US Treasury chief: Beijing’s rare earths control is ‘China versus the world’
Washington, United States -- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent slammed Beijing's rare earth export curbs Wednesday as "China versus the...
Geostrategy
IMF lifts 2025 global growth forecast, warns of ongoing trade ‘uncertainty’
In its flagship World Economic Outlook (WEO) report -- compiled before the most recent US-China tariff spat -- the IMF...
Economy
Geostrategy
US, Egypt, Qatar and Israel officials in Paris talks for Gaza ceasefire
French authorities were also in touch with these four countries with the aim of negotiating a halt to hostilities between...
- Negotiators were getting closer to an agreement under which Israel would suspend its war in Gaza for about two months in return for the release of more than 100 hostages.
- Qatar is playing a key role in the latest talks after brokering a hostage release deal in November.
Geostrategy
UN chief calls for continuity in aid as battle rages in Gaza
Heavy fighting raged in Gaza amid a row over the UN agency for Palestinian refugees that has called its future...
- The Israeli army said special forces were continuing to engage in "intensive battles" in Gaza's main southern city of Khan Yunis.
- UNRWA said it had fired several employees over Israel's accusations of its staff
Economy
US Fed rate cuts become question of when, not if
Washington, United States -- The US Federal Reserve is widely expected to start cutting interest rates in the coming months, as...
- In economic forecasts published alongside the last Fed decision, policymakers indicated that they expect as many as three quarter percentage-point rate cuts this year.
- Fed interest rate cuts can help reduce the cost of consumer loans, making everything from cars to mortgages more affordable for millions of households.
Economy
Turkey earthquake survivors seek justice one year on
The disaster, which killed more than 50,000 people in all, was Turkey's deadliest in many centuries. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan...
- More than 200 contractors and developers were arrested in the immediate aftermath of the quake, some tried to flee abroad and were detained at Istanbul airports
- But lawyers representing victims' families fear that numerous contractors may escape blame because much of incriminating evidence disappeared when bulldozers cleared the debris
Geostrategy
Trump stokes opposition to Biden border plan
With immigration one of the hottest electoral issues in what increasingly looks like a Trump-Biden rematch for the White House,...
- Joe Biden threw his weight behind the proposed bill on Saturday
- Donald Trump has instead continued to castigate Biden over "open borders"
Geostrategy
Iran puts three satellites simultaneously into orbit
Western governments including the United States have repeatedly warned Iran against such launches, saying the same technology can be used...
- The Mahda satellite, which weighs around 32 kilograms and was developed by Iran's Space Agency, is designed to test advanced satellite subsystems
- The other two, Kayhan 2 and Hatef, weigh under 10 kilograms each and are aimed to test space-based positioning technology and narrowband communication
Geostrategy
UN chief asks donors for ‘continuity’ in Gaza agency operations
The row between Israel and UNRWA follows the UN's ICJ ruling that Israel must prevent possible acts of genocide in...
- UN agency has fired several staff over Israel's accusations
- Several key donor countries have said they will temporarily suspend their funding
Geostrategy
Israel to stop UN agency’s activities in Gaza after war
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz called on UNRWA Commissioner-General to quit his post. Katz said in a statement that the...
- UNRWA said Friday it had fired several employees over Israel's accusations
- Donors including Germany, Britain and others suspended additional funding to the agency
Geostrategy
Thousands march in Spain against Gaza ‘genocide’
Waving Palestinian flags and shouting slogans denouncing Israel, protestors expressed gratitude to South Africa for having brought the case against...
- The ICJ in its ruling said Israel must prevent genocide in its war with Hamas
- Many protestors carried banners calling for sanctions to be levied against Israel
Geostrategy
US troops destroy Houthi’s anti-ship missile in Yemen
US forces struck an anti-ship missile in Houthi-held Yemen that they said was ready to fire, hours after the Iran-backed...
- The US has also carried out a series of unilateral air raids, but the Houthis have vowed to continue their attacks.
- The Houthis' Al-Masirah television said the US and the UK launched two air strikes on the port of Ras Issa in Yemen's Hodeida province.
Most Read
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
US Treasury chief: Beijing’s rare earths control is ‘China versus the world’
Washington, United States -- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent slammed Beijing's rare earth export curbs Wednesday as "China versus the...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
Trump sees ‘progress’ on Gaza, raising hopes for ceasefire
"I think great progress is being made on Gaza," Trump said, adding that his special envoy Steve Witkoff had told...
Geostrategy
What does NATO’s 5% spending deal really mean?
The Hague, Netherlands - NATO leaders are set to sign off Wednesday at their Hague summit on a defence spending...
Geostrategy
Zohran Mamdani stuns political veteran in NYC mayoral primary
New York City Democrats chose 33-year-old Muslim socialist Zohran Mamdani as their mayoral candidate in Tuesday's elections, stunning his opponent,...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Geostrategy
US intel says Iran nuclear sites not destroyed, only set back by a few months
Trump rejected that claim on Tuesday, posting on his Truth Social account that “the nuclear sites in Iran are completely...
- Trump rebuffed that claim on Tuesday, posting on his Truth Social account that "THE NUCLEAR SITES IN IRAN ARE COMPLETELY DESTROYED!"
- White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had previously confirmed the authenticity of the assessment but said it was "flat-out wrong".
Economy
US Fed chair signals no rush for rate cuts despite Trump pressure
The Fed has a duty to prevent a one-time spike in prices from becoming an "ongoing inflation problem," said Federal...
- The Fed has held the benchmark lending rate steady since its last reduction in December, bringing the level to a range between 4.25 percent and 4.50 percent.
- Last week, Powell told reporters that it would make smarter decisions if it waited to understand how Trump's tariffs impact the economy.
Geostrategy
Israel kills 46 Gazans waiting for aid as hostage families call for end to war
Civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP that 21 people were killed and around 150 wounded by Israeli fire near...
- The territory of more than two million people is suffering from famine-like conditions after Israel blocked all supplies from early March to the end of May.
- France condemned what it called deadly "Israeli fire" against civilians in a statement from the foreign ministry apparently referring to the Netzarim corridor incident.