UN agency exhorts Israel to allow port for Gaza aid transfer
Rome, Italy - The UN's food agency on Thursday said it was pressing Israel to allow it to use the Ashdod...
Geostrategy
UNRWA head seeks General Assembly support after backlash
The head of the UNRWA is set to defend his organization's work at the General Assembly, after crippling backlash over...
Geostrategy
Market Report
Stocks sink globally as central banks hike rates, data fan recession fears
Global stocks sank as central banks hiked interest rates again and signaled they needed to go higher to tame inflation....
- ECB president Christine Lagarde warned that inflation in the 19-nation eurozone was still "far too high" and more action needed to be taken.
- The world's major central banks are seeking to dampen red-hot inflation.
Geostrategy
Palestinians say World Cup proves their cause not ‘buried’
Like several other Arab nations, Morocco has agreed full diplomatic ties with Israel -- but this has not stopped its...
- A Palestinian poll group has said that "the World Cup in Qatar helps restore Palestinian public trust in the Arab world after years of disappointment".
- "The Moroccan festivities at the World Cup have proven that the Arab world is far from normalization with Israel", the Israeli newspaper Maariv said in a commentary on Sunday.
Arts & Culture
Morocco down Portugal to become first ever African World Cup semi-finalists
Morocco became the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals as Youssef En-Nesyri's first-half goal sealed a tense...
- Morocco took a 42nd-minute lead through En-Nesyri's header as they came on strongly late in the first period.
- Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo was sent on early in the second half by coach Fernando Santos.
Geostrategy
IFC, UNHCR to jointly boost private sector engagement for refugees, host communities
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, Friday announced a joint initiative to...
- The initiative aims to mobilize private sector projects over the next five years to demonstrate the viability of investments in forced displacement contexts.
- Forced displacement is a growing crisis that is too large and complex for governments and humanitarian agencies to solve alone.
Market Report
Equities boosted by China news before rate calls
Global stocks rose on China's slowing inflation and economic reopening, alongside hopes of less aggressive interest rate hikes next week....
- Traders were setting their sights also on the release of two key US inflation reports ahead of the Federal Reserve's final policy meeting of the year.
- Investors were meanwhile hopeful that central banks in the United States, eurozone and UK will next week ease the pace of interest rate hikes.
Business
AirAsia branch in Cambodia soon
Venture would start with two aircraft and expand to 15.
- The latest move to reorganize the Malaysia-based firm's network comes after setbacks in recent years.
- The firm's future airlines would also be based in Southeast Asia as it was a familiar region.
Geostrategy
WHO urges malaria funding boost as deaths stay stubbornly high
The World Health Organization called for more funds to help overcome towering challenges in the battle against malaria, which continues...
- A report highlighted significant remaining challenges, including limited donor funding.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded several challenges facing efforts to battle malaria.
Geostrategy
WHO member states agree to develop draft of pandemic accord in early 2023
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - Member states of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Thursday agreed to develop the first draft of a...
- This zero draft of the pandemic accord, rooted in the WHO Constitution, will be discussed by member states in February 2023.
- The agreement by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body, comprising WHO’s 194 member states, was a milestone in the global process to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Geostrategy
EU stops import of products which causes deforestation
The European Union reached an agreement to ban the import of products including coffee, cocoa and soy in cases where...
- The draft law, which aims to ensure "deforestation-free supply chains" for the 27-nation EU, was hailed by environmental groups as "groundbreaking".
- The scope encompasses palm oil, cattle, soy, coffee, cocoa, timber and rubber as well as derived products such as beef, furniture and chocolate.
Economy
Developing economies’ debt more than doubled over decade, says World Bank
The external debt of developing economies has more than doubled from a decade ago to US$9 trillion in 2021, the...
- Many countries are already facing or at risk of debt distress with surging global inflation and rising interest rates.
- The external debt of International Development Association countries also nearly tripled in the decade leading up to 2021.
UN agency exhorts Israel to allow port for Gaza aid transfer
Rome, Italy - The UN's food agency on Thursday said it was pressing Israel to allow it to use the Ashdod...
Geostrategy
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UAE presents its maritime contributions at IMO meet in UK
DUBAI, UAE - Presenting its category B candidacy in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council at the organization’s focus group...
Business
Dubai Future Forum calls for creation of global framework
DUBAI, UAE: Governments and the United Nations should create an internationally adopted framework specifically designed to help solve global challenges,...
Geostrategy
Stock markets on hold as investors await key US inflation data
Stock markets were mostly in wait-and-see mode as investors eyed the release this week of key US inflation data that...
Market Report
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Geostrategy
Hamas frees more captives in Gaza as truce extension mooted
Hamas released a third group of hostages including a four-year-old American girl with more Palestinian prisoners set to be freed...
- The exchanges under a four-day ceasefire that started Friday have been the first relief for captives' families.
- United States President Joe Biden announced that the 13 released included a four-year old American girl..
Geostrategy
Every industry should be held accountable on climate, says COP28 president
Paris, France - The president of a pivotal UN climate summit defended on Saturday the large presence of industry representatives at...
- "Everyone needs to be part of this process and everyone needs to be held responsible and everyone needs to be held accountable," COP28 president Sultan Al Jaber said
- "That includes all industries and in particular heavy emitting industries like aviation, transportation, aluminum, cement, steel, as well as the oil and gas industry," he added
Economy
ADB plans to invest US$100bn to maximize climate impact
MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Setting the scene for a low-carbon and climate-resilient Asia and the Pacific, the Asian Development Bank (ADB)...
- By 2030, more than 55 percent of the population of Asia and the Pacific will live in urban areas, driving up demand for urban-related services.
- If urban areas continue along the same growth trajectory, Asian cities could contribute over half of the rise in global GHG emissions in the next 20 years.