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Geostrategy

Alujain widens 2025 loss

The increase in loss is due to impairment charges, weaker prices.

Masar 2025 net profit $262m

Higher land plot sales boost revenue and operating income.

Tasnee’s 2025 losses deepen

The petrochemicals' company's revenue also fell 17.7 percent.

DP World 2025 revenue $24.4bn

The profit for the year up 32.2% to reach $1.96bn.

BYD 2025 revenue surges

The EV manufacturer reported net profit of $.3.3bn for 9M 2025.

Syria: Assad faces stunning setbacks as rebels seize Daraa, Hama, and Aleppo in quick succession

While Aleppo and Hama, the two other main cities taken from government control in recent days, fell to an Islamist-led...
  • Since a rebel alliance led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) launched its offensive on November 27, the government has lost Aleppo and subsequently Hama in central Syria
  • Syria's civil war, which began with Assad's crackdown on democracy protests, has killed more than 500,000 people and forced more than half the population to flee their homes

Turkey confirms Syria talks with Russia and Iran

A meeting was expected on the forum's sidelines between Turkey, and Damascus allies Iran and Russia.
  • Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan "will meet with the Russian and Iranian ministers"
  • The so-called Astana process involving the three countries was launched by Kazakhstan in 2017

Qatar resumes Gaza mediation: source with knowledge of talks

Doha, Qatar - Qatar has resumed its role as a mediator in efforts to secure a truce in the Israel-Hamas war...
  • The Gulf emirate, along with the US and Egypt, had been involved in months of unsuccessful negotiations for a Gaza truce and hostage release after nearly 14 months of war
  • In November, Doha announced it had put its mediation on hold, saying it would resume when Hamas and Israel showed "willingness and seriousness".

Syria: Tens of thousands of Alawites flee Homs, fearing rebel advance towards Damascus-coast strategic link

Analysts said they expected the fighters led by Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) to push on towards the city,...
  • Khaled, who lives on the city's outskirts told AFP that "the road leading to (coastal) Tartus province was glowing... due to the lights of hundreds of cars on their way out."
  • In April 2014, at least 100 people, mostly civilians, were killed in twin attacks in Homs that targeted a majority Alawite neighbourhood

South Korean president clings to power after martial law U-turn

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was still clinging to power Thursday, with his party announcing they will oppose an...
  • South Korean police announced Thursday they were investigating Yoon for "insurrection"
  • A new poll by Realmeter showed 73.6 percent of respondents supported impeachment

Iran says ready to study any Syrian request for troops

Tehran, Iran - Iran will consider any request from its Syrian ally for troops to help tackle a sweeping rebel offensive...
  • Iran and Syria have been close allies for decades and Iran has long provided military advisors to the Syrian armed forces
  • The Iranian government has been portraying the rebel assault as a US-Israeli plot to destabilise the Middle East

Lebanon says nine killed in Israeli strikes on southern villages

Many strikes on villages in southern Lebanon on Monday, after Israel said it was taking aim at dozens of Hezbollah...
  • Israel has carried out a near-daily series of strikes in southern Lebanon since the ceasefire
  • On Monday, the Lebanese army said an Israeli drone wounded a soldier

Israel vows ‘harsh response’ to Hezbollah attack

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed a "harsh response" to a Hezbollah rocket launch targeting a military position on Monday
  • At least two people were killed on Monday in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon
  • The ceasefire came into effect on November 27 and stipulates that Israel will not carry out offensive military operations

US President Biden pardons son Hunter before White House exit

Washington D.C. -- US President Joe Biden on Sunday issued an official pardon for his son Hunter, who is facing...
  • Hunter Biden was convicted earlier this year of lying about his drug use when he bought a gun - a felony
  • Bill Clinton pardoned his half-brother for cocaine charges and Trump pardoned the father of his son-in-law for tax evasion

Bashar Al Assad of Syria seeks support from allies as extremist rebels take over key city of Aleppo

Extremist-dominated rebel alliance, including ISIS supporters, runs over Syrian city of Aleppo allegedly backed by Turkey. Russia and Iran push...
  • Extremist rebels' offensive saw Syrian government forces lose control of Aleppo for the first time since the start of the country's civil war

US assets outperform as geopolitical shock reshapes markets

The dollar still functions as the world’s primary safe haven, and in moments of acute geopolitical uncertainty, capital flows toward...

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UAE, France discuss bilateral ties, sign AI cooperation deal

Paris, UAE - UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and French President Emmanuel Macron of France explored various...

Israel orders army to prepare Gaza exodus plan as Trump rules out US troop deployment in the territory

Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered the military to prepare a plan for voluntary" departures from Gaza, saying Palestinians could...

UNFPA and corporate partners drive reproductive justice in workplaces

Mariarosa Cutillo, UNFPA Chief of the Private Sector and Civil Society Branch, says businesses need to provide adequate maternal health...

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Trump doubles down on Gaza shock plan, says Israel will turn over the territory to US

Trump said that by the time of the handover, Palestinians "would have already been resettled in far safer and more...
  • Trump first made the stunning proposal to audible gasps during a joint press conference with Netanyahu on Tuesday, whom he was hosting at the White House for talks
  • Suggesting "long-term ownership" by the US, Trump said he would make Gaza the Riviera of the Middle East, and that "this could be something that could be so magnificient".

West Bank’s Jenin camp going in ‘catastrophic direction’: UNRWA

The Israeli military launched a major offensive in the West Bank on January 21 aimed at rooting out Palestinian armed...
  • The operation has also seen troops levelling buildings in a refugee camp adjacent to Jenin, according to UNRWA spokeswoman Juliette Touma.
  • "Large parts of the camp were completely destroyed in a series of detonations by the Israeli forces. It is estimated that 100 houses were destroyed or heavily damaged," she said.

Risks are interconnected, need collaborative solutions, says WEF’s Mark Elsner

Davos, Switzerland – Mark Elsner, Head, Global Risks Initiative, World Economic Forum sat with TRENDS during WEF’s summit in Davos...
  • The Global Risks Report 2025, with insights from over 900 experts, identifies state-based armed conflict as the most immediate risk for 2025.
  • The report was circulated ahead of the Davos meeting, which serves as a platform for advancing dialogue, cooperation, and partnerships.