Tuesday , 16 December 2025

News

China hits back at US, Canada with sanctions

Bloomberg A quarrel over allegations of human-rights abuses in China worsened as Beijing announced retaliatory sanctions on individuals in US and Canada and corporate fallout spread. Tensions have flared over reports of forced labour being used to harvest cotton in China’s western province of Xinjiang, accusations that Beijing routinely dismisses as politically motivated lies. On Saturday, China’s Foreign Ministry announced …

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US condemns attacks against Saudi Arabia

WASHINGTON / WAM The United States strongly condemned the attacks against Saudi Arabia that struck an oil facility in Jazan. The actions by the Houthis are a clear provocation meant to perpetuate the conflict, Ned Price, Department Spokesperson said in a press statement. “This is the latest in a series of Houthi attempts to disrupt global energy supplies and threatens …

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US welcomes Saudi Arabia’s initiative to end Yemeni crisis

WASHINGTON / WAM The United States welcomed Saudi Arabia’s initiative to end the Yemeni crisis, as well as Yemen’s Government commitment to a ceasefire and political process in the country. Deputy Spokesperson at the US Department of State Jalina Porter affirmed during a press meeting that discussions in support of peace efforts are ongoing, calling on all parties to commit …

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Oil’s worst week in nearly five months ends on a high note

Bloomberg Oil ended its worst week since October on a gain, a day after inflation concerns and worries over the trajectory of near-term demand triggered the largest daily loss in several months. Wall Street banks said the sell-off was transitory. Futures in New York ended the week 6.4% lower, with last week’s rise doing little to reverse the previous session’s …

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Workers going back to Gulf, says Indian minister

NEW DELHI / WAM The largest number of Indians returning to the jobs they had left abroad last year due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic has been to the Gulf, India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar, told Parliament on Monday. “The focus of our efforts in the last few months has now shifted to Indians going back …

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India foreign-exchange reserves become world’s fourth biggest

Bloomberg India’s foreign-exchange reserves surpassed Russia’s to become the world’s fourth largest, as the South Asian nation’s central bank continues to hoard dollars to cushion the economy against any sudden outflows. Reserves for both countries have mostly flattened out this year after months of rapid increase. India pulled ahead as Russian holdings declined at a faster rate in recent weeks. …

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UAE calls for UN action to stop armed groups hindering aid

NEW YORK / WAM The UAE urged the UN Security Council (UNSC) to unequivocally condemn the obstruction of the delivery of humanitarian aid by armed groups and demand that they fully respect their obligations under international humanitarian law. The UAE submitted a written statement to UN Security Council for its open debate on conflict and food security convened by United …

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Oil drops for first week in two months with rally losing steam

Bloomberg Oil in London falls for the first week in two months as signals of a patchy demand rebound across the globe and a stronger dollar held back crude’s rally. Global benchmark Brent futures fall 0.6%. West Texas Intermediate also edged lower, posting its first weekly decline in three weeks. A fresh bout of bond volatility spurred a risk-off mood …

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UAE sends more humanitarian aid to flood-hit people in Sudan

KHARTOUM / WAM The Emirates Red Crescent (ERC) continues to provide additional humanitarian aid to those affected by floods which swept through a number of Sudanese states last year, as part of its efforts to address the repercussions of the disaster that is still affecting people in some areas. In this context, the ERC dispatched three new aid convoys to …

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Coalition forces destroy two Houthi-fired drones

RIYADH / WAM The Coalition Forces to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen on Saturday morning intercepted and destroyed two bomb-laden UAVs launched “systematically and deliberately” by the terrorist Houthi militia to target civilians and civilian objects in Khamis Mushait and Jazan. The Saudi Press Agency quoted Spokesperson Col. Turki Al Maliki as saying that these are the 7th and 8th bomb-laden …

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