Hamas agrees partial hostage release in ‘difficult’ truce talks after Qatar-brokered indirect talks
The group's statement came after four days of indirect talks brokered by Qatar and as the United States signalled its...
Geostrategy
Iran nuclear programme ‘very delayed’ by strikes: French intel chief
Iran's nuclear programme has been "very, very delayed" by US and Israeli strikes, France's foreign intelligence chief said on Tuesday,...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Iran media reports arrest of several foreign diplomats
Iran's Revolutionary Guards arrested several foreign diplomats including a Briton, accusing them of "spying", the Fars news agency and state...
- The British government quickly denied that any of its personnel had been arrested, describing the reports as "completely false"
- State television however reported that the Briton, identified as Giles Whitaker, the UK government's deputy head of mission in Iran, was only expelled from "the area"
Geostrategy
Belgium ratifies controversial prisoner-swap treaty with Iran
Belgium's parliament on Wednesday approved a controversial prisoner-swap treaty with Iran in the first reading of a text that still...
- The treaty has been slammed by an Iranian dissident group, the NCRI and as well as some US lawmakers and Amnesty International
- Tehran also holds a Swedish-Iranian academic from Brussels university under the "espionage" charges, and has sentenced him to death
Geostrategy
Iran denies making demands beyond nuclear deal
The US has during latest indirect negotiations accused Iran of raising issues "wholly unrelated" to the nuclear deal.
- The US has during latest indirect negotiations accused Iran of raising issues "wholly unrelated" to the nuclear deal
- The US walked out of the Iran nuclear deal in 2018 under then president Trump, who reimposed biting sanctions on Tehran
Business
Tokyo stocks rise on back of US Fed resolve to fight inflation
Tokyo shares opened higher Thursday after minutes from a Federal Reserve meeting showed that US central bankers are determined to...
- The benchmark Nikkei 225 index rose 0.69 percent, or 179.41 points, to 26,287.06 in early trade, while the broader Topix index advanced 0.76 percent, or 11.15 points, at 1,867.12
- The Tokyo market benefited from the overnight gains on Wall Street, but some investors might refrain from making major moves ahead of a national election this weekend
Economy
Kurdish Iraq decries ‘unjust pressure’ from Baghdad in oil row
Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region Wednesday deplored "unjust pressure" from the federal government's oil ministry, days after the judiciary nullified oil...
- The move comes as the Kurdish region and the federal government remain locked in a tug-of-war over the management of hydrocarbons
- Iraq's supreme court in February ordered Kurdistan to deliver the oil produced in its territories to the federal government
Business
European stocks bounce back after sharp losses on global recession fears
European stock markets rebounded on Wednesday, recovering some ground following sharp losses the previous session on fears of a global...
- London's benchmark FTSE 100 index was up 1.8 percent around midday and the pound was mixed against main rivals.
- Crude futures had slumped nearly 10 percent Tuesday, while Europe's main stock markets lost about three percent.
Economy
Sri Lanka appeals Russia for fuel and resumption of tourist flights
Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic downturn since it gained independence from Britain in 1948.
- The Island nation has suffered months of blackouts, rampant inflation and critical shortages of food and petrol.
- Russia and Ukraine were among the top sources of tourists for Sri Lanka before February's conflict began.
Economy
Britain’s new finance minister Nadhim Zahawi inherits a cost-of-living crisis
Britain's new finance minister, Iraqi-born Nadhim Zahawi, has inherited a cost-of-living crisis that risks pushing the UK economy into recession....
- Iraqi-born Zahawi was parachuted into the Treasury late Tuesday after predecessor Rishi Sunak's shock resignation over the culture of scandal plaguing Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
- Zahawi takes charge with UK inflation at a 40-year peak of 9.1 percent, a level set to hit double figures this year on soaring energy and food prices.
Geostrategy
Twitter files suit in Indian court to challenge orders to block content
Twitter is challenging the Indian government's orders to block content on its social media site in court, local media reported...
- The suit is the latest showdown between Twitter and Indian authorities, which have been accused of muzzling criticism both on and offline.
- Last week Twitter confirmed that India had directed it to locally censor accounts and dozens of posts, including some talking about declining internet freedom in the country.
Science
Israel to administer Covid vaccine shots to youngest children
Israel's health ministry approved Pfizer and Moderna Covid-19 vaccinations for its youngest children, an official said Tuesday, mirroring a move...
- Argentina, Bahrain, Chile, China, Cuba, Hong Kong and Venezuela were previously offering Covid shots for children, but these did not include mRNA vaccines
- All members of the expert panel agreed the vaccines were safe, with most of the panel "recommending to vaccinate at-risk babies and children
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Hamas agrees partial hostage release in ‘difficult’ truce talks after Qatar-brokered indirect talks
The group's statement came after four days of indirect talks brokered by Qatar and as the United States signalled its...
Geostrategy
Company News
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First aid boat unloads in Gaza as Hamas proposes new truce
During the proposed truce, Gaza militants would release about 42 hostages seized during the October 7 attack that triggered the...
Geostrategy
Eyes on Bank of Japan as unions announce big wage hikes
Tokyo, Japan -- Japan's largest trade union said Friday it had secured the highest wage hikes since 1991 in preliminary data...
Business
Vodafone sells Italian unit to Swisscom
British telecoms giant sold the business for US$8.7 billion.
Business
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Geostrategy
US forces ‘destroy’ Houthi anti-ship missiles and drones in Yemen
Dubai, United Arab Emirates--The US military said Thursday it had destroyed nine anti-ship ballistic missiles and two drones in Yemen after...
- CENTCOM said two missiles fired by the Houthi rebels towards the Red Sea and two towards the Gulf of Aden had caused no damage or injuries
- The Houthi attacks have sent insurance costs spiralling for vessels plying the key trade route and prompted many shipping firms to avoid the Red Sea
India publishes election donation data after court order
The BJP had received slightly less than 48 percent of all election bonds cashed by parties up to March 2023,...
- Electoral bonds have been a key method of political funding, allowing donors to give anonymously through certificates purchased from the State Bank of India (SBI)
- But last month India's top court struck down the scheme as unconstitutional, saying it violated the right of voters to know who was financing parties
Geostrategy
Red Sea crisis reduces Ramadan cheer for war-torn Yemen
Ramadan, when Muslims break their day-long fasts with large evening meals, usually means brisk business for Yemen's shops. But in...
- Over the past four months, the Houthis have been harassing shipping in the Red Sea in protest at Israel's war against Hamas, triggering American and British reprisal strikes
- The conflict in the commercially vital seaway has pushed up the cost of importing goods, exacerbating runaway inflation and raising fears that food supplies could run out