Syria rejects federalism, calls on Kurdistan forces to join army ranks
Syria reiterated its rejection of federalism on Wednesday following a meeting with a Kurdish military official, calling on Kurdish forces...
Geostrategy
Investments rise in data, AI, outpacing physical assets: UN
Geneva, Switzerland - The purchase of physical assets was eclipsed last year by a surge in investment in intangible items...
Geostrategy
Economy
What led to Sri Lanka’s economic ruin and what lies in store?
Under the rule of the Rajapaksa clan, Sri Lanka moved closer to China and borrowed billions of dollars for vanity...
- Even with help from India and others, in April the country defaulted on its $51-billion foreign debt pile.
- Unofficial inflation rates are second only to those of Zimbabwe, making many goods -- if they can be found -- too expensive for many people to afford.
Arts & Culture
Troubled waters: Iraqi spa reborn after IS massacres
Located 30km south of Mosul, Hamam al-Alil , meaning the baths of the sick in Arabic, built a solid reputation...
- The spa and surrounding village, which shares the same name, is now also known for massacres committed by IS during its occupation of the area.
- After the defeat of IS in 2017, the baths remained popular although the building had fallen into disrepair, with chipped tiles and broken windows.
Arts & Culture
Efforts to save Algiers’ historic Casbah speed up
A UNESCO-listed rabbit warren of 16th-century battlements and Ottoman palaces, the Casbah has been the site of key moments in...
- Some buildings weakened by earthquakes, floods or fires are still propped up with scaffolding, but a plan launched in 2012 is seeking to rehabilitate the area.
- The Ketchaoua mosque, closed since 2008 after being seriously damaged by a powerful earthquake five years earlier, has also been restored.
Business
Twitter-Musk affair heads for bitter end
Courted and then jilted by the world's richest person, Twitter looks well-positioned to win a court battle with Elon Musk...
- Musk sent a letter to Twitter on Friday saying he was pulling out of controversial Twitter deal
- If Twitter wins in court, Elon Musk will, at a minimum, have to pay a few billion dollars in damages
Geostrategy
Iran arrests two film directors for ‘inciting unrest’
Iranian authorities have arrested two film directors for "inciting unrest" following a deadly building collapse in the country's southwest in May,...
- Award-winning filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof and his colleague Mostafa Aleahmad were arrested over events relating to the building collapse, which sparked angry protests
- Organizers of the Berlin film festival on Saturday protested against the directors' arrests and called for their release
Geostrategy
Joe Biden to ‘strengthen a strategic partnership’ with Saudi Arabia
US President Joe Biden said Saturday he aims to "strengthen a strategic partnership" with Saudi Arabia during a visit there...
- The White House confirmed earlier this week that he will meet MBS as part of that larger delegation during the trip
- Biden will also visit Israel and the West Bank during his July 13-16 trip, which he wrote will "start a new and more promising chapter of America's engagement" in the Middle East
Business
Twitter-Musk affair heads for bitter end
Elon Musk's pursuit of Twitter was a melodrama from beginning to end -- a volatile courtship between a mercurial billionaire and...
- That relationship -- an obvious love-hate affair from Musk's side -- now seems set to end in an acrimonious divorce
- Twitter's chairman tweeted that the company will pursue legal action to enforce the deal, setting up a pricey showdown as the divorce heads to court
Geostrategy
Bashar al-Assad arrives in Aleppo, first visit in 11 years
Syria's President Bashar al-Assad on Friday visited the former rebel bastion of Aleppo, including its historic Old City, for the...
- The visit to Syria's second city and previously the economic capital is highly symbolic as Assad's 2016 victory there was a turning point in the war
- The Syrian government does not have authority over all of Aleppo province, with areas on the Turkish border still controlled by Ankara-backed groups and the Kurdish Syrian Democrat
Geostrategy
EU, Morocco to step up anti-smuggling ties after migrant deaths
At a meeting Friday in Rabat, the EU and Morocco "agreed to renew their partnership in order to work together...
- At a meeting Friday in Rabat, the EU and Morocco "agreed to renew their partnership in order to work together to tackle human smuggling networks
- The June 24 tragedy provoked international indignation, including an unusually strong response from the United Nations
Geostrategy
Tunisia President amends constitution to ward off criticism
Tunisian President Kais Saied published an amended version of a draft constitution in an attempt to ward off criticism after...
- The new constitution, which will be put to a referendum this month, is the centerpiece of Saied's plan to remake the North African country's political system
- Changes have been made to an article that stated Tunisia "is part of the Islamic community" and that "the State must work to achieve the objectives of Islam"
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Syria rejects federalism, calls on Kurdistan forces to join army ranks
Syria reiterated its rejection of federalism on Wednesday following a meeting with a Kurdish military official, calling on Kurdish forces...
Geostrategy
Company News
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Bangladesh’s Hasina wins fifth term in power
Geostrategy
US sanctions network smuggling American tech to Iran’s central bank
US Treasury sanctioned a number of alleged ISC subsidiaries and front companies based in Turkey and the United Arab Emirates,...
In Gaza, there are no more ‘normal-sized babies’: UN official
The war began October 7 when a surprise attack by Hamas resulted in about 1,160 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians,...
UN says 5 million at risk of starvation in Sudan
The war between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his former deputy, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, has since April last year...
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Geostrategy
G7 vows ‘significant’ new sanctions if Iran sends missiles to Russia
Washington, US - G7 countries warned Iran on Friday that they will impose "significant" new sanctions if Tehran transfers ballistic missiles...
- Among the steps that have been discussed is ending national airline Iran Air's flights to Europe, the official added.
- A senior US administration official told journalists that if Iran decides to sell ballistic missiles to Russia, the costs will far outweigh the benefits.
Geostrategy
Seven children among 22 dead as boat capsizes off Turkish coast
Istanbul, Turkey - Twenty-two migrants including seven children have drowned after a boat capsized off the Turkish coast, local officials said...
- "The Turkish coastguard found the bodies of 22 people including seven children," the local governor's office said in a statement.
- Officials said the boat began sinking overnight and on Friday many ambulances were standing by at the port of Kabatepe near Gokceada.
Arts & Culture
Europe’s largest art fair reports ‘record’ prices for Van Gogh, Picasso
THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS – Europe's largest art fair closed its doors on Friday with organizers saying that sales, including a rare...
- Top ticket items for sale this year included a rare early Van Gogh, painted when the artist was living in southern Netherlands around 1884.
- The US-based gallery selling the Van Gogh, titled "Tete de paysanne a la coiffe blanche" confirmed a buyer, with Dutch media.