Israel PM says ‘intense’ phase of Gaza war winding down
Netanyahu said Israel would be able to "redeploy some forces to the north" on the border with Lebanon, where exchanges...Geostrategy
Israel says Lebanon offensive plan ‘approved’ as tensions surge
Palestinian Territories - The Israeli army on Tuesday said plans for an offensive in Lebanon were "approved and validated" amid...Geostrategy
FMs from Palestinian Authority, Muslim nations to visit China
Officials will include the foreign ministers of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and Indonesia,...Following the outbreak of war last month, Chinese officials including Foreign Minister Wang Yi have called for an immediate ceasefire and a "cooling down" of the situation.
China has historically been sympathetic to the Palestinians and supported a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Climate action slowed in 2022, severe weather events increased
Paris, France -- National climate policy action across the countries that produce nearly two-thirds of total greenhouse gas emissions only...National climate policy action across the countries that produce nearly two-thirds of total greenhouse gas emissions only increased by 1% in 2022, lowest since 2000.
In contrast, between 2000 and 2021, national climate policy action increased by an average of 10 percent a year, according to a new OECD analysis of policy adoption.
Big tech firms have been fined billions, but not paid them
PARIS, FRANCE - Rarely a month goes by without big tech companies getting fined for price fixing, squashing competitors or misusing...Ireland's data regulator confirmed that Meta has not paid any of the US$2.2 billion in fines issued since last September.
Amazon is still appealing against a US$812 million fine from 2021, Luxembourg's data regulator said.
Opposition parties stage rare rally in South Sudan
Two years after attaining statehood, the world's newest nation collapsed into a civil war that claimed 400,000 lives before a...The coalition of 12 opposition parties gathered in Juba to demand unimpeded access to participate in the country's first national elections since 2011
President Salva Kiir, South Sudan's only ruler since independence, has vowed to hold elections in 2024 -- nine years behind the original schedule
Foreign firms race to open offices in Saudi Arabia before deadline
Announced in February 2021, Saudi Arabia's regional headquarters (RHQ) program is widely seen as a bid to compete with Dubai...So far, 162 regional headquarters licenses have been granted in sectors including pharmaceuticals, IT and construction, "with many others being processed", the ministry said.
The program is "an early litmus test of the degree to which foreign businesses are prepared or willing to comply with and buy into Saudi initiatives", an analyst said.
Turkey FM warns of escalation in nuclear arms race
Tehran, Iran-- Expressing deep concern over Israel's possession of nuclear weapons, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has warned of a...Fidan said the failure to denuclearize the region will ramp up the nuclear arms race in the region and the wider world, leading to increased nuclearization in the area
The foreign minister said the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation were playing crucial roles in addressing the Gaza crisis on the international stage
No deal between Israel and Hamas on hostages: US
The Washington Post, citing unnamed sources, said all parties would halt combat operations for at least five days while some...A White House official said they were continuing to work hard to get to a deal
Times of Israel quoted PM Benjamin Netanyahu as saying that "as of now there is no deal"
Gaza, West Bank should be ‘reunited’ under Palestinian Authority: Biden
Israel's top ally Washington has given its full backing to the country's response to the October 7 shock attack by..."A two-state solution is the only way to ensure the long-term security of both the Israeli and Palestinian people", Joe Biden wrote
Netanyahu did not reject Biden's plan, but said the Palestinian Authority "in its current form is not capable of receiving responsibility for Gaza
‘Significant’ pause in Gaza war if hostages freed: US official
The White House said Biden and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani discussed "the urgent need for all hostages...Brett McGurk said there will be a surge in humanitarian relief once hostages are released
Jordan's FM said it was "unacceptable" to link humanitarian pauses to release of hostages
War in Gaza represents serious setback for efforts to reduce tension: Gargash
Manama, Bahrain-- The ongoing war in Gaza represents a serious setback for the efforts to reduce tension in the region...The diplomatic adviser to the UAE president expressed concern that the violence in the Gaza Strip will only fuel further extremism and instability in the region
He said a two-state solution is the only "viable path" to peace for both the Palestinian and Israeli peoples, and it demands strong and sustained international participation