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...
Geostrategy
Iran sanctions look set to return despite last-ditch China, Russia effort to secure a delay
China and Russia at a Security Council session on Friday put forward a draft resolution, seen by AFP, that would...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Russia spreading disinformation on Middle East situation, says Microsoft
Paris, France - Russia has been spreading "disinformation" about the situation in the Middle East, the president of Microsoft said on...
- Brad Smith, Microsoft vice chair and president, was asked about the role of the US tech giant in promoting peace at an international peace forum in Paris.
- The president of tech giant said that Microsoft and its competitors were fighting against disinformation, in particular by using Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Geostrategy
Israel faces global calls to protect civilians in Gaza
The suffering and death in Gaza has prompted growing calls for a halt in five weeks of fighting in order...
- The Gaza health ministry says Israeli fighting has killed more than 11,000 people, also mostly civilians and many of them children
- Almost 1.6 million people have been internally displaced since October 7, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) said
Geostrategy
French president urges Israel to stop bombing Gaza civilians
Emmanuel Macron, speaking to the BBC, cited examples of "these babies, these ladies, these old people" in urging Israel to...
- Macron said the killings in Gaza by Israel was creating "resentment and bad feelings" in the Middle East
- More than 11,000 people, mainly civilians, have been killed in Israel's air and ground assault
Economy
Moody’s downgrades US debt rating outlook to negative
Moody's is the only major agency to maintain its rating for US sovereign debt at its highest level -- underscoring...
- The US budget deficit, published last month for the 2023 fiscal year ending September 30, has widened to $1.7 trillion
- Due to interest rate hikes by the US central bank to curb inflation, the cost of debt for the United States has ballooned
Geostrategy
Blinken ends marathon tour warning ‘more needs to be done’ on Gaza
New Delhi, India - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrapped up a marathon diplomatic push on Friday in India after...
- Blinken arrived in New Delhi on Thursday seeking to bolster India as a regional counterweight to China and win backing for its position on Israel's war with Hamas.
- The conflict in Gaza poses a major challenge to hopes of a key trade and transport route linking Europe, the Middle East and India, unveiled during the G20 talks in September.
Geostrategy
Egypt and Qatar to discuss ceasefire efforts in Gaza
The high-level meeting in Cairo comes ahead of Saturday's summits in Saudi Arabia, where Arab and Muslim leaders are expected...
- "The two leaders discussed the best ways to protect innocent civilians in Gaza and to stop the bloodshed," said a statement
- The two also explored the steps required for ceasefire and sustaining the delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza
Geostrategy
Gaza health system has reached point of no return, says ICRC
The Red Cross called for medical facilities and workers in war-ravaged Gaza to be protected, warning the health system there...
- Medical facilities and personnel across Gaza have repeatedly come under attack since Israel's war with Hamas erupted just over a month ago.
- Such attacks have dealt "a heavy blow to the healthcare system in Gaza, ICRC said.
Geostrategy
Iran says expansion of Israel-Hamas war has become ‘inevitable’
President Ebrahim Raisi has said Iran sees it as "its duty to support the resistance groups" but insisted that they...
- "Due to the increasing intensity of the war against the civilian residents of Gaza, the expansion of the scope of the war has now become inevitable", Amir-Abdollahian said
- The Islamic republic of Iran, which supports Hamas financially and militarily, has hailed the militant group's attack on Israel as a "success" but denied any involvement
Business
Japan to invest $13 billion on semiconductors and generative AI
Tokyo, Japan - Japan's government said on Friday that it plans to spend 2 trillion yen ($13 billion) to boost domestic...
- The planned outlays will include 700 billion yen ($4.6 billion) to support the construction of a Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) plant in Kumamoto.
- Japanese trade ministry said the government will also spend 650 billion yen ($4.3 billion) to support Japanese startup Rapidus, which aims to develop next generation microchips.
Geostrategy
UN agency for Palestinian refugees says Gaza carnage ‘simply must stop’
"The present course chosen by the Israeli authorities will not bring the peace and stability that both Israelis and Palestinians...
- "Razing entire neighborhoods to the ground is not an answer for the egregious crimes committed by Hamas," said the United Nations official.
- "To the contrary, it is creating a new generation of aggrieved Palestinians who are likely to continue the cycle of violence. The carnage simply must stop," he said.
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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...
Geostrategy
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Erdogan urges parties to seize ‘window of opportunity’ on Ukraine
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday urged parties to take advantage of recent contacts to strike a deal toward...
Geostrategy
US, China to publish details of ‘substantial’ trade talks in Geneva
The US and China will Monday give details of "substantial progress" touted by Washington on trade talks aimed at ending...
Economy
Asian markets rally after positive China-US trade talks
Asian stocks rallied Monday after top Chinese and US officials held "substantial" trade talks at the weekend, fuelling hopes the...
Economy
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Geostrategy
Hamas to release hostage as part of direct talks with US
In a joint statement Egypt and Qatar, who along with the US have mediated talks between Hamas and Israel, also...
- US President Donald Trump hailed the "monumental news" in a post on social media, describing it as a "good faith gesture."
- Earlier, two Hamas officials told AFP that talks were ongoing in the Qatari capital of Doha with the United States and reported "progress" had been made
Geostrategy
India, Pakistan ceasefire holds after early violations
Poonch, India - A ceasefire appeared to hold on Sunday between India and Pakistan, hours after the nuclear-armed rivals accused...
- The ceasefire was agreed on Saturday after four days of missile, drone and artillery attacks which killed at least 60 people
- The "full and immediate" halt to hostilities was unexpectedly announced by US President Donald Trump on social media
Economy
Washington hails ‘substantive progress’ after trade talks with China
Washington expressed optimism at the end of a weekend of trade talks with China aimed to de-escalate trade tensions sparked...
- The meetings marked the first time senior officials from the two countries met since Trump slapped steep levies on China
- After the first day of negotiations, Trump had posted on Truth Social that the discussions had been "very good"