Trump says Israel, Hezbollah agree to halt hostilities; Lebanon says deal could expand nationwide
Beirut was bracing for a possible Israeli bombardment on Monday after Israel announced plans to strike the city's southern suburbs,...
Geostrategy
Xi and Putin reaffirm alliance days after Trump’s Beijing visit
Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Wednesday, days after US President Donald Trump visited...
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
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
Geostrategy
UN should organize more aid convoys for north Gaza: Israel
An Israeli official said that the UN should coordinate more convoys if it wants to see more aid in north...
- However UNRWA spokeswoman said the issue is with Israel not allowing enough aid in
- Aid workers say slow inspections and opaque rules have held up the arrival of aid
Geostrategy
GCC seeks travel ease with Schengen visa exemption
GCC Secretary General Jasem Albudaiwi calls for visa-free travel to Europe, aiming to simplify the journey for Gulf citizens to...
- GCC Secretary General Jasem Albudaiwi is advocating for visa-free travel to Europe, aiming to simplify the journey for Gulf citizens to the continent.
- With plans for a Unified Tourist Visa and streamline travel safety measures, the GCC is paving the way for a more interconnected and accessible world.
Geostrategy
Former US treasury secretary says preparing buyout of TikTok
Washington, US - Former US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Thursday said he is putting together a team of investors to...
- Mnuchin, former US Treasury Secretary, said that TikTok was "a great business and I’m going to put together a group to buy" the embattled app.
- "This should be owned by US businesses. There’s no way that the Chinese would ever let a US company own something like this in China," Mnuchin said.
Geostrategy
US sanctions five Israeli entities including three settlers in West Bank
Washington, US - The United States sanctioned three Israeli settlers and two farming outposts on Thursday, accusing them of being involved...
- "Today, we are taking further action to promote accountability for those perpetuating violence and causing turmoil in the West Bank," a US official said.
- The US Treasury Department website showed that the three sanctioned individuals, Zvi Bar Yosef, Neriya Ben Pazi and Moshe Sharvit were Israeli citizens in West Bank.
Geostrategy
Leader of US Senate calls for election in Israel
The leader of the US Senate called for Israel to hold new elections in the most strident criticism yet by...
- “As a democracy, Israel has the right to choose its own leaders, and we should let the chips fall where they may,” Chuck Schumer said.
- He said that Netanyahu was one of four "major obstacles" to a two-state solution.
Geostrategy
UAE, Hungary ink pact to enhance trade, investment ties
ABU DHABI, UAE – The United Arab Emirates and Hungary have signed an economic cooperation agreement aimed at stimulating trade...
- The UAE-Hungary economic cooperation agreement aims to deepen bilateral ties between the two nations and drive growth.
- The agreement between the two countries also aims to boost non-oil trade, which has seen a significant increase in recent years.
Geostrategy
Israeli lawmakers approve revised wartime budget
The new budget passed by a vote of 62 lawmakers to 55. It modifies the budget passed in May 2023,...
- Parliament had already voted in December for an increase to the 2023 budget for the war against Hamas, boosting the previously approved spending figure by 30 billion shekels
- Israel's retaliatory military campaign to eliminate Hamas has killed at least 31,272 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the territory's health ministry
Geostrategy
China to take ‘all necessary measures’ to protect interests after US TikTok vote
Beijing, China--China on Thursday slammed the approval of a US bill that would ban TikTok unless it severs ties with its...
- The app has soared in popularity worldwide but its ownership by Chinese tech firm ByteDance has fuelled concern in Western capitals
- The US House of Representatives approved a bill that would force TikTok to divest from its parent company or face a nationwide ban
Trump says Israel, Hezbollah agree to halt hostilities; Lebanon says deal could expand nationwide
Beirut was bracing for a possible Israeli bombardment on Monday after Israel announced plans to strike the city's southern suburbs,...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
Lebanon says army will begin implementing Hezbollah disarmament plan, amid opposition from the group
Responding to questions from journalists, Morcos said "the Lebanese army will begin implementing the plan, but in accordance with the...
Geostrategy
Israel army begins targeting Gaza City high-rises
Gaza civil defense agency spokesman Mahmud Bassal accused Israel of carrying out "a policy of forced displacement against civilians" in...
Geostrategy
After his call with Zelensky, European leaders, Trump says will speak with Putin soon
US President Donald Trump said Thursday he would speak soon with Russia's Vladimir Putin, after his call earlier in the...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Geostrategy
Israel military says controls 40 percent of Gaza City, the largest urban centre in the Palestinian territory
In a televised briefing, Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said that "we hold 40 percent of the territory...
- Israel has intensified in recent days its bombardments of the area of Gaza City, in the territory's north, ahead of the planned offensive
- Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli strikes on Thursday killed more than 30 people in the city, out of at least 64 Palestinians killed across the Gaza Strip
Science
Norway experiments with electric plane in real-life test
Oslo, Norway -- An electric plane took to the skies between the Norwegian airports Stavanger and Bergen on Thursday, simulating...
- The small aircraft -- an Alia built by US aircraft manufacturer Beta -- flew the 160 kilometers in a test run by the Norwegian affiliate of the transport company Bristow.
- The flight took 55 minutes and simulated a cargo flight route in southeastern Norway.
Geostrategy
Gaza ‘genocide’ exposes Europe’s failure to act: top EU official
"The genocide in Gaza exposes Europe's failure to act and speak with one voice," European Commission vice president Teresa Ribera...
- The EU has struggled to take steps over the war in Gaza due to deep divisions between member states pushing for action against Israel and those backing the country.
- The splits are also present inside the EU's executive, where Spanish commissioner Ribera has expressed frustration over the failure to push on the issue.