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...
Geostrategy
Iran says no access to bombed nuclear sites without IAEA deal
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that the UN's nuclear watchdog would not be given access to Iranian nuclear sites...
Geostrategy
Business
Ozempic maker lowers outlook
The company posted tepid Q3 results.
- It marked the latest bad news for the pharmaceutical giant, which has recently changed its CEO, announced plans to lay off 9,000 employees and replaced more than half of its board.
- The group now expects full-year sales in 2025 to grow by eight to 11 percent, versus the eight to 14 percent range it had expected previously, the company said.
Geostrategy
Gaza hospital says received 15 Palestinian bodies under ceasefire exchange deal
They were returned in exchange for the latest hostage body handed back from Gaza on Tuesday, that of Israeli-American soldier...
- At the start of the truce, Hamas held 48 hostages in Gaza -- 20 alive and 28 deceased.
- Hamas have since released all the surviving captives, as well as 21 of the deceased's remains.
Geostrategy
Long-shot socialist and Trump foe Mamdani becomes next New York mayor
The self-proclaimed socialist, who has been re-elected three times, forged an image that has become his trademark -- a progressive...
- Since his surprise victory in the Democratic Party primary in June, New Yorkers have become used to seeing his bearded, smiling face on television
- The 34-year-old election winner was born in Uganda to a family of Indian origin and has lived in the United States since he was seven, becoming a naturalized US citizen in 2018
Geostrategy
NATO tests war preparedness on eastern flank facing Russia
On the Mures river in central Romania, French armoured vehicles and Romanian trucks board a motorised floating bridge, part of...
- The drill -- planned for months and seen as an "integration exercise" for NATO members -- comes after Washington last week said it would pull some troops out from the area
- Romania, which shares some 650 kilometres (400 miles) of border with Ukraine, has gained in strategic importance since Russia invaded its neighbour in 2022
Geostrategy
World on track to dangerous warming as emissions hit record high: UN
Scientists are in broad agreement that warming above 1.5C relative to pre-industrial times risks catastrophic consequences, and every effort must...
- But the world is set to blow past 1.5C in a matter of years and planet-warming emissions keep rising, hitting a new record high in 2024, according to a UN report.
- With an overshoot of 1.5C now inevitable, focus has shifted to how quickly temperatures can be returned to less-risky levels.
Business
US AI firm Palantir announces joint venture in Dubai
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- US software firm Palantir launched a joint venture with the Dubai government's investment arm on...
- The joint venture, named Aither, was unveiled a day after Microsoft announced $15.2bn in AI and cloud computing investments in the UAE, which seeks to become a global AI leader.
- Palantir has a reach that spans the global economy, with banks, hospitals, the US government and the Israeli military among its ever-expanding client roster.
Arts & Culture
King Tut’s collection displayed for first time at Egypt’s grand museum
Cairo, Egypt -- Thousands of visitors streamed through the Grand Egyptian Museum on Tuesday as almost the entire collection of King...
- Curated and conserved over nearly two decades, the collection was unveiled to the public two days after the museum's lavish opening ceremony on Saturday.
- In a vast, dimly lit main hall spanning four levels, visitors gazed at chariots, household items, jeweled ornaments and, at the center, Tutankhamun's iconic golden mask.
Economy
Qatar warns will cut gas supply to Europe over EU’s green rules
Qatar's energy minister on Monday warned the Gulf state would halt its supply of liquefied natural gas to Europe over...
- The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) requires large companies to fix the "adverse human rights and environmental impacts" of their supply chains worldwide
- The law was backed by a broad coalition of European politicians including the left and the greens as well as centrists, including some centre-right lawmakers
Geostrategy
Turkey, and six of its Muslim allies say Palestinian self-rule key to Gaza future
Turkey, which played a central role in forging the now shaky three-week-old ceasefire, is pushing for Muslim nations to bring...
- Turkey, which played a central role in forging the 3-week-old ceasefire, is pushing for Muslim nations to bring their influence to bear on the reconstruction of the territory
- Brokered by US President Donald Trump, the October 10 ceasefire has been tested by fresh Israeli strikes and claims of Palestinian attacks on Israeli soldiers.
Business
Microsoft unveils $15.2 billion AI, cloud computing investments in UAE
The deal sent US chip-maker Nvidia shares up 2.6 percent, buoyed by hopes the AI juggernaut could see access for...
- "This is not money raised in the UAE. It's money we're spending in the UAE," Smith wrote in a blog post published during a visit to Abu Dhabi.
- Smith said the investments had been encouraged by both the US and UAE governments and had involved a partnership with the country's G42 sovereign artificial intelligence company.
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...
Geostrategy
Company News
Rory McIlroy wins seventh Race to Dubai title
Arts & Culture
Latest News
Samsung plans $310 bn investment to power AI expansion
Seoul, South Korea -- South Korean conglomerate Samsung unveiled on Sunday a plan to invest $310 billion over the next...
Business
Israel says Gazans who landed in S. Africa unexpectedly had third-country approval
Israeli authorities said on Saturday that 153 Palestinians who turned up unexpectedly in South Africa, triggering questions from its president,...
Geostrategy
Google announces $40 billion Texas investment to expand AI infrastructure
Google announced Friday a major $40 billion investment in Texas through 2027 to build new cloud computing and artificial intelligence...
Business
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Geostrategy
Saudi prince, eyeing defense pledge, to meet Trump after long US absence
Saudi Arabia is unlikely to agree to normalization with Israel at this stage, with Prince Mohammed's priority set for firmer...
- A US-Saudi investment forum spotlighting energy and artificial intelligence will take place in Washington during the prince's visit, the event's website says.
- As Riyadh embarks on ambitious tourist and entertainment projects to diversify its oil-reliant economy, it has sought to de-escalate regional tensions -- including with Iran.
Economy
Global CO2 emissions to hit record high in 2025, making 1.5°C target nearly impossible
Global fossil fuel emissions are set to hit a new high in 2025, according to research published Thursday that also...
- The annual Global Carbon Budget report looks at humanity's emissions of planet-heating CO2 from burning hydrocarbons, cement production and land use
- The failure to cut planet-heating emissions is overshadowing the COP30 in the rainforest city of Belem -- the conference taking place this week without the presence of the US
Geostrategy
Rubio says US ‘optimistic’ for UN resolution on Gaza, backing an international force
US Secretary of State said the United States was speaking with different countries on ways to "balance their interests here,...
- Rubio said the United States was speaking with different countries on ways to "balance their interests here, and how that's structured beyond just the security force."
- The United States last week started circulating the draft resolution that would follow up on a ceasefire in the two-year war championed by President Donald Trump