Trump says Gaza ceasefire still in force after Israeli strikes, suggests Hamas leadership didn’t violate truce
Asked by reporters whether the truce was still in effect, Trump said: "Yeah, it is". The US president, who helped...
Geostrategy
China’s power paradox: record renewables, continued coal
Bangkok, Thailand -- Call it the China power paradox: while Beijing leads the world in renewable energy expansion, its coal...
Geostrategy
Business
Europe should move faster on energy transition, say IEA, ECB
PARIS, FRANCE - Europe must invest more quickly and massively in its energy transition if it wants to remain a global...
- Europe must invest more quickly in its energy transition if it wants to remain a global industrial power, top policymakers said.
- Private sector investment faces barriers including policy uncertainty, bureaucratic red tape and higher energy costs, they said.
Geostrategy
Qatar calls for subjecting Israel’s nuclear facilities to IAEA safeguards
Vienna, Austria -- Qatar Friday called for intensifying international efforts to subject all Israeli nuclear facilities to International Atomic Energy...
- Qatar said this demand was confirmed by international legitimacy resolutions half a century ago, including the resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly since 1974.
- Qatar said AEA's subjecting Israel to comprehensive safeguards regime is a prerequisite for establishing a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East.
Geostrategy
GCC, Pakistan ink preliminary free trade agreement
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi said that preliminary free trade agreement...
- The agreement was signed by GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi and Pakistani Commerce Minister Dr. Gohar Ejaz.
- The Secretary-General stressed that the GCC countries are proceeding with free-trade negotiations with other countries.
Geostrategy
Jailed Tunisia opposition chief Rached Ghanouchi begins hunger strike
The 82-year-old leader of Ennahdha was sentenced to one year in prison on terrorism-related charges in May following his arrest...
- He is the most prominent of roughly two dozen opponents of President Kais Saied arrested since February, including former ministers and business figures.
- Ghannouchi "decided to begin a three-day hunger strike to denounce the arbitrary and unfounded prosecution of the opposition", said Imed Khemiri, Ennahdha spokesman.
Science
Politicians fail to understand scientific facts of climate, says expert
PARIS, FRANCE - Wavering ambition by governments and a growing belief that science is politically subjective are great causes for concern...
- Several extreme weather events have occurred in 2023, which the European Union's climate monitor says is likely to be the hottest in human history.
- These underscores the urgency of slashing planet-heating greenhouse gas emissions to avert the catastrophic impacts of greater global warming.
US State Department says 60,000 emails taken in alleged Chinese hack
State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said that the State Department has not formally assigned blame but had no reason to...
- Microsoft revealed in July that a Chinese hacking group had breached its email platform and accessed messages from around 25 organizations including US government agencies
- "It was approximately 60,000 unclassified emails that were exfiltrated as a part of that breach," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters
Geostrategy
US and India discuss India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor
Washington, United States - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held discussions in...
- The corridor comprises two separate routes: the East corridor connecting India to West Asia/Middle East and the Northern corridor connecting West Asia/Middle East to Europe
- A critical component of this initiative is a rail line that, upon completion, will establish a reliable and cost-effective cross-border ship-to-rail transit network
East Libya strongman in Moscow talks with Putin
Haftar, who sponsors a rival administration to Libya's UN-backed government in Tripoli, has long cultivated close relations with Moscow and relies...
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Haftar's meeting with Putin, saying the two discussed the situation in Libya and the region as a whole
- The eastern strongman, who arrived in Moscow on Tuesday, had already held talks with Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-Bek Yevkurov during his visit
Geostrategy
China wants to be world’s strongest nation, says Blinken
WASHINGTON, US - China is seeking to surpass the United States as the top power in the world, US Secretary of...
- Asked at a forum about China's intentions, Blinken said, "I think that what it seeks is to be the dominant power in the world -- militarily, economically, diplomatically".
- President Joe Biden's administration, while saying it is clear-eyed on China and stepping up pressure, has also been increasing dialogue in hopes of managing tensions.
Geostrategy
UAE Council review cybersecurity in Jordan summit
Amman, Jordan - The UAE Cyber Security Council discussed cybersecurity in the inaugural Jordan Cyber Security Summit 2023, known as...
- The DOT Cyber Summit 2023 explored issues related to cyber policies and strategies, international issues related to cyber risks and threats faced by countries.
- This includes mechanisms for addressing and combating their spread, and reviewing the experiences of countries and their progress in the field of cyber security.
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Trump says Gaza ceasefire still in force after Israeli strikes, suggests Hamas leadership didn’t violate truce
Asked by reporters whether the truce was still in effect, Trump said: "Yeah, it is". The US president, who helped...
Geostrategy
Company News
Latest News
Slower growth expected in MENA region in 2025: IMF
"Growth is still projected to increase in 2025 and 2026, but at a considerably slower pace than anticipated last October,"...
Economy
UAE to lift three-year Lebanon travel ban: statement
Dubai, United Arab Emirates -- The United Arab Emirates will lift a ban on its citizens travelling to Lebanon that...
Geostrategy
Two-State solution nearing point of no return: UN chief
He renewed calls for an immediate and lasting ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and full humanitarian access. He...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Geostrategy
UAE says foils bid to transfer weapons to Sudan army
"The security services succeeded in preventing the transfer of a quantity of military equipment to the Sudanese Armed Forces following...
- The UAE statement said members of the cell included former Sudanese intelligence chief Salah Gosh an ex-adviser to the finance minister and political figure close to army chief.
- It said the arrests were made "during an inspection of ammunition in a private aircraft" loaded with around five million machine gun rounds.
Geostrategy
Syria FM says wants to ‘strengthen relations’ with China
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani expressed on Monday his government's willingness to build a "strategic partnership" with China, a key...
- A foreign ministry statement said that Shaibani met with the Chinese ambassador to the United Nations, Fu Cong, at UN headquarters in New York
- In the meeting with Beijing's envoy, Shaibani said the two countries "will work together to build a long-term strategic partnership in the near future
Geostrategy
Abu Dhabi launches $500mn maternal health fund for Africa
Nairobi, Kenya -- A $500-million fund aimed at improving maternal and neonatal health in sub-Saharan Africa was launched Tuesday in...
- The Beginnings Fund brings together philanthropists including the Gates Foundation and the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, run by the UAE president.
- It set a deadline of 2030 to reach the $500-million target and has already reached $450 million in pledges, organizers said in a statement.