UNFPA and corporate partners drive reproductive justice in workplaces
Mariarosa Cutillo, UNFPA Chief of the Private Sector and Civil Society Branch, says businesses need to provide adequate maternal health...
World Economic Forum
Hajj pilgrimage ends amid deadly Saudi heat spike
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said on Sunday that Saudi officials had committed "to provide everything that will serve those...
Geostrategy
Google agrees to settle $5bn data privacy breach lawsuit
Google has agreed to settle a consumer privacy lawsuit seeking at least $5 billion in damages over allegations it tracked...
- The lawsuit, filed in a California court, claimed Google's practices had infringed on users' privacy by "intentionally" deceiving them
- Lawyers for the plaintiffs were seeking at least $5,000 for each user it said had been tracked as they visited Google Analytics in private browsing mode
Geostrategy
WHO urges pandemic plans as ‘painful’ Covid ends
Geneva, Switzerland - The head of the WHO said on Tuesday the world needs to properly prepare for future pandemics after...
- WHO head urged nations to seal a "monumental" pandemic accord to plug preparedness gaps that were exposed during the pandemic.
- Tedros said that in terms of emergency preparedness and response, gaps remain in the world's readiness to prevent the next pandemic.
Business
US bans import of Apple Watch due to patent clash
A US import ban on certain Apple smartwatch models came into effect, after the Biden administration opted not to veto...
- Apple last week paused its US sales of Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2.
- The move came into effect on the online Apple Store on December 21, with retail locations ceasing sales December 24.
Geostrategy
Russia extends ban on entry of trucks from EU, UK, Norway, Ukraine
MOSCOW, RUSSIA - The Russian government has extended the ban on the entry of trucks from the European Union, the...
- “The restriction will remain in effect until the circumstances that served as the basis for its introduction are eliminated,” the Russian Cabinet said.
- The ban was introduced in 2022 as a response to the EU’s decision not to allow trucks with Russian and Belarusian license plates through.
Geostrategy
UN General Assembly approves US$3.59bn budget for 2024
NEW YORK, US - The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) approved a US$3.59 billion budget for 2024, including establishing a...
- The UNGA approved around US$50 million as an additional funding for UN Human Rights Council.
- UNGA revealed that it established a multiannual private account for peacemaking and it is used for funding UNPBF.
Geostrategy
Iran slams UN for its failure to stop Israel-Hamas war in Gaza
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi slammed the "inefficacy" of international bodies to halt fighting between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas which...
- The UNSC resolution urged the creation of "conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities", without calling for an immediate end to the fighting,
- "The inability and inefficacy of international organizations has become clear to everyone in the world," the Iranian President said.
Geostrategy
UN resolution urges more aid for Gaza as death toll rises
Fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza raged as the UN Security Council approved a much-delayed resolution to boost aid...
- The resolution also urged the creation of "conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities" but did not call for an immediate end to fighting.
- It came after the UN's World Food Program warned that Gaza's population is at a "high risk of famine".
EU reaches agreement on reforming bloc’s migration laws
Spain, which chaired the lengthy negotiations in its role holding the EU presidency, said on X, formerly Twitter: "A political...
- The reform includes speedier vetting of irregular arrivals, creating border detention centres, and accelerated deportation for rejected asylum applicants
- The accord still needs to be formally approved by the European Council, representing the 27 EU member countries, and the European Parliament before it enters the bloc's lawbooks
Market Report
Oil prices rise following Red Sea attacks
Oil prices shot up three percent as more companies suspended shipping through the Red Sea following attacks on vessels by...
- Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels said on Monday that they had attacked two "Israeli-linked" vessels in the Red Sea..
- Ships must travel through the Red Sea to use the Suez Canal, a key transit route for cargo and oil..
Geostrategy
Maritime agencies report explosion off Yemen coast
Dubai, UAE - A "possible explosion" struck a key shipping lane off Yemen on Monday, two maritime agencies said, the latest...
- The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations issued a warning of a potential explosion striking near a vessel passing through the Bab al-Mandeb strait.
- "The captain reported... the 'explosion' occurring two nautical miles off one of the vessel's quarters while it was transiting," said maritime security firm Ambrey.
UNFPA and corporate partners drive reproductive justice in workplaces
Mariarosa Cutillo, UNFPA Chief of the Private Sector and Civil Society Branch, says businesses need to provide adequate maternal health...
World Economic Forum
Company News
Latest News
Attack on Gaza’s Rafah inevitable, says Israeli PM
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to send ground forces into Gaza's southern Rafah city. The right-wing premier, whose security...
Geostrategy
Gemini’s inaccurate AI racial images warn of tech titans’ power
AUSTIN, US – For people at the trend-setting tech festival here, the scandal that erupted after Google's Gemini chatbot cranked out...
Science
Saudi Arabia takes part in global mineral and mining meet in Canada
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – A delegation comprising several entities from the Kingdom’s industry and mineral resources' system participated in PDAC...
Business
Most Read
Geostrategy
Leader of US Senate calls for election in Israel
The leader of the US Senate called for Israel to hold new elections in the most strident criticism yet by...
- “As a democracy, Israel has the right to choose its own leaders, and we should let the chips fall where they may,” Chuck Schumer said.
- He said that Netanyahu was one of four "major obstacles" to a two-state solution.
Geostrategy
Israeli forces kill Jordanian in West Bank, says Palestinian ministry
A Jordanian citizen has died after being shot by Israeli forces in the West Bank, Palestinian authorities said, with the...
- The Israeli military said Hussein was suspected of being an accomplice of a Palestinian fighter Muhammad Jabar.
- Jabar was preparing to carry out a suicide attack in Israel, according to the military.
Economy
Situation in Red Sea has a limited impact on food exports so far, says FAO
ROME, ITALY – The situation in the Red Sea has not yet been reflected in the pace of prices for...
- The decline in the Food Price Index in February 2024 was led by a decrease in the price for cereals and vegetable oils.
- The route via the Red Sea accounts for slightly more than 10 percent of the global maritime trade volume.