Israel returns 45 Palestinian bodies to Gaza authorities
Under the deal pushed by US President Donald Trump and aimed at ending the two-year Gaza war, Israel was to...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
North Korea prepares for conflict as Kim inspects warships
The North Korean leader has in recent weeks declared South Korea his country's "principal enemy", jettisoned agencies dedicated to reunification...
- The country last year launched what it called its first "tactical nuclear attack submarine"
- Experts said the vessel seemed to be modified from an existing diesel-electric submarine
Al Nassr thrash Inter Miami as Ronaldo, Messi watch on
Otavio drilled in the opener as Miami lost the ball trying to play out from the back, bringing Ronaldo to...
- Ronaldo's calf injury prompted Al Nassr to cancel their two-game China tour last week and it denied him what could have been a last match against rival Messi
- Their most recent meeting came in January 2023 when Ronaldo played in a Saudi select team beaten 5-4 by Messi's PSG
Business
Naver profit jumps 129% in Q4
The company said it posted a net profit of US$227.4 million.
- The firm, in 2022, paid nearly $1.2 billion for Poshmark, a US online marketplace for used clothing
- The tech firm's content business was driven by the growth of webtoons -- Internet-based comic strips
Business
Apple logs US$119.6bn in sales
But its sales in China dropped during October to December.
- The company's profits came in at $33.9 billion during the quarter with diluted earnings per share above expectations at $2.18.
- Its net sales in Greater China -- including mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan -- declined from a year ago to $20.8 billion
Geostrategy
Hamas gives ‘initial’ approval to plan for Gaza war pause
A Hamas source had told AFP the three-stage plan would start with an initial six-week halt to the fighting that...
- Mediators pushed ahead with peace efforts as fighting raged in Gaza and as Qatar-based Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was expected in Cairo for talks on Thursday or Friday
- Hamas has been reviewing a proposal for a six-week pause and a hostage-captives exchange, a Hamas source had told AFP after the Paris meeting
Geostrategy
Pegasus used in Jordan to spy on key figures, says report
Paris, France - Hackers have used the notorious Pegasus spyware to break into the phones of dozens of journalists and activists...
- Pegasus can seize control of a phone's microphone and camera and access documents, and a leak in 2021 showed how governments used it to spy on critics.
- Daoud Kuttab, a Palestinian-American journalist in Jordan, had his phone hacked three times in 2022 and 2023 and faced a further seven failed attempts.
Business
US stocks rebound from sell-off on Fed disappointment
New York, United States - Wall Street stocks rose early Thursday, rebounding from the prior session's pullback as markets awaited more...
- Major indices had tumbled on Wednesday after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell dampened expectations for an imminent cut in interest rates.
- Adam Sarhan of 50 Park Investments said the market is recovering from the "knee jerk" selloff after Wednesday's Fed meeting.
Science
Japanese lander disabled again but could restart after two weeks
Tokyo, Japan - After a brief awakening, Japan's Moon lander is out of action again but will resume its mission if...
- The unmanned Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) touched down last month at a wonky angle that left its solar panels facing the wrong way.
- As the sun's angle shifted, it came back to life for two days this week and carried out scientific observations of a crater with its high-spec camera.
Geostrategy
Assailant takes hostages in Gaza protest in Turkey, says police
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - An assailant on Thursday took a number of people hostage at a plant owned by US cosmetics giant...
- A union representing workers at the consumer goods plant said the assailant was holding seven people hostage.
- The man was standing next to a drawing of the Palestinian flag and the words "for Gaza" painted on the wall in red.
Geostrategy
US to sell drones worth $4bn to India to bolster its defenses against China
The United States approved a $4 billion sale of state-of-the-art drones to India, offering a new edge to the growing...
- Indian officials had discussed the drones during a state visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year.
- After months of discussion, the State Department said it had informed Congress of the sale..
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Revenue from Saudi cinema may exceed $1bn by 2030KSA, UAE play well as e-gaming trends across GCCExclusive: Middle East’s retail sector rides on AR and hybrid shopping to become $600bn digital economyTECOM Group profit soars 13%UAE startups eye Saudi Arabia for growth, expansionSaudi Arabia leads GCC AI healthcare raceDisparity remains as Saudis, Emiratis see wealth gains
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Doctors’ aid group slams US-backed Gaza relief scheme over deadly roll-out
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which began operating last month and has largely replaced established humanitarian organisations, "is degrading Palestinians by...
Geostrategy
Israel FM says world has ‘obligation’ to stop Iran getting nuclear bomb
Israel's foreign minister said Friday the world was obliged to stop Iran developing an atomic bomb, days after Israel claimed...
Geostrategy
Iran says IAEA chief request to visit bombed sites suggests ‘malign intent’
Iran on Friday rejected a request by UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi to visit facilities bombed by Israel and...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Conflicts and related fatalities triple since 2000, fueling extreme poverty: WB
Washington, United States -- Conflicts and related fatalities have more than tripled since the early 2000s, fueling extreme poverty, the...
- This year, 421m people get by on less than $3 a day in places hit by conflict or instability -- a situation of extreme poverty -- and the number is poised to hit 435m by 2030.
- Global attention has been focused on conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East for the past three years, said World Bank Group chief economist Indermit Gill.
Geostrategy
US Supreme Court curbs power of individual judges to block Trump
In a 6-3 ruling stemming from Trump's bid to end birthright citizenship, the court said nationwide injunctions issued by district...
- But the broader decision on the scope of judicial rulings will remove a big roadblock to Trump's often highly controversial orders and reaffirm the White House's power.
- rump's birthright citizenship order has been deemed unconstitutional by courts in Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington state, leading him to make an emergency appeal to the SC.
Geostrategy
UAE top court upholds life terms for 24 convicted in mass trial
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- The UAE supreme court has jailed 24 people for life after upholding their convictions for...
- The 24 were originally convicted in a mass trial of 84 people in July last year, most of whom had been behind bars since a similar mass trial of 94 people in 2013.
- "Following yesterday's ruling... the total number of convicted individuals in this case has risen to 83 out of 84 referred to trial," WAM said.