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...
Arts & Culture
Israel expecting one million Gazans to flee new offensive, planning “humanitarian area” for them
The Israeli military has been gearing up to seize Gaza City, the Palestinian territory's largest urban centre, with the United...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Iranian president boosts Nicaragua ties on tour of US-sanctioned countries
In Venezuela, Raisi and Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro announced that they signed 25 accords, across sectors ranging from education and...
- The Iranian leader, whose country is also sanctioned by the United States, kicked off his trip in Venezuela earlier this week before flying to Nicaragua
- Raisi added that Iran and the Central American country "share a common history of struggle, of resistance, of revolutions, of combat against a common enemy"
‘Voiceless’, destitute: Lebanon’s Syrian refugees lose hope for return
Lebanese authorities say the country hosts around two million Syrians, while more than 800,000 are registered with the UN --...
- Aid groups warned that support for Syrians at home and abroad has dwindled, as the international community meets in Brussels this week for a pledging conference
- Amid a crushing economic crisis that has pushed most of Lebanon into poverty, anti-Syrian sentiment has soared, the government has called for refugees to leave
Geostrategy
Xi calls for a Palestinian state to become a ‘full member’ of UN in meeting with Abbas
Beijing has sought to boost its ties in the Middle East, challenging US influence -- efforts that have sparked unease...
- Beijing has positioned itself as a mediator in the Middle East, brokering the restoration in March of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia
- Xi told Abbas at a welcome ceremony at the Great Hall of the People that China was "ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with the Palestinian side."
Business
Arab nations account for 25 percent of Israel’s 2022 arms exports
Jerusalem, Undefined - Israeli defense exports hit an all-time high of $12.5 billion last year, with Arab countries that recently established...
- One quarter of deals were for drone systems, with "missiles, rockets and air defense systems" making up another 19 percent.
- The US-brokered Abraham Accords from 2020 saw Israel normalize ties with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco.
Business
Vodafone merges with Hutchison
The merger will lead to network investment of £11 billion over 10 years.
- Vodafone and CK Hutchison said in a joint statement that a new combined group is seen having a value of £16.5 billion ($21 billion).
- "The merger is great for customers, great for the country and great for competition," said Vodafone chief executive Margherita Della Valle.
Business
Green activists cry foul as Shell decides to steady oil production
Campaign group Global Witness labelled Wednesday's announcement as a "climate-wrecking U-turn", urging it instead to invest far more in cleaner...
- The group said Wednesday that it had already cut average daily liquids production to 1.5 million barrels per day by the end of 2022 on divestments.
- That marked a 21-percent reduction from 2019, or the equivalent of cutting output by two percent per year until 2030, according to the company.
Economy
Peak in oil demand ‘in sight’ before end of decade: IEA
"The shift to a clean energy economy is picking up pace, with a peak in global oil demand in sight...
- IEA forecast in its Oil 2023 medium-term market report that annual demand growth would slow sharply over the next five years
- Energy prices soared last year after Russia, a major exporter of fossil fuels, invaded Ukraine and cut deliveries of natural gas to Europe
Business
Drawn by green subsidies, solar cell giant expands US production
The partnership along with German group BayWa r.e. will beef up capacity in Meyer Burger's Arizona production facility from 1.6...
- The firm had written to German Finance Minister Christian Lindner to warn that it would invest in the US rather than expand its manufacturing in Germany because of IRA subsidies.
- Meyer Burger currently has several plants in Germany, including in Thalheim and Freiberg. It had underlined plans to expand Goodyear and Thalheim's capacities.
Geostrategy
Lebanon lawmakers fail to elect president at 12th attempt
The vote for the presidency, reserved for a Maronite Christian under Lebanon's delicate sectarian power-sharing system, pitted the Hezbollah-backed Sleiman...
- Lebanon is facing a double power vacuum, with the country governed by a caretaker cabinet with limited powers for more than a year.
- France and the US have renewed calls for Lebanese lawmakers to cooperate and elect a new president.
Saudi Crown Prince set to meet Macron in France
Mohammed bin Salman has left for a state visit to France where he will meet President Emmanuel Macron, a statement...
- Saudi Crown Prince will take part in the Summit for a New Global Financial Pact in Paris next week, the Royal Court statement said
- In December 2021, Macron became one of the first Western leaders to meet Mohammed bin Salman in Saudi Arabia since 2018
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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...
Arts & Culture
Company News
Blinken returns to Mideast in push for truce
Geostrategy
Latest News
Israel approves plan aiming to double annexed Golan population, Saudi calls it ‘sabotage’ of Syria
The occupied Golan is home to about 23,000 Druze Arabs, whose presence predates the occupation and most of whom retain...
Geostrategy
Key Libya oil refinery halts operations after clashes: state firm
Tripoli, Libya -- A key oil refinery in western Libya suspended operations after armed clashes erupted early on Sunday, causing fires...
Geostrategy
US Federal Reserve expected to cut rates in last meeting of Biden era
Washington, United States -- The US Federal Reserve is widely expected to announce a quarter point cut to its key lending...
Business
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Business
Family-friendly ‘Astro Bot’ wins highest award at Oscars of video games
Los Angeles, United States -- Video game "Astro Bot" -- a family-friendly sci-fi adventure -- was named 2024's Game of the...
- It has sold more than 1.5 million copies according to Sony, which owns the 65-person Japanese studio Team Asobi responsible for the mega-hit.
- Onstage at the Peacock Theater, Team Asobi's French chief Nicolas Doucet praised the studio for designing a game that "put the user first".
Business
Boeing to boost 787 production
The firm will invest$1bn to ramp up production in South Carolina.
- The aim is to increase production of the 787 Dreamliner to 10 every month by 2026, Boeing said.
- In October, Boeing unveiled plans to reduce its global workforce by 10 percent over the coming months, without giving further details.
Asian markets retreat as China pledges fail to spark excitement
Asian markets fell Friday as China's latest vows to boost the beleaguered economy failed to stir much excitement, while traders...
- Beijing began unveiling in September a raft of policies to reverse a growth slump
- All three main indexes in New York closed in the red