Amnesty urges war crimes probe into Israeli destruction in Lebanon
Amnesty International said Tuesday that the Israeli army's extensive destruction of civilian property in south Lebanon, including after a ceasefire...
Geostrategy
Human ancestor Lucy gets first European showing in Prague
Prague, Czech Republic --The 3.18-million-year-old bone fragments of human ancestor Lucy, which rarely leave Ethiopia, went on display in Prague...
Science
Market Report
Global stocks rise despite data showing US economic slowdown
Wall Street stocks pushed higher despite data that showed US economic growth is slowing, which raised fresh questions about interest...
- The first quarter growth figure adds to lackluster US consumer confidence data which has deepened worries about a broader recession.
- Yields on US government debt rose after the data was released and also reported a drop in weekly jobless claims.
Geostrategy
Iran seizes US-bound oil tanker off Oman, says 2 missing in collision
The US Navy demanded the immediate release of the tanker, saying it was transiting international waters in the Gulf of...
- The latest flare-up comes only days after Tehran's Western rivals toughened sanctions on Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
- The Fifth Fleet initially blamed the Revolutionary Guards, but then said the capture was carried out by Iran's navy.
Business
Tunisia’s president seeks phosphate revival to counter economic woes
Tunis, Tunisia -- President Kais Saied has called for the revival of Tunisia's phosphate industry, suggesting he will seek alternative sources...
- Saied has previously called for a revival of phosphate production, one of the North African country's few natural resources often used for agricultural fertilizer.
- Gafsa Phosphate Company (CPG), a former flagship of the Tunisian economy, has seen its production collapse since the 2011 revolution due to a lack of investment and unrest.
Economy
Strong first-quarter Meta earnings push Wall Street stocks up
Meta reported a profit of $5.7 billion in the first quarter of this year, beating forecasts after a massive wave...
- About 30 minutes into trading, Meta was up around 15 percent, while all three major US indices were in positive territory.
- The broad-based S&P 500 advanced 0.8 percent to 4,087.37, while the Nasdaq Composite Index climbed 0.9 percent to 11,960.26.
Economy
US growth rate slows in Q1 as recession fears rise
US economic growth lost steam in the first quarter this year, said the Commerce Department, as the possibility of a...
- US gross domestic product rose at an annual rate of 1.1 percent in the January to March period, down from 2.6 percent in the fourth quarter last year.
- The GDP growth figure "reflected increases in consumer spending, exports, federal government spending," said the US Commerce Department.
Geostrategy
Iran calls upon Lebanon to elect a president
Iran's foreign minister called on Lebanon to overcome political deadlock and elect a president, urging foreign governments not to interfere...
- Lebanon, in the throes of a crushing economic crisis, has been without a president for almost six months amid deadlock between entrenched political barons.
- A caretaker cabinet with limited powers has been at the helm since May last year after legislative polls gave no side a clear majority.
Business
TotalEnergies Q1 profit up 12%
The firm had sold its oil sands activities in Canada to SunCor Energy.
- TotalEnergies revealed that the net profit during the first three months was $5.6 billion in 2023.
- Jump in oil, gas prices post Russia-Ukraine war boosted TotalEnergies' profit to $20.5bn in 2022.
Business
Japan targets 30 percent women executives at major firms by 2030
Women represented only 11.4% of executives in major firms in Japan in 2022, according to a survey, although the figure...
- Japan is struggling to improve gender gaps in leadership positions, notably in politics and in the upper echelons of business, as well as the wage gap between men and women workers
- The country ranks consistently low in the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap report. Japan was placed 116th out of 146 ranked in 2022.
Business
Barclays Q1 net profit at $2.2bn
The bank's profit was boosted by rising interest rates.
- Pre-tax profit rallied 16 percent to $3.2 billion, making Barclays the biggest gainer on London's top-tier shares index.
- The Bank of England and its global counterparts have ramped up interest rates to tackle sky-high inflation.
Business
Samsung Electronics profit falls
The company reports its worst quarterly profits in 14 years.
- The first-quarter net income of Samsung fell 86.1 percent to 1.57 trillion won, and sales dropped 18 percent to 63.75 trillion won
- Samsung blamed weakening demand for memory chips, which usually generate about half of its profits, and falling chip prices
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Amnesty urges war crimes probe into Israeli destruction in Lebanon
Amnesty International said Tuesday that the Israeli army's extensive destruction of civilian property in south Lebanon, including after a ceasefire...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
Pro-Palestinian protesters take Israel sculptures from UK university
London, United Kingdom -- A pro-Palestinian group took two sculptures of Israel's first president from a UK university in a protest marking...
Geostrategy
Lebanon accuses Israel of truce rejection after deadly Beirut strikes and growing Gaza crisis
A US-brokered plan reportedly under consideration would see Hezbollah pull back 30 kilometres (20 miles) from the border, north of...
Geostrategy
Israel, US envoys discuss possible ceasefire amid rising casualties in Lebanon conflict
With US mediation, a ceasefire proposal emerges for both Gaza and Lebanon, balancing Israel's security demands and Lebanon’s need for...
Geostrategy
Most Read
New Hezbollah leader signals ceasefire openness, but Israel demands Hezbollah withdrawal, border security
Israel’s security cabinet discussed terms, including Hezbollah’s withdrawal north of the Litani River and Lebanese army deployment along the border...
- Naim Qassem's statement came as Israel's security cabinet met to discuss a possible truce, but also as Israel attacked the eastern Lebanese city of Baalbek
- According to Israel's Channel 12, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met ministers late Tuesday to discuss Israel's demands in return for a 60-day truce
Geostrategy
New Hezbollah leader says will accept ceasefire with Israel if terms ‘suitable’
Qassem replaces Hasan Nasrallah who was assassinated by Israel on September 27 after more than 30 years at the helm...
- 'If the Israelis decide that they want to stop the aggression, we say we accept, but under the conditions', Qassem said
- But Hezbollah "will not beg for a ceasefire", clarified the new new leader of the Lebanese group
Bitcoin close to record as cautious markets eye US election
The surge in the price of bitcoin is seen as a bet on a Republican victory, as Donald Trump has...
- The leading digital currency was trading around US$72,400 at 0300 GMT, after climbing as high as US$73,563.63 in late US trade.
- The surge in the price of bitcoin is seen as a bet on a Republican victory, as Donald Trump has emerged as the pro-crypto candidate.