Bitcoin hits $80,000 for the first time on Trump return optimism
London, United Kingdom -- Bitcoin soared to a new record high on Sunday, as traders bet that Donald Trump's return to...
Business
Who will staff Trump’s Govt? A look at top contenders, with Elon Musk among the likely picks
Tesla CEO Elon Musk could head a new "Department of Government Efficiency," promising $2 trillion in federal budget cuts and...
Geostrategy
Economy
Egypt hikes subsidized bread price for first time in decades
Cairo, Egypt - Egypt's cabinet decided Wednesday to raise the price of subsidized bread for the first time in 30 years,...
- The price of a loaf, long set at five piastres ($0.001), would quadruple to 20 piastres ($0.004) from June 1, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly told a news conference
- Madbouly acknowledged the move would be unpopular but emphasised the need to "rationalise the burden on the state treasury to ensure the sustainability of subsidies."
Geostrategy
Blinken says Israel needs post-war plan ‘as quickly as possible’
"In the absence of a plan for the day after, there won't be a day after. And this is where...
- "If it is, it will simply have an enduring insurgency on his hands for as far as one can see into the future," Blinken said.
- Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said earlier that the military would need "another seven months" to "consolidate our success" against Hamas.
Business
New mega-refinery helps Kuwait to record capacity: minister
Made up of three component units, the huge Al-Zour refinery is one of the biggest in the Middle East. It was...
- OPEC member Kuwait aims to reach a production capacity of 4 million bpd by 2035.
- Kuwait operates three refineries at home and three abroad -- in Oman, Vietnam and Italy.
Palestinian fighters release video of Israeli hostage alive in Gaza
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum campaign group identified him as Alexander (Sasha) Trupanov, and called on the Israeli authorities...
- The captive, identified by Israeli media as Sasha Trupanov, 28, is seen speaking in Hebrew in the 30-second clip
- Trupanov, a Russian-Israeli dual national, was captured on October 7 from Kibbutz Nir Oz along with his mother, grandmother and girlfriend
Geostrategy
Palestinians flee Rafah as Israeli expands ground assault
Rafah, Palestinian Territories -- Hundreds braved roads in Rafah in south Gaza Tuesday as they fled Israel's expanding ground assault, with...
- UNRWA, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees, said that one million civilians had fled Rafah since the ground attack went ahead despite global warnings.
- The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said in a statement that Israeli shelling in and around health facilities in the governorate has left just one still operational.
Business
UAE president on state visit to S Korea, meets top business chiefs
President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the first sitting UAE president to make a state visit to Asia's fourth-largest...
- Follow-up announcements to the investment plan, which is expected to cover arms and energy, are expected to be made during the two-day visit which includes a summit with Yoon.
- The Emirati president met leaders of South Korea's largest companies upon his arrival, most notable the chairmen of Samsung Electronics, SK Group and Hyundai Motor Group.
Geostrategy
Gaza civil defense says new Israel strike kills 21 in West Rafah camp
Israel launched its controversial assault on Rafah earlier this month, dismissing concerns for the safety of the 1.4 million Palestinian...
- 21 people had been killed in an "occupation strike targeting the tents of displaced people west of Rafah"
- An Israeli strike on Sunday set ablaze a crowded camp in Rafah, killing 45 people
Geostrategy
Saudi king chairs cabinet meeting after ‘recovery’
The meeting comes nearly 10 days since the royal court said the king had a lung infection and was undergoing...
- King Salman "thanked his sons and daughters, the people of the kingdom, for their kind prayers" during his recovery
- He also expressed his gratitude to everyone who sent him wishes of health and well-being
Egypt military says guard killed in ‘shooting’ at Rafah border
Al-Qahera News, which has links to Egyptian intelligence, quoted a defence official as saying an initial probe of the shooting...
- The Israeli military reported a "shooting incident" on the Egyptian border and said it was discussing the incident with Egypt
- Since May 7, Israeli forces have been operating in Rafah, a city in the far south of the Gaza Strip bordering Egypt
Geostrategy
Spain, Ireland and Norway recognize Palestinian state
The plans were unveiled last week in a coordinated announcement by their prime ministers, with formal recognition to take place...
- The three European countries believe their initiative has strong symbolic impact, which will likely encourage others to follow suit
- "Recognising the state of Palestine is about justice for the Palestinian people," Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Monday in Brussels
Bitcoin hits $80,000 for the first time on Trump return optimism
London, United Kingdom -- Bitcoin soared to a new record high on Sunday, as traders bet that Donald Trump's return to...
Business
Company News
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Iran says will not send forces to confront Israel
An Israeli strike on Beirut Friday killed Hassan Nasrallah, the head of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah that has been...
Geostrategy
Qatar Airways seeking 25% stake in Virgin Australia
Qatar Airways unveiled a bid to take a 25 percent stake in troubled airline Virgin Australia on Tuesday, a deal...
Business
Saudi economy to register losses until 2027, says finance ministry
Saudi Arabia anticipates a budget deficit of 2.3 percent of GDP in 2025. Estimates put total government revenues for 2025...
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Geostrategy
Two-thirds of Gaza buildings destroyed or damaged: UN
Updating its damage assessment, the UN Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) said very high-resolution imagery collected on September 3 and 6 showed...
- "Those 66 percent of damaged buildings in the Gaza Strip account for 163,778 structures in total," it said.
- Approximately 68 percent of the permanent crop fields in the Gaza Strip showed "a significant decline in health and density" in September.
Geostrategy
Israel prepares for Lebanon ground invasion as Netanyahu tells Iranians ‘change coming soon’
While Israeli defense minister indicates imminent ground invasion of Lebanon speaking to his country's troops, Prime Minister Netanyahu addresses Iranian...
- France and the United States call on Israel to avoid ground operations in Lebanon
- Netanyahu in a video address to Iranian people say that change will "come a lot sooner than people think"
Geostrategy
Lebanon urges DNA tests to identify missing in Israel strikes
Families should head to centers affiliated with the Judicial Police "to conduct DNA tests", the police said in a statement....
- Israel has heavily bombed Lebanon's east, south and southern Beirut suburbs
- Health Minister Firas Abiad said bodies and body parts were still under the rubble