UN experts warn of torture risk as US deports migrants to third countries
Geneva, Switzerland -- UN experts decried Tuesday the US resumption of migrant deportations to third countries, including to war-torn South...
Geostrategy
Trump hosts Netanyahu in push for Gaza deal, says Hamas too willing to end the conflict
Netanyahu's third visit since Trump's return to power comes at a crucial time, with the US president hoping to capitalize...
Geostrategy
Arts & Culture
Japan’s Masaki Kashiwara wins Abel Prize for mathematics
Oslo, Norway -- The prestigious Abel Prize for mathematics was on Wednesday awarded to Japanese mathematician Masaki Kashiwara a specialist...
- The 78-year-old mathematician was honored for "his fundamental contributions to algebraic analysis and representation theory.
- D-modules provided a "new basis for studying systems of linear differential equations", according to the jury.
Geostrategy
Turkey protesters defiant despite nearly 1,500 arrests
The protests erupted on March 19 after the arrest of Istanbul opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as part of a graft...
- Those detained include AFP journalist Yasin Akgul, who the Paris-based agency says was doing his job covering the protests.
- President Recep Erdogan, who has repeatedly denounced the protests as "street terror", stepped up his attacks on the opposition.
Geostrategy
Russia, Ukraine agree to halt Black Sea strikes in US-brokered talks in Saudi Arabia
With President Donald Trump pushing for a rapid end to the war that has killed tens of thousands of people,...
- The United States said it would also look for ways to enforce a ban on strikes on energy infrastructure in the two countries
- Zelensky told a news conference in Kyiv that the talks also discussed bringing in third parties to oversee a future truce
Geostrategy
Syria slams ‘flagrant’ Israeli violation after deadly bombardment
Syria slammed Israeli attacks as a "flagrant violation" of its sovereignty after deadly bombardment Tuesday in the country's south, where...
- The violence near the UN-patrolled buffer zone on the Golan Heights followed Israeli air strikes in central Syria, the latest in a string of attacks on military sites
- Israel has launched hundreds of strikes on military sites since Assad's fall in December, saying it wants to prevent weapons from falling into the hands of jihadists
Geostrategy
Houthi PC small group’ leak: Probe underway after sensitive info exposure
The breach became public on Monday after The Atlantic magazine's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg published an article recounting how he was...
- On March 14, messages in the group indicated that a US strike was being prepared against Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
- The militant group has been trying to interrupt trade via the Red Sea and have targeted US military vessels several times in recent months.
Geostrategy
Trump admin sent journalist classified US plan for Yemen strikes
A US journalist was inadvertently included in a group chat in which Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance...
- The Atlantic magazine's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg wrote that he had hours of advance notice of Yemen strikes via the group chat on Signal
- Defence Secretary Hegseth, a former Fox News host with no experience running a huge organization like the Pentagon, took no responsibility for the security breach
Geostrategy
US, Russia negotiations on partial Ukraine ceasefire end after 12 hours in Saudi Arabia
The US-Ukraine and US-Russia talks were originally planned to take place simultaneously to enable shuttle diplomacy, with the United States...
- With Ukrainian negotiators waiting nearby, a day after they sat down with the US team, the Americans and Russians met in Riyadh with a Black Sea ceasefire top of the agenda
- US President Donald Trump is pushing for a rapid end to the three-year war and hopes the latest round of talks will pave the way for a breakthrough
Geostrategy
Israel PM accuses security chief of investigating minister without his consent
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday accused Israel's internal security chief, whose dismissal was blocked by the supreme court, of...
- "The claim that the prime minister authorised Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar to gather evidence against Minister Ben Gvir is yet another exposed lie," Netanyahu said
- He was responding to a report that Bar's agency had spent months investigating far-right infiltration of the police and its links to Ben Gvir
Geostrategy
Trump pushes for Ukraine peace as US, Russian officials hold ceasefire talks in Saudi Arabia
US President Donald Trump is pushing for a rapid end to the three-year war and hopes talks in Riyadh could...
- US President Donald Trump is pushing for a rapid end to the three-year war and hopes talks in Riyadh could pave the way for a breakthrough
- Both sides have proposed different plans for temporary ceasefires, but cross-border attacks have meanwhile continued unabated
Geostrategy
Israel presses ground offensive in Gaza, encircles part of Rafah city
Israel's military pressed ground operations across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, encircling part of Rafah city near Egypt almost a...
- Israeli troops on Sunday encircled Tal al-Sultan in Rafah, the military said in a statement, adding its objective was to dismantle terrorist infrastructure
- Three weeks ago Israel blocked the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza and cut electricity in a bid to force Hamas to accept the Israeli terms for an extension of the truce
UN experts warn of torture risk as US deports migrants to third countries
Geneva, Switzerland -- UN experts decried Tuesday the US resumption of migrant deportations to third countries, including to war-torn South...
Geostrategy
Company News
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MENA Brief | June 18: Oil calms after Trump’s threat rattles markets; UAE-Iran calls, Riyadh Air signs big Rolls-Royce deal
Oil prices steadied Wednesday after Trump’s demand for Iran’s ‘unconditional surrender’ roiled markets and revived supply fears, as regional diplomacy...
Geostrategy
Oil stabilises after surge, stocks drop as Middle East crisis fuels jitters
Of particular concern is the possibility of Iran shutting off the Strait of Hormuz, through which around an estimated fifth...
Geostrategy
Iran says hypersonic missiles fired at Israel as Trump demands ‘unconditional surrender’
Despite international alarm, neither side has backed off from the long-range blitz that began Friday, when Israel launched an unprecedented...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Trump says wants ‘real end’ to Israel-Iran conflict, not ceasefire
Trump said that he wanted a "complete give-up" by Iran in return for peace, without elaborating on the outcome he...
- On Tuesday, long queues stretched outside bakeries and petrol stations as the remaining residents rushed to stock up on fuel and basic supplies.
- Security checkpoints have been set up across Tehran, adding to the atmosphere of tension as authorities monitor movement in and out of key districts.
Geostrategy
MENA brief Jun 17: ADNOC Drilling appoints new CEO, Riyadh up in startup ranking
The DMCC Crypto Centre welcomed Bitcoin.com, which is setting up its first MENA office in Dubai. The Arab Coordination Group...
- Bahrain’s Central Bank reported a 188% oversubscription of its BD 70 million Treasury Bills, reflecting sustained investor confidence.
- In aviation, AviLease, the Saudi aircraft lessor, placed an order for up to 77 Airbus aircraft, including A320neo and A350F models.
Geostrategy
China’s Xi in Kazakhstan to cement Central Asia ties
Astana, Kazakhstan - Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet Central Asian leaders at a summit in Kazakhstan on Tuesday, his...
- The summit in the Kazakh capital brings together Xi - who arrived in Astana on Monday - and the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan
- Under Russia's orbit until the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the five countries of Central Asia have courted interest from major powers including China and the United States