southern Lebanon city of Sidon,, and as more bombs hit the country's east
- Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday said a potential ceasefire with its allies Hamas and Hezbollah "could affect the intensity and type of our response."
Geostrategy
B-52 bombers arrive in Middle East: US military
Washington, United States -- American B-52 bombers have arrived in the Middle East, the US military said Saturday, a day after...
- "B-52 Stratofortress strategic bombers from Minot Air Force Base's 5th Bomb Wing arrived in the US Central Command area of responsibility," the military said.
- The United States announced on Friday evening that it was sending the bombers, fighter and tanker aircraft and ballistic missile defense destroyers to the Middle East.
Geostrategy
Pro-Palestinian protesters take Israel sculptures from UK university
London, United Kingdom -- A pro-Palestinian group took two sculptures of Israel's first president from a UK university in a protest marking...
- "Today, Palestine Action have marked 107 years since the Balfour Declaration, by taking two sculptures of Israel's first president, Chaim Weizmann," the protest group said.
- Palestine Action also sprayed the London office of charity Jewish National Fund (JNF) with red paint.
Geostrategy
Lebanon accuses Israel of truce rejection after deadly Beirut strikes and growing Gaza crisis
A US-brokered plan reportedly under consideration would see Hezbollah pull back 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border, north of...
- The strikes on Lebanon came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met US officials to discuss a possible deal to end the war against Hezbollah
- In Gaza, where Israel has been engaged in a major offensive in the north for nearly a month, a Hamas official said the Palestinian group had rejected short-term truce
Geostrategy
Israel, US envoys discuss possible ceasefire amid rising casualties in Lebanon conflict
With US mediation, a ceasefire proposal emerges for both Gaza and Lebanon, balancing Israel's security demands and Lebanon’s need for...
- Netanyahu told Washington envoys Amos Hochstein and Brett McGurk that any Lebanon deal must guarantee Israel's longer term security
- More than a month into its war with Israel, Hezbollah says it is ready for a truce, but there are limits to what it can accept after suffering devastating attacks
Geostrategy
Saudi, US FM says could move ‘quite quickly’ on some deals with US
Since last year Saudi Arabia has been bargaining hard for a defense pact with the United States as well as...
- Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last month ruled out recognizing Israel without the establishment of a Palestinian state.
- Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan reiterated that normalization was "off the table until we have a resolution to Palestinian statehood".
New Hezbollah leader signals ceasefire openness, but Israel demands Hezbollah withdrawal, border security
Israel’s security cabinet discussed terms, including Hezbollah’s withdrawal north of the Litani River and Lebanese army deployment along the border...
- Naim Qassem's statement came as Israel's security cabinet met to discuss a possible truce, but also as Israel attacked the eastern Lebanese city of Baalbek
- According to Israel's Channel 12, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met ministers late Tuesday to discuss Israel's demands in return for a 60-day truce
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COP30 deal under threat as nations clash over fossil fuels
The draft text unveiled by COP30 host Brazil made no mention of "fossil fuels" or the word "roadmap" that President...
Geostrategy
Company News
Tourists drawn to Oman’s giant sinkholes
Geostrategy
Latest News
EU hits Google with $3.47 billion fine despite Trump threats
Brussels, Belgium -- The EU slapped Google with a massive 2.95 billion euro ($3.47 billion) antitrust fine for favoring its...
Business
After his call with Zelensky, European leaders, Trump says will speak with Putin soon
US President Donald Trump said Thursday he would speak soon with Russia's Vladimir Putin, after his call earlier in the...
Geostrategy
Amid Israeli strikes, Lebanon debates disarming Hezbollah under ceasefire deal, risking political turmoil and mass protests.
The Lebanese government is set to discuss on Friday an army plan to disarm Hezbollah, which the Iran-backed group opposes,...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Israel military says controls 40 percent of Gaza City, the largest urban centre in the Palestinian territory
In a televised briefing, Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said that "we hold 40 percent of the territory...
- Israel has intensified in recent days its bombardments of the area of Gaza City, in the territory's north, ahead of the planned offensive
- Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli strikes on Thursday killed more than 30 people in the city, out of at least 64 Palestinians killed across the Gaza Strip
Business
Amazon’s Starlink rival lands first major airline deal
Washington, United States -- JetBlue Airways will become the first airline to use Amazon's Project Kuiper satellite network to power...
- The partnership will see JetBlue implement Project Kuiper's low orbit satellite technology on select aircraft beginning in 2027.
- This will enhance the US airline's existing service with faster speeds and lower latency than traditional satellite systems.
Science
Norway experiments with electric plane in real-life test
Oslo, Norway -- An electric plane took to the skies between the Norwegian airports Stavanger and Bergen on Thursday, simulating...
- The small aircraft -- an Alia built by US aircraft manufacturer Beta -- flew the 160 kilometers in a test run by the Norwegian affiliate of the transport company Bristow.
- The flight took 55 minutes and simulated a cargo flight route in southeastern Norway.