IMF, World Bank welcome efforts for Syria to reintegrate globally
Washington, United States - The International Monetary Fund and World Bank's leaders said in a joint statement Thursday that they...
Economy
Lebanon parliament approves changes to banking secrecy law
Beirut, Lebanon -- Lebanon's parliament on Thursday approved amendments to banking secrecy legislation, a key reform demanded by the International...
Geostrategy
Economy
Norris edges Piastri as McLaren top Jeddah practice
Lando Norris drew a line in the sand after his trying time in Bahrain last weekend and bossed a second...
- The Briton led a McLaren 1-2 in the night run at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, his best time of 1min 28.267s edging his in-form teammate Oscar Piastri by a tenth of a second
- Piastri arrived at the Red Sea track on a high, after his second win of the season in Sakhir moved him to second in the fledgling world championship standings
Science
Humanoid robots stride into the future with world’s first half-marathon
At the crack of the starter's gun, and as a Chinese pop song "I Believe" blared out from loudspeakers on...
- The 21-kilometre (13-mile) event held in the Chinese capital's E-Town is billed as a groundbreaking effort to test the limits of bipedal robots in real-world conditions
Geostrategy
Iran, US to resume high-stakes nuclear talks in Rome amid sanctions and mutual distrust
Western countries including the United States have long accused Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons - an allegation Tehran...
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will hold the Oman-mediated talks in Rome
- Tehran and Washington have had no diplomatic relations since shortly after Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution
Geostrategy
Israeli strikes kill 24 after Hamas calls for ‘comprehensive deal’
Gaza's civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal said early Friday that crews had "recovered the bodies of 10 martyrs and a...
- Hamas chief negotiator urged international pressure to end Israel's complete blockade of Gaza that began on March 2.
- The appeal comes after the United Nations warned of worsening conditions and shortages of medicine and other essentials for the Palestinian territory's 2.4 million besieged people.
Geostrategy
Israel making Gaza unlivable, expands control over half of the territory
Jerusalem, Undefined -- By seizing large swathes of the Gaza Strip, Israel is redrawing the map of the Palestinian territory,...
- Nearly all Gazans have been displaced at least once, and many now live in schools turned shelters, under tents and in other makeshift shelters.
- Some Israeli figures who advocate for the return of settlements in the Gaza Strip -- which were evacuated in 2005 -- claim to have concrete plans and make regular visits.
Geostrategy
Chinese vent anger at Trump’s trade war with memes, mockery
Beijing, China -- While China's leaders use their economic and political might to fight Donald Trump's trade war "to the...
- Defiant posts have shot to the top of most-searched lists on social media, flooding platforms with patronizing comments and jokes.
- In one video, a Chinese internet user opens his hands to reveal what goods he buys from the United States -- nothing.
Business
Google has illegal monopoly in ad tech, US judge rules
Washington, United States - A US judge on Thursday ruled that Google illegally wielded monopoly power in the online ad...
- The federal government and more than a dozen US states filed the antitrust suit against Alphabet-owned Google
- It is one of two federal suits targeting Google that could ultimately see the company split up and curb its influence
Economy
Egypt central bank lowers interest rate for first time since 2020
Egypt's central bank on Thursday announced that it was lowering interest rates for the first time since 2020, days after...
- The Central Bank of Egypt cut interest rates by 225 basis points, its monetary policy division said in a statement
- Its overnight deposit rate, overnight lending rate, and the rate of the main operation now stood at 25%, 26 percent and 25.5%, respectively
Geostrategy
Deadly US strikes hit Yemen fuel port used by Huthis
The US military said it had destroyed a key Yemeni fuel port as it targets the country's Huthi rebels, who...
- The attack on the Ras Issa fuel port aimed to cut off a source of supplies and funds for the Iran-backed Huthis, the US military said
- Washington has hammered the Huthis with near-daily air strikes since March 15 in a bid to end their attacks on civilian shipping and military vessels
Geostrategy
Hamas rejects Israel’s truce plan, demands full withdrawal and end of war in Gaza
The Palestinian militants' chief negotiator spoke out after civil defence rescuers in Gaza said new Israeli air strikes killed at...
- A Hamas source told AFP that the group sent a written response Thursday to mediators on Israel's latest proposal for a 45-day ceasefire
- It also called for the freeing of 1,231 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails and the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza
IMF, World Bank welcome efforts for Syria to reintegrate globally
Washington, United States - The International Monetary Fund and World Bank's leaders said in a joint statement Thursday that they...
Economy
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Tunisia’s president announces constitutional referendum
Kais Saied presented a roadmap for restoring democratic institutions, and announced a nationwide public consultation from January 1 until March...
IMF says Omicron could slow global growth
According to the economists, Omicron's threat to economy will likely be less severe than the previous waves.
Boeing to sell some assets to Thoma Bravo
The $10.55 bn sale includes portions of digital aviation solutions business.
Business
Trump tariffs have increased financial stability risks: IMF report
The IMF's Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR) was published as world financial leaders gather for meetings in Washington under the...
Economy
As world mourns, cardinals meeting to decide the date for Pope Francis’s funeral
Vatican City, Holy See - Cardinals will meet Tuesday to decide the date for Pope Francis's funeral, starting a process...
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Geostrategy
Israel security chief accuses PM of demanding personal loyalty
Israel's internal security chief, whom the government is trying to sack, accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Monday of demanding personal...
- Ronen Bar's accusations, in a sworn statement to the Supreme Court, are the latest twist in a legal and political saga pitting him against Netanyahu
- Bar's dismissal, announced by the government last month but frozen by the court, triggered mass protests
Geostrategy
US envoy to Israel urges Hamas to sign deal so aid can enter Gaza
The new US ambassador to Israel on Monday called on Palestinian militant group Hamas to accept a deal that would...
- Huckabee's message comes after Hamas on Thursday signalled its rejection of Israel's latest truce proposal, which proposed a hostage-prisoner swap and the entry of aid
- The militants' chief negotiator said the group rejected any "partial" agreements and sought a comprehensive deal including "halting the war" and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza
Business
DHL to stop global shipments worth over $800 to US consumers
Washington, United States -- Global shipping giant DHL will "temporarily" suspend the shipping of parcels worth more than $800 from...
- President Trump has launched a wide-ranging trade war, threatening friend and foe alike with steep tariffs to address US trade deficits with individual countries.
- As part of those changes, the government has also lowered the threshold at which parcels to individuals require formal entry processing by US Customs -- down to $800 from $2,500.