Global events and international developments affecting markets.
Reporting on international affairs, geopolitical developments, and global economic trends. This category connects world events to their potential impact on financial markets, trade flows, and investor risk perception.
331 total articles
Palestinians who have been unable to cross Gaza’s Rafah border into Egypt since summer 2024 gathered with mixed emotions as authorities prepared for a reopening tied to an October ceasefire agreement. For many, the chance to travel means urgent medical care or reuniting with family; for others it risks leaving them stranded abroad if new restrictio…
The reopening of the Rafah crossing with Egypt has accelerated the second phase of the U.S.-led plan to end the Gaza war, but major issues remain unsettled. Central among them are whether Hamas will disarm, what role and mandate an international stabilisation force would have, and who will fund and oversee reconstruction. Israeli authorities warn t…
Israel has reopened the Rafah crossing with Egypt to pedestrian traffic, permitting some Palestinians to exit Gaza or return after displacement. The reopening is tightly controlled - Israel is requiring security screenings, and both Israel and Egypt are expected to cap the number of travelers. Significant restrictions remain in place, including a c…
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council and former president, warned that global tensions are rising and that the 'pain threshold' appears to be falling. He said Russia does not want a global war but cautioned that such an outcome cannot be excluded. Medvedev praised renewed contacts with Washington, criticized Western actions…
The UK Treasury has put forward voluntary exit packages worth as much as £100,000 ($136,790) to encourage officials to leave amid proposals to cut several hundred jobs. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves is targeting a reduction of about 300 roles from current staffing levels of roughly 2,100 by 2030, as part of a government-wide effort to trim adminis…
Laura Fernandez has been declared Costa Rica's next president and says she will advance a populist agenda aligned with outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves. Her platform includes constitutional reforms, the use of states of emergency that would limit civil liberties in high-crime areas, and completion of a high-security prison modeled on El Salvador's…
Premium bottled water is emerging as a conspicuous consumption item for affluent Indians, who are paying multiples of basic bottled-water prices for domestic and imported mineral waters. Driven by worries over contaminated groundwater, limited trust in tap water and a rising wellness trend, the premium segment has expanded rapidly in a market alrea…
Syrian security forces say they have arrested all members of a cell blamed for multiple rocket strikes on the Mezzeh military airport in Damascus, with investigators tracing the munitions to Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Authorities reported the seizure of drones believed to be intended for further operations and said the detainees maintained ties with unid…
Senior U.S. and Israeli generals convened at the Pentagon on Friday for private discussions as American forces increase naval and air defenses in the Middle East. U.S. officials declined to provide details of the meeting, and Iran issued a warning of a regional conflict should the United States launch an attack.
Swiss authorities said on Feb. 1 that an 18-year-old who had been hospitalized after the New Year fire at a bar in Crans-Montana has died, raising the confirmed fatalities to 41. Most victims were teenagers; dozens remain injured and some are being treated for severe burns. The tragedy has sparked public demonstrations and strained relations with I…
Pope Leo expressed deep concern about escalating tensions between the United States and Cuba and urged "sincere and effective dialogue" to prevent violence and suffering. His comments followed U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement of potential tariffs on imports from nations that supply oil to Cuba, and Cuba's foreign minister declared an "int…
Costa Ricans vote in a general election with Laura Fernandez, a protege of President Rodrigo Chaves, leading polls at just over 40%—a level that would let her win outright and avoid an April 5 runoff. Fernandez is campaigning as a continuation of Chaves’ hardline security and anti-establishment platform and is seeking 40 of the 57 legislative seats…
Pakistani authorities say security forces killed 145 militants over a 40-hour period following coordinated attacks across the southwestern province of Balochistan. The province, rich in natural resources and bordering Iran and Afghanistan, saw violence in multiple districts as militants targeted security forces, civilians and infrastructure. The ba…
Iran’s Supreme Leader warned that a U.S. attack would turn into a wider regional conflict, reiterating Tehran’s stance that it does not seek to initiate hostilities but will respond strongly to any aggression. The statement comes amid a U.S. naval buildup in the Middle East and after months of domestic unrest that saw thousands killed, according to…
Israeli and Palestinian officials say preparatory steps are under way to reopen Gaza's Rafah border crossing for pedestrian traffic in both directions, coordinated with Egypt and the European Union. The initial operation will be limited, focused on patients and escorts, and subject to strict security checks and capacity constraints. Uncertainty rem…
Mark Savaya, who was named by U.S. President Donald Trump in October as special envoy for Iraq, is no longer in that post, according to sources familiar with the decision. The departure unfolds against rising friction between Washington and Baghdad over efforts to curb Iran-linked influence in Iraqi politics and follows the nomination of former pri…
Laura Dogu, the United States' senior envoy for Venezuela, landed in Caracas as Caracas and Washington take steps to restore relations severed in 2019. Venezuelan officials say the visit is intended to establish a roadmap for bilateral issues and to address outstanding differences through diplomatic channels. The trip comes after a recent agreement…
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for former Prince Andrew to appear before a U.S. congressional committee to explain his interactions with the late financier Jeffrey Epstein after newly published Justice Department files revealed sustained contact and redacted images raising further questions.
Several hundred people assembled outside the U.S. Embassy in Copenhagen to show solidarity with Danish veterans who said they were insulted by President Donald Trump’s recent comments questioning European allies’ roles in the Afghanistan conflict. The crowd, including former service members wearing NATO medals, laid Danish flags embroidered with na…
A federal judge in Minnesota declined on Saturday to enjoin a large-scale Department of Homeland Security operation that sent thousands of immigration agents to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. The state had sought court intervention, alleging widespread civil rights violations including shootings and racial profiling. The judge acknowledged serious …
Drone strikes struck two Isuzu trucks in northern Tigray, killing one person and injuring another, according to a senior Tigrayan official and a humanitarian worker. The attacks, which sources said occurred near Enticho and Gendebta, come amid renewed clashes between regional forces and the Ethiopian National Defence Force and follow recent disrupt…
Palestinian health officials say Israeli airstrikes in Gaza have left at least 12 people dead, including children. The incidents, reported in Gaza City and Khan Younis, come amid ongoing disputes over violations of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire and fresh clashes in Rafah that Israeli forces say involved gunmen emerging from a tunnel.
Tens of thousands of residents of the Tirah Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have relocated to nearby towns in recent weeks after mosque broadcasts urged evacuation ahead of possible military operations. Despite severe winter weather and deep snow, families traveled to towns such as Bara, about 71 km east, to register for assistance, with local officia…
Affluent Indians are increasingly treating bottled mineral water as a luxury and wellness product, driving rapid growth in the premium segment. Domestic brands and imports are commanding substantially higher prices than basic bottled water as consumers seek mineral content and perceived health benefits. Industry participants report strong sales gai…
Students who joined the mass pro-democracy demonstrations that followed Myanmar's 2021 military takeover have faced arrests, harsh detention conditions and deaths in custody. Interviews with relatives and associates of jailed students, and data from two prison-monitor groups, document at least 74 political prisoners aged 18-35 who have died while d…
