Hamas demands opening of Gaza crossings after UN famine declaration
Hamas called on Friday for an immediate end to the war in Gaza and the lifting of the Israeli siege...
Geostrategy
United Nations declares famine in Gaza, first ever in Middle East
Tom Fletcher, the UN's emergency relief coordinator, blamed Israel, accusing it of "systematic obstruction" of aid deliveries to the war-ravaged...
Geostrategy
Economy
Pakistan IMF deal may materialize after UAE, China promise $1.3bn
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said the UAE had promised a billion dollars to prop up Pakistan's forex reserves -- which...
- Pakistan signed a $6.5 billion bailout package with the IMF in 2019, but has repeatedly reneged on conditions and so far just $3 billion has been released.
- The IMF insists Pakistan must boost its low tax base, end tax exemptions for the export sector, and raise artificially low fuel and power prices meant to help low-income families.
Economy
More monetary tightening required, says top Federal Reserve official
The US should continue tightening monetary policy to bring down inflation while assessing the impact of last month's financial turmoil...
- The rate-setting Federal Open Markets Committee voted last month to continue raising interest rates to tackle inflation.
- The FOMC took this decision despite the turmoil when Californian high-tech lender Silicon Valley Bank dramatically collapsed.
Geostrategy
Tunisia footballer dies after setting himself alight in anti-state protest
Tunis, Tunisia -- A professional footballer in Tunisia has died after setting himself alight earlier this week in what he said...
- Nizar Issaoui, 35, suffered third-degree burns from his action in the village of Haffouz in the central region of Kairouan..
- News of Issaoui's death sparked protests on the streets of Haffouz on Thursday evening, Tunisian media reported.
Market Report
Stocks jump, dollar falls as Federal Reserve seen curbing rate rises soon
Equity markets rose, with Paris hitting a record-high, as investors reacted positively to easing inflation, recession concerns and some strong...
- In a sign of cooling inflation, Singapore's central bank kept rates steady, having previously hiked five times in a row.
- Stocks advanced "on increasing signs that the global round of interest rate hikes could be drawing to a close".
Geostrategy
Prominent Iraqi cleric Sadr ‘freezes’ rank and file movement
Iraqi cleric Moqtada Sadr, an influential player in national politics, said he was "freezing" for a year his powerful movement...
- Sadr has repeatedly taken supporters and opponents by surprise with major announcements on social media.
- The freezing of the movement would not affect religious activities and an institution dedicated to his father's legacy.
Geostrategy
Yemen prisoner swap starts as truce talks set for second round
The first plane departed Sanaa, the rebel-held capital, for government-controlled Aden hours after a Saudi delegation departed without a fresh...
- On Friday, 322 prisoners will fly on International Committee of the Red Cross planes between Sanaa and Aden, on the first day of an operation that will see 887 prisoners released.
- Among the prisoners to be released by the Houthis on Friday are Yemen's former defense minister, Major General Mahmud al-Subaihi.
Top Western luxury brands court Middle East with Ramadan collections
Paris, France - With flowing kaftans, fluid separates and glamorous maxi dresses, Western luxury fashion brands are increasingly targeting the monied...
- Louis Vuitton to Versace have rolled out handbags and shoes, sunglasses and clothing that varies between sober pastels, florals and embroidered prints
- Gucci's 2023 Ramadan collection, "Nojum" (meaning stars), is inspired by the night sky, featuring deep purples and daywear options for men
Saudi team leaves Yemen but truce talks to continue
Houthi political leader Mohamed Ali al-Houthi said the talks were conducted in a "positive atmosphere", with plans for another round....
- Saudi delegation led by ambassador Mohammed al-Jaber, left Yemen late on Thursday, four days after he arrived seeking to stabilise a truce that lapsed last year
- Britain's ambassador to Yemen, Richard Oppenheim, said the talks were a "positive development and may be the start of a golden opportunity for peace"
‘Flash drought’ frequency increasing due to climate change: study
For the study, published in the journal Science, researchers analyzed a combination of satellite data and ground moisture readings from...
- Researcher of the study used climate modeling to forecast how flash droughts will change under several possible greenhouse gas emission scenarios
- A commentary piece by two professors in Netherlands, said the study's warning "should be taken seriously" as the threat may be even greater than they suggest
Geostrategy
Syria’s return to Arab fold: Shifting Mideast diplomacy takes center stage in Jeddah talks today
Friday's nine-nation talks in Jeddah, the Red Sea gateway to Mecca, come after Syria's foreign minister arrived on a previously...
- Friday's nine-nation talks in Jeddah, the Red Sea gateway to Mecca, come after Syria's foreign minister arrived on a previously unannounced visit
- On Wednesday, an Iranian delegation landed in Saudi Arabia to pave the way for reopening diplomatic missions, following a trip by a Saudi team to Iran
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Hamas demands opening of Gaza crossings after UN famine declaration
Hamas called on Friday for an immediate end to the war in Gaza and the lifting of the Israeli siege...
Geostrategy
Company News
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Arts & Culture
Latest News
Netanyahu rejects ceasefire’ in Lebanon, Hezbollah threatens to expand the scope of its missile strikes across Israel
In a call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Netanyahu said he was "opposed to a unilateral ceasefire, which does not...
Netanyahu assures Biden, Iran counterstrike will only target military sites as war spreads to Lebanon and Gaza
US officials, citing Netanyahu’s pledge, reported relief in Washington as Israel’s counterstrike on Iran will not target oil or nuclear...
Geostrategy
Israel strikes Lebanon after Netanyahu vows no mercy for Hezbollah
srael's military launched strikes Tuesday on eastern Lebanon, as Hezbollah fought Israeli soldiers after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed no...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Geostrategy
Trio wins economics Nobel for insights into income inequality
By examining the various political and economic systems introduced by European colonizers, the three have demonstrated a relationship between societal...
- Daron Acemoglu, 57, and Simon Johnson, 61, are professors at (MIT). James Robinson, 64, is a professor at the University of Chicago.
- The jury highlighted the laureates' work in illuminating how political and economic institutions play a role in explaining why some countries prosper while others do not.
Economy
Tech helps Singapore economy top forecasts in third quarter
Singapore's economy grew more than expected in the third quarter as a rush for everything related to artificial intelligence drove...
- The City's economic performance is often seen as a barometer of the global environment
- Healthy rebound in manufacturing sector powered the 4.1 percent year-on-year Q3 growth
Geostrategy
Hezbollah drone strike kills four, wounds dozens at Israeli base, US sending more air-defences
Hezbollah announced late Sunday that it launched a "squadron of attack drones" at the Binyamina camp, 30 kilometers south of...
- The attack on a military training camp in Binyamina, near Haifa, is the deadliest such assault on an Israeli base since September 23, when Israel increased its attacks on Hezbollah
- Authorities in Gaza, meanwhile, said the death toll from an Israeli strike Sunday on a school being used as a shelter for displaced people had risen to 15, including whole families