Trump raises pressure on central bank, calls for Fed governor to resign
Washington, United States -- President Donald Trump ramped up pressure on the US central bank Wednesday, calling for Federal Reserve...
Geostrategy
Google and Australia’s national newswire strike AI deal
Sydney, Australia - Australia's national newswire has agreed to provide content to Google's Gemini artificial intelligence to improve its responses,...
Business
Geostrategy
Israeli government approves formation of a national guard
The Israeli government approved a decision to form a national guard, officials said, which opponents warn would function as a...
- The national guard will comprise 1,800 members who will "bring back personal security" to Israelis, said a government statement.
- More details about the guard's goals and authority will be issued by a committee within two months, the statement added.
Economy
Major oil powers slash production ahead of OPEC+ meet
Cuts by the Saudis, Iraq, UAE, Kuwait, Algeria and Oman from May to the end of the year will total...
- Russia, a member of OPEC+, said it was also extending its cuts of 500,000 bpd to the end of this year, calling it "a responsible and preventive action".
- The cuts were announced despite calls from the US to raise production as consumption rises and as China, the world's biggest oil consumer, reopens after its Covid shutdown.
Business
UBS-Credit Suisse merger could see 36,000 job cuts globally
Geneva, Switzerland -- The merger between banks Credit Suisse and UBS could see up to 36,000 jobs being cut across...
- The takeover of Credit Suisse was arranged by the Swiss government to prevent a global financial meltdown, following fears of contagion from the collapse of banks in US.
- Up to 11,000 jobs could be cut in Switzerland alone, according to the weekly SonntagsZeitung, which did not provide details of which posts could be targeted.
Economy
Dutch refinery looks to boost production of sustainable aviation fuel
Sustainable aviation fuels are being made from different sources such as municipal waste, leftovers from the agricultural and forestry industry,...
- EU plans to impose the use of a minimum amount of sustainable aviation fuel by airlines, rising from two percent in 2025 to six percent in 2030 and at least 63 percent in 2050
- Neste's Lehmus said there was a great need to mature the technologies to make sustainable aviation fuel from diverse sources such as algae, nitrocellulose and synthetic fuels
Geostrategy
Israeli air strike near Homs injures five Syrian soldiers
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, said the strikes targeted several military positions of Syrian government...
- According to the agency, the attack was Israel's third in recent days after Damascus was targeted on the nights of March 30 and 31
- The country's air defence intercepted several missiles, but five soldiers were wounded and some material damage was reported, the source added
Geostrategy
Ukraine terms Russia UN presidency a ‘slap in the face’
Kyiv, Ukraine--Ukraine on Saturday branded Russia's presidency of the UN Security Council for the month of April "a slap in the...
- As part of its monthly rotation between the Security Council's 15 member states, Russia takes on the presidency with ties with the West embittered by its invasion of Ukraine
- Ukraine's foreign minister described Russia's tenure as a "slap in the face to the international community" and called on UNSC members to stop Russia from abusing its presidency
Economy
Oil exports from Iraq’s Kurdistan region to restart on Monday
Spelling the end of independent oil exports by the regional government, Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region will resume oil exports through...
- Last month, Turkey stopped handling Kurdish oil after an international tribunal ruled in a nine-year-old dispute that Baghdad was right on insisting to oversee all oil exports
- Both federal and regional governments see oil exports as key revenue resources and thier management has long been a sensitive topic in relations between the two entities
Geostrategy
Man killed by police in old Jerusalem, says Israel
Israeli police said they shot dead an Arab Israeli who grabbed a gun from an officer and fired it in...
- The attack occurred hours after thousands of Palestinians had packed the Al-Aqsa mosque compound.
- Since the beginning of 2023, violence between Israel and Palestinians have increased rapidly.
Business
Iraq inaugurates oil refinery in Karbala to curtail imports
The minister said the refinery, built by South Korean firm Hyundai, can produce nine million liters of fuel a day...
- Oil minister said that after the inauguration by the Iraqi Prime Minister, the refinery has started commercial production.
- The refinery can produce up to 140,000 barrels every day, and help in reduction of overseas oil import.
Geostrategy
Iran puts two women behind bars for refusal to wear hijab
Iranian authorities ordered the arrest of two women, the judiciary said after a viral video appeared to show them being...
- The new incident comes after the death in custody of Iranian Kurd Mahsa Amini in September sparked months of protests
- Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi reiterated calls affirming that Iranian women should wear the hijab as a "religious necessity".
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Trump raises pressure on central bank, calls for Fed governor to resign
Washington, United States -- President Donald Trump ramped up pressure on the US central bank Wednesday, calling for Federal Reserve...
Geostrategy
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Huawei profit tops $12bn
Business
Israel vows response as Iran fires missile barrage
Iran launched around 180 missiles at Israel on Tuesday in response to the killings of Tehran-backed militant leaders, prompting alarm...
Updates: Iran launches missile attack on Israel
Iran has launched a missile attack on Israel's commercial hub Tel Aviv, state media reported Tuesday. The official IRNA news...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Iran says will not send forces to confront Israel
An Israeli strike on Beirut Friday killed Hassan Nasrallah, the head of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah that has been...
- "There is no need to send extra or volunteer forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran," said foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanan
- Israel has in recent days been mounting heavy air strikes in Lebanon against the so-called "axis of resistance", a network of Iran-aligned militant groups in the region
Business
Qatar Airways seeking 25% stake in Virgin Australia
Qatar Airways unveiled a bid to take a 25 percent stake in troubled airline Virgin Australia on Tuesday, a deal...
- The deal could significantly shake up Australia's air travel market which is currently dominated by Qantas
- In 2023, Australia's center-left government rejected Qatar's bid to put on 21 extra international flights to and from Australia
Saudi economy to register losses until 2027, says finance ministry
Saudi Arabia anticipates a budget deficit of 2.3 percent of GDP in 2025. Estimates put total government revenues for 2025...
- Saudi Arabia anticipates a budget deficit of 2.3 percent of GDP in 2025
- Estimates put total government revenues for 2025 at approximately US$320 billion, which would create a deficit of US$27bn