World Bank lifts 2026 growth forecast, warns of softer demand
The bank expects world GDP growth of 2.6 percent this year, according to its latest global economic prospects report. The...
Economy
Trump tells Cuba to ‘make a deal, before it is too late’
The communist-run island near Florida has been a US foe and ally of Caracas for decades, but Trump has ramped...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Yemen separatist leader fled to UAE: Saudi-led coalition
Aidaros Alzubidi was accused of high treason and removed from Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council on Wednesday, while the coalition bombed...
- Last month's STC offensive brought fresh turbulence to fractured Yemen and exposed deep rifts between Gulf allies Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
- The oil-rich neighbors formed the backbone of the coalition fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who overran the capital Sanaa in 2014 and still control much of the country
Geostrategy
Saudi strikes Yemen after separatist leader skips talks
A Saudi-led coalition struck the home province of Yemen's UAE-backed separatist leader on Wednesday, after he failed to show up...
- The separatists said they were open to discussions but warned they had lost contact with their delegation in Riyadh
- On Wednesday, more than 15 air strikes hit Dhale, a local official told AFP, killing four people, according to two hospital sources
Geostrategy
US energy secretary says will control Venezuelan oil sales ‘indefinitely’
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Wednesday that Washington will control sales of Venezuelan oil "indefinitely," a day after President...
- Trump said Tuesday that 30–50 million barrels of Venezuelan crude will be shipped to US ports, with the revenue under his control
- On Saturday, US special forces snatched Maduro and his wife from Caracas and whisked them to New York to face trial on drug charges
Geostrategy
Yemen separatists set for Riyadh talks after fighting: official
The leader of Yemen's separatists is heading to Riyadh on Tuesday for talks, a Yemeni official told AFP, after days...
- Saudi Arabia had called for talks between the Yemeni factions in Riyadh at the request of Yemen's government
- The Saudi-organised talks indicate the beginning of de-escalation efforts after clashes in Yemen's government-run areas
Geostrategy
Venezuelan parliament swears in interim president after Maduro’s ouster
Venezuela's parliament swore in Delcy Rodriguez as interim president on Monday, two days after US forces seized her predecessor Nicolas...
- Rodriguez, who has indicated she will cooperate with Washington, took the oath of office during a ceremony in the National Assembly
- Parliament denounced the capture of leftist leader Maduro while vowing support for his stand-in Rodriguez after the US military attack
Business
Oil prices gain, as equities extend record run higher
Oil prices have experienced choppy trading since the surprise US raid Saturday on Caracas that saw Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro...
- Brushing off geopolitical concerns, some major stock markets have begun the new year with new all-time highs, having smashed records in 2025.
- Seoul rose more than one percent Tuesday to top 4,500 points for the first time, helped by another strong rally in chip giant SK hynix.
Geostrategy
US operation in Venezuela undermined international law: UN
"States must not threaten or use force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state," Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman...
- Shamdasani said the UN rights office had spent years reporting on the "continued deterioration" in Venezuela.
- But she dismissed US justifications for its actions, saying accountability for rights violations "can't be achieved by military intervention in violation of international law".
Geostrategy
Venezuela’s interim leader names commission to handle Maduro’s release
Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodriguez on Sunday created a commission to seek the release of president Nicolas Maduro and his...
- Rodriguez tapped her brother Jorge, president of the National Assembly, and Foreign Minister Yvan Gil to co-chair the commission
- Accused of drug trafficking and terrorism, Maduro was detained in a New York jail Saturday and is due in court Monday
Geostrategy
Netanyahu says Israel won’t let Iran restore ballistic missile programme
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel would not allow arch-foe Iran to restore its ballistic missile programme, just...
- "We will not allow Iran to restore its ballistic missile industry, and certainly we will not allow it renew the nuclear programme that we significantly damaged," Netanyahu said
- Netanyahu's threat comes days after Trump threatened to "eradicate" Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programme, after the two leaders met in Washington last week
Business
Volatility grips oil market as nervous investors assess Venezuela
Having spiked in an initial reaction to the military operation to apprehend Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, oil prices quickly dropped...
- But then oil recovered again as investors realized that Venezuela is in no position to make a meaningful impact on oil supply in the short run.
- Trump's promise to rebuild Venezuela's crude production capacity with the help of American companies meanwhile sent stocks in oil majors soaring.
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World Bank lifts 2026 growth forecast, warns of softer demand
The bank expects world GDP growth of 2.6 percent this year, according to its latest global economic prospects report. The...
Economy
Company News
Latest News
Rescue efforts begin as at least 132 die, hundreds injured in Nepal quake
The quake was felt as far away as India's capital New Delhi, nearly 500 km from the epicentre, 42 km...
100 killed in fire during wedding at Iraq event hall
At the main hospital in Hamdaniyah -- a predominantly Christian town east of Mosul that is also known as Qaraqosh...
Ailing US explorer rescued after nine days in Turkish cave
The 40-year-old explorer developed stomach problems while examining the depths of the Morca Cave, a remote complex of twisting underground...
Sad day for America, says Trump after court appearance
Former US president Donald Trump pleaded not guilty on Thursday to criminal charges that he conspired to overturn the results...
OceanGate co-founder hits back at James Cameron over Titanic sub
Soehnlein stressed it was too soon to say what happened to the Titan and that it was "tricky to navigate"...
Russia joins Chinese, Iran warships for military drills off South Africa
A Russian warship arrived off South Africa's main naval base Friday to join Chinese and Iranian vessels for military exercises that...
Geostrategy
Defiant Khamenei insists ‘won’t back down’ in face of growing Iran protests
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday insisted the Islamic republic would "not back down" in the face of...
Geostrategy
Israel president meets diplomat expected to serve on Trump’s Gaza peace board
Israel's President Isaac Herzog on Thursday met with former UN Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov, whom media reports say is...
Geostrategy
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Research
Some food preservatives linked to higher cancer, diabetes risk
Paris, France -- Eating some common food preservatives is linked to a slightly higher risk of eventually developing cancer and...
- The preservatives included nitrites and nitrates, which are often used to cure ham, bacon and sausages.
- The second study, published in Nature Communications, also found a link between eating some food additives and developing type 2 diabetes.
Geostrategy
Yemen separatist leader fled to UAE: Saudi-led coalition
Aidaros Alzubidi was accused of high treason and removed from Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council on Wednesday, while the coalition bombed...
- Last month's STC offensive brought fresh turbulence to fractured Yemen and exposed deep rifts between Gulf allies Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
- The oil-rich neighbors formed the backbone of the coalition fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who overran the capital Sanaa in 2014 and still control much of the country
Geostrategy
Saudi strikes Yemen after separatist leader skips talks
A Saudi-led coalition struck the home province of Yemen's UAE-backed separatist leader on Wednesday, after he failed to show up...
- The separatists said they were open to discussions but warned they had lost contact with their delegation in Riyadh
- On Wednesday, more than 15 air strikes hit Dhale, a local official told AFP, killing four people, according to two hospital sources