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☆ Biden 'determined' not to deploy U.S. troops to Ukraine; Chinese delegation meets in Kyiv
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-08 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Microsoft on Friday said that Russian group Nobelium, which the company refers to as Midnight Blizzard, has been trying to access its internal systems and source code repositories. "In recent weeks, we have seen evidence that Midnight Blizzard is using information initially exfiltrated from our corporate email systems to gain, or attempt to gain, unauthorized access. This has included access to some of the company's source code repositories and internal systems," Microsoft said in a blog post. Microsoft said Midnight Blizzard was trying to access secrets, including those shared between Microsoft and its customers, but that it was reaching out and helping affected customers. Microsoft first said in January that it had detected a cyberattack from Nobelium, which saw the Russian group hack emails from top executives.

Persons: Blizzard, — Sophie Kiderlin Organizations: Microsoft, Midnight Locations: Nobelium, Russian

☆ Egypt hikes interest rates by 600 basis points, pound crumbles to record low
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Egypt's pound hit a record low against the dollar on Wednesday after its central bank hiked interest rates by 600 points and devalued the currency. The Egyptian pound was trading at roughly 50 to the dollar following the announcement, from 30.85 previously, according to LSEG data. The country's key interest rate now stands at 27.25%, the central bank said Wednesday. Egypt, the Arab world's most populous country at roughly 110 million people, is facing a protracted shortage of foreign currency. "In preparation for the successful implementation of these measures, sufficient funding has been secured to avail foreign exchange liquidity."

Persons: James Swanston, Egypt's Organizations: International Monetary Fund, Economics, United, IMF, Monetary, Government, P Global Market Intelligence Locations: Egypt, East, Africa, London, United Arab Emirates, Cairo

☆ Turkish annual inflation soars to 67% in February
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Turkish annual consumer price inflation soared to 67.07% in February, the Turkish Statistical Institute said Monday, coming in above expectations. Analysts polled by Reuters had anticipated annual inflation would climb to 65.7% last month. The combined sector of hotels, cafes and restaurants saw the greatest annual price inflation increase at 94.78%, followed by education at 91.84%, while the rate for health stood at 81.25% and transportation at 77.98%, according to the statistical institute. "Obviously a disappointing set of inflation prints this morning," Timothy Ash, emerging markets strategist at BlueBay Asset Management, wrote in a note. He added that this development has "continued to put downward pressure on the lira," creating an inflation pass-through.

Persons: Liam Peach, Mehmet Simsek, Turkey's, Timothy Ash, Ash Organizations: Turkish Statistical Institute, Reuters, Food, Economics, Capital Economics, Turkish, BlueBay Asset Management, FX Locations: Sariyer, Istanbul, Turkish, London

☆ Iran holds first elections since Mahsa Amini protests, with low turnout and boycott expected
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Iranian women cast their ballots at a polling station during elections to select members of parliament and a key clerical body, in Tehran on March 1, 2024. Iran holds its parliamentary elections on Friday, in the first vote for Iranians since a nationwide protest movement for women's rights rocked the country in 2022. "Transition from the despotic religious regime is a national demand and the only way for the survival of Iran, Iranians, and our humanity," Mohammadi added. "And providing the political system with overt legitimacy, after the very system has disregarded and abused people and civil rights, is just too much." Country analysts expect a nationwide turnout of between 30% and 50%, while state polling center ISPA estimated the turnout in Tehran at just 23.5% and 38.5% nationally.

Persons: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Khamenei, Mehdi, Narges Mohammadi, Mohammadi, Sanam Vakil Organizations: Islamic, Assembly, Experts, CNBC, Iranian, Chatham House Locations: Tehran, Iran, Iran's, East, North Africa

☆ Biden faces anger from key Arab-American voters in Michigan primary over Israel support in Gaza war
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Michigan's Arab-American community voted overwhelmingly for Biden in 2020, helping him carry the state and defeat then-incumbent Donald Trump. U.S. President Joe Biden is welcomed by Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu, as he visits Israel amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 18, 2023. Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters"The U.S. election for President Biden could swing on two or three states," Fred Kempe, CEO of the Atlantic Council, told CNBC. "Take one of those states, Michigan, [which] Biden won by fewer votes in the last election than there are Arab American votes that could go against him, because of what's going on in the Middle East. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators march during a visit by President Joe Biden in Warren, Mich., Feb. 1, 2024.

Persons: Mostafa Bassim, Biden's, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Ahmad Hasaballah, Rodriguez, Abdullah H, Hammoud, Biden, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Evelyn Hockstein, Fred Kempe, it's, Jon, Paul Sancya, Gretchen Whitmer, Abdulqader Organizations: Islamic Center of Detroit, Anadolu, Getty, Michigan's Democratic, Israel, Palestinian, Hamas, United Nations, Dearborn, White, CNBC, Democratic, Israeli, Reuters, Atlantic Council, U.S, The New York Times, Michigan, Trump, Israeli Forces Locations: Michigan, United States, Warren , Michigan, Gaza, Dearborn, U.S, Rafah, Dearborn , Michigan, Arab, American, Israel, Tel Aviv, Warren, Mich, Khan Yunis

☆ Goldman Sachs and Abu Dhabi's Mubadala ink $1 billion partnership to invest in Asia Pacific
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Goldman Sachs and Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala on Monday signed a $1 billion private credit partnership to co-invest in the Asia-Pacific region, with a particular focus on India, the institutions said in a joint statement. The separately managed account, termed the "Partnership," will be managed by Private Credit at Goldman Sachs Alternatives, with a staff based on the ground in various markets across the region. It will invest the long-term capital in "high quality companies ... across the private credit spectrum" across a number of Asia-Pacific markets. The UAE in October 2023 announced a target to invest $75 billion in India over a period of time, while Saudi Arabia set an investment target in the country of $100 billion. "India, in particular, stands out as a key market with significant opportunities in private credit, and where Goldman Sachs has strong exposure and capabilities," said Fabrizio Bocciardi, Mubadala's head of credit investments, in a press release.

Persons: United Arab Emirates — Goldman Sachs, Goldman Sachs, Fabrizio Bocciardi Organizations: United Arab Emirates, Monday, Private Credit, Goldman Sachs, Abu Dhabi Global Market, United Arab Locations: DUBAI, United Arab, Abu Dhabi, Asia, Pacific, India, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Saudi Arabia

☆ Iran has the largest ballistic missile arsenal in the Middle East. Now it's sending them to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Iran presents its first hypersonic ballistic missile 'Fattah' (Conqueror) in an event attended by President Ebrahim Raisi and other government officials in Tehran, Iran on June 06, 2023. Reuters reported that Iran delivered at least 400 of its short-range Fateh-110 ballistic missiles to Russia in January of this year, and that figure is likely to rise. "It was always a matter of when, not if, Iran would transfer ballistic missiles to Russia," Behnam ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told CNBC. Ballistic missiles will keep him in that fight for longer now." In 2022, U.S. Central Command estimated that Iran had over 3,000 ballistic missiles in its arsenal.

Persons: Ebrahim Raisi, Vladimir Putin, Behnam ben Taleblu, Putin Organizations: Reuters, Foundation for Defense of Democracies, CNBC, U.S . Central Command Locations: Iran, Tehran, Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, U.S, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan

☆ Turkey holds interest rate at 45% for first time after 8 months of hikes
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Turkey is expected to head to the polls on Sunday. Turkey's central bank held its key interest rate on Thursday, keeping it at 45% despite soaring inflation after eight consecutive months of hikes. The move was widely expected as the bank indicated in January that its 250-basis-point hike would be its last for the year, despite inflation now at roughly 65%. Consumer prices in the country of 85 million last month jumped 6.7% from December — their biggest monthly jump since August — according to the Turkish central bank's figures. This is a developing story and will be updated shortly.

Organizations: Turkish Locations: Turkey, Turkish

☆ Turkey is back in from the cold with NATO and F-16 moves, but thorny issues remain
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Turkey spent nearly two years — along with Hungary — holding up Sweden's accession to NATO. Within hours of Ankara's decision, the U.S. approved a $23 billion sale for F-16 fighter jets to Turkey that had been delayed since 2021. It's worth noting that Hungary has yet to approve Sweden's NATO bid, and remains the only member of the alliance standing in the way of the Nordic country's accession. Turkey seemingly has a unique position that allows it to push the envelope and cross lines with its NATO allies. "My approval of Turkey's request to purchase F-16 aircraft has been contingent on Turkish approval of Sweden's NATO membership.

Persons: Turkey Recep Erdogan, It's, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, it's, Victoria Nuland, David Lepeska, Ben Cardin Organizations: NATO, Conference, Hungary —, UAE, Democratic, Senate Foreign Relations Locations: Turkey, Vilnius, Lithuania, Hungary, Sweden, Washington, Russian, Turkish, Eastern

☆ Israel's GDP contracts nearly 20% in fourth quarter amid Gaza war
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

An Israeli national flag above produce for sale at Carmel Market in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Nov. 7, 2023. Israel's gross domestic product shrank nearly 20% in the fourth quarter of 2023, according to official figures. It reflects the toll of the country's war against Hamas in Gaza, now entering its fifth month. "The deep GDP contraction occurred despite a strong surge in public sector consumption as well as a positive net trade contribution, with the decline in imports outpacing the decline in exports." Before then, more than 150,000 Palestinian workers from the occupied West Bank entered Israel daily for work in a range of sectors, predominantly in construction and agriculture.

Persons: Goldman Sachs Organizations: Carmel, Goldman, West Bank, Israel Locations: Israeli, Tel Aviv, Israel, Gaza

☆ Middle East escalation fears spike as Houthis launch most damaging attack yet
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed the group's responsibility for the attack, calling it their most severe yet. The group claim to support Palestinian civilians amid Israel's retaliatory military campaign in the Gaza Strip. Simultaneously, fighting is raging between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip with no sign of abating despite diplomatic efforts by a number of countries. INTERNATIONAL WATERS RED SEA, YEMEN - NOVEMBER 20: This handout screen grab captured from a video shows Yemen's Houthi fighters' takeover of the Galaxy Leader Cargo in the Red Sea coast off Hudaydah, on November 20, 2023 in the Red Sea, Yemen. EU foreign ministers called in a joint statement for an immediate humanitarian pause that would lead to a lasting cease-fire.

Persons: Mohammed Huwais, Yemen's, Yahya Saree, Saree, Charles Myers, CNBC's, Myers, Hungary —, Israel's, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel, hasn't, Mohammed Abed Organizations: Hamas, Afp, Getty, U.S . Central Command, Global Advisors, SEA, Galaxy Leader Cargo, Handout, Security, Palestinian Locations: Israel, Sanaa, Gaza, Red, Belize, Gulf, Aden, Iranian, Yemen, U.S, Gulf Aden, Rafah, Gaza's, YEMEN, Red Sea, Lebanon, Iran, Beirut, Hungary

☆ Only the U.S. can force peace in the Middle East and it should pressure Israel, Lebanon foreign minister says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Lebanon's foreign minister called on the U.S. to pressure Israel and bring an end to its bloody war with Palestinian militant group Hamas, which has now entered its fifth month. "We want peace, I think the Palestinians are ready for peace and Americans should — [they are] the only country that can really enable peace," Bou Habib told CNBC's Silvia Amaro. "But they should exert some pressure over Israel like what happened in the 70s, Kissinger was there, and he exerted pressure on Israel to do the peace." Recent bills in the U.S. Congress have allocated tens of billions more in military aid since the Hamas terror attack of Oct. 7 that killed roughly 1,200 people. If the U.S. can't play a prominent role in stopping the hostilities, "then the war will continue," Bou Habib said.

Persons: Abdallah Bou Habib, Bou Habib, CNBC's Silvia Amaro, Kissinger, Henry, Israel, Israel's Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, CNBC, Munich Security, Congressional Research Service, U.S . Agency for International Development, Washington, U.S, Congress Locations: Israel, Washington, U.S, Gaza

☆ China's biggest problem is a 'lack of confidence,' Standard Chartered CEO says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

"China's biggest problem to me is a lack of confidence. External investors lack confidence in China and domestic savers lack confidence," Bill Winters, CEO of emerging markets-focused bank Standard Chartered, told CNBC's Dan Murphy Monday during a panel discussion. "But I think China is going through a major transition from old economy to new economy," Winters added. Investors are closely watching China, whose stock market gyrations, deflation problem and property woes are casting a shadow over the global growth outlook. Property and related industries account for about 25% of China's gross domestic product.

Persons: Bill Winters, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Winters Organizations: Chartered, International Monetary Fund Locations: DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, China

☆ Russia’s economy ‘in for very tough times’ despite improved growth outlook, IMF managing director says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, at a press conference at the IMF Headquarters on April 14, 2023. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The head of the International Monetary Fund warned the Russian economy is still facing significant head winds despite receiving a recent growth upgrade by the Washington-based institution. Russia's economy has proven to be surprisingly resilient amid waves of Western sanctions in the nearly two years since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Despite this, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva sees more trouble ahead for the country of roughly 145 million. "What it tells us is that this is a war economy in which the state — which let's remember, had a very sizeable buffer, built over many years of fiscal discipline — is investing in this war economy.

Persons: Kristalina Georgieva, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Georgieva, Vladimir Putin Organizations: International Monetary Fund, IMF, United Arab Emirates, World Governments, Defense, Reuters Locations: DUBAI, United Arab, Russian, Washington, Ukraine, Dubai, Russia, Soviet Union

☆ Pakistan's ex-PM Nawaz Sharif declares victory in fraught election as opponents claim vote rigging
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Campaign posters for Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan's former prime minister, along a street ahead of Pakistan's national election in Lahore, Pakistan, on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif declared victory on Friday in the country's 2024 General Election, one that many Pakistanis and human rights groups are decrying as neither free nor fair. Sharif, 74, cited the Election Commission of Pakistan in saying that his party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), had won the largest share of the national vote. "Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will almost certainly win," Chaudhuri said as the polls opened. A lifetime ban from partaking in politics and multiple corruption convictions for Sharif were overturned by Pakistani courts last year.

Persons: Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan, Pramit Pal Chaudhuri, Chaudhuri, Sharif, mending Organizations: Pakistan Muslim League, Nawaz, Eurasia Group, CNBC Locations: Lahore, Pakistan, Sharif, South Asia, U.K

☆ Turkey's new central bank governor, formerly at Amazon and New York Fed, seen as a 'credible choice'
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Turkey's newly appointed central bank governor Fatih Karahan has his work cut out for him, named to the job by presidential decree over the weekend after the sudden resignation of his predecessor, Hafize Gaye Erkan. Previously the central bank's deputy governor, Karahan's resume features years spent in prominent American institutions and companies. Turkey's consumer price index print came out Monday showing a roughly 65% increase year-on-year for the month of January. Its central bank has made eight consecutive interest rate hikes since May 2023 — for a cumulative 3,650 basis points — in an effort to rein in soaring inflation. While painful for the country, investors and economists say the rate hikes have been necessary and that continuity in monetary policy priorities will engender confidence in the new central bank chief.

Persons: Turkey's, Fatih Karahan, Hafize Gaye Erkan, Karahan's, —, Karahan Organizations: University of Pennsylvania, Federal Reserve Bank of New, Columbia University, New York University, Amazon, greenback Locations: Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Turkish

☆ Turkey's inflation sees biggest monthly jump since August, nears 65% year-on-year
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

President of Turkey Recep Erdogan addresses journalists during the final national press conference during the high level NATO summit in Litexpo Conference Centre in Vilnius, Lithuania on July 12, 2023. Inflation in Turkey for the month of January saw its biggest monthly jump since August, rising 6.7% from the month prior, while year-on-year inflation hit nearly 65%, according to the Turkish Central Bank's figures released Monday. This is a breaking news story, please check back later for more.

Persons: Turkey Recep Erdogan Organizations: NATO, Conference Locations: Turkey, Vilnius, Lithuania, Turkish Central

☆ Pakistan ex-PM Imran Khan hit with new 14-year jail sentence, a day after receiving 10-year term
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Pakistan's embattled former Prime Minister Imran Khan was hit with a fresh 14-year jail sentence on Wednesday after a state court found him guilty of graft, just one day after being handed a 10-year term on a conviction of leaking state secrets. His wife Bushra Bibi was also sentenced to a 14-year jail term for graft; the case implicating the couple involved the illegal sale of state gifts for profit while Khan was in office. Previously, many political analysts saw him as the likely winner of Pakistan's upcoming general election on Feb. 8. A towering figure in Pakistani politics for decades, Khan — along with his supporters — says the charges and arrests are politically motivated. It is not clear whether the 10 and 14-year-sentences will be served consecutively or concurrently, though some media reports say the terms will be concurrent.

Persons: Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi, Khan, Khan —, — Organizations: Pakistan, Bureau

☆ Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan sentenced to 10-year jail term
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, gestures as he speaks to the members of the media at his residence in Lahore, Pakistan May 18, 2023. Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has been sentenced to 10 years in jail on charges of leaking state secrets, his party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) confirmed in a post on social media site X on Tuesday. The former national cricket captain became Pakistan's prime minister in 2018. What can be more ridiculous than that Pakistan has imprisoned its Prime Minister and Foreign Minister for exposing the foreign conspiracy! One month later, he was removed from power in a vote of no-confidence by opposition lawmakers alleging corruption and unconstitutional actions.

Persons: Imran Khan, Pakistan Imran Khan, Khan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Khan's Organizations: Former, PTI Locations: Lahore, Pakistan, Islamabad, Washington

☆ Biden faces demands from Republicans in Congress to strike Iran after U.S. troop deaths
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Kevin Dietsch | Getty ImagesCongressional lawmakers are demanding President Joe Biden strike Iran after three U.S. troops were killed Sunday night in Jordan in a drone strike claimed by the Islamic Resistance of Iraq, an Iranian-backed militia group. Iran has not commented on the attack, while Jordan's government denied it took place on its soil. "I am calling on the Biden Administration to strike targets of significance inside Iran, not only as reprisal for the killing of our forces, but as deterrence against future aggression," Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said in a statement. Elmurod Usubaliev | Anadolu | Getty ImagesThe attack marks another regional escalation in a war that the Biden administration has tried to contain. Meanwhile, Lebanese Shia militia group Hezbollah and Israel are exchanging fire along the Israeli-Lebanese border, while Iran earlier this month struck targets in Iraq, Syria and Pakistan.

Persons: Lindsey Graham, Kevin Dietsch, Joe Biden, Republican Sen, Roger Wicker, Biden, Elmurod, Helima Croft Organizations: Sen, U.S, Capitol, Getty, Islamic, Hamas, Biden Administration, Republican, Senate Armed Services Committee, Anadolu, Lebanese Hezbollah, RBC Capital Markets Locations: Washington , DC, Iran, Jordan, Iraq, Iranian, U.S, Israel, Ankara, Turkiye, Yemeni, Gaza, Israel's, Yemen, Lebanese, Syria, Pakistan, Iraqi, United States

☆ Saudi Arabia's first alcohol store is a big step, but also aims to tackle a longstanding problem: Booze smuggling
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Saudi Arabia's first alcohol store has opened in the diplomatic quarter of its capital Riyadh, accessible to non-Muslim diplomats. Drinking is also forbidden under Islam, and most of Saudi Arabia's local population is religiously observant. From there, bottles are often sold on the black market at huge markups, according to expat and local residents of the country. A one-liter bottle of vodka, for instance, typically costs between $500 and $600 on the black market, sources said, while they described a single bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label going for between $1,000 and $2,000. At-home booze making has also taken place in the kingdom for decades, according to expats who've previously lived there.

Persons: Johnnie Walker Blue, expats who've Organizations: Saudi, CNBC Locations: Riyadh, Saudi, British, Dubai

☆ Turkey hikes interest rate again to 45% after inflation nears 65%
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Residents waiting at a bus stop under a large Turkish flag in Istanbul, Turkey, on Sunday, April 30, 2023. Turkey's central bank on Thursday hiked its key interest rate by another 250 basis points to 45%. The hike to the benchmark one-week repo rate was in line with economists' expectations. It comes amid an ongoing battle against double-digit inflation for Turkey's monetary policymakers, with the rate hike the latest step in that effort. The last several years of high inflation are in large part the result of stubbornly loose monetary policy by the Ankara government.

Organizations: Turkish, U.S, greenback Locations: Istanbul, Turkey, Turkey's, Ankara

☆ Iran's ‘brazen’ strikes around the Middle East send a message to Israel and the U.S., analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Fayaz Aziz | ReutersIran's recent missile and drone strikes on targets in three countries — Syria, Iraq and Pakistan — may not have been directly related to Israel's war in the Gaza Strip but they still revealed an intent to send a clear message, analysts told CNBC. Iraqi and Pakistani ministers vocally criticized the attacks, calling them a "violation" and vowing consequences. watch nowPakistan responded a day later, striking targets inside Iran that Iranian authorities say killed several people. They were also the first time Iran had deployed its military directly at any time since the Israel-Hamas war began. "There is an element of signaling to the United States and Israel by carrying out these strikes because they do showcase Iran's continued ballistic missile capabilities," Bohl told CNBC.

Persons: Fayaz Aziz, Ben Taleblu, we've, Ian Bremmer, Yemen's, Ryan Bohl, Bohl, Safin Hamid Organizations: Reuters, CNBC, ISIS, Foundation for Defense, Democracies, Washington D.C, Israel, Gaza, Hamas, Eurasia Group, Economic, Middle East, RANE Network, Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, AFP, Getty Locations: Iran, Tehran, Israel, Peshawar, Pakistan, Syria, Iraq, Gaza, Washington, Israeli, Iraq's Kurdistan, State, Iraqi, Davos, Lebanon, Hamas, Yemen, U.S, Red, United States, Kurdistan, Arbil

☆ Israel-Hamas war negotiations reportedly working toward a weeks-long cease-fire
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A picture taken from a position in southern Israel along the border with the Gaza Strip on January 19, 2024, shows an Israeli tank rolling along the fence as damaged buildings are see in the Gaza strip amid continuing battles between Israel and the militant group Hamas. Negotiations over the Israel-Hamas war are zeroing in on a cease-fire deal of one to two months in exchange for all remaining Israeli hostages being held captive in Gaza, according to sources who spoke to NBC News and Reuters. A second Israeli official said that more than 25 of the hostages are dead, but that Israel is demanding Hamas release the bodies. Reuters, meanwhile, cited three anonymous officials saying that Israel and Hamas "broadly agree in principle that an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners could take place during a month-long ceasefire," without mentioning which countries the officials represent. The continued barrier to progress in the discussions is a disagreement over how to end the Gaza war permanently, the officials added.

Organizations: Hamas, NBC News, Reuters Locations: Israel, Gaza, Hamas

☆ Saudi Arabia opens its first-ever alcohol store — but it's only accessible to a select group
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

According to a list of store rules seen by CNBC, the venue is only accessible to non-Muslim diplomats, and authorization must be validated through an app called Diplo. Saudi Arabia has opened its first alcohol store in the diplomatic quarter of its capital Riyadh, two sources told CNBC. "It's a baby step to opening up alcohol sales to non-Muslims in Saudi Arabia eventually, to hotels and other venues," said the consultant, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the topic. Foreign embassy staff, who are able to import alcohol to be kept on embassy premises, are known in Saudi Arabia to often import booze in large quantities and then sell it on the black market. Saudi Arabia has undergone seismic change both socially and economically in the years since the young Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, now the kingdom's de-facto ruler, came to power.

Persons: we've, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Organizations: CNBC, Foreign, Saudi, Crown Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Western

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