After delays, Egypt set for lavish opening of grand museum
Cairo, Egypt - With much pomp and circumstance, Cairo is due to inaugurate on Saturday the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum,...
Arts & Culture
Israel hits another Gaza target after deadliest night since truce
Israel said it struck an arms dump in Gaza on Wednesday, hours after the deadliest night of bombing since the...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Ceasefire called after new Pakistan-Afghanistan clashes kill dozens
A 48-hour ceasefire between Afghanistan and Pakistan took hold late Wednesday, officials on both sides said, after dozens of troops...
- The truce began at 6:00 pm Islamabad time (1300 GMT), shortly after being announced by both countries, each asserting the other had requested it to end the surge in violence
- "During this period, both sides will sincerely strive to find a positive solution to this complex but resolvable issue through dialogue," the Pakistani foreign ministry said
Investigation
US agency blames faulty engineering for Titanic sub disaster
Washington, United States - Flawed engineering and inadequate testing contributed to the catastrophic implosion of a private submersible during a...
- Its report comes after a US Coast Guard investigation in August outlined a litany of issues with operator OceanGate's conduct, as well as design flaws in its Titan submersible
- "We found that OceanGate's engineering process for the Titan was inadequate and resulted in the construction of a carbon fiber composite pressure vessel," the report said
Geostrategy
Israel threatens to resume fighting if Hamas does not respect Gaza ceasefire deal
The statement from Defence Minister Israel Katz's office came after Hamas handed over the remains of two more deceased hostages,...
- The statement from Defence Minister Israel Katz's office came after Hamas handed over two more deceased hostages, and said it would be unable to retrieve any more bodies
- Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has threatened to cut off desperately needed aid supplies to Gaza if Hamas fails to return the remains of all soldiers
Geostrategy
Israel returns 45 Palestinian bodies to Gaza authorities
Under the deal pushed by US President Donald Trump and aimed at ending the two-year Gaza war, Israel was to...
- On Monday, Hamas gave up three Israeli bodies and one Nepalese for transfer.
- This was followed on Tuesday by three more deceased Israelis and one as yet unidentified body that the military says was not that of someone listed among dead hostages.
Business
Spotify, Netflix sign deal to stream video podcasts
Stockholm, Sweden -- Music and video streaming giants Spotify and Netflix have penned a deal to bring several video podcasts...
- Spotify also said that it was planning "to bring similar opportunities" to a wider range of podcasters in the future.
- Spotify first began offering non-music audio and video content on its service in 2015.
Geostrategy
US Treasury chief: Beijing’s rare earths control is ‘China versus the world’
Washington, United States -- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent slammed Beijing's rare earth export curbs Wednesday as "China versus the...
- His comments came as global economic leaders gather in Washington this week for the International Monetary Fund and World Bank's fall meetings.
- "We do not want to decouple. We should work together to de-risk and diversify our supply chains away from China as quickly as possible," Bessent urged.
Economy
Asian markets rally as Fed cut hopes trump trade war fears
Stocks jumped Wednesday as trade war fears were overshadowed by comments from Federal Reserve boss Jerome Powell that suggested the...
- After a volatile couple of days characterised by a fresh flare-up in China-US tensions, investors took the opportunity to jump back into the market and resume a months-long rally
- Powell has for most of the year walked a fine line between trying to keep a cap on US inflation while also supporting the labour market, even as he faced abuse from President Trump
Geostrategy
Trump says ‘will disarm’ Hamas: ‘It will happen quickly and perhaps violently’
Trump's comments came the day after he swung through the Middle East to celebrate the Gaza ceasefire deal, with questions...
- Trump's comments came the day after he swung through the Middle East to celebrate the Gaza ceasefire deal, with questions swirling about the next phases of the agreement
- Hamas has so far refused to disarm despite it being a key part of the next phase of Trump's 20-point plan for a ceasefire and longer-term peace agreement in the Middle East
Arts & Culture
Wed by app: Abu Dhabi launches virtual marriage for all
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- Couples from anywhere in the world can now get married using the Abu Dhabi government's...
- The idea of online marriage is still in its infancy, with Ukraine launching a service last year allowing couples separated by war to tie the knot using its government app.
- The United Arab Emirates experimented with allowing online ceremonies for people living in the country during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Geostrategy
Hamas back on Gaza streets, acts against gangs and armed clans
For many Palestinians rebuilding their homes and lives amid Gaza's rubble, the sight of the Hamas forces was reassuring. Many...
- When bus loads of prisoners freed from Israeli jails arrived in Gaza on Monday, fighters from Hamas's Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades provided crowd control.
- Hamas accused Israel of breaking the truce by opening fire during the clashes. The military said it had only fired when unidentified Palestinians approached the Yellow Line.
After delays, Egypt set for lavish opening of grand museum
Cairo, Egypt - With much pomp and circumstance, Cairo is due to inaugurate on Saturday the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum,...
Arts & Culture
Company News
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The armed groups clashing with Hamas in Gaza
Geostrategy
Picasso portrait of Dora Maar sells for $37 mn
Arts & Culture
US treasury secretary signals deal to ease trade war with China
Washington, United States -- US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday signaled a tentative deal with China to de-escalate their...
Geostrategy
TotalEnergies approves restart of $20-bn Mozambique gas project
Paris, France -- France's TotalEnergies said Saturday the consortium it leads to build a $20-billion liquified natural gas project in...
Geostrategy
Mamdani in touching distance of becoming NY mayor
New York, United States -- An unknown local lawmaker just a few months ago, leftist Zohran Mamdani has burst onto...
Geostrategy
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Economy
Iran declares major lender bankrupt
Iran declared one of the country's largest private banks bankrupt with its assets absorbed by the state, official media reported...
- Founded in 2012, Ayandeh Bank had a network of 270 branches across the country, including 150 in the capital Tehran alone
- But it had more recently been crippled by debt, with accumulated losses amounting to the equivalent of about $5.2 billion
Geostrategy
The armed groups clashing with Hamas in Gaza
Shortly after a ceasefire took effect in Gaza, clashes erupted between armed groups, some backed by Israel and others loyal...
- Some of these groups are criminal gangs, others consist of members of historically influential Gaza families, and some combine both elements, experts told AFP
- Armed gangs in Gaza are reportedly acting under Israeli protection, and allegedly loot aid convoys entering the territory, where shortages remain dire after Israel's blockade
Geostrategy
Afghanistan, Pakistan seek to firm up truce in Istanbul talks
Afghan and Pakistani negotiators were locked in talks to hammer out a lasting ceasefire Saturday, with Islamabad warning that if...
- Two weeks ago, the Taliban government launched a border offensive following explosions in Kabul which it blamed on its Pakistani neighbour
- Vowing a strong response, Islamabad then carried out "precision strikes" against armed groups on Afghan soil which are at the heart of the dispute