Iran vows fast trials over protests after Trump threatened “very strong action”
Iran on Wednesday vowed fast-track trials for people arrested over a massive wave of protests, after US President Donald Trump...
Geostrategy
Morocco’s AFCON star Achraf Hakimi: the pride of his mother’s home town
Ksar El Kebir, Morocco – Achraf Hakimi is an idol across Africa Cup of Nations host country Morocco, but there is...
Arts & Culture
Geostrategy
The armed groups clashing with Hamas in Gaza
Shortly after a ceasefire took effect in Gaza, clashes erupted between armed groups, some backed by Israel and others loyal...
- Some of these groups are criminal gangs, others consist of members of historically influential Gaza families, and some combine both elements, experts told AFP
- Armed gangs in Gaza are reportedly acting under Israeli protection, and allegedly loot aid convoys entering the territory, where shortages remain dire after Israel's blockade
Geostrategy
Afghanistan, Pakistan seek to firm up truce in Istanbul talks
Afghan and Pakistani negotiators were locked in talks to hammer out a lasting ceasefire Saturday, with Islamabad warning that if...
- Two weeks ago, the Taliban government launched a border offensive following explosions in Kabul which it blamed on its Pakistani neighbour
- Vowing a strong response, Islamabad then carried out "precision strikes" against armed groups on Afghan soil which are at the heart of the dispute
Arts & Culture
Picasso portrait of Dora Maar sells for $37 mn
The Spanish master painted it on July 11, 1943 and it was acquired in August 1944 by a private French...
- Entitled "Bust of a Woman With a Flowery Hat", the oil portrait of photographer, painter and poet Maar is a riot of colours and thick, black lines
- The Spanish master painted it on July 11, 1943 and it was acquired in August 1944 by a private French collector, grandfather of the former anonymous owners
Geostrategy
Trump heads for Asia and Xi trade talks
US President Donald Trump left on Friday for Asia and high-stakes trade talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping -- adding...
- Trump is set to meet Xi in South Korea on the last day of his regional swing in a bid to seal a deal to end the bruising trade war between the world's two biggest economies
- He will also visit Malaysia and Japan on his first trip to Asia since he returned to the White House in January in a blaze of tariffs and international dealmaking
Economy
China vows massive high-tech sector development in next decade
Beijing, China -- China will develop its high-tech sector on a massive scale in the next decade, top officials vowed...
- The country has poured support and investment into developing its science and technology sectors, part of ongoing efforts to present itself as a world leader in those areas.
- Domestically, China has been beset by sluggish spending, a protracted property sector crisis and a demographic crunch as its population starts to decline.
Geostrategy
Rubio seeks quick deployment of international Gaza force
He confirmed that Israel would enjoy vetoes on the force composition, amid reports Israel has objected to participation by Turkey.
- Turkey, a NATO member and one of the region's strongest militaries, was the first Muslim-majority country to recognize Israel.
- Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority state, has said it is ready to send troops to Gaza.
Science
Anthropic announces massive AI chip deal with Google
San Francisco, United States - Artificial intelligence giant Anthropic said Thursday it was expanding its use of Google cloud computing...
- The arrangement will include Anthropic buying as many as one million Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), which are integrated circuits custom-designed by Google
- The expansion promises to let Anthropic bring more than a gigawatt of new computing power online by the end of 2026, enabling it to meet "exponentially growing demand."
Geostrategy
Trump heads to Asia and high-stakes meeting with Xi
US President Donald Trump embarks on a major trip to Asia this week with all eyes on a meeting with...
- Trump said Wednesday he was making a "big trip" to Malaysia, Japan and South Korea, his first visit to the region since he returned to the White House
- The highlight will be his talks with Xi in South Korea, which Trump's spokeswoman confirmed would take place on October 30 on the sidelines of an APEC summit
Geostrategy
Trump issues stark warning to Israel over annexing West Bank as Rubio begins visit
"It won't happen," Trump said when asked about calls in Israel to annex the Palestinian West Bank which has been...
- Trump's remarks were made to Time magazine by telephone on October 15, just days after the Gaza ceasefire plan he spearheaded took effect, but were only published on Thursday
- "It won't happen," Trump said when asked about calls in Israel to annex the Palestinian West Bank which has been occupied by Israel since 1967. "It won't happen."
Geostrategy
Oil prices surge as Trump hits Russian crude with sanctions
The international benchmark contract, Brent North Sea crude, jumped 4.8 percent while West Texas Intermediate was up 5.1 percent. Trump on Wednesday announced...
- The move was joined by another round of punishments by the European Union as part of attempts to pressure Moscow to end its three-and-a-half-year invasion of Ukraine.
- According to industry analysts the two companies account for just over half of Russia's oil output, and both also produce natural gas.
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Iran vows fast trials over protests after Trump threatened “very strong action”
Iran on Wednesday vowed fast-track trials for people arrested over a massive wave of protests, after US President Donald Trump...
Geostrategy
Company News
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Israel to invest $110 billion over the next decade to develop its own independent arms industry
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that Israel would invest $110 billion over the next decade to develop its own...
Geostrategy
Libyans united in grief for army chief killed in plane crash
General Mohammed al-Haddad and his four aides died on Tuesday after a visit to Ankara, with Turkish officials saying an...
Geostrategy
Why metal prices are soaring to record highs
London, United Kingdom -- Precious and industrial metals are surging to record highs as the year ends, driven by economic...
Business
Most Read
Economy
“New Suez Canal on rails”: Egypt high-speed trains to connect Red Sea, Mediterranean
Workers have started laying tracks in the desert east of Cairo for Egypt's first high-speed train, which will link the...
- The Green Line, as it is known, is the latest of a long list of megaprojects undertaken by El-Sisi's government in the past decade
- The Green Line will run across the country's north, from Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea to Marsa Matrouh on the Mediterranean
Geostrategy
Gazans fear renewed displacement after Israeli strikes
Residents say the strikes have targeted neighborhoods east of the so-called Yellow Line -- a demarcation established under the truce...
- Earlier this month, Israeli army chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir described the Yellow Line as the "new border line" with Israel.
- For Palestinian officials, the line is seen as a tool for permanent displacement.
Business
Kuwait signs $4.1 billion deal with China to build port
Kuwait City, Kuwait -- Kuwait has signed a deal worth $4.1 billion with China to complete the construction of a...
- Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah project would "enhance Kuwait's share in the regional and international trade and global supply chain".
- Chinese acting charge d'affaires Liu Xiang said the deal "constitutes participation in the 'belt and road' initiative".