Microsoft trims service to Israel over Gaza surveillance
San Francisco, United States - Microsoft on Thursday said it cut an Israeli defense unit's access to some cloud services...
Geostrategy
Meta activates Facebook ‘teen accounts’ worldwide
Paris, France -- Meta said Thursday it was activating so-called "teen accounts" with additional protections for adolescent Facebook and Messenger...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Putin revokes Russia’s ratification of Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
During parliamentary hearings, State Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said the move to revoke the treaty was a response to the...
- The 1996 treaty outlaws all nuclear explosions, including live tests of nuclear weapons, though it never came into force.
- The West has accused Russia of using reckless nuclear rhetoric since it launched its offensive on Ukraine last February.
Business
Lufthansa Q3 profit $1.3bn
38 million passengers travelled with the group's airlines in the third quarter.
- The group said sales rose by eight percent to 10.3 billion euros, delivering "the strongest quarter in its history in revenue terms".
- The surge in profit is driven by "strong demand, higher capacity" and more expensive ticket prices, the aviation firm said.
Geostrategy
US sanctions Turkey, China, UAE entities to disrupt Russia war
"Russia is dependent on willing third-country individuals and entities to resupply its military and perpetuate its heinous war against Ukraine...
- The latest sanctions involve 130 new targets. Among them are Turkish national Berk Turken for his role in a procurement network with ties to Russian intelligence services
- A UAE-based network has been sanctioned for alleged involvement in Russian illicit finance, the department said.
Geostrategy
Political and tech leaders tackle AI safety at inaugural summit
London, United Kingdom – UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday hosts political and tech leaders at the inaugural global...
- The United Kingdom, the United States, the European Union and China have agreed to cooperate to ensure the safe use and deployment of AI technologies.
- The summit identified an agenda of three key points: identifying risks, building risk-based policies in different countries.
Shell reports rise in profits
The company announces a buyback of shares worth $3.5bn.
- "Shell delivered another quarter of strong operational and financial performance," chief executive Wael Sawan said
- Over the first nine months of 2023 Shell's profit was down sharply, reflecting lower oil prices year-on-year
Egypt says to help evacuate ‘about 7,000’ Gaza foreign nationals
For the first time after weeks of deadly fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants since the Hamas attacks of October...
- Egyptian officials said 76 wounded Palestinians and 335 foreign passport holders had crossed into Egypt on Wednesday
- Among those who crossed were 31 Austrians, four Italians, five French nationals and some Germans, their governments said
Biden voices support for humanitarian ‘pause’ in Israel-Hamas war
The 80-year-old Democrat was delivering remarks to some 200 supporters in the northern US state when a member of the...
- "I think we need a pause. A pause means giving time to get the prisoners out", Biden responded to a Jewish Rabbi who asked him to call for ceasefire
- Asked about Joe Biden's remarks, the White House later clarified that by "prisoners" the president was referring to hostages held by Hamas
Geostrategy
195 die in Israel strikes on Gaza camp, hundreds wounded
The Hamas government in Gaza said that 195 people had been killed in Israeli strikes this week on Jabalia refugee...
- Ambulances were set to rush several dozen patients to Egyptian hospitals, and about 400 foreigners or dual nationals were expected to escape.
- Egypt said that eventually it hoped to help evacuate 7,000 foreigners from over 60 countries from the densely crowded territory of 2.4 million people.
Economy
Electricity-starved Iraq looks to sun to power its future
To encourage renewable energy, Iraq's Central Bank in 2022 announced the allocation of $750 million in almost zero-interest loans for...
- A recent World Bank report highlighted that more than 98% of Iraq's electricity is still generated from fossil fuels
- Authorities in Iraq say they aim to harness green energy to meet a third of the country's needs by 2030
Geostrategy
More than 20,000 wounded people still in Gaza: MSF
The MSF pleaded that the people who plan to leave Gaza must be allowed "without further delay" and should also...
- According to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry, the bombing campaign has killed 8,796 people
- The UN and aid groups have sounded the alarm on the catastrophic humanitarian situation inside Gaza
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Microsoft trims service to Israel over Gaza surveillance
San Francisco, United States - Microsoft on Thursday said it cut an Israeli defense unit's access to some cloud services...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
UN experts warn of ‘annihilation’ in Gaza
More than 20 independent United Nations experts said the world faced a "stark decision" to "remain passive and witness the...
Geostrategy
Joseph Nye, influential political scientist, who coined ‘soft power,’ dies at 88
Washington, United States - Joseph Nye, a versatile and influential political scientist and US policymaker who coined the term "soft...
Arts & Culture
Pakistan warns will ‘avenge’ deaths from Indian strikes
India's army said it destroyed nine "terrorist camps" in Pakistan in the early hours of Wednesday, two weeks after New...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Yemen’s Huthis to keep attacking Israeli ships despite US deal
Yemen's Huthi rebels will continue targeting Israeli ships in the Red Sea, an official told AFP on Wednesday, despite a...
- The Huthis, who have controlled large swathes of Yemen for more than a decade, began firing at Israel-linked shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in November 2023
- They broadened their campaign to target ships tied to the United States and Britain after military strikes by the two countries began in January 2024
Geostrategy
Syrian leader meets Emmanuel Macron in first European visit
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday met French leader Emmanuel Macron on his first visit to Europe since overthrowing longtime...
- In Paris with Macron, Sharaa will discuss post-war reconstruction and economic cooperation, a Syrian government official said
- France, a former colonial-era ruler of Syria, is eyeing an opportunity to increase its influence in the country after years of Russian presence
Geostrategy
Israel’s plan for Gaza draws international criticism
Israel drew international condemnation over its plans for an expanded Gaza offensive, as the country's far-right finance minister called Tuesday...
- European Union top diplomat Kaja Kallas on Tuesday told her Israeli counterpart in a call that the situation was "untenable."
- Nearly all of the Palestinian territory's 2.4 million people have been displaced at least once during the war, sparked by Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack