Britain reestablishes full Syria ties as FM David Lammy visits Damascus
In 2011, Britain was among the first countries to acknowledge rebel groups as the official Syrian government after then-president Bashar...
Geostrategy
Russia brushes off talks after largest ever drone and missile barrage on Ukraine
Russia on Friday said that it sees no immediate diplomatic way out of the war in Ukraine, hours after pummelling...
Geostrategy
Economy
Morocco ban passengers on Covid-hit liner
Morocco has refused entry to passengers on a German cruise liner after some tested positive for Covid-19, Moroccan media reported...
- Morocco on Tuesday raised its alert level for Covid-19 from green to orange after recorded cases spiked in several major cities
- Last month, Morocco had scrapped Covid rules that ask incoming travelers to present a negative PCR test
Arts & Culture
Sufi dervishes of Egypt keep alive old tradition
In a 500-year-old stone theatre in the Egyptian capital, two young dervishes spin ceaselessly. Slowly, then all at once, they...
- The kaleidoscopic performance is a world away from whirling dervishes of Turkey, who trace their origins to the teachings of Sufi poet and mystic Jalal al-Din Rumi
- Though the Egyptian version of the art has become a festive occasion, most practitioners hold to the roots of the ritual in the mystical tradition of the Muslim Mevlevi Order
Geostrategy
Algeria breaks off treaty with Spain over W.Sahara dispute
Algeria said Wednesday it was suspending a decades-old co-operation treaty with Spain, after Madrid backed the position of the North...
- Madrid and Algiers had signed the deal in 2002 to promote dialogue and cooperation on political, economic, financial, education and defense issues
- Algeria's move came in retaliation after Spain in March publicly recognized Morocco's autonomy plan for the disputed territory
Geostrategy
Western powers call on Iran to cooperate with IAEA
The US, Britain, France and Germany on Wednesday urged Iran "to fulfill its legal obligations, and cooperate with the IAEA",...
- The foreign ministries of the four Western nations issued a joint statement welcoming the IAEA's resolution "responding to Iran's insufficient cooperation with the IAEA
- The motion brought by the United States, Britain, France and Germany - but voted against by Russia and China -- is the first to criticize Iran since June 2020
Economy
With inflation on rise, ECB readies tougher action
The European Central Bank is set to announce the end date to its bond-buying stimulus on Thursday, as concerns over...
- Inflation in the eurozone rose to 8.1 percent in May, the highest level in the history of the currency club and well above the ECB's own two-percent target
- The surge has largely been driven by the war in Ukraine, which has decisively pushed up the cost of energy, food and raw materials
Business
Twitter agrees to share data with Musk to end standoff
Twitter will yield to Elon Musk's demand for internal data central to a standoff over his troubled $44 billion bid...
- Twitter chief executive Parag Agrawal has said that fewer than five percent of accounts active on any given day at Twitter are bots
- The mercurial Musk agreed to buy Twitter in a $44 billion deal in late April
Geostrategy
Iran disconnects cameras at nuclear sites as IAEA set for censure vote
IAEA head Rafael Grossi told reporters on Monday that it would be "a matter of just a few weeks" before...
- Iran said the disconnected cameras had been operating beyond the safeguard agreement between Tehran and the IAEA.
- European governments have expressed mounting concern over how far Iran has gone since the US reimposed sanctions.
Economy
Stock markets slow as investors weigh recession prospects
The OECD on Wednesday warned that the world economy would pay a "hefty price" for Russia's invasion of Ukraine as...
- European stock markets were lower Wednesday approaching the half-way stage.
- All eyes are on the release of US inflation data for an idea about the future Fed rate hikes.
Economy
World economy will pay a ‘hefty price’ for Ukraine crisis: OECD
The OECD warned Wednesday that the world economy will pay a "hefty price" for Russia's invasion of Ukraine as it...
- The Paris-based organization, which represents 38 mostly developed countries, is the latest institution to predict lower GDP growth due to the conflict.
- The OECD noted that commodity prices had risen, hitting real income and spending, "particularly for the most vulnerable households".
Business
Zara owner Inditex profits up
The company's net profit increased by 80 percent
- The world's biggest fashion retailer said its net profit increased by 80 percent in the first three months of its financial year to April 31
- The fashion group, which owns eight brands including upmarket Massimo Dutti warned earlier this year that 2022 sales would be impacted by Russia's invasion
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Britain reestablishes full Syria ties as FM David Lammy visits Damascus
In 2011, Britain was among the first countries to acknowledge rebel groups as the official Syrian government after then-president Bashar...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
More than a bubble: Turkish sparkling wines win fans
Arts & Culture
Italy begins probe into OpenAI’s new video tool Sora
ROME, ITALY – The European country's data protection watchdog - Italian Data Protection Authority - said on Friday it has launched...
Geostrategy
US plan for Gaza aid transfer through sea dismissed by UN expert
In his annual State of the Union address to Congress, President Joe Biden said the US military would "lead an...
Geostrategy
Zelensky to discuss war, Black Sea security during Turkey visit
NATO member Turkey has sought to maintain good relations with Moscow and Kyiv throughout the two-year war, with Erdogan pitching...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Expanding Israeli settlements a ‘war crime’: United Nations
UN rights chief warned Volker Turk said there had been a drastic acceleration in Israeli illegal settlement building in the...
- "Such transfers amount to a war crime that may engage the individual criminal responsibility of those involved," Turk said in a report to the UN Human Rights Council.
- Reported Israeli plans to build another 3,476 settler homes in the West Bank colonies of Maale Adumim, Efrat and Kedar "fly in the face of international law", he said.
Geostrategy
Mothers of imprisoned Palestinians from West Bank under great stress
RAMALLAH, PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES – "I don't sleep anymore," Latifa Abu Hamid said while looking at pictures of her children hanging on...
- Hamid lives in a house in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, given to her by the president of the Palestinian Authority, which has its seat in the city.
- Palestinian prisoner advocacy groups say the number of incarcerated Palestinians has jumped from 5,200 before October 7 to about 9,000.
Geostrategy
Biden warns Israel not to use Gaza aid as ‘bargaining chip’
Using his annual State of the Union address to deliver some of his strongest comments yet about the five-month-long war,...
- Biden's address was delivered to Congress as hopes dimmed for a new truce after Hamas negotiators left talks to consult with the movement's leadership in Qatar
- US president, who is facing political pressure over his support for Israel despite the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, stressed "no US boots will be on the ground."