UNRWA chief denounces Israeli police’s seizure of agency’s Jerusalem assets
The compound in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem has been empty of UNRWA staff since January, when the law banning its operations...
Geostrategy
Trump says US freeze on asylum decisions will last ‘a long time’
US President Donald Trump said Sunday his administration intends to maintain a pause on asylum decisions for "a long time"...
Geostrategy
UNFPA and corporate partners drive reproductive justice in workplaces
World Economic Forum
Geostrategy
Xi says China to work with Egypt to help stabilize Middle East
Xi met Egypt's Mostafa Madbouli in Beijing on Thursday, repeating China's support for a "two-state solution... to realise the peaceful...
- China has repeatedly backed a vague two-state proposal on the decades-long deadlock that preceded the war
- Relations between China and Egypt have warmed in recent months, with Cairo set to become an official member of the recently expanded BRICS group
Geostrategy
Egypt to open Gaza crossing for up to 20 aid trucks: Joe Biden
US president said the aid convoy would be allowed to go into Gaza from the Rafah crossing in a first...
- Biden said the first 20 trucks will be a test of a system for distributing aid without allowing Hamas to benefit
- The president said that the 20 trucks represented a "first tranche," and "150 or something" trucks are waiting in total.
Geostrategy
Biden backs Israel account of Gaza hospital strike, denounces Hamas
In announcing Biden's visit, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Israel had agreed to work with the United States...
- Biden said he was encouraging Netanyahu to ensure "life-saving capacity to help the Palestinians who are innocent and caught in the middle of this".
- Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu hailed US President Joe Biden for paying "the first visit of an American president in Israel in a time of war".
Geostrategy
Israel to allow food, water and medicine only in Gaza via Egypt
"In light of (US) President (Joe) Biden's demand, Israel would not foil the supply of humanitarian aid via Egypt," the...
- Israel said it would allow for aid to pass through Egypt, it maintained supplies would not come from its own territory until Hamas releases all the hostages.
- Water, fuel and food supplies are running low in the Palestinian enclave, under a crippling Israeli-led blockade since Hamas took power in 2007.
Geostrategy
US vetoes UN resolution seeking ‘humanitarian pause’ in Gaza conflict
"The United States is disappointed this resolution made no mention of Israel's rights of self-defense," US Ambassador to the UN...
- Twelve out of 15 Council members voted in favor of the resolution put forward by Brazil and negotiated over several days.
- The United States was the only vote against, but as one of the body's five permanent members its vote counts as a veto.
Geostrategy
French left alliance on verge of collapse over Gaza conflict row
The Socialist Party (PS) -- a heavyweight party of government just a few years ago but now a rump of...
- Its board accused LFI of "constantly stoking conflict" within the alliance, after former presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon refused to call Hamas's Israel assault terrorism.
- Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure "is breaking up NUPES" over "a personal issue with me about Israel (and) Palestine," Melenchon wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Geostrategy
US authorizes non-essential embassy staff to leave Lebanon
Following Hezbollah's call, hundreds of demonstrators scuffled Tuesday night with Lebanese security forces outside the US embassy in the Beirut...
- US State Department raised its travel advisory for Lebanon from level three, issued in July, to the highest available level four
- Britain's foreign office has told its nationals in Lebanon to "consider whether you need to remain and, if not, leave by commercial means
Economy
China’s Xi announces over $100 billion in new Belt and Road funding
Beijing has been forced to hand out billions of dollars in bailout loans to BRI countries in recent years to...
- The Belt and Road is a central pillar of Xi's bid to expand China's clout overseas, with Beijing saying it has now inked over two trillion dollars in contracts around the world
- Xi announced on Wednesday that key Belt and Road lenders the China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank will now offer an additional $100 billion in loans
Geostrategy
US orders 2,000 more troops to be ready to deploy to Middle East: report
Washington, United States - The US Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III has ordered the preparation of approximately 2,000 additional...
- These troops, currently stationed in the United States and Europe, may not serve in combat roles but would offer advice and medical support to Israeli forces
- While the final decision on deployment has not been made, increasing the troops' readiness enhances the Pentagon’s ability to respond swiftly to the evolving security situation
Geostrategy
UN chief slams ‘collective punishment’ of Palestinians
Antonio Guterres, speaking at an economic forum in China, condemned the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel that killed more...
- Guterres appealed for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza
- He called on Hamas for the "immediate and unconditional release of hostages" taken during Hamas's assault
UNRWA chief denounces Israeli police’s seizure of agency’s Jerusalem assets
The compound in Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem has been empty of UNRWA staff since January, when the law banning its operations...
Geostrategy
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UNFPA and corporate partners drive reproductive justice in workplaces
World Economic Forum
Islamic State claims first attack on new Syria forces since Assad fall: monitors
The Islamic State (IS) group on Thursday claimed its first attack on Syria's new government forces since the fall of...
Geostrategy
Generative AI’s most prominent skeptic doubles down
Vancouver, Canada -- Two and a half years since ChatGPT rocked the world, scientist and writer Gary Marcus still remains...
Interview
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
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Geostrategy
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...
- The government plans to ramp up vetting of the social media profiles of international applicants to US universities, the cable said.
- Rubio earlier rescinded hundreds of visas and the Trump administration has moved to bar Harvard University from admitting non-Americans.
Geostrategy
Iran president in Oman as nuclear talks progress
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday began a two-day visit to Oman, which is mediating ongoing nuclear talks between Tehran...
- Pezeshkian travelled to Muscat looking to promote "peace and stability", he said, two days after US President Donald Trump described the latest negotiations as "very, very good".
- "We hope to engage in dialogue to reach a shared perspective and a common voice on promoting peace and stability in the region," Pezeshkian said in a televised speech
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.