COP30 deal under threat as nations clash over fossil fuels
The draft text unveiled by COP30 host Brazil made no mention of "fossil fuels" or the word "roadmap" that President...
Geostrategy
Meta to remove under-16 Australians from Facebook, Instagram on December 4
Australians younger than 16 will be removed from Facebook and Instagram on December 4, tech giant Meta said Thursday, as...
Business
Economy
Amazon rainforest sets stage for toughest climate talks yet as world leaders gather for COP30
The United States, the world's largest economy and second-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, is absent for the first time in...
- UN chief Antonio Guterres has acknowledged that it is now "inevitable" the 1.5C threshold will soon be breached, urging that the overshoot be kept as brief as possible
- The United States, the world's largest economy and second-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, is absent for the first time in the history of these meetings
Geostrategy
Israel confirms remains returned are officer Goldin killed in 2014 Gaza war
Jerusalem, Undefined - Israel said the remains it received on Sunday from Hamas were those of Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, an...
- Goldin was the 24th deceased hostage whose remains have been returned by Hamas since the start of the ceasefire on October 10 that has halted the latest war in Gaza
- "Today, we are united in having finally brought him back to his parents and his family to be laid to rest in Israel," Netanyahu said in a video statement posted on X
Geostrategy
Palestinians recount ‘black hole’ of Israeli detention
Jerusalem, Undefined -- Denied contact with his lawyer for months, now freed Palestinian prisoner Shady Abu Sedo said he lost...
- Several rights groups have denounced what they say is a form of incommunicado detention for Palestinian prisoners, hampering the legal defense of detainees.
- The rights group says that 18 doctors and dozens of other health professionals from Gaza are still languishing without charge in Israeli prisons.
Geostrategy
Ukraine scrambles for energy with power generation at ‘zero’
Kyiv, Ukraine -- Ukraine was scrambling to turn lights and heating back on Sunday after Russian attacks targeting energy infrastructure...
- launched hundreds of drones at energy facilities across the country overnight into Saturday.
- The attacks interrupted electricity, heat and water supplies in several cities, with state power firm Centerenergo warning generating capacity "is down to zero".
Economy
China’s consumer prices rose in Oct, reversing stagnation
Beijing has struggled to maintain a strong economic recovery from the pandemic, as it fights a debt crisis in its...
- The consumer price index, a key measure of inflation, rose 0.2 percent year-on-year last month, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
- Consumer prices were stagnant in July followed by two months of decline.
Geostrategy
Tunisian opponents go on collective hunger strike to support jailed figure
Tunis, Tunisia - Prominent Tunisian opposition figures including Rached Ghannouchi said Friday they would go on hunger strike in solidarity...
- Jawhar Ben Mbarek, co-founder of the National Salvation Front, Tunisia's main opposition alliance, launched a hunger strike last week to protest his detention since February 2023
- In April, he was sentenced to 18 years behind bars on charges of "conspiracy against state security" and "belonging to a terrorist group" in a mass trial criticised by rights group
Geostrategy
Turkey issues genocide arrest warrant against Netanyahu, senior officials in his govt
The announcement was met with a firm rebuttal from Israel. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel "firmly rejects, with contempt"...
- The Istanbul prosecutor's office said in a statement that a total of 37 suspects were targeted by the arrest warrants, without providing a full list
- The announcement was met with a firm rebuttal from Israel. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel "firmly rejects, with contempt" the charges
Geostrategy
Chinese ship scouts deep-ocean floor in South Pacific
Beijing, China -- A Chinese research vessel docked in the Cook Islands Saturday as it probed the Pacific nation's deep-sea...
- Huge areas of seabed around the Cook Islands are carpeted in polymetallic nodules, lumpy rocks studded with rare earths and critical minerals such as cobalt, nickel and manganese.
- Fringed by sparkling lagoons, South Pacific nation the Cook Islands has opened its vast ocean territory for deep-sea mining exploration.
Geostrategy
At COP30, nations target the jet set with luxury flight tax
Rooted in the idea that a small elite of premium flyers should pay more for their outsized contribution to global...
- Diplomats from the coalition of more than 10 countries are pushing for more to come aboard.
- Countries that do not yet have such a tax would commit to imposing levies on business and first-class tickets as well as private jets.
Business
Pfizer poised to buy Metsera
The pharma giant improved its offer to $10bn.
- The Danish firm said Saturday that it "does not intend to make an increased offer to acquire Metsera."
- The company "will continue to assess opportunities for business development and acquisitions that... further its strategic objectives," it said.
COP30 deal under threat as nations clash over fossil fuels
The draft text unveiled by COP30 host Brazil made no mention of "fossil fuels" or the word "roadmap" that President...
Geostrategy
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10 killed in Aleppo building collapse: Syria state media
The five-story building collapsed in the Ferdaws neighbourhood of Aleppo. Civil defence and local authorities evacuated residents from nearby buildings...
Sudanese journalists form union to safeguard press freedom
The journalists' syndicate held elections on Saturday, the first since ousted president Omar al-Bashir dissolved independent unions after rising to...
Morocco bus crash leaves 23 dead, scores injured
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Iranian jet fighter crashes, three killed, reports state TV
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Arts & Culture
Rory McIlroy wins seventh Race to Dubai title
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- Rory McIlroy was on Sunday crowned the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai champion for...
Arts & Culture
Samsung plans $310 bn investment to power AI expansion
Seoul, South Korea -- South Korean conglomerate Samsung unveiled on Sunday a plan to invest $310 billion over the next...
Business
Israel says Gazans who landed in S. Africa unexpectedly had third-country approval
Israeli authorities said on Saturday that 153 Palestinians who turned up unexpectedly in South Africa, triggering questions from its president,...
Geostrategy
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Business
EU approves ADNOC’s purchase of Germany’s Covestro
Brussels, Belgium -- The European Commission on Friday greenlit the takeover of German chemical firm Covestro by UAE state oil...
- Plastics maker Covestro accepted a bid from the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company in October, valuing the company at 12 billion euros ($14 billion).
- ADNOC has promised to inject around 1.2 billion euros into the chemicals firm through the issuance of new shares under the terms of the takeover.
Geostrategy
Saudi prince, eyeing defense pledge, to meet Trump after long US absence
Saudi Arabia is unlikely to agree to normalization with Israel at this stage, with Prince Mohammed's priority set for firmer...
- A US-Saudi investment forum spotlighting energy and artificial intelligence will take place in Washington during the prince's visit, the event's website says.
- As Riyadh embarks on ambitious tourist and entertainment projects to diversify its oil-reliant economy, it has sought to de-escalate regional tensions -- including with Iran.
Economy
Global CO2 emissions to hit record high in 2025, making 1.5°C target nearly impossible
Global fossil fuel emissions are set to hit a new high in 2025, according to research published Thursday that also...
- The annual Global Carbon Budget report looks at humanity's emissions of planet-heating CO2 from burning hydrocarbons, cement production and land use
- The failure to cut planet-heating emissions is overshadowing the COP30 in the rainforest city of Belem -- the conference taking place this week without the presence of the US