Israel plans to ‘take control’ of Gaza City, sparking wave of criticism
European Council chief Antonio Costa warned "such a decision must have consequences" for EU-Israel ties, while Germany said it was...
Geostrategy
Turkey, Senegal discuss defence industry, security cooperation
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he discussed defence and security cooperation with Senegal's visiting prime minister Ousmane Sonko on...
Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia lifts restriction on hajj pilgrim numbers
The pilgrimage - one of five pillars of Islam, and which all able-bodied Muslims with the means are required to...
- The number of pilgrims will return to what it was before the pandemic, without any age limit, Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq al-Rabiah told reporters in Riyadh.
- In 2022, nearly 900,000 pilgrims, including some 780,000 from abroad, were welcomed to Islam's holiest cities of Mecca and Medina
Geostrategy
Israel parliament begins vote on controversial West Bank settler law
The law gives settlers in the occupied West Bank access to civilian law, while their Palestinian neighbours face military courts....
- The legislation, which has been repeatedly renewed since Israel seized the Palestinian territory in the 1967 Six-Day War, hit a stumbling block in June.
- The text will face a second and third reading in parliament before its final approval. Some 2.9 million Palestinians living in the West Bank are subjected to Israeli military law.
Business
Prince Harry’s memoir goes on sale, after months of publicity
Some British stores stayed open late for the midnight release of the biggest royal book since Harry's mother Princess Diana...
- The book contains a claim from Harry that his brother William physically attacked him as they argued about Meghan
- A YouGov poll on Monday found that 64 percent people now have a negative view of the once-popular ginger prince -- his lowest-ever rating
Geostrategy
Iran sends ex-president’s daughter to jail for ‘propaganda’
The 60-year-old former lawmaker and women's rights activist was charged with "collusion against national security, propaganda against the Islamic republic...
- Hashemi was arrested in the capital Tehran on September 27 for encouraging residents to demonstrate amid nationwide protests sparked by Mahsa Amini's death
- Her late father, president between 1989 and 1997 who died in 2017, was considered a moderate and advocated improved ties with the West
Business
Top US court backs WhatsApp suit over Pegasus spyware
WhatsApp sued the Israeli technology firm in 2019, accusing it of targeting approximately 1,400 devices with spyware to steal information...
- Pegasus gives its government customers -- which have allegedly included Mexico, Hungary, Morocco and India -- near-complete access to a target's device
- WhatsApp sued Pegasus in 2019, accusing it of targeting approximately 1,400 devices with spyware to steal information from people using the app
Business
Rolls-Royce sells record cars
Sales last year advanced eight percent to a record 6,021 cars.
- "2022 has been a momentous year for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars," said chief executive Torsten Muller-Otvos.
- Orders for Spectre, its first all-electric car that launches later this year, beat expectations, the company reported.
Geostrategy
Israeli tough measures a ‘new war’ against Palestinian Authority: PM
Israel's new right-wing government said Friday it will withhold millions of dollars in tax revenues from the Palestinian Authority. This...
- Israel's new right-wing government said Friday it will withhold millions of dollars in tax revenues from the Palestinian Authority.
- Israel revoked VIP passes for several officials, including Palestinian foreign minister Riyad al-Maliki.
Business
European wages to increase at ‘very strong’ rate, says ECB
"Robust labour markets" alongside "increases in national minimum wages" and "trade unions demand(ing) higher wage increases" are also set to...
- Wage growth over the next few quarters is expected to be very strong compared with historical patterns, the ECB said.
- In December, inflation in the eurozone dipped under the symbolic figure of 10 percent, after 18 months of uninterrupted increase
Business
Ronaldo to earn $214 million to promote Saudi World Cup bid
The oil-rich kingdom, along with Egypt and Greece, is considering a bid to host world football's 2030 showpiece tournament, and...
- The arrival of the former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus player came just weeks after neighbouring Qatar became the first Arab nation to host the World Cup.
- Al Nassr has nine Saudi league titles but never won the Asian Champions League, unlike four-time winners Al Hilal and Al Ittihad, who have lifted the trophy.
Geostrategy
Global piracy acts drop to 14-year low, says report
Worldwide acts of piracy fell to their lowest level last year since statistics were first established in 2008, a maritime...
- In the Gulf of Guinea, considered a piracy hotspot, just three ships were attacked in 2022 compared to 26 in 2019, the MICA said.
- In the same area, the number of kidnappings dropped to two last year, from 146 in 2019.
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Israel plans to ‘take control’ of Gaza City, sparking wave of criticism
European Council chief Antonio Costa warned "such a decision must have consequences" for EU-Israel ties, while Germany said it was...
Geostrategy
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Gaza battles rage as mediators push for truce deal
Mediators Egypt and Qatar were due to host new talks this week, according to officials, as the bloodiest-ever Gaza war...
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Erdogan says may invite Syria’s Assad to Turkey ‘at any moment’
Erdogan's comments come after tensions have mounted over the past week after a mob went on the rampage, vandalising businesses...
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‘Enough’: Israeli protesters demand Gaza truce
Large protests, also demanding elections, have taken place across Israel's commercial hub every Saturday night, with smaller ones throughout the...
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Calling for better ties with West, Iran reformist wins presidency
In the mausoleum of Imam Khomeini in southern Tehran, Pezeshkian gave a speech thanking his supporters, saying their votes have...
- Pezeshkian received more than 16 million votes, around 54 percent, and Jalili more than 13 million, roughly 44 percent, out of about 30 million votes cast
- The death of ultraconservative president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash necessitated the election, which was not due until 2025
Geostrategy
Israel says negotiators to hold fresh Gaza truce talks next week
Jerusalem, Undefined - Israel said Friday that "gaps" remained with Hamas on how to secure a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release...
- There has been no truce in the nine-month-old war in Gaza since a one-week pause in November saw 80 Israeli hostages freed in return for 240 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons
- The United States, which has worked alongside Qatar and Egypt in trying to broker a deal, had talked up the significance of Netanyahu's decision to send a delegation to Qatar
Early returns show reformist Pezeshkian leading Iran runoff vote: interior ministry
Iran held the first round of its snap presidential election last week which was marked by a record low turnout....
- Officials have so far counted more than 11 million ballots for Pezeshkian and around 9 million for Jalili, electoral authority spokesman Mohsen Eslami was quoted by IRNA
- Only 40 percent of Iran's 61 million eligible voters cast their ballots in the first round - the lowest turnout in any presidential election since the Islamic Revolution of 1979