Netanyahu tells Israel parliament ‘some progress’ on Gaza hostage deal, defence minister admits to killing Haniyeh
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal last week, Netanyahu said, however, said he was not going to agree...
Geostrategy
UAE says will not arm Sudan paramilitary RSF: White House
Washington, United States -- The United Arab Emirates has informed the United States that it will not arm paramilitaries in Sudan's...
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Business
Virgin Galactic completes final spaceflight before two-year pause
Washington, United States -- Virgin Galactic on Saturday successfully completed its last spaceflight before heading into a two-year pause on commercial...
- One of the private astronauts was Tuva Atasever, a Turkish space agency astronaut whose seat was contracted through another space company, Axiom.
- During the flight, Atasever wore custom headgear with brain activity monitoring sensors to collect physiological data.
Geostrategy
UN Security Council to vote on US Gaza ceasefire resolution
The text of the resolution "welcomes" the truce and hostage release proposal announced on May 31 by President Joe Biden,...
- The United States, a staunch ally of Israel, has been widely criticized for having blocked several UN draft resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
- Under the proposal, Israel would withdraw from Gaza population centers and Hamas would free hostages. The ceasefire would last an initial six weeks.
Business
EU targets UAE telecoms firm in new anti-subsidy probe
Telecoms group e&, whose majority stakeholder is the UAE government, signed a $2.3-billion agreement in August 2023 to purchase Czech...
- The alleged subsidies "notably take the form of an unlimited guarantee from the UAE and a loan from UAE-controlled banks directly facilitating the transaction", it added.
- The commission said it will investigate whether the subsidies lead to "actual or potential negative effects" on the bid's process or the EU's internal market.
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Blinken meets Sisi in Cairo at start of Mideast tour
Blinken said his message to regional governments was that "if you want a ceasefire, press Hamas to say yes" to...
- Blinken said he had a "very good exchange" with Sisi
- The two had also been expected to discuss plans to reopen the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza
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Blinken returns to Mideast in push for truce
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was heading back to the Middle East on Monday to push a ceasefire plan,...
- The US also called for a UN Security Council vote on a truce
- Overall Israel's military offensive has killed at least 37,084 people in Gaza
Business
Saudi Aramco says foreigners grab ‘majority’ of share offering
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia - Oil giant Saudi Aramco said Sunday that international investors had snatched up the bulk of shares sold...
- Aramco ended trading on Sunday at 28.60 Saudi riyals ($7.63) per share, after opening at 27.95 riyals, giving it a market capitalisation of around $1.85 trillion
- Aramco, the mostly state-owned jewel of the Saudi economy, announced on May 30 that it would sell 1.545 billion shares, or approximately 0.64 percent of its issued shares
Geostrategy
Israel army says senior commander resigns over Oct 7 attack
Israel's army said Sunday that a senior commander had resigned over what he called his failure to prevent the October...
- Rosenfeld wrote in a resignation letter released by the army: "Everyone has to take responsibility for their part, and I am the one responsible in Division 143."
- "On October 7, I failed my life's mission: to protect the envelope," he wrote, referring to the southern Israeli communities on the border with Gaza
US destroys drones, missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen
Houthi television channel Al-Massirah meanwhile said there were air strikes in the Yemeni capital Sanaa and elsewhere in the country...
- The Houthis have been targeting vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 2023 in attacks they say are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza
- Houthi attacks have sent insurance costs spiraling for vessels transiting the Red Sea and prompted many shipping firms to take the longer passage around the southern tip of Africa
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Israel pounds Gaza refugee camp as war enters ninth month
In a new diplomatic push, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit Israel and key regional partners Egypt, Jordan...
- Efforts to mediate the first ceasefire in the bloody conflict since a week-long pause in November appear to have stalled a week after US President Joe Biden offered a new roadmap
- Hamas has yet to respond to Biden's proposal, while Israel has expressed openness to discussions but remains committed to destroying the Palestinian group
Geostrategy
COP29 climate hosts say they’ll keep expanding fossil fuels
Bonn, Germany -- The incoming president of the COP29 UN climate summit in Azerbaijan told AFP on Friday that his country...
- the COP29 organizers said they would also call for a "COP truce" and ask nations to observe a conflict ceasefire during the marathon negotiations in Baku in November.
- It is estimated that emerging markets and developing countries, excluding China, will need more than $2 trillion a year by 2030 to meet their climate and development needs.
Netanyahu tells Israel parliament ‘some progress’ on Gaza hostage deal, defence minister admits to killing Haniyeh
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal last week, Netanyahu said, however, said he was not going to agree...
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Qatar halts Gaza mediation efforts amid stalled talks on ceasefire and hostage release
The Gulf emirate, which has hosted Hamas's political leadership since 2012 with US blessing, has been involved in months of...
Global food prices reach 18-month high, vegetable oil cost soars
Paris, France -- Global food prices rose in October to their highest level in 18 months, with a sharp increase in...
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Buried for 14 hours after Israeli strike, Lebanese toddler makes recovery
The strike flattened an apartment complex and killed 15 people, many of them relatives
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Who will staff Trump’s Govt? A look at top contenders, with Elon Musk among the likely picks
Tesla CEO Elon Musk could head a new "Department of Government Efficiency," promising $2 trillion in federal budget cuts and...
- "There are some people that will be returning (from Trump's first term)," senior Trump aide Jason Miller told Fox Business. "And there'll be some new people joining the mix."
- Linda McMahon, a former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, and Howard Lutnick, the founder of the brokerage firm Cantor Fitzgerald, are leading the transition process
Business
Emirates half-year profit $2.5bn
The record profit is subject to new 9% corporate tax for the first time.
- The airline group, operating from the world's busiest airport for international traffic, has faced regional disruptions due to the conflicts, but has expanded its network elsewhere
- Group revenue rose 5.0 percent to $19.3 billion on "consistently strong customer demand across business divisions, and across regions", the statement said.
Geostrategy
Lebanon MPs demand UN protection of heritage sites from Israel attacks
The Lebanese MPs called on Azoulay to "urgently prioritize the protection of these historic sites by mobilizing UNESCO’s authority.
- "During the devastating war on Lebanon, Israel has caused grave human rights violations and atrocities," the lawmakers said
- Lebanon is home to six UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Roman ruins in Baalbek and Tyre