UN probe says women, children comprise the majority of Gaza war dead
In a fresh report, the United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) detailed a raft of violations of international law. Many...
Geostrategy
US Fed expected to look beyond Trump win and cut rates again
The labor market has remained resilient, despite a sharp hiring slowdown last month due to adverse weather conditions and a...
Economy
Geostrategy
EU pledges $1 bn for Lebanon, urges curbs against illegal migration
The EU Commission's spokesman said in Brussels the aid will be disbursed "in grants", with 736 million euros earmarked to...
- "I can announce a financial package of $1 billion for Lebanon that would be available from this year until 2027," the European Commission chief said
- She said the aid was designed to strengthen basic services such as education and health amid a severe economic crisis
Geostrategy
United Nations estimates rebuilding Gaza will cost $30bn to $40bn
"The scale of the destruction is huge and unprecedented... This is a mission that the global community has not dealt...
- He added that Gaza's reconstruction through the normal process could take decades, and the "Palestinian people do not have the luxury of waiting for decades".
- "It is therefore important that we act quickly to re-house people in decent housing and restore their lives to normal -- economically, socially, in terms of health and education".
Geostrategy
Blinken urges Hamas to agree truce to help Gazans
A Hamas official said the group would respond "within a very short period" to a plan proposed by mediators to...
- "Hamas needs to say yes and needs to get this done," said Blinken, who was in Israel on his seventh Middle East crisis tour since the war broke out in October
- He later added: "If Hamas actually purports to care about the Palestinian people and wants to see an immediate alleviation of their suffering, it should take this deal."
Economy
US Federal Reserve keeps interest rates at 23-year high
Washington, United States - The US Federal Reserve on Wednesday held interest rates steady for a sixth straight meeting, keeping the...
- After a two-day gathering, the central bank decided unanimously to keep the benchmark lending rate unchanged at 5.25-5.50 percent
- For months, the US central bank has held its benchmark lending rate at a high level to cool demand and rein in price increases
Geostrategy
Hamas official insists Gaza ceasefire must be permanent
Hamas is considering a plan for a 40-day ceasefire and the exchange of scores of hostages for larger numbers of...
- He said it was premature to say whether the Hamas envoys, who have returned from talks in Cairo to their base in Qatar, felt any progress was made.
- A source with knowledge of the negotiations said Qatari mediators expected a response from Hamas in one or two days.
Geostrategy
More war debris in Gaza than Ukraine: UN Mine Action Service
And the danger for clearance work is restricted not just to unexploded ordnance but includes possible exposure to toxic substances...
- "There's estimated to be over 800,000 tons of asbestos, for instance, alone in the Gaza rubble," said Mungo Birch, head of the UNMAS program in the Palestinian territories.
- Birch said he hoped UNMAS, which works to mitigate the threats posed by all types of explosive ordnance, would become the coordination body for mine action in Gaza.
Geostrategy
Blinken says US ‘determined’ to get Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal ‘now’
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken renewed calls for Hamas to accept a ceasefire deal Wednesday as he started talks...
- Netanyahu: Israel will launch an invasion of Rafah "with or without" a ceasefire deal.
- Aid is coming to Gaza but more is needed
Business
Amazon triples quarterly profit
The company's cloud, ads, and retail businesses thrive.
- Amazon shares were up about one percent in after-market trades that followed release of the earnings figures
- Sales at Amazon online stores grew by 7% in the quarter despite competitive pressure from rivals such as Shein and Temu
Geostrategy
Blinken presses for Gaza aid on Jordan visit
Blinken, on his latest tour of the region since the Gaza war erupted in October, observed Jordan's efforts to bring...
- Blinken observed Jordan's efforts to bring in food and supplies and praised the "extraordinary work" led by the United Nations
- Blinken met separately with King Abdullah II and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi both on aid and on diplomacy for a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas
Geostrategy
Blinken demands ‘no more delays’ by Hamas on truce deal
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken demanded Tuesday that Hamas accept a proposal for a Gaza ceasefire and release of...
- "Now it's on Hamas. No more delays, no more excuses. The time to act is now," Blinken said
- "We want to see in the coming days this agreement coming together," he said
UN probe says women, children comprise the majority of Gaza war dead
In a fresh report, the United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) detailed a raft of violations of international law. Many...
Geostrategy
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World’s first CO2 storage service soon ready in Norway
Øygarden, Norway -- Norway inaugurated Thursday the gateway to a massive undersea vault for carbon dioxide, a crucial step before opening...
Geostrategy
Ceasefire calls mount as Israeli troops on alert for Lebanon incursion
International calls for restraint mounted Wednesday after Israel's army chief told soldiers to prepare for a possible ground offensive against...
Geostrategy
OpenAI chief technology officer Mira Murati leaving company
San Francisco, United States - OpenAI chief technology officer Mira Murati on Wednesday said she is leaving the company behind ChatGPT,...
Business
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Diplomacy fails Lebanon: Biden hints all-out-war while Israel plans ground invasion
Israel's army chief told troops on Wednesday to be prepared for possible entry into Lebanon as Israeli fighter jets bombarded...
- Israel asks its troops to get ready for a possible ground offensive in Lebanon as diplomacy fails to achieve peace
- Over 90,000 people are displaced while more than 700 killed and over 5,000 are wounded since Israel' pager attacks in Lebanon
Putin expects Türkiye’s Erdogan to attend BRICS summit in Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday he expected his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to attend a BRICS summit in...
- Putin says he was due to meet Erdogan on October 23 - a day after the start of the BRICS summit in Russia's Kazan
- "Our president has many times stated that we want to become a BRICS member," says Turkish main political party
Geostrategy
HRW says Israeli strikes on Lebanon putting civilians ‘at grave risk’
United Nations "member states should take urgent action to establish an independent inquiry into violations during the current hostilities", said...
- Israeli raids on Lebanon on Monday killed at least 558 people
- "More than 1,000 Israeli strikes across Lebanon that have killed hundreds of people and injured thousands" this week