Iran says US talks in Oman a ‘good beginning’ as fears of military confrontation grow
The discussions took place in Muscat, with the US delegation led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and the Iranian side...
Geostrategy
Iran says defence capabilities ‘never’ up for negotiation as US seeks end to nuclear enrichment
Iran's top diplomat said Friday that his country's missile and defence capabilities would "never" be on the negotiating table, as US...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
Armenia and Azerbaijan commit to a lasting peace after decades of conflict at summit with Trump
The two former Soviet republics "are committing to stop all fighting forever, open up commerce, travel and diplomatic relations and...
- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan's longtime President Ilham Aliyev said Trump's mediation should earn him a Nobel Peace Prize
- The two former Soviet republics "are committing to stop all fighting forever, open up commerce, travel and diplomatic relations and respect each other's sovereignty."
Geostrategy
Putin-Trump summit to meet on Friday on Ukraine: what we know so far
On his Truth Social site on Friday, Trump announced that his meeting with Putin would be held in the far-north...
- Trump has spent his first months in office trying to broker peace but multiple rounds of peace talks, phone calls and diplomatic visits have failed to yield a breakthrough
- On his Truth Social site on Friday, Trump announced that his meeting with Putin would be held in the far-north US state of Alaska on August 15, later confirmed by the Kremlin
Geostrategy
Israel plans to ‘take control’ of Gaza City, sparking wave of criticism
European Council chief Antonio Costa warned "such a decision must have consequences" for EU-Israel ties, while Germany said it was...
- China, Turkey, Britain and the UN's rights chief as well as numerous Arab governments issuing statements of concern.
- Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid denounced the cabinet's move as "a disaster" that could result in "the death of the hostages.
Geostrategy
Netanyahu’s Gaza plan: Hamas accuses Israel PM of sacrificing hostages for personal interest
"Netanyahu's plans to escalate the aggression confirm beyond any doubt his desire to get rid of the captives and sacrifice...
- "Netanyahu's plans to escalate the aggression confirm beyond any doubt his desire to get rid of the captives and sacrifice them in pursuit of his personal interests. Hamas said
- The statement was issued as Netanyahu was convening his security cabinet to vote on an expansion of the military campaign in Gaza
Geostrategy
Trump to host Armenia, Azerbaijan for historic ‘Peace Signing’ Friday
US President Donald Trump announced he will host the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan on Friday for what he called...
- Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan "will join me at the White House for an official Peace Signing Ceremony," Trump said Thursday
- Baku and Yerevan, sworn enemies for decades, went to war twice over the disputed Karabakh region, which Azerbaijan recaptured from Armenian forces in a lightning 2023 offensive
Geostrategy
A day after Hezbollah’s rebuff, Lebanon cabinet meets again on the group’s disarmament
With Washington pressing Lebanon to take action on the matter, US envoy Tom Barrack has made several visits to Beirut...
- With Washington pressing Lebanon to take action on the matter, US envoy Tom Barrack has made several visits to Beirut in recent weeks
- Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Tuesday that the government had tasked the military with developing a plan to restrict arms to state forces by the end of 2025.
Geostrategy
Turkey, Senegal discuss defence industry, security cooperation
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said he discussed defence and security cooperation with Senegal's visiting prime minister Ousmane Sonko on...
- "Today we discussed joint steps that we can take in the areas of security, the defence industry and the fight against terrorism," Erdogan told a televised press conference
- "We are pleased with the growing interest of our African brothers in Turkish defence products. We look forward to further strengthening our solidarity," he said.
Geostrategy
Israel seeks full control of Gaza, won’t keep or govern it: Netanyahu
"We want to hand it over to Arab forces that will govern it properly without threatening us and giving Gazans...
- Fox News said the interview occurred just before Netanyahu was to attend a security cabinet meeting on Gaza war plans.
- Netanyahu is expected to seek approval at the meeting for an expansion of military operations, including in densely populated areas where hostages are believed to be held.
Economy
Trump announces 100% chip tariff, pressuring Asian producers
The US president unveiled the levy at the White House on Wednesday ahead of the imposition of sweeping tariffs on...
- shares in Taiwan's TSMC -- world's largest contract maker of chips -- soared nearly 5% after the government said the company will not be affected.
- Trump has previously accused Taiwan of having stolen the US chip industry, and earlier this year, TSMC unveiled a plan to invest an extra $100 billion in the United States.
Business
Electric ‘air taxis’ could debut in Japan from 2027
Tokyo, Japan -- Airline ANA said Thursday that, together with a US start-up, it hopes to have electric "air taxis"...
- ANA and California-based Joby Aviation said they will establish a joint venture with a view to deploying more than 100 of the five-seater aircraft.
- The project primarily envisages trips between Narita and Haneda airports and Tokyo, although the routes can diversify in the future.
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Iran says US talks in Oman a ‘good beginning’ as fears of military confrontation grow
The discussions took place in Muscat, with the US delegation led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and the Iranian side...
Geostrategy
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UN Security Council votes for international force for Gaza, path to a future Palestinian state
Trump posted on social media that the vote "acknowledging and endorsing the BOARD OF PEACE, which will be chaired by...
Geostrategy
UN Security Council set to vote on Trump’s Gaza plan, deployment of international force
The draft, which has been revised several times as a result of high-stakes negotiations, "endorses" the plan, which allowed for...
Geostrategy
Israel says Gazans who landed in S. Africa unexpectedly had third-country approval
Israeli authorities said on Saturday that 153 Palestinians who turned up unexpectedly in South Africa, triggering questions from its president,...
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Geostrategy
Rubio says US ‘optimistic’ for UN resolution on Gaza, backing an international force
US Secretary of State said the United States was speaking with different countries on ways to "balance their interests here,...
- Rubio said the United States was speaking with different countries on ways to "balance their interests here, and how that's structured beyond just the security force."
- The United States last week started circulating the draft resolution that would follow up on a ceasefire in the two-year war championed by President Donald Trump
Geostrategy
Google denies removing W.Sahara border for Morocco users
The dotted lines illustrating the border between Western Sahara and Morocco, indicating the former's disputed territory status, have never been...
- Western Sahara is a vast mineral-rich former Spanish colony that is largely controlled by Morocco but has been claimed for decades by the pro-independence Polisario Front
- The United Nations Security Council had previously urged Morocco, the Polisario Front, Algeria and Mauritania to resume talks to reach a broad agreement
Geostrategy
Macron warns any planned West Bank annexation a ‘red line,’ to provoke a European reaction
He spoke as Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas visited Paris one month into a fragile truce between Hamas and Israel, following...
- He spoke as Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas visited Paris one month into a fragile truce between Hamas and Israel, following two years of war
- Macron and Abbas announced the creation of a joint committee "for the consolidation of the state of Palestine", the French leader said