Iran says Hormuz remains closed despite transit agreement with Oman
US president Donald Trump, meanwhile, says that all mines have been cleared from the waterway's international waters and that Tehran...
Geostrategy
Trump warns countries helping Iran of ‘tremendous economic consequences’
Tehran dismissed Washington’s latest pressure campaign as a diversion from US economic troubles as shipping through Hormuz remained severely restricted.
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European Union says Israel has agreed to ‘expand’ Gaza aid access
"This deal means more crossings open, aid and food trucks entering Gaza, repair of vital infrastructure and protection of aid...
- Gaza's two million residents are facing dire humanitarian conditions as Israel has severely limited aid during its devastating war with Palestinian militant group Hamas.
- The current system of aid distribution by a US- and Israeli-backed group has drawn international condemnation.
Geostrategy
Syria rejects federalism, calls on Kurdistan forces to join army ranks
Syria reiterated its rejection of federalism on Wednesday following a meeting with a Kurdish military official, calling on Kurdish forces...
- The Kurds, who control vast swathes of territory in Syria's north, including oil and gas fields, have demanded a decentralised system of governance
- A Syrian government source told the official Alekhbariah television channel on Wednesday that Damascus remained committed to "the principle of 'One Syria, One Army, One Government'
Geostrategy
Israeli army says intercepted missile launched from Yemen
The Israeli army said early Thursday it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen, days after carrying out strikes on...
- "Following the sirens that sounded a short while ago in several areas in Israel, a missile that was launched from Yemen was intercepted," the army wrote on social media platform X
- The Huthis said Monday that they boarded and sank another vessel, the Magic Seas, because its owner had done business with Israel and used its ports
Geostrategy
Hamas agrees partial hostage release in ‘difficult’ truce talks after Qatar-brokered indirect talks
The group's statement came after four days of indirect talks brokered by Qatar and as the United States signalled its...
- group's statement came after four days of indirect talks brokered by Qatar and as the US signalled its belief that agreement for a 60-day truce would be struck this week
- US special envoy Steve Witkoff said part of the deal would be the return of 10 living hostages held by militants since Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, which sparked the war
Geostrategy
Iran nuclear programme ‘very delayed’ by strikes: French intel chief
Iran's nuclear programme has been "very, very delayed" by US and Israeli strikes, France's foreign intelligence chief said on Tuesday,...
- US President Donald Trump has insisted that Iran's key nuclear facilities were "obliterated" in last month's air strikes, angrily bashing assessments to the contrary
- Asked how much the strikes had delayed Iran's nuclear programme, Nicolas Lerner, head of the DGSE French spy agency, said: "Undeniably various months, certainly."
Geostrategy
Trump holds fresh talks with Netanyahu to end Gaza ‘tragedy’
Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu met for the second time in 24 hours Tuesday as the US president intensified the...
- Netanyahu's return to the White House for fresh talks came after Qatari mediators warned it would take time to seal an elusive ceasefire between Israeli and Hamas at talks in Doha
- "It's a tragedy, and he wants to get it solved, and I want to get it solved, and I think the other side wants to," Trump said as he announced that Netanyahu was coming back
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Iran FM holds talks with Saudi Crown Prince after Tehran’s ceasefire with Israel
Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman said his country hoped the truce would contribute to regional stability, and emphasised Riyadh's position...
- Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said his country hoped the truce would contribute to regional stability
- Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi "expressed his gratitude" to Riyadh for its condemnation of Israel's attacks on Iran last month
Geostrategy
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...
- The experts stressed that assessments of potential dangers faced by deportees "must be individual as well as country-specific".
- They highlighted that the United States had agreed to adhere to international obligations to prevent so-called refoulement, including under the Convention Against Torture.
Geostrategy
Trump says ‘no extensions’ to Aug 1 tariff deadline
While Trump imposed a sweeping 10 percent tariff on goods from almost all trading partners in April, higher rates customized...
- On Monday night, Trump had told reporters at a dinner that the August 1 deadline was "firm, but not 100 percent firm."
- Pressed on whether the letters were his final offer, Trump replied: "I would say final -- but if they call with a different offer, and I like it, then we'll do it."
Geostrategy
AI needs to be smaller, reduce energy footprint: UNESCO study
Paris, France -- The potential of artificial intelligence is immense -- but its equally vast energy consumption needs curbing, with...
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently said that each request sent to ChatGPT consumes on average 0.34 Wh of electricity, which is 10-70 times a Google search.
- UNESCO calculated that AI energy demand is doubling every 100 days as generative AI tools become embedded in everyday life.
Iran says Hormuz remains closed despite transit agreement with Oman
US president Donald Trump, meanwhile, says that all mines have been cleared from the waterway's international waters and that Tehran...
Geostrategy
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US and Iran set for new nuclear talks in Istanbul to revive stalled diplomacy
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian has announced that he has instructed diplomats to pursue negotiations with the United States, signalling a...
Geostrategy
The GCC must deploy its ‘strategic advantages’ to lead the transition
The models that once governed aid, CSR, employment, and economic engagement are shifting, and the GCC has an opportunity to...
Opinion
Iran’s Khamenei likens protests to ‘coup’, warns of regional war
Iran's supreme leader on Sunday likened recent anti-government protests to a "coup", warning that any US attack on the Islamic...
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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...
- The Axios site on Monday reported that US officials say any deal with Tehran would have to include a cap on its long-range missiles
- Other regional actors have joined calls for diplomacy, including Gulf states, some of which host US military sites, and Tehran's ally Russia
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Turkey to offer mediation in US-Iran showdown during Iran foreign minister’s Friday visit
Friday's visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi comes after US President Donald Trump threatened a military strike on Iran...
- Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will tell Araghchi that his country "is ready to contribute to resolving the current tensions through talks", a Turkish diplomatic source said
- Speaking to Al-Jazeera television on Wednesday, Fidan said he had suggested Washington tackle outstanding issues with Iran "one-by-one", starting with the nuclear file
Geostrategy
Trump says ‘time running out’ as Iran threatens response to any attack “like never before”
In his latest post on Truth Social, Trump did not mention the protests but said Iran needed to negotiate a...
- A US naval strike group that Trump described as an "armada" led by aircraft carrier the USS Abraham Lincoln is now lurking in Middle East waters
- In his latest post on Truth Social, Trump said Iran needed to negotiate a deal over its nuclear programme, which the West believes is aimed at making an atomic bomb