Defiant Khamenei insists ‘won’t back down’ in face of growing Iran protests
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday insisted the Islamic republic would "not back down" in the face of...
Geostrategy
Saudi strikes Yemen after separatist leader skips talks
A Saudi-led coalition struck the home province of Yemen's UAE-backed separatist leader on Wednesday, after he failed to show up...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Trump ‘very confident’ of Gaza deal as he hosts Netanyahu
He repeated "very confident" when asked if all parties were on board with the 21-point plan to end the nearly two-year...
- The US president met key Arab leaders at the United Nations last week and said Sunday on social media that "ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER."
- But Netanyahu has given little reason for optimism, vowing in a defiant UN speech Friday to "finish the job" against Hamas and rejecting Palestinian statehood.
Economy
India, Pakistan trade accusations after Asia Cup trophy debacle
Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Pakistan captain Salman Agha said India had "disrespected cricket" while Indian counterpart Suryakumar Yadav complained...
- The two teams did not shake hands for the third Asia Cup match running as India won the final by five wickets in Dubai on Sunday
- Suryakumar's side did not attend the victory ceremony after refusing to accept the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, the president of the Asian Cricket Council
Geostrategy
Hamas urges Israel to halt strikes as it searches for two hostages
Hamas's armed wing urged the Israeli military to temporarily halt air strikes and withdraw from part of Gaza City on...
- In an earlier announcement, the armed group said the loss of contact was due to Israeli military operations over the previous 48 hours in two southern Gaza City neighbourhoods
- In the past, the Islamist movement announced that it had lost contact with an Israeli-American hostage, who was released a few days after that announcement
Geostrategy
‘We’ll be ruined’: Iranians feel strain as sanctions snap back
Tehran, Iran -- As United Nations sanctions returned in full force on Sunday, Iranians felt the strain deepen, with prices...
- Tehran's foreign ministry urged other countries to refrain from enforcing the sanctions, vowing to "defend its national rights and interests".
- The impact on prices was visible as the rial plummeted to a new low in an already squeezed economy, leaving many struggling to make ends meet.
Geostrategy
Netanyahu to meet Trump as Israel faces isolation over Gaza war
The meeting comes days after Trump unveiled a 21-point plan aimed at ending the war in the Palestinian territory during...
- On Sunday, Trump hinted at "something special" to come in Middle East talks, adding in a post on his Truth Social platform: "WE WILL GET IT DONE!!!"
- "He has no other choice but to accept" Trump's plan for a ceasefire, said Eytan Gilboa, an expert on US-Israel relations at Israel's Bar-Ilan University.
Geostrategy
Former France manager Blanc sacked by Saudi side Al Ittihad
Paris, France -- Saudi side Al Ittihad sacked manager Laurent Blanc on Sunday in the wake of a 2-0 defeat...
- Blanc's assistant Hassan Khalifa will take over as caretaker coach until further notice, Al Ittihad announced on social media.
- Blanc, 59, joined Al Ittihad in 2024 after a low key spell coaching Ligue 1 Lyon.
Geostrategy
New Gaza-bound flotilla sets off from Sicily, EU officials on board
A statement from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) and the Thousand Madleens to Gaza (TMTG) said they intended to "break...
- "For the most part, our boats carry medical supplies, dry food and school equipment, as this was highlighted as some of the biggest priorities by Palestinians," they said.
- They intend to join the Global Sumud Flotilla which is also bound for Gaza carrying aid supplies.
Geostrategy
Sweeping UN sanctions return to hit Iran after nuclear talks fail
The sanctions, three months after Israel and the United States bombed Iran, bar dealings related to Tehran's nuclear and ballistic...
- European and US diplomats stressed immediately after the resumption of sanctions that diplomacy was not over.
- Iran has allowed UN inspectors to return to its nuclear sites, but President Masoud Pezeshkian said the United States had offered only a short reprieve.
Geostrategy
World’s highest bridge opens to traffic in China
Beijing, China -- The world's highest bridge opened to traffic in China on Sunday, state media said, capping an engineering...
- The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge towers 625 metres (2,051 feet) above a river and vast gorge in the country's rugged southern province of Guizhou.
- Live drone footage broadcast by state media on Sunday showed vehicles traversing the immense structure, its blue support towers partially engulfed in clouds.
Geostrategy
Faced with Russian threat, NATO flexes military muscle in North Sea
NATO flexed its muscles in the North Sea this week in a display of military might, as Russia allegedly tested...
- F-18 fighter jets lined up on the world's largest aircraft carrier, flanked by 20 ships and with some 10,000 military personnel from 13 countries
- US destroyers and French and Danish frigates escorted the giant USS Gerald R. Ford on the high seas as part of NATO's Neptune Strike 25-3 exercise
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Defiant Khamenei insists ‘won’t back down’ in face of growing Iran protests
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday insisted the Islamic republic would "not back down" in the face of...
Geostrategy
Company News
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Israel says Hamas ‘will be disarmed’ after group proposes weapons freeze
Israel said Thursday that Hamas "will be disarmed" as part of the US-sponsored peace plan for Gaza, after a top...
Geostrategy
US launches pact for AI supply chains with key Asia-Pacific allies to face China
The United States signed an agreement on the supply chains with key Asia-Pacific allies concerned about China's growing clout --...
Economy
Trump demands CNN get new owners in Warner bidding war
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he wants to ensure CNN gets new ownership as part of the Warner...
Business
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Business
Trump says US will allow sale of Nvidia AI chips to China
Washington, United States - President Donald Trump said Monday he had reached an agreement with President Xi Jinping to allow...
- "President Xi responded positively! $25% will be paid to the United States of America," Trump wrote, without providing details on how the payment mechanism would work
- "We applaud President Trump's decision to allow America's chip industry to compete to support high paying jobs and manufacturing in America," an Nvidia spokesperson told AFP
Geostrategy
UNRWA chief denounces Israeli police’s seizure of agency’s Jerusalem assets
The compound in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem has been empty of UNRWA staff since January, when the law banning its operations...
- "Today in the early morning, Israeli police accompanied by municipal officials forcibly entered the UNRWA compound in East Jerusalem," Philippe Lazzarini said on X
- Lazzarini has been declared persona non grata by Israeli authorities, who banned his agency from operating inside the country early this year
Science
AI tools help choose best embryos, increase success rate for IVF
Paris, France -- Artificial intelligence tools can now help choose the most promising embryos for in vitro fertilisation (IVF), although...
- The facility in the French capital carries out more than 2,300 IVF procedures every year.
- Tools using AI such as machine learning have been shown to help doctors select the embryos that have the best chance of being successfully implanted or frozen for later.