UN chief calls for probe into deaths near Gaza aid site
Gaza's civil defense agency said Israeli gunfire killed at least 31 people and wounded 176 near the aid distribution site...Geostrategy
Egypt unveils plan for new desert city in latest megaproject
The new city, named Jirian meaning "Flow" in Arabic, is part of Egypt's Nile Delta scheme, a massive agricultural initiative...Geostrategy
With AI and more shade, Saudi Arabia set for a searing hajj
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia -- With artificial intelligence, more shade and misting machines, Saudi authorities are preparing to welcome more than...Saudi Arabia's hajj minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah told AFP on Thursday that efforts to mitigate the searing desert heat remained a top focus among authorities.
This year, Rabiah said authorities have mobilized more than 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials and doubled their efforts to mitigate heat-related risks.
Global economic outlook worsens, AI emerges as both catalyst and risk
Geneva, Switzerland – The global economic outlook has worsened since the start of the year, as rising economic nationalism and...Nearly all the chief economists (97 percent) place trade policy among the areas of highest uncertainty, followed by monetary policy (49 percent) and fiscal policy (35 percent).
This uncertainty is expected to weigh on key economic indicators, including trade volumes (70 percent), GDP growth (68 percent) and foreign direct investment (62 percent).
US suspends student visa processing in fresh swipe at foreign applicants
President Donald Trump's administration is seeking unprecedented control over leading US universities, including revoking foreign student visas and deporting some...The government plans to ramp up vetting of the social media profiles of international applicants to US universities, the cable said.
Rubio earlier rescinded hundreds of visas and the Trump administration has moved to bar Harvard University from admitting non-Americans.
Iran president in Oman as nuclear talks progress
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday began a two-day visit to Oman, which is mediating ongoing nuclear talks between Tehran...Pezeshkian travelled to Muscat looking to promote "peace and stability", he said, two days after US President Donald Trump described the latest negotiations as "very, very good".
"We hope to engage in dialogue to reach a shared perspective and a common voice on promoting peace and stability in the region," Pezeshkian said in a televised speech
South East Asia, Gulf and China three-way talks ‘response to call of times’
The trade-dependent economies are looking to insulate themselves after US President Donald Trump blew up global trade norms by announcing...Though he subsequently instigated a 90-day pause for most, the experience has spurred ASEAN and others to accelerate efforts to diversify their trading networks.
China is only Southeast Asia's fourth largest source of foreign direct investment, after the United States, Japan and the European Union, noted NUS' Chong.
US-backed group says it has begun aid distribution in Gaza
A controversial US-backed aid group for Gaza announced Monday that it had begun distributing food in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory,...The Gaza Humanitarian foundation (GHF) said in a statement that it commenced operations in Gaza today, delivering truckloads of food to its Secure Distribution Sites
The United Nations and international aid agencies have meanwhile said they will not cooperate with the GHF, amid accusations it is working with Israel
Israel strikes Gaza, kills 53 people as Witkoff says Hamas didn’t accept 70-day temporary ceasefire
Hamas said Monday it had accepted a new ceasefire proposal by US envoy Steve Witkoff, presented by mediators, but a...Israel has in recent weeks expanded its offensive in the Gaza Strip, drawing international condemnation as aid trickles in following a monthslong blockade
European and Arab leaders meeting in Spain over the weekend called for an end to the "inhumane" war, while humanitarian groups said the trickle of aid was not enough
Iran rejects push to suspend uranium enrichment to reach nuclear deal with US
The issue has come into focus in recent weeks, with Iran staunchly defending its right to enrich uranium as part...The issue has come into focus in recent weeks, with Iran staunchly defending its right to enrich uranium as part of what it says is a civilian nuclear programme
The negotiations, which began in April, are the highest-level contact between the two sides since the United States quit a landmark 2015 nuclear accord
Hamas accepts mediators’ latest Gaza ceasefire proposal
The outline of the new potential deal was revealed as Israel ramped up its offensive in the Palestinian territory, and..."Hamas has agreed to the new proposal by US envoy Steve Witkoff, which the movement received from mediators," the Hamas source told AFP.
The deal included "a 70-day truce in exchange for the release of 10 hostages in two batches, and during the truce, negotiations would begin on a permanent ceasefire.
Due to war, under 5 percent of Gaza cropland useable for farming: UN
Paris, France -- Under five percent of Gaza's farmland is useable due to war, further exacerbating the risk of famine...By the end of April, more than 80 percent of the farmland was damaged and 77.8 percent was no longer accessible, leaving barely 4.6 percent of potentially arable land.
Some 688 hectares (1,700 acres) is all that remains for cultivation, according to the assessment.
