Popular Post
February 2025 Sees Euro Zone Inflation Rate Take a Notable Turn
The Euro zone inflation rate eased to 2.4% in February, slightly above analyst expectations, according to flash data from Eurostat. Inflation is expected to remain around its current levels, with energy prices forecast to rise slightly and food inflation staying above 2%, amidst geopolitical uncertainty. Read the full story here
Geneva Summit to Tackle Middle East Peace on March 7
A conference on the situation of civilians in the Israeli-occupied territories will be held in Geneva on March 7, organized by Switzerland as the depositary state of the Geneva Conventions. The United Nations General Assembly mandated Switzerland to organize the meeting, which will examine measures to implement the Fourth Geneva Convention in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and will be attended by all 196 states parties to the Convention. Read the full story…
Netanyahu Rejects Hamas Truce Offer as “Completely Unacceptable”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that Hamas has proposed unacceptable conditions for a permanent ceasefire. He warned of "further steps" if Hamas continues to hold Israeli hostages. Netanyahu confirmed Israel's acceptance of a 50-day temporary ceasefire extension plan, but claimed Hamas has rejected it. He expressed gratitude to President Donald Trump for support and announced the use of starvation as a tool against Hamas. Read the full story here
European Powers Push for Temporary Ceasefire to Shield Ukraine’s Critical Infrastructure
France and the UK have proposed a one-month ceasefire "in the air, on the seas" as part of a new peace plan for Ukraine, according to French President Emmanuel Macron. The proposal, which does not extend to ground combat, was put forward to both Kyiv and Moscow. Macron described the aerial and naval truce as a first step toward broader peace efforts, adding that European troops could be deployed to Ukraine in the future, with…
Deadly Haifa Attack: Stabbing Spree Leaves One Man Dead, Multiple Injured
A terror stabbing attack occurred at a central bus terminal in Haifa, resulting in the death of a 70-year-old man and injuring at least four others, three seriously. The attacker, a 20-year-old Druze resident with German citizenship, was shot and killed at the scene by a civilian security guard, and authorities are investigating if he acted alone. Read the full story here
US Freezes Initiatives in Armenia Amidst New Partnership Agreement
Armenia has announced that two planned activities with the US did not take place or were halted, including a visit from the US Customs and Border Protection team. This development comes as the US has begun sweeping cuts to its foreign aid programmes, with a 90-day pause in development assistance for assessment of programmatic efficiencies. Read the full story here
Georgia Plummets Down Global Democracy Rankings, Trails Only Three Countries in Sharp Decline
Georgia experienced a significant decline in democracy, with the steepest deterioration in the region and the fourth largest decline globally, according to the 2024 democracy index by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The country's democracy score fell to 4.70, down from 5.20 in 2023, with the report citing the controversial foreign agent law and contested parliamentary elections as contributing factors, amidst a broader geopolitical context involving Russia and the EU. Read the full story here
Exposing TikTok’s Dark Secret: Kenyan Children Exploited in Livestreams for Profit
TikTok is profiting from sexual livestreams performed by teens as young as 15, according to an investigation. The platform takes a cut of about 70% from all livestream transactions, despite banning solicitation. The company claims to have "zero tolerance for exploitation" but moderators have told the BBC that TikTok is aware of the scale of the issue and does not take sufficient action to prevent it. Child exploitation is a significant problem on the platform,…
Trade Tensions Escalate: China Sets Sights on US Farming Sector Amid Looming Tariff Deadline
China is preparing countermeasures against new US import tariffs set to take effect, with American agricultural exports likely to be targeted. The US has imposed a 10% duty on Chinese products, citing concerns over fentanyl imports, prompting China to study and formulate countermeasures that may include tariffs and non-tariff measures against US agricultural products. Read the full story here
Angel of Life: Unsung Hero’s Gift Saves Countless Lives, Leaves Lasting Legacy
James Harrison, a renowned blood donor, has passed away at the age of 88. His rare antibody, Anti-D, was used to create medication that saved the lives of over two million babies. Harrison donated his blood plasma every two weeks for 63 years, earning him the title of one of the world's most prolific blood donors, before being overtaken by a US donor in 2022, and was known for his selfless contributions to medical research.…