Syria ready to work with US to return to 1974 disengagement deal with Israel
Syria said on Friday it was willing to cooperate with the United States to reimplement the 1974 disengagement agreement with...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
White House defends Biden plans for Saudi meeting
The White House on Monday defended plans for President Joe Biden to meet with Saudi Arabia's crown prince. "This trip...
- The thaw with Saudi Arabia comes shortly after the kingdom agreed to Biden's call for a production hike in oil
- Biden is also widely expected to travel to Israel where, as in Saudi Arabia, he is sure to face pointed questions about US diplomacy with Iran
Economy
Stock markets up globally as China eases lockdown
Adding to the upbeat mood were comments from US commerce chief Gina Raimondo that she was considering lifting tariffs on...
- Traders took heart also from a wind-down of Covid containment measures in China that have crippled its economy for months.
- As infections trended down in major cities, cities like Shanghai and Beijing authorities allowed some sense of normality to return.
Geostrategy
Lebanon seeks US intervention as Israel shifts gas production vessel
Lebanese officials said Sunday that any Israeli activity in disputed waters would constitute a "hostile act" and an "attack" on...
- The ship operated by London-listed Energean Plc arrived in the Karish gas field on Sunday and will immediately commence operations.
- The move immediately drew condemnation from Lebanon's president and prime minister who held talks on Monday to discuss next steps.
Geostrategy
Syria’s climate-scorched wheat fields produce little
The country is among the countries most vulnerable and poorly prepared for climate change, which is forecast to worsen.
- The trend is most evident in Syria's once-fertile northeast where wheat fields are drying to a crisp because of severe drought and low rainfall.
- Before the war, Syria's wheat production was enough to meet local demand. Harvests then plunged to record lows, leading to increased dependence on imports.
Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia begins compensation for Jeddah clearance project
Saudi Arabia has begun compensating residents who lost property to a massive redevelopment project in the coastal city of Jeddah...
- The demolitions began last October and stand to displace up to half a million people.
- So far, 20 neighbourhoods have been cleared and the process of clearing the remaining 12 will be completed by mid-November.
Economy
Asian markets mixed as US jobs data give Fed room to hike rates
Asian markets were mixed Monday following a steep drop on Wall Street in response to a forecast-topping US jobs report...
- Hong Kong, Tokyo, Shanghai and Taipei all rose, but there were losses in Sydney, Singapore, Manila and Jakarta
- US traders took flight after the closely watched non-farm payroll figures Friday, which showed more new posts created than expected
Science
Climate talks in Bonn to reignite momentum to tackle warming
Negotiators from almost 200 countries will meet in Bonn Monday for climate talks tasked with reigniting momentum on tackling global...
- The conference of 200 countries in Bonn will set the stage for a fresh round of major UN talks later this year in Egypt
- UN chief has warned that Russia's invasion of Ukraine risked slowing action to combat the climate crisis
Geostrategy
Western powers to censure Iran amid stalled nuclear talks
Major European countries and the United States are expected to seek to censure Iran when the UN atomic watchdog meets...
- Iran has warned "any political action" by US and E3 group would "provoke without any doubt a proportional, effective and immediate response
- The latest IAEA report said that Iran now has 43.1 kilograms (95 pounds) of 60-percent-enriched uranium
Geostrategy
Turkey aid lifeline to Syria runs into roadblocks
Trucks loaded with humanitarian aid queue bumper-to-bumper amid the olive groves at the Turkish-Syrian border, waiting to be allowed across...
- Each month the United Nations sends some 800 lorries through the Cilvegozu crossing to deliver aid to millions in need in Syria's last major rebel bastion
- Russia, an ally of the Damascus regime, has threatened to use its veto power at a UN Security Council vote and block efforts to renew permission for the cross-border deliveries
Business
Google loses defamation fight against Australian politician
Australia's federal court ordered Google on Monday to pay more than $500,000 in damages to a politician after finding he...
- While Google, which owns YouTube, had initially defended the case, the search giant eventually abandoned its defences
- Justice Steven Rares found Google liable for the harm caused to Barilaro from December 2020 and ordered it to pay aggravated damages
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Syria ready to work with US to return to 1974 disengagement deal with Israel
Syria said on Friday it was willing to cooperate with the United States to reimplement the 1974 disengagement agreement with...
Geostrategy
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Biden orders US military to set up temporary aid port in Gaza
In the wasteland of Jabalia, northern Gaza, Palestinians gathered to receive meals at a distribution point. "There is no gas...
Geostrategy
US President orders military to set up a port in Gaza for aid, say officials
President Joe Biden will tell Congress that he has ordered the US military to set up a port in Gaza...
Geostrategy
Israeli troops ‘likely’ fired on journalist in Lebanon, says report
Paris, France - An Israeli tank crew who killed one journalist and wounded six others in Lebanon in October then "likely"...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Hamas expresses dissatisfaction over Israel’s stance on Gaza truce
A senior Hamas official confirmed that the group's delegation in talks seeking a Gaza truce left Cairo for consultations in...
- Hamas has been insisting on a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, the return of displaced people to their homes.
- Israel has been asking for a list of all hostages still alive in Gaza, a task Hamas says it is unable to complete.
Business
Saudi Arabia transfers 8% Aramco stake to PIF-owned firms
Saudi Arabia said it transferred an additional eight percent stake from oil giant Aramco to firms owned by the kingdom's...
- The transfer was "a continuation of Saudi Arabia's long-term initiatives to boost and diversify the national economy and expand investment opportunities".
- The move brings the state's ownership of Aramco shares to 82.19 percent.
Geostrategy
Gaza confirms Israel returned 47 exhumed bodies of Palestinians
Palestinian Territories - Gaza's Hamas-run government media office said on Thursday that Israel had returned dozens of bodies that had been...
- Israeli forces have on several occasions taken bodies from Gaza to Israel for examinations as they look for hostages seized during Hamas's October 7 attack.
- AFP journalists have previously witnessed the reburial of bodies which Gaza officials said had been exhumed by Israeli forces.