Syria since Assad’s overthrow: latest developments
HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani said that all rebel factions in Syria would "be disbanded and the fighters trained to...
Key Libya oil refinery halts operations after clashes: state firm
Tripoli, Libya -- A key oil refinery in western Libya suspended operations after armed clashes erupted early on Sunday, causing fires...
Geostrategy
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
Business
McDonald’s profits up 7%
The quarterly profits increased despite weak Middle East sales.
- "The continued impact of the war in the Middle East more than offset positive comparable sales in Japan, Latin America and Europe," McDonald's said of the division.
- Earlier this month, McDonald's agreed to acquire Alonyal, which owns 225 McDonald's restaurants in Israel which have been hit by calls for a boycott over Gaza onslaught.
Geostrategy
Activists occupy Columbia building as US campus protests flare
Demonstrators vowed to remain at the hall until their demands are met, including that Columbia divest all financial holdings linked...
- Protests have swept through US higher education institutions, with many erecting tent encampments on campus grounds after around 100 protesters were first arrested at Columbia.
- UN human rights chief Volker Turk voiced concern at the heavy-handed steps taken to disperse the campus protests.
Geostrategy
Hopes rise for possible truce deal between Israel and Hamas
Jerusalem, Undefined - Hopes rose on Monday for a long-sought-after truce and hostage release deal after almost seven months of war...
- Washington's top diplomat said he was "hopeful" Hamas would accept the offer, which his British counterpart said could see the release of thousands of Palestinian captives
- For months, meditators Egypt, Qatar and the United States have been trying to broker a new agreement between the combatants
Geostrategy
European, Arab ministers meet in Saudi to jump-start two-state solution
Earlier on Monday, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told reporters he would encourage Arab leaders to put forward...
- The meeting took place on the sidelines of a two-day World Economic Forum special meeting in Riyadh that was largely devoted to the grinding war in the Gaza Strip
- Israel's offensive has killed at least 34,488 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory
Business
QatarEnergy signs $6 billion deal with China shipbuilder
The China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) is set to deliver eight Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) vessels in 2028 and 2029,...
- Last month, QatarEnergy announced it had signed deals for a total of 104 smaller, conventional-size vessels.
- Qatar is one of the world's top LNG producers alongside the United States, Australia and Russia.
Syria since Assad’s overthrow: latest developments
HTS leader Abu Mohammed al-Jolani said that all rebel factions in Syria would "be disbanded and the fighters trained to...
Company News
Latest News
Troubled Boeing faces investors and awaits strike vote
Boeing, the beleaguered aviation giant announces what is expected to be its biggest quarterly loss in four years, and striking...
Business
Updates: Israel confirms killing of Hezbollah leader’s successor as Blinken presses for Gaza truce
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Israel to reach a ceasefire in Gaza, while Israeli airstrikes continued targeting Hezbollah's...
IMF predicts slightly slower global growth in 2024 and 2025
In its new World Economic Outlook (WEO) report, the International Monetary Fund also estimates that global inflation will continue to...
Economy
Most Read
Wealthy Israelis offer rewards for release of Gaza hostages
Jerusalem, Undefined - Frustrated with the dwindling prospect of reaching a ceasefire deal in the year-long Gaza war, some Israeli entrepreneurs...
- Former SodaStream CEO Daniel Birnbaum said he received about 100 calls after offering $100,000 in cash or bitcoin for the safe delivery of a living Israeli prisoner from Gaza
- Birnbaum said most of the calls are pranks, threats or curses, but "10 to 20 could be legitimate" and were transferred to Israeli authorities for further verification
Science
Microsoft unveils autonomous AI agents for business tasks
San Francisco, United States - Microsoft on Monday said it was enhancing its AI offerings with new autonomous agent capabilities as...
- AI agents are specialized programs designed to perform routine tasks autonomously, such as sifting through sales leads or handling customer service inquiries
- The AI agent has become the newest buzzword for major software companies that are investing billions in powerful AI models, which they believe will shape the future of computing
Geostrategy
Updates: Israel hits more targets in Lebanon as Blinken travels to Middle East to push for truce
Lebanon says four people were killed including a child in the latest Israeli strikes as Tehran says the United States...
- Four people including a child had been killed on Monday evening in Israeli strikes near the Lebanon's biggest public hospital
- Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa discuss bilateral cooperation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Manama