Food arrives in Gaza after Israel pauses some fighting
Gaza City, Palestinian Territories -- Truckloads of food reached hungry Gazans on Monday after Israel promised to open secure aid...
Geostrategy
The UN, the Palestinians, Israel and a stalled two-state solution
Ever since the partition of Palestine into Jewish and Arab states in 1947, the United Nations has been inextricably linked...
Geostrategy
Business
Elon Musk takes control of Twitter, fires executives
Musk wasted no time sacking chief executive Parag Agrawal, as well as the company's chief financial officer and its head...
- The takeover came hours before the court-appointed deadline for Musk to purchase the social media network.
- Following the takeover, Musk tweeted that the "the bird is freed," referencing the company's iconic avian logo
Geostrategy
Iraq parliament approves new government after year of deadlock
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani's 21-member cabinet is expected to face myriad challenges. The oil-rich but war-ravaged country is plagued...
- Sudani, 52, was chosen to form the new government on October 13 following months of infighting between key Shiite Muslim factions
- The movement of firebrand cleric Moqtada, Sudani's rival in Iraq's majority Shiite camp, refused to join the government
Geostrategy
Netanyahu eyes return to power as Israel votes yet again
Lapid sails into the November 1 election just days after a diplomatic breakthrough -- finalising a landmark maritime border deal...
- The longest-serving leader in Israeli history, the 73-year-old right-winger and security hawk is for the first time in years campaigning from the opposition
- He is up against the centrist caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who last year manoeuvred a motley alliance of eight parties into a coalition
Geostrategy
Israel, Lebanon strike ‘historic’ maritime border deal
UN chief Antonio Guterres said he "strongly" believed the deal can promote stability in the region and create "enhanced prosperity...
- The agreement was signed separately by Lebanon's President Michel Aoun in Beirut and by Israel's Prime Minister Yair Lapid in Jerusalem
- US President Joe Biden hailed the "historic" deal, that comes as Western powers clamour to open up new energy production and reduce dependence on Russia
Business
Seeking ‘healthy’ debate, Musk nears Twitter deal finish line
New York, United States---Closing in on his Twitter megadeal, Elon Musk said Thursday his goal is to enable "healthy" debate...
- The planned takeover has dismayed activists who fear a surge in harassment and misinformation under the unpredictable Musk, who himself is known for trolling other Twitter users.
- But Musk said he realizes Twitter "cannot become a free-for-all hellscape where anything can be said with no consequences."
Market Report
Markets mixed as investors digest ECB hike, US data
Volatile markets were mostly trading up after the ECB announced an expected hike to interest rates in the face of...
- The euro lost against the greenback on Thursday, after having traded above one dollar for the first time since last month on Wednesday.
- After fluctuating for much of the day, Eurozone stocks were flat by late afternoon trading.
Science
‘Carbon neutrality goals are useless if not backed by action’
UNITED NATIONS, UNITED STATES - Carbon neutrality goals are useless if not backed by action, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said...
- Commitments to net zero are worth zero without the plans, policies and actions to back it up, the UN chief said in a video message
- The message's target audience was governments, in particular G20 countries, as well as private actors and financial institutions.
Economy
US economy grows in third quarter this year
The US economy rebounded in the third quarter, expanding for the first time this year in welcome news for President...
- The latest GDP figures reflect increases in exports, consumer spending and government spending, said the US Commerce Department.
- Gross domestic product rose at an annual rate of 2.6 percent in the July to September period, according to Commerce Department data.
Economy
Egypt agrees $3 billion loan with IMF as pound hits new low
The IMF had demanded the devaluation as a condition of the loan and the North African nation is among the...
- The IMF deal is also conditioned on reforms that include further cuts to subsidies, bringing yet more pain for struggling households.
- In Aug, global investment firm Goldman Sachs estimated that Egypt would need about $15bn in funding to be able to repay its foreign debt, currently estimated at about $150bn.
Business
Volvo Cars posts Q3 net profit of US$61m
Retail sales declined in its main markets Europe and the US.
- Volvo Cars was hit hard by rising raw material prices, record inflation, higher interest rates and the war in Ukraine.
- Revenue rose to $7.28 billion boosted by "robust" demand for the company's SUVs.
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Revenue from Saudi cinema may exceed $1bn by 2030KSA, UAE play well as e-gaming trends across GCCExclusive: Middle East’s retail sector rides on AR and hybrid shopping to become $600bn digital economyTECOM Group profit soars 13%UAE startups eye Saudi Arabia for growth, expansionSaudi Arabia leads GCC AI healthcare raceDisparity remains as Saudis, Emiratis see wealth gains
Food arrives in Gaza after Israel pauses some fighting
Gaza City, Palestinian Territories -- Truckloads of food reached hungry Gazans on Monday after Israel promised to open secure aid...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
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...
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...
Geostrategy
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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.