Iran vows to rebuild nuclear sites ‘stronger than before’
"By destroying buildings... we will not be set back," said Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a visit to the country's...
Geostrategy
Unexploded bombs haunt Gazans, posing deadly risk as fragile truce halts demining efforts in ruins
After two years of war, the ruined cities of Gaza, a densely packed territory home to more than two million...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Israel on alert after Iranian threat as Gaza war grinds on
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned Wednesday that Israel "must be punished and will be punished", days after one...
- Days after Israel strengthened its air defences and paused leave for combat units, the United States also warned of the risk of an attack by Iran
- Iran is "threatening to launch a significant attack on Israel", US President Joe Biden said Wednesday, pledging "ironclad" support for its top regional ally
Business
Most equity markets fall as US inflation data dims rate cut hopes
The losses tracked a sell-off on Wall Street and saw the dollar strike a 34-year high against the yen, fueling...
- The disappointing data sent all three main indexes on Wall Street deep into the red. Asia followed suit in the morning but some bounced into positive territory as the day wore on.
- Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sydney, Singapore, Wellington, Taipei, Bangkok and Manila slipped, while Shanghai and Seoul edged up.
Business
Uniqlo upgrades net profit forecast
It now expects to make $2.1bn in the year to August.
- It also sees full-year operating profit of 450 billion yen on sales of 3.03 trillion yen, both of which would also be record figures if realized.
- Its low-cost GU clothing brand has been another key driver of the retail group's expansion, Fast Retailing added.
Geostrategy
Israel slams Irish PM for not mentioning Gaza hostages
Israel's foreign ministry denounced Ireland's new prime minister for not mentioning the hostages held by fighters in Gaza during a...
- Harris "forgot" to "mention the 133 Israeli hostages who have been rotting in Hamas tunnels for the past six months," Israel's foreign ministry said
- Israel is also furious with Ireland over its intention to recognise a Palestinian state
Geostrategy
Hamas leader’s family killed in Gaza strike as truce talks drag on
The strike came as talks in Cairo aimed at a ceasefire and a hostage release deal dragged on without signs...
- Hamas said in a statement that three of Haniyeh's sons and four of his grandchildren were killed in the air strike
- Israel confirmed the killings, saying the sons were "Hamas operatives" who were "on their way to carry out terrorist activities"
Business
ByteDance profits jump 60%
Sales also grew to nearly $120 billion from $80 billion.
- ByteDance has grown into one of the world's biggest tech firms -- best known in most countries as the creator of video app TikTok -- since its birth in a Beijing apartment 12 years
- A privately held firm, ByteDance does not release revenue and profit figures but media estimates of its earnings put it on par with some of the biggest firms in the world.
Geostrategy
WTO eyes global trade rebound in 2024 but warns of risks
Geneva, Switzerland -- The World Trade Organization said Wednesday that global trade should rebound this year from an unexpected slump in...
- In its annual trade forecast, the WTO disclosed that world trade volumes unexpectedly declined by 1.2 percent in 2023.
- WTO has also warned of worrying signs of growing protectionist behaviour by some countries, although it refuses to name them.
Geostrategy
Biden says Israel making ‘mistake’ in handling of Gaza war
Biden urged Netanyahu "to just call for a ceasefire, allow for the next six, eight weeks, total access to all...
- Biden rebuked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the conflict and reiterated the need for a ceasefire
- "I think what he's doing is a mistake. I don't agree with his approach," Biden told Spanish-language TV network Univision
Geostrategy
Israel strikes Gaza as US says Rafah attack ‘not imminent’
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he had no indication of an "imminent" Israeli assault on the city, the...
- Hamas had said earlier it "appreciates" the efforts from mediators Qatar, Egypt and the United States, but accused Israel of failing to respond to its demands
- Despite growing pressure from top ally the United States, Netanyahu stressed Israel would pursue the twin goals of bringing home "all our hostages"
Geostrategy
BP issues upbeat Q1 outlook
The energy major's share price gained almost 2 percent.
- Gas sales are "expected to be strong" after a solid performance in the fourth quarter of 2023.
- Oil sales have regained strength after a weak performance in the prior period.
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Iran vows to rebuild nuclear sites ‘stronger than before’
"By destroying buildings... we will not be set back," said Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in a visit to the country's...
Geostrategy
Company News
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UN starts new bid to forge plastics treaty amid ‘global crisis’
Geneva, Switzerland -- Nations must resolve the global plastics crisis, the head of UN talks told negotiators from 180 countries...
Geostrategy
‘Projectile’ fired at Israel from Yemen: Israeli military
Jerusalem, Undefined - A "projectile" fired towards Israel from Yemen was intercepted, but not before air-raid warnings sounded across the...
Geostrategy
Gaza war deepens Israel’s divides, sets friends, families against one another
Hostage families and peace activists want Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to secure a ceasefire with Hamas and free the...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Economy
Trump says to raise tariff on India over Russia oil purchases
President Donald Trump threatened Monday to "substantially" hike US tariffs on goods from India over its purchases of Russian oil...
- Trump's heightened pressure on India comes after he signaled fresh sanctions on Moscow if it did not make progress by Friday towards a peace deal with Kyiv
- Moscow is anticipating talks with the US leader's special envoy Steve Witkoff, who is expected to meet President Vladimir Putin this week
Business
Tesla approves $29 bn in shares to Musk as court case rumbles on
Washington, United States -- Tesla announced an "interim" compensation award worth about $29 billion for Elon Musk on Monday, asserting...
- The award comes as Tesla challenges a Delaware court ruling that struck down a 2018 package of about $55.8 billion.
- The move comes amid a fierce battle for top engineering talent as companies like Google and Meta compete for leadership on artificial intelligence.
Geostrategy
Netanyahu to brief army on Gaza war plan ahead of UN meet on hostages
His statement came after hundreds of retired Israeli security chiefs wrote to US President Donald Trump to urge him to...
- He told ministers that later in the week he would instruct the military on how "to achieve the three war objectives we have set".
- Of the 251 hostages seized during Hamas's October 2023 attack on Israel, 49 are still held in the Palestinian territory, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.