US contacts Syria’s HTS, Turkey reopens embassy, as Assad allies Iran and Russia face setbacks
The United States said Saturday it had made contact with Syria's victorious Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels, despite previously designating the...
Geostrategy
South Korean police raid president’s office
#South #Korean police raided President #Yoon Suk #Yeol's office as part of the investigation into his declaration of #martial law....
Geostrategy
Israel says Brazil’s Lula ‘persona non grata’ for Holocaust remarks
Lula's remarks on Sunday sparked outcry in Israel after the Brazilian leader said the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip...
- Brazilian president on Sunday said the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip "isn't a war, it's a genocide" and compared it to "when Hitler decided to kill the Jews"
- "He's persona non grata in the state of Israel so long as he doesn't retract his remarks and apologize," Israeli foreign minister Katz said of Brazilian leader
Business
Construction in China-Saudi Arabia ethylene project begins
FUZHOU, CHINA - Construction of the main complex of a joint-investment ethylene project, which involves petrochemicals giant Saudi Basic Industries...
- The project is being built in the Gulei petrochemicals base in Zhangzhou city, in eastern China’s Fujian Province.
- The project entails a total investment of $6.3 billion from SABIC and Fujian Energy Petrochemical Group Co. Ltd.
Business
Iran-EU trade surpasses US$5bn in 2023, says Eurostat
TEHRAN, IRAN - The Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat) reported that Iran and the 27 European Union member...
- Trade between Iran and member states of the EU recorded a decrease of 9 percent from January to December 2023.
- During that period, the exchange of products between Iran and the EU member states was valued at US$5 billion.
Geostrategy
Gaza war effect: Israel’s GDP shrinks by 20% in the last quarter of 2023
Overall, Israel's GDP grew by 2.0 percent in 2023, short of the 2.3 percent projection made by the Bank of...
- It was the single worst quarter for the Israeli economy in terms of GDP per capita since the opening quarter of the Covid pandemic in early 2020.
- The country has seen massive labor shortages and the collapse of the tourism industry since the outbreak of war.
Geostrategy
Norway deal averts Palestinian financial collapse: govt
The portion of the revenues that Israel will transfer to Norway will remain in a Norwegian account until the parties...
- Under a 1994 agreement, the PA receives taxes that Israel collects on its behalf -- but Israel has withheld some of these since Hamas's attack
- The Palestinian Authority has refused to accept any transfers unless Israel changes its decision, an impasse that has lasted for several months
Israel sets Ramadan deadline for offensive on Gazan city Rafah
Fearing the potential for mass casualties, foreign governments and aid organizations have repeatedly urged Israel to spare Rafah, the last...
- Speaking at the Rafah offensive in Jerusalem conference on Sunday, Netanyahu renewed his vow "to finish the job to get total victory" over Hamas, with or without a hostage deal
- Benny Gantz said that an offensive would be carried out in a coordinated manner to facilitate an evacuation to minimize the civilian casualties as much as possible"
Geostrategy
US strikes Houthi weapons’ systems in latest attack
According to a statement from CENTCOM, the five strikes included targeting "the first observed Huthi employment of a UUV (unmanned...
- Maritime security firm Ambrey said a cargo vessel came under attack on Sunday.
- The Houthi attacks have raised insurance premiums for shipping companies
Geostrategy
Prospects dim for truce as Israel rejects calls to spare Rafah
Mediator Qatar acknowledged that separate ceasefire talks had also hit an impasse after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected some...
- A total of 127 people died in 24 hours, Hamas-run Gaza's health ministry said, as the main battlefront edged closer to far-southern Rafah
- Israel's top ally the United States signalled it would veto the latest push for a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire
Geostrategy
Israeli forces kill two Palestinians in West Bank raid
Two Palestinian men, including one member of an armed group, were killed in an Israeli raid, in the latest surge...
- The deaths came with international concern mounting about unrest in the West Bank since Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel.
- At least five other people were wounded in the Israeli military operation, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent.
Geostrategy
West Bank situation an obstacle between Israel-Palestine peace, says EU
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the situation in the Israel-occupied West Bank posed a major obstacle to finding...
- Around 490,000 Israelis live in the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, in dozens of settlements that are deemed illegal under international law.
- The settlers live alongside around three million Palestinians in the territory.
US contacts Syria’s HTS, Turkey reopens embassy, as Assad allies Iran and Russia face setbacks
The United States said Saturday it had made contact with Syria's victorious Hayat Tahrir al-Sham rebels, despite previously designating the...
Geostrategy
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Fire at Iraqi oil refinery injures 13
Geostrategy
Blinken in Israel as under-pressure Netanyahu blames ‘obstinate’ Hamas
Making his ninth trip to the Middle East since the Gaza war began when Hamas attacked Israel in October, the...
Geostrategy
Putin in Azerbaijan for state visit amid Ukraine offensive on Russian soil
Aliyev and Putin will sign joint documents and make statements to the press, said Russian agency Ria Novosti. On Monday,...
Geostrategy
Unnerved and exposed, Trump struggles to regain campaign mojo
Washington, United States - Donald Trump has never lacked for self-confidence, but his presidential campaign has been sent into a tailspin...
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Geostrategy
Israel FM says expects allies to attack Iran if it strikes
Israeli Foreign Minister told his French and British counterparts that his country expects support "in attacking" Iran if it strikes...
- "If Iran attacks, we expect the coalition to join Israel not only in defense but also in attacking significant targets in Iran," Katz said
- On Thursday, Jewish settlers attacked a Palestinian village in the Israeli-occupied West Bank
Geostrategy
40,000 and counting: the struggle to keep track of Gaza deaths
Palestinian Territories -- With Gaza largely in ruins after more than 10 months of war, the Hamas-run territory's health ministry...
- Gaza health officials first identify bodies by visual recognition from a relative or friend, or by recovering personal items
- The deceased's details, including name, gender, birth date and ID number, are then entered in the health ministry's digital database
Geostrategy
Qatar to host high-stakes Gaza ceasefire talks
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told several Middle Eastern counterparts in recent days that "this ceasefire deal is of...
- US, Qatari and Egyptian mediators have invited Israel and Hamas for negotiations aimed at ending fighting that has killed nearly 40,000 Palestinians
- Israel confirmed it would attend, though it remained unclear if Hamas, whose October 7 attack on Israel triggered the war, planned to participate