Israel receives bodies of two more hostages returned by Hamas
The issue of hostage bodies still in Gaza has become a sticking point in the ceasefire implementation, with Israel linking...
Geostrategy
Hamas says committed to Gaza truce and returning hostage remains
Responding to a call from Hamas for help locating the bodies of the 19 hostages, buried under the rubble alongside...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Palestinian group says Israeli troops raid Gaza hospital
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the army to prepare to "evacuate" hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from Gaza's...
- "The occupation (Israeli) forces stormed Al-Amal hospital and started searching it. We're finding it difficult to communicate with our crews inside the hospital," the group said
- Al-Amal has been caught in fierce fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas fighters, with the Red Crescent reporting "intense artillery shelling and heavy gunfire"
Science
World’s biggest flying lab comes to Asia on air pollution mission
Clark, Philippines - NASA has kicked off a series of marathon flights in Asia with the world's biggest flying laboratory, in...
- Starting this week in the Philippines, the US agency's DC-8 is flying for up to eight hours at a time, sometimes just 50 feet from the ground, to swoop up air particles for study.
- Millions of deaths each year are linked to air pollution, and improving the ability to identify its sources and behavior can lead to more accurate warning systems for the public.
Geostrategy
Law, politics hamper UK museum return of artifacts
LONDON, UK - British museums, like others across Europe, are under pressure to return artworks taken during the colonial era, including...
- Politicians have little appetite to change the legal framework that is currently blocking full restitutions by national museums, campaigners say.
- British laws dating from the 1960s and 1980s prevent national museums, such as the British Museum and the V&A, from making returning artifacts.
Business
European stocks firm as markets await US inflation data
London, United Kingdom - Europe's main stock markets steadied Friday as traders reacted to more earnings updates from top companies, while...
- Asia saw holiday-thinned trade, with investors there struggling to build on another record-setting day on Wall Street.
- While China is in holiday mode, investors are keeping tabs on Beijing, hoping for fresh measures to boost market confidence.
Business
Rumors swirl over bitcoin inventor Nakamoto’s identity
London, United Kingdom - An Australian man went on trial in London this week over his claims of inventing bitcoin --...
- Computer scientist Craig Wright, 53, says he is "Satoshi Nakamoto", the pseudonym of bitcoin's creator and author of a white paper that introduced the cryptocurrency to the world
- He is being sued by cryptocurrency activists who say he's lied and forged documents in his attempts to pretend he is bitcoin's founder.
Arts & Culture
AI game gains popularity during Chinese New Year festivities
SHANGHAI, CHINA - Young Chinese flocking home for Lunar New Year this weekend have turned to an AI chatbot game to...
- The new game uses an AI chatbot to simulate the barrage of squirm-inducing questions young people can expect to face.
- The annual inquisition as extended families gather for China's biggest festival is a cultural touchstone across the country.
Business
Barclays bank to stop financing new oil, gas projects
London, United Kingdom -- British bank Barclays said Friday it would stop directly financing its energy clients' new oil and gas...
- The bank added it would scale back lending for existing fossil fuel projects as the sector faces intense pressure from activist investors to help tackle climate change.
- The British lender's move to curb financing of oil and gas projects follows similar announcements from European bank heavyweights BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole, HSBC and ING.
Geostrategy
Crippling Israeli restrictions throw West Bank life in disarray
The number of checkpoints and barriers in the Palestinian territory has greatly increased since October 7, adding hours to already...
- Recently, an AFP team left Jerusalem at 8 am for the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem -- normally a trip of just two hours -- and arrived there at 1:30 pm.
- Israel first erected military checkpoints in the West Bank following the first Palestinian uprising or intifada in 1987, but the number increased after the second intifada.
Business
Hermes profit soars 28 percent
The luxury giant posted a profit of US$4.6bn in 2023.
- The company will disburse a 4,000-euro bonus to all employees early this year as part of "its policy of sharing the fruits of growth"
- Its sales climbed 14.5% in Japan and 12.9% in the rest of the Asia-Pacific region, with the group opening its 33rd store in China
Geostrategy
Saudi hosts Arab diplomats for Gaza talks after Blinken tour
Saudi Arabia, home to the holiest sites in Islam, has never recognised Israel, though officials were considering doing so before...
- The meeting was attended by the foreign ministers of Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan, as well as a senior Palestinian official
- Two diplomats briefed on preparations for the meeting told AFP it was intended to promote a unified Arab position on the war, now in its fifth month
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Israel receives bodies of two more hostages returned by Hamas
The issue of hostage bodies still in Gaza has become a sticking point in the ceasefire implementation, with Israel linking...
Geostrategy
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US halting some shipments of military aid to Ukraine
The White House said Tuesday it is halting some key weapons shipments to Ukraine that were promised under the Biden...
Geostrategy
Mamdani confirmed as Democratic candidate for New York mayor
Rising star of the American left Zohran Mamdani is now officially the Democratic candidate for mayor of New York City,...
Geostrategy
Macron, Putin discuss Iran, Ukraine in first talks since 2022
One week after a ceasefire ended Israel's 12-day war with Iran, the two men also discussed Tehran's nuclear programme, with...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Gaza mourns those killed in Israeli strike on seafront cafe
Once a bustling seafront spot where young people could hope for a rare respite from war, Gaza City's al-Baqa cafe...
- The strike triggered a fresh outpouring of grief in the Palestinian territory already devastated by more than 20 months of war.
- Tributes have also poured in for Ismail Abu Hatab, described by friends as a journalist and videographer.
Business
Eight-country coalition aims to tax luxury air travel
Seville, Spain -- Countries including France, Kenya, Barbados and Spain on Monday launched a coalition to push for taxes on...
- The coalition said it would work to increase the number of countries taxing plane tickets, including business-class travel, and private jets.
- Greenpeace welcomed an "important step" to raise more money from "the most elite and polluting form of travel", which has remained "undertaxed".
Business
Meta’s AI talent war raises questions about strategy
New York, United States -- Mark Zuckerberg and Meta are spending billions to recruit top artificial intelligence talent, triggering debates...
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently complained that Meta has offered $100 million bonuses to lure engineers away from his company.
- Several OpenAI employees have accepted Meta's offers, prompting executives at the ChatGPT maker to scramble to retain their best talent.