Israel hits another Gaza target after deadliest night since truce
Israel said it struck an arms dump in Gaza on Wednesday, hours after the deadliest night of bombing since the...
Geostrategy
Trump says ‘nothing’ will jeopardize Gaza ceasefire after Israeli strikes kill 38 people
Trump defended Israel's actions on Wednesday, saying it "should hit back" if Israeli soldiers were killed, but added that "nothing's...
Geostrategy
Economy
Poppy growth down 95% in Afghanistan since Taliban ban: UN
The UNODC warned of potential "humanitarian consequences for many vulnerable rural communities" due to the sudden contraction of Afghanistan's opium...
- UNODC report found that poppy cultivation has collapsed by an estimated 95 percent -- from 233,000 hectares at the end of 2022 to 10,800 in 2023
- Last year, poppy crops accounted for almost a third by value of total agricultural production in Afghanistan, the world's leading producer
Geostrategy
Israelis protest in thousands over government response to Hamas attack
In Jerusalem, hundreds came together outside Netanyahu's residence with more explicit calls for his resignation. The nine months leading up...
- In Israel's commercial hub Tel Aviv, several thousand protesters took to the streets on Saturday evening, including relatives and friends of some of the hostages
- International pressure is growing on Israel to agree to humanitarian pauses in the Gaza fighting, but hostages' loved-ones said they should be released as a precondition
Geostrategy
Turkey recalls envoy to Israel, breaks off contact with Netanyahu
Turkey has hardened its attitude toward both Israel and its Western supporters, particularly the US, as the relentless Israeli attacks...
- Hamas in a statement hailed the decision and urged Turkey to put pressure on Joe Biden
- Israel called the move "another step by the Turkish president that sides with the Hamas"
Geostrategy
Public defies world leaders, rallies to back Palestinians
Global outcry mounts as thousands protest in the US, UK, France, and Germany, defying their governments' support for Israeli aggression...
- Condemning US President Joe Biden for his support of Israel, thousands of protesters in the US capital Washington called for a ceasefire in Gaza
- Thousands marched in solidarity with Palestinians in Paris, where slogans were heard calling for a boycott of Israel along with shouts of "Israel terrorist state"
Geostrategy
Israeli bombing on refugee camp in Gaza kills 30: Hamas
According to a statement posted by Hamas on Telegram, Israel "directly" bombed citizens' home, saying that most of the dead...
- Israel said it was looking into whether its army was operating in the area at the time of the bombing
- Gaza health ministry said more than 9,480 Gazans, mostly women and children, have been killed in Israeli strikes
Geostrategy
Don’t pause Mideast de-escalation over war, says UAE official
Dubai, UAE - Middle East powers should maintain their push to de-escalate the region through trade and economic ties despite the...
- According to UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash, countries should maintain that strategy even though the war is sending shockwaves through the region.
- "National actors are basically trying to use economics as a way to de-escalate tension," Gargash told the World Policy Conference in Abu Dhabi,
Geostrategy
Thousands rally in Berlin to support Palestinian civilians
Berlin, Germany - Thousands took to the streets of Berlin on Saturday in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid ongoing bombardments...
- "We estimate the number of demonstrators at around 3,500, but more are arriving," a police spokeswoman told AFP.
- "Save Gaza", "Stop genocide" and "Ceasefire" were emblazoned on marchers' placards, according to AFP journalists.
Geostrategy
Israeli strike on UN school in Gaza kill 15 Palestinians, says Hamas
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said at least 15 people were killed when a UN school sheltering thousands of...
- There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military about hitting the school in Jabalia refugee camp
- The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees said its school is being used as a "shelter for displaced families".
Geostrategy
Erdogan says severing all contact with Israeli PM Netanyahu
Erdogan said that Turkey was not breaking off diplomatic relations with Israel. "Completely severing ties is not possible, especially in...
- "Netanyahu is no longer someone we can talk to. We have written him off," Turkish media quoted Erdogan as saying.
- Earlier, Israel said it was "re-evaluating" its relations with Ankara because of Turkey's increasingly heated rhetoric about the Israel-Hamas war
Business
QatarEnergy inks second 27-year gas supply deal with China’s Sinopec
DOHA, QATAR - Qatar has agreed to supply Sinopec with natural gas for 27 years, the Gulf emirate's state-owned energy company said...
- Doha will supply three million tonnes of gas a year to Sinopec under the deal.
- Asian countries led by China, Japan and South Korea are the main market for Qatar's gas.
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Israel hits another Gaza target after deadliest night since truce
Israel said it struck an arms dump in Gaza on Wednesday, hours after the deadliest night of bombing since the...
Geostrategy
Company News
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With AI and more shade, Saudi Arabia set for a searing hajj
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- With artificial intelligence, more shade and misting machines, Saudi authorities are preparing to welcome more than...
Geostrategy
Global economic outlook worsens, AI emerges as both catalyst and risk
Geneva, Switzerland – The global economic outlook has worsened since the start of the year, as rising economic nationalism and...
Economy
US suspends student visa processing in fresh swipe at foreign applicants
President Donald Trump's administration is seeking unprecedented control over leading US universities, including revoking foreign student visas and deporting some...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
South East Asia, Gulf and China three-way talks ‘response to call of times’
The trade-dependent economies are looking to insulate themselves after US President Donald Trump blew up global trade norms by announcing...
- Though he subsequently instigated a 90-day pause for most, the experience has spurred ASEAN and others to accelerate efforts to diversify their trading networks.
- China is only Southeast Asia's fourth largest source of foreign direct investment, after the United States, Japan and the European Union, noted NUS' Chong.
Geostrategy
US-backed group says it has begun aid distribution in Gaza
A controversial US-backed aid group for Gaza announced Monday that it had begun distributing food in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory,...
- The Gaza Humanitarian foundation (GHF) said in a statement that it commenced operations in Gaza today, delivering truckloads of food to its Secure Distribution Sites
- The United Nations and international aid agencies have meanwhile said they will not cooperate with the GHF, amid accusations it is working with Israel
Israel strikes Gaza, kills 53 people as Witkoff says Hamas didn’t accept 70-day temporary ceasefire
Hamas said Monday it had accepted a new ceasefire proposal by US envoy Steve Witkoff, presented by mediators, but a...
- Israel has in recent weeks expanded its offensive in the Gaza Strip, drawing international condemnation as aid trickles in following a monthslong blockade
- European and Arab leaders meeting in Spain over the weekend called for an end to the "inhumane" war, while humanitarian groups said the trickle of aid was not enough