US to work with current Venezuela leaders if they make ‘right decision:’ Rubio
The United States is ready to work with Venezuela's remaining leaders if they make "the right decision," Secretary of State...
Geostrategy
Yemen separatists announce two-year transition towards independence in south
Yemen's UAE-backed separatists on Friday announced the start of a two-year transitional period towards declaring an independent state after their...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Amid Israeli strikes, Lebanon debates disarming Hezbollah under ceasefire deal, risking political turmoil and mass protests.
The Lebanese government is set to discuss on Friday an army plan to disarm Hezbollah, which the Iran-backed group opposes,...
- In August, under heavy US and Israeli pressure, Lebanon's government ordered the army to draw up a plan for disarming Hezbollah by the end of the year
- Hezbollah reiterated its opposition to the move on Wednesday, with its parliamentary bloc calling on Lebanese authorities to "reverse their... unpatriotic decision."
Arts & Culture
‘God’s Influencer’ to become first millennial saint
Computer whiz Carlo Acutis, who died of leukemia in 2006 aged 15, will be raised to sainthood by Pope Leo...
- Computer whiz Carlo Acutis, who died of leukemia in 2006 aged 15, will be raised to sainthood by Pope Leo XIV in a solemn ceremony in St Peter's Square at the Vatican
- The teenager's body, dressed in jeans and a pair of Nike trainers, lies in a glass-walled tomb in Assisi, visited by hundreds of thousands of people a year
Geostrategy
Israel military says controls 40 percent of Gaza City, the largest urban centre in the Palestinian territory
In a televised briefing, Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said that "we hold 40 percent of the territory...
- Israel has intensified in recent days its bombardments of the area of Gaza City, in the territory's north, ahead of the planned offensive
- Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli strikes on Thursday killed more than 30 people in the city, out of at least 64 Palestinians killed across the Gaza Strip
Business
Amazon’s Starlink rival lands first major airline deal
Washington, United States -- JetBlue Airways will become the first airline to use Amazon's Project Kuiper satellite network to power...
- The partnership will see JetBlue implement Project Kuiper's low orbit satellite technology on select aircraft beginning in 2027.
- This will enhance the US airline's existing service with faster speeds and lower latency than traditional satellite systems.
Science
Norway experiments with electric plane in real-life test
Oslo, Norway -- An electric plane took to the skies between the Norwegian airports Stavanger and Bergen on Thursday, simulating...
- The small aircraft -- an Alia built by US aircraft manufacturer Beta -- flew the 160 kilometers in a test run by the Norwegian affiliate of the transport company Bristow.
- The flight took 55 minutes and simulated a cargo flight route in southeastern Norway.
Geostrategy
Gaza ‘genocide’ exposes Europe’s failure to act: top EU official
"The genocide in Gaza exposes Europe's failure to act and speak with one voice," European Commission vice president Teresa Ribera...
- The EU has struggled to take steps over the war in Gaza due to deep divisions between member states pushing for action against Israel and those backing the country.
- The splits are also present inside the EU's executive, where Spanish commissioner Ribera has expressed frustration over the failure to push on the issue.
Geostrategy
Italian fashion icon Giorgio Armani dead at 91
Rome, Italy -- Italian fashion legend Giorgio Armani, king of a high-end lifestyle empire, has died at the age of...
- The Italian icon was credited with inventing red-carpet fashion, but also moved into a younger and less expensive range through Emporio Armani.
- His death came just weeks ahead of celebrations marking 50 years of his eponymous label.
Arts & Culture
Turkey bans concert by French singer over support for Israel
Istanbul, Turkey - Turkish authorities Wednesday said they have banned a planned concert Friday in Istanbul by Enrico Macias after...
- The Istanbul governorate said in a statement that it had wanted to prevent any demonstrations on the sidelines of the concert "against the genocide of the terrorist state Israel."
- The 86-year-old singer told AFP that he has performed in Turkey for 60 years and is "deeply surprised and saddened not to be able to see my audience."
Geostrategy
Israel security agency says foiled Hamas plot to kill far-right minister
srael's internal security service said on Wednesday it had foiled a plot by Palestinian militant group Hamas to kill far-right...
- In a statement, the Shin Bet security service said the planned attack would have involved "explosive drones."
- It said that members of a Hamas cell operating in the area of Hebron, in the occupied West Bank, had been arrested
Geostrategy
With Kim, Putin at his side, Xi says world “faced with a choice of peace or war”
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russia's Vladimir Putin flanked Xi Jinping at a massive parade of military might...
- In unprecedented scenes, Xi shook hands with both leaders as they walked down a red carpet by Tiananmen Square, with Putin to his right and Kim to his left
- The event, ostensibly to mark 80 years since the end of World War II, was a chance for Xi to showcase China's military prowess and bring together friendly leaders
Most Read
Revenue from Saudi cinema may exceed $1bn by 2030KSA, UAE play well as e-gaming trends across GCCExclusive: Middle East’s retail sector rides on AR and hybrid shopping to become $600bn digital economyTECOM Group profit soars 13%UAE startups eye Saudi Arabia for growth, expansionSaudi Arabia leads GCC AI healthcare raceDisparity remains as Saudis, Emiratis see wealth gains
US to work with current Venezuela leaders if they make ‘right decision:’ Rubio
The United States is ready to work with Venezuela's remaining leaders if they make "the right decision," Secretary of State...
Geostrategy
Company News
Pfizer poised to buy Metsera
Business
Latest News
Hezbollah mourns top commander killed in Israel strike, Iran Guards urge revenge
Haytham Ali Tabatabai is the most senior commander from the Iran-backed group to be killed by Israel since a November...
Geostrategy
Tabatabai: Hezbollah military chief who led the group in Yemen, Syria
Beirut, Lebanon - Haytham Ali Tabatabai, Hezbollah's top military chief whom Israel killed on Sunday, had taken the role after...
Geostrategy
Trump peace plan: Washington, Kyiv say a peace deal must ‘fully uphold’ Ukraine sovereignty
US President Donald Trump had given Ukraine until November 27 to approve his plan to end the nearly four-year conflict,...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Geostrategy
Israeli strikes kill 21 in Gaza, dozens more wounded: Civil defense
Mahmud Bassal, spokesman for the civil defense agency, Bassal said one strike hit a house in Deir el-Balah in the...
- The Palestinian foreign ministry, based in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, condemned the strikes.
- It urged the international community to put "immediate pressure" on Israel to "stop the massacres".
Geostrategy
Amazon climate deal a ‘win’ for global unity but fossil fuels untouched
Nearly 200 countries approved the deal by consensus after two weeks of exhaustive negotiations on the fringes of the rainforest,...
- Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who staked political capital on the success of COP30, said the pact was proof that a fractured world could still unite in crisis.
- There was less euphoria in Belem, where defeated European ministers admitted they only took the watered-down deal to keep the entire process from imploding.
Geostrategy
G20 summit opens in South Africa without Trump
The Johannesburg gathering is being attended by a host of world leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron, Indian Prime Minister...
- Trump is boycotting, with his government saying South Africa's priorities -- notably boosting global cooperation on trade and climate action -- run counter to US policy.
- Despite the headwinds, host South Africa was projecting optimism that it would get backing for its G20 aims to reduce economic inequalities, shrink debt for low-income countries