Israeli writer Grossman denounces Gaza ‘genocide’
Rome, Italy -- Award-winning Israeli author David Grossman called his country's campaign in Gaza "genocide" and said he was using...
Geostrategy
Trump’s ‘displeasure’ at prospect of allies recognizing Palestinian state
President Donald Trump has expressed displeasure with leaders of France, the United Kingdom and Canada for saying they plan to...
Geostrategy
Science
Swiss regret COP27 going soft on top polluters
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - Switzerland regretted Sunday that the COP27 climate summit outcome does not impose obligations on the highest greenhouse...
- There was disappointment in some quarters over COP27's stand on cutting emissions.
- There were concerns that no resolutions were passed on phasing out coal and reducing subsidies for oil and gas
Geostrategy
First Israel-Qatar direct commercial flight takes off for World Cup
When FIFA announced the deal for direct Israel-Qatar flights on November 10, it claimed that "Palestinian ticket holders and media"...
- But it was not immediately clear to what extent Palestinian residents of the Israeli-occupied West Bank or blockaded Gaza Strip would have access to the charter.
- Israeli foreign ministry official Lior Haiat, at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, told AFP that "history has been made," with the "first direct flight from Tel Aviv to Doha."
World Cup poised for kick-off as Benzema blow rocks France
World Cup organisers hope the start of the football will quell the controversies that have overshadowed preparations for the tournament...
- Foreign government officials, VIPs and celebrities will be in the crowd as the first World Cup staged in the Arab world opens at the Bedouin-tent inspired Al Bayt Stadium
- All 32 teams competing at the World Cup have now arrived, with five-time champions Brazil the last to touch down in Doha late on Saturday
Protest-hit Kurdish town fears a major Iranian crackdown
Activists on Sunday expressed alarm that Iran was implementing a major crackdown in a Kurdish-populated town that has seen intense...
- Iran's clerical leadership has been shaken by more than two months of protests sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini
- The Norway-based Hengaw rights group said "armed troops" had been despatched to Mahabad from Urmia, the main city of West Azerbaijan province
Arts & Culture
Museum of London packs up for $260m move
The new museum, set to open in 2026, will follow the history of London from its earliest days through Roman...
- The 20,000 skeletal remains of historic Londoners will also need to be transported with care
- The new location of Museum of London at Smithfield Market is in the heart of a new cultural centre and is expected to double or maybe triple the visitor figures
Geostrategy
‘Historic’ but ‘not enough’: UN COP27 climate summit reactions
The summit drew praise for the "loss and damage" fund to help vulnerable countries cope with the destructive impacts of...
- It is more than frustrating to see overdue steps on mitigation being stonewalled by a number of large emitters and oil producers, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
- "This COP has taken an important step towards justice. I welcome the decision to establish a loss and damage fund," said UN chief Antonio Guterres.
Economy
Qatar records a trade balance surplus of US$29.47bn in Q3
Doha, Qatar—Qatar has recorded a trade balance surplus in the third quarter of 2022 of $29.47 billion up from $15.87...
- In Q3 2022, the value of Qatar's total exports (including exports of domestic goods and re-exports) amounted to $38 billion
- During Q3 2022, Asia was the principal destination of Qatar's exports and the first origin of Qatar's imports, representing 60.5 percent and 40.1 percent respectively
Brazil arrive in Qatar ahead of World Cup opener against Serbia
Brazil, knocked out by Belgium in the quarter-finals in the 2018 edition in Russia, open their campaign against Serbia next...
- The South Americans' flight from Turin in Italy where the brazil team have been based this week touched down at around 23:00 local time (21:00GMT)
- Brazil's last World Cup triumph was 20 years ago inspired by the attacking triumvirate of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho
Geostrategy
Children in war-scarred Idlib kick off their own World Cup
Idlib, Syria— More than 300 children in rebel-held northwest Syria kicked off their own football World Cup on Saturday, with organizers...
- Ibrahim Sarmini of the NGO Violet, which organized the tournament, said children aged 10 to 14 have been training for months to take part in the "camps World Cup"
- The Idlib region is home to about three million people, around half of them displaced
Geostrategy
Musk reinstates Trump’s Twitter account after poll
Trump, who had more than 88 million users when his accounted was suspended, reveled in using Twitter as a mouthpiece...
- Trump's account was banned from the platform early last year for his role in the January 6 attack on US Capitol by a mob of his supporters
- Musk's poll asked for a simple "yes" or "no" response to the statement "Reinstate former President Trump," which the billionaire Twitter boss posted Friday
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Israeli writer Grossman denounces Gaza ‘genocide’
Rome, Italy -- Award-winning Israeli author David Grossman called his country's campaign in Gaza "genocide" and said he was using...
Geostrategy
Company News
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International Court of Justice orders Israel to halt Rafah offensive
The International Court of Justice also demanded the immediate release of all hostages still held by Palestinian militants, hours after...
Geostrategy
Israel launches deadly Gaza strikes, says ready for new truce talks
Palestinian Territories - Israel launched devastating air strikes on Gaza Thursday, while also expressing readiness to resume stalled talks on...
Geostrategy
Algeria signs gas field deal with oil giant ExxonMobil
Algiers, Algeria - Algeria's state oil company announced Thursday it signed a memorandum with ExxonMobil to develop two gas fields, a...
Business
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Economy
One out of three Lebanese poverty-stricken: World Bank
Beirut, Lebanon -- A third of Lebanese people are impoverished with poverty rates tripling in a decade, the World Bank said...
- The poverty rate reached as high as 70 percent in the northern region of Akkar which borders Syria.
- The poor were also "nearly four times as likely to have an adult member restrict their food intake to feed their children," the WB report said.
Geostrategy
Tens of thousands bid farewell to Iran’s Raisi ahead of burial
Men and women thronged the main boulevard of Mashhad, Iran's second city in the northeast where Raisi was born, bidding...
- Posters of Raisi were raised along the streets of Mashhad, particularly around Raisi's final resting place
- Massive crowds had gathered for a funeral procession in the Iranian capital on Wednesday to pay their final respects to the president
Economy
Asian shares mixed after Fed minutes, while Nvidia provides support
Asian markets diverged Thursday after minutes from the Federal Reserve's most recent policy meeting indicated officials would keep interest rates...
- Federal Reserve's most recent policy meeting indicated officials would keep interest rates elevated
- Nvidia showed it turned a profit of $14.9 billion in the first quarter