Israeli airstrike kills five Palestinians in West Bank
Palestinian medics said an air strike targeting a car in the occupied West Bank killed five people on Thursday, while...
Top Europe rights court to issue landmark climate verdicts
STRASBOURG, FRANCE – Europe's top rights court will on Tuesday issue unprecedented verdicts in three separate cases on the responsibility of...
Geostrategy
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.
Geostrategy
Moroccan officials questioned in EU graft probe
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - Several Moroccan officials have been questioned as part of a high-profile investigation into alleged bribery by the north...
- The interviews in Morocco were conducted by local authorities in the presence of Belgian investigators.
- The questionings were the first in the country since Brussels launched a sprawling graft probe in 2022.
Geostrategy
UK shoots down ‘suspected’ drone attack in Red Sea
London, UK - A UK destroyer has brought down a suspected attack drone in the Red Sea, defense minister Grant Shapps...
- Britain announced last month that it was sending HMS Diamond, one of its most advanced naval vessels, to the Gulf to shore up its presence in the region.
- The deployment followed the outbreak of conflict between Israel and Hamas and the seizure of an Israeli-linked cargo vessel by Iranian-backed Yemeni Houthi rebels
COP28 UAE
IEA boss says COP28 bid farewell to fossil fuels
PARIS, FRANCE - While the UN's COP28 climate summit marked a pivot moment, when the world pledged to say "goodbye" to...
- It gave an unmistakable signal to investors that if you continue to invest in fossil fuels you may well have serious business risks
- It gives a signal to the investors for clean energy that they may be more profitable than many people now believe they are.
Israeli airstrike kills five Palestinians in West Bank
Palestinian medics said an air strike targeting a car in the occupied West Bank killed five people on Thursday, while...
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G7 vows ‘significant’ new sanctions if Iran sends missiles to Russia
Washington, US - G7 countries warned Iran on Friday that they will impose "significant" new sanctions if Tehran transfers ballistic missiles...
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...
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...
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Trump said he won’t ‘give a penny’ to Ukraine, claims Hungary Prime Minister
BUDAPEST, HUNGARY – Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has asserted that former US president Donald Trump told him during a meeting...
- Orban is the only EU leader to have maintained ties with the Kremlin since Russia invaded Ukraine.
- He also angered fellow EU leaders by meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in September
Geostrategy
Four space station crew members leave for Earth
WASHINGTON, US – Four astronauts left the International Space Station on Monday and were bound for Earth following a more than...
- Led by American astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli, NASA's Crew-7 arrived at the research platform last August.
- NASA and SpaceX are targeting as soon as 5:35 am Tuesday (0935 GMT) for a splashdown off the Florida coast.
Economy
Iran agricultural, food exports hit US$5.5bn in 11 months
TEHRAN, IRAN – The Ministry of Industry, Mine, and Trade said that Iran exported fisheries, livestock, agricultural and food products...
- Iraq was the biggest importer of Iranian agricultural and food products worth US$1.7 billion.
- The UAE was the second largest importer of Iranian agricultural and food products worth $675 million