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
Economy
QatarEnergy signs LNG deal with Petronet
QatarEnergy will supply 7.5m tons of LNG per year to Petronet.
- Qatar is one of the world's top LNG producers alongside the United States, Australia and Russia.
- The first deliveries of gas to India by QatarEnergy's LNG fleet are due from May 2028.
Business
BP posts US$15.2bn net annual profit
It will deliver US$1.75bn in buybacks for Q4 of last year.
- Its profit after tax surged to $15.2 billion last year from a net loss of $2.5 billion in 2022
- The bumper profit came after slumping into a loss the prior year on its exit from Russia
Business
Toyota expects to book profit of US$30bn
Its third-quarter net profit jumped to US$7 billion.
- The weak yen is also boosting earnings for the auto titan, which now expects to book a net profit of 4.5 trillion yen ($30 billion) this financial year
- Last week, Toyota announced record vehicle sales of 11.2m across its brands in 2023, maintaining its crown as the world's top-selling automaker
Geostrategy
British-owned cargo ship hit by drone off Yemen in latest Houthi attack
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said last week that the movement's armed forces had targeted an American merchant ship named...
- According to British firm Ambrey, the Barbados-flagged ship "reportedly incurred minor damage on the port side" in an attack west of Hodeida
- Houthi rebels, who control much of Yemen, have been harassing Red Sea shipping for months in protest against the Israel-Hamas war
Israeli settler violence ‘must stop’: French FM
French minister denounced anti-Palestinian rhetoric and "even calls to commit war crimes" by Israeli officials, after some Netanyahu allies have...
- Since the October 7 attack triggered war between Israel and Hamas, at least 381 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli troops and settlers in the West Bank
- The French Minister called for "a comprehensive political solution, with two states living in peace side by side", urging the resumption of the peace process "without delay"
Geostrategy
Blinken heads to Egypt to seek ‘enduring end’ to Gaza war
Palestinian Territories - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was due to fly to Egypt on Tuesday as part of...
- In Cairo, Blinken is scheduled to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the day after he held talks in Riyadh with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
- Blinken's diplomatic push has been given fresh urgency with Israeli forces pressing further south towards Rafah, a Palestinian city on the southern border with Egypt
Geostrategy
China, Russia blame US for stoking Middle East tensions
The US forces targeted many positions in Syria and Iraq in retaliation for a drone attack on a base in...
- Russian ambassador said US attacks are aimed to stoke the conflict
- China's ambassador said US actions will worsen the "tit-for-tat violence in the Middle East"
Economy
OECD predicts rise in global economy amid Middle East ‘risk’
The OECD raised its 2024 world economic growth forecast Monday but warned that the Middle East conflict posed a risk,...
- The OECD now expects a 2.9 percent expansion, up from 2.7 percent in its previous forecast in November, as it sharply lifted the outlook for the US
- While inflation is falling in major economies, "it is too soon to be sure that underlying price pressures are fully contained", the OECD added
Business
McDonald Q4 profit up
McDonald's cited war in the Middle East as a drag.
- Profits in the quarter grew seven percent to $2.0 billion, while revenues increased eight percent to $6.4 billion.
- Global comparable sales grew 3.4 percent in fourth quarter, down from 8.8 percent in the third quarter and below the annual average
Business
Vodafone Q3 revenue dips
Poor display across Italy, Spain is said to be the reason for loss.
- Revenues dipped 2.3 percent to 11.4 billion euros ($12.3 billion) in the three months to the end of December, compared with a year earlier.
- "We maintained... revenue momentum in the third quarter," said chief executive Margherita Della Valle, adding the group had made "good strategic progress".
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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
Company News
Latest News
Israel not part of Gaza food aid plan: envoy
Geostrategy
Iran-Israel war opens ‘new road’ for Mideast: US envoy to Turkey
The Iran-Israel war has opened the way to a "new road" for the Middle East in which Turkey will have...
Geostrategy
Netanyahu eyes hostage breakthrough as Gaza families mourn victims
His comments lifted hope for a new ceasefire in the devastating conflict in the Palestinian territory, after US President Donald...
Geostrategy
Iran voices ‘serious doubts’ over Israel commitment to ceasefire
"We have serious doubts over the enemy's compliance with its commitments including the ceasefire, we are ready to respond with...
Geostrategy
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Business
Indonesia begins $5.9 bn EV battery project despite environment fears
Jakarta, Indonesia -- Indonesia broke ground Sunday on a $5.9 billion megaproject for EV battery production backed by Chinese giant...
- Indonesia is the world's largest nickel producer and it is trying to capitalize on its vast reserves.
- The EV battery project will include a $4.7 billion investment on the eastern island of Halmahera and a $1.2 billion investment in West Java.
Arts & Culture
Star-studded Al-Hilal defense highlights Saudi club’s rise
Miami, United States -- The main appeal of the Club World Cup so far has been the chance to see...
- Saudi club Al-Hilal, coached by Simone Inzaghi, went unbeaten in the group stage, drawing with Real Madrid impressively.
- Al-Hilal’s defense includes former City full-back Joao Cancelo and ex-Napoli center-half Kalidou Koulibaly, both experienced internationals.
Economy
G7 to exempt US multinationals from global minimum tax
The deal will see US companies benefit from a "side-by-side" solution under which they will only be taxed at home,...
- Nearly 140 countries struck a deal in 2021 to tax multinational companies, an agreement negotiated under the auspices of he Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
- That agreement, deeply criticized by Trump, includes two "pillars," the second of which sets a minimum global tax rate of 15 percent.