Apple to lower iPhone 12 radio power across EU
Paris, France - Apple will update software on iPhone 12 handsets across the EU to lower the power of their...
Science
Leaders gather in China for SCO summit ceremony, Xi slams ‘bullying’ behaviour in world order
The SCO comprises China, India, Russia, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus -- with 16 more countries affiliated...
Geostrategy
Economy
US debt deal faces tough sell in Congress to avoid default
The agreement announced Saturday by President Joe Biden and Republican leader Kevin McCarthy after weeks of crisis talks offers a...
- And all the while the clock is still ticking down to the June 5 "X-date" when the Treasury estimates the government will start to run out of cash to pay its bills and debts.
- A default would likely have catastrophic consequences, triggering a US recession and risking a global economic meltdown.
Geostrategy
Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Iran-West mediator Oman visits Tehran
His trip comes just two days after Tehran freed Belgian aid worker Olivier Vandecasteele from almost 15 months in custody...
- The Omani leader's visit comes a year after Raisi visited Muscat, and follows a China-brokered rapprochement deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran announced in March.
- Oman has close ties with Iran, and played a mediating role between Tehran and the United States in the build-up to a nuclear deal Iran and world powers reached in 2015.
Economy
US leaders finalize deal on debt ceiling week before default
President Joe Biden and Republican leader Kevin McCarthy announced a deal to raise the debt ceiling, dragging the United States...
- Republican speaker McCarthy said there was still "a lot of work to do, but I believe this is an agreement in principle that's worthy of the American people."
- US President Joe Biden said the deal was "good news for the American people, because it prevents what could have been a catastrophic default.
Economy
Iraq budget vote delayed as Kurds oppose amendments on oil
In a country where political agreements are concluded after endless negotiations between political parties, the objection of the Kurds is...
- Iraqi Kurdistan's Prime Minister Masrour Barzani said Saturday the budget amendments amounted to "treason" and an affront to Iraqi Kurdish rights
- Iraq's oil dependent economy has traditionally been plagued by budget delays, which the government's three-year proposal aimed to avoid
Business
China’s first homegrown passenger jet C919 completes maiden flight
Beijing hopes the C919 commercial jetliner will challenge foreign models like the Boeing 737 MAX and the Airbus A320, though...
- China has invested heavily in production of the homegrown jet as it seeks to become self-sufficient in key technologies.
- The aircraft is manufactured by state-owned Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC), but many of its parts -- including its engines -- are sourced from overseas.
Economy
In drought-hit Tunisia eco-friendly farming takes root
New methods such as permaculture are especially useful in Tunisia where an unprecedented drought has parched the countryside and left...
- The Tunisian Association of Permaculture's "Plant Your Farm" project aims to create 50 micro-farms over five years, of which around 30 are already up and running
- To help Tunisia's new eco-farmers sell their organic produce and spread the word on permaculture, the association has promoted farmers' markets and created a "citizen food" label
Geostrategy
Israelis rally in protest at judicial reform after budget approved
Protesters gathered in other major cities, Haifa and Beersheba, as well as at dozens of junctions and locales throughout the...
- Israeli media put the number of participants in the Tel Aviv demonstration at "tens of thousands," as has occurred on previous occasions
- The government's reform proposals would curtail the authority of the Supreme Court and give politicians greater powers over the selection of judges
Economy
Iraq warned to end oil addiction in order to avoid ‘intensive care’
Iraq looks to have renewable energies cover a third of its electricity needs by 2030 and has signed several contracts...
- Baghdad will "diversify the economy" in the next 10 years, said Muzhar Saleh, economic adviser to Iraq's prime minister
- To initiate reforms needed to achieve "green growth", the World Bank estimates Iraq must spend $233 billion, spread out until 2040
Geostrategy
UN chief ‘shocked’ at Sudan army chief’s demand to dismiss envoy
The UN chief was "shocked" by Burhan's letter, which requested "the nomination of a replacement" to Perthes and accused him...
- In the letter, Sudan army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan accused Perthes of bias and of not respecting "national sovereignty"
- The US State Department voiced its "strong support" for Perthes and its "concern" over Burhan's letter calling for his resignation
Economy
US close to fixing debt ceiling issue, says President Biden
WASHINGTON, US - President Joe Biden said that Democratic and Republican negotiators were on the verge of resolving a debt ceiling...
- "It's very close and I'm optimistic," Biden said, adding "I'm hopeful we'll know by tonight whether we're going to be able to have a deal".
- Although there was no indication of an imminent public announcement, it was the strongest sign yet that the drama in Washington might end.
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Apple to lower iPhone 12 radio power across EU
Paris, France - Apple will update software on iPhone 12 handsets across the EU to lower the power of their...
Science
Company News
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Gulf summit in Kuwait urges ‘immediate ceasefire’ for Gaza
Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal al-Ahmad al-Sabah called on the international community to implement "an immediate ceasefire, providing international protection for...
Geostrategy
Trump threatens 100% tariff on BRICS countries over currency plans
Washington, United States -- President-elect Donald Trump on Monday threatened to impose a 100 percent tariff on the BRICS group nations...
Geostrategy
Elon Musk asks US court to block OpenAi’s for-profit conversion
Washington, United States -- Elon Musk has again asked a US court to stop ChatGPT-maker OpenAI from converting into a for-profit...
Business
Most Read
Trump threatens 100% tariff on BRICS countries over currency plans
Washington, United States - President-elect Donald Trump on Monday threatened to impose a 100 percent tariff on the BRICS group nations...
- The statement comes after a BRICS summit held last month in Kazan, Russia, where the countries discussed boosting non-dollar transactions and strengthening local currencies
- The BRICS group has expanded significantly since its inception in 2009, and now includes countries such as Iran, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates
Geostrategy
Iran-Europe nuclear talks on as global tensions escalate ahead of Trump’s return
The stakes were laid bare in a warning from Britain's foreign intelligence chief that Iran's nuclear ambitions posed a major...
- Following the talks in Geneva, shrouded in an unusual level of secrecy, the parties to social media to say the discussions had focused on Iran's nuclear program and sanctions
- The sides had "agreed to continue diplomatic dialogue in the near future", the German foreign ministry and the high-level diplomats representing France, Britain and Iran said
Geostrategy
Okonjo-Iweala’s second term: Trump’s disdain for WTO biggest challenge
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the first woman and the first African to head the WTO, is the only candidate in the race,...
- Her term ends in August 2025, and the appointment process expected to lead to her next term had initially been scheduled to take months.
- During Trump's first term, the WTO also faced relentless attacks from his administration, which crippled the organization's dispute settlement appeal system.