Pope Francis dies and US strikes on Yemen intensify
Pope Francis has died at his residence in the Vatican. US air strikes on Sanaa killed at least 12 people and wounded 30 overnight into Monday. Adnoc has signed new supply agreements with Chinese companies.
On today's episode of Trending Middle East:
US air strikes on Sanaa kill at least 12, Yemen's Houthis say
This episode features The National's Editor-in-Chief, Mina Al-Oraibi.
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Al Etihad
2 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Most global markets rise as traders eye possible Trump-Xi talks
3 June 2025 11:50 HONG KONG (AFP)Most markets rose Tuesday as investors kept tabs on developments in the China-US trade war as speculation swirled that the countries' leaders will hold talks a period of relative calm on tariffs, Donald Trump at the weekend accused Beijing of violating last month's deal to slash huge tit-for-tat levies, and threatened to double tolls on steel and moves jolted Asian markets on Monday, but hopes that the US president will speak with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping -- possibly this week -- has given investors some hope for a positive oil prices extended Monday's surge on a weak has expressed confidence that a talk with Xi could ease trade tensions."They violated a big part of the agreement we made," he said Friday. "But I'm sure that I'll speak to President Xi, and hopefully we'll work that out."The US president's economic adviser Kevin Hassett signalled on Sunday that officials were anticipating something this week. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said at the weekend the leaders could speak "very soon".Officials from both sides are set for talks on the sidelines of an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ministerial meeting in Paris on of the gathering, the OECD said it had slashed its 2025 growth outlook for the global economy to 2.9 percent from 3.1 percent previously expected. It also said the US economy would expand 1.6 percent, from an earlier estimate of 2.2 there has been no movement on the issue, investors in most Asian markets took the opportunity on Tuesday to pick up recently sold shares. Hong Kong gained more than one percent, while Shanghai returned from a long weekend with gains, even as a private survey showed Chinese factory activity shrinking at its fastest pace since September 2022. There were also gains in Sydney, Bangkok, Jakarta and Manila, while London, Paris and Frankfurt opened higher. Tokyo, Singapore, Wellington and Mumbai retreated. Seoul was closed for a presidential election. The advances followed a positive day on Wall Street led by tech giants in the wake of a forecast-beating earnings report from chip titan US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Monday voiced optimism for a trade deal with India "in the not too distant future", adding that he was "very optimistic".And Japanese trade point man Ryosei Akazawa is eyeing another trip to Washington for more negotiations amid speculation of a deal as early as this month. Also in focus is Trump's signature "big, beautiful bill" that is headlined by tax cuts slated to add up to $3 trillion to the nation's debt.
Arabian Post
6 hours ago
- Arabian Post
Brussels' Procurement Clampdown Sparks Trade Tensions with Beijing
The European Union has enacted measures to restrict Chinese medical device manufacturers from participating in large-scale public procurement contracts, citing systematic discrimination against European suppliers in China's domestic market. This decision marks the first use of the EU's International Procurement Instrument , a mechanism designed to enforce reciprocal access to public tenders. Under the new directive, Chinese firms are barred from bidding on EU public contracts exceeding €5 million for a duration of five years. The European Commission's investigation revealed that 87% of Chinese procurement tenders contained explicit or implicit barriers against foreign medical devices. These barriers include complex certification requirements, opaque approval processes, and pricing structures that disadvantage non-domestic suppliers. The Commission's findings highlighted China's 'Buy China' policy and the 'Made in China 2025' strategy as central to these discriminatory practices. These initiatives aim to increase the share of domestically produced medical devices in Chinese hospitals, with targets set at 70% by 2025. Such policies have led to a significant reduction in the approval of imported medical devices in various provinces, notably in Guangdong, where approved imports dropped from 132 in 2019 to 46 in 2021. ADVERTISEMENT In response, the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU expressed strong concerns, arguing that the EU's measures could disrupt bilateral trade relations. The Chamber emphasized that European companies have historically enjoyed broad access to China's medical device market and warned against unilateral actions that might escalate tensions. The EU's decision aligns with its broader strategy to reduce dependency on external suppliers for critical goods, a policy often referred to as 'de-risking.' This approach seeks to ensure that European industries are not overly reliant on non-EU countries, especially in sectors deemed essential for public health and safety. Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič is scheduled to meet with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Paris to discuss the implications of the new measures and explore potential resolutions. While the EU maintains that its actions are proportionate and aimed at restoring fair competition, it remains open to dialogue to address the underlying issues. The implementation of the IPI reflects the EU's commitment to enforcing fair trade practices and ensuring that European companies have equitable access to global markets. However, the move also underscores the growing complexities in EU-China trade relations, particularly as both parties navigate the challenges of balancing domestic interests with international obligations.
The National
7 hours ago
- The National
Why Stanley Tucci doesn't want to be the next Anthony Bourdain
Stanley Tucci has a lot of time to think, and he hates it. The American actor, 64, has spent the majority of his life making movies – Conclave, The Devil Wears Prada, The Hunger Games, to name a few – and as much as he loves acting, he laments the fact that he doesn't actually do all that much of it. 'Acting doesn't fulfil me as much as it used to,' Tucci tells The National. 'You're on these sets for 12 to 13 hours a day, and you may only act for 20 minutes of that time. I end up thinking, 'there's got to be a better way to do this! I just want to keep going and going – I'm very impatient. 'I get paid to wait. It's the acting I do for free. That's the way I feel, at this point.' The problem is, when you're sitting around all day, you're rarely learning something – even about yourself. It's a problem we all have – but he has lost patience with that disconnect. Which is why, over the last decade, Tucci has gone out into the world to learn more about who he really is – through travel and especially through food. 'I think we've gotten out of touch with ourselves physically,' Tucci explains. 'One of the reasons is we're all sitting in front of computers, or on our phones all the time – or myself, waiting on a set – and desk work is far more prominent than doing any kind of labour.' In Tucci's mind, it's all connected. By focusing more on what he eats, he's thought more about where it comes from – both the land, and the culture and traditions the land inspires. And by starting at the source, we see ourselves more clearly. 'Getting in touch with the land is so important. From the land comes our food, and then the food goes onto the table, and into us,' says Tucci. Growing up, Tucci was also quite disconnected from his roots. He didn't understand why all the other kids at his small-town school 75 km outside of New York City were eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and he was having leftovers his mother had packed him of last night's eggplant parmigiana. But with each passing decade, he has increasingly immersed himself in his Italian heritage – and embracing even its flaws. And by focusing his journey on food, he has ended up learning more about the country's rich complexities than one might imagine. All of this is in service to understanding the country – and himself – better. 'I don't want to romanticise Italy. I think that's been done ad nauseum. I think it's not interesting and it's not truthful,' says Tucci. Tucci in Italy, his new National Geographic series airing weekly in the UAE and available to stream on Disney+, embraces what he feels is the true Italy. In the first episode, for example, he explores Tuscany, focusing specifically on dishes that were created by and for the working class. First he tries lampredotto, the Florentine street food sandwich made from the fourth stomach of a cow. It's named after the eels that once inhabited the Arno river, and only the rich could afford. The tripe dish, then, was invented to imitate its flavours. But the story doesn't stop here. Tucci then finds another old peasant dish made with imitation tripe by those that couldn't even afford cow stomach. That one might even be his favourite. Politically speaking, there's a reason that he focuses on the lower class – at a time when, once again, immigrants and the poor are being scapegoated, both in Italy and in the United States. It's something his immigrant family likely went through once, too. 'I think particularly in today's climate, immigrants are vilified and wrongly so, because they have so much to bring to a culture. Millions of Italians once came over to America, and they were vilified to a certain extent. Also, I think that's something that Italian Americans have to remember, and Italians themselves should remember, too,' says Tucci. But as much as he's enjoyed diving into the unexplored corners of Italy for the series – with another season already shot and set to air next year – he's also adamant that his journey will stop there. While he wants to go deeper into his ancestral homeland, a project he started with the CNN series Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy in 2021, he doesn't want to explore the rest of the world on camera. It's clear he doesn't want to be the next Anthony Bourdain – the late chef who grew internationally famous for his globetrotting food series Parts Unknown. 'I don't want to do different regions and different countries, because I don't think that would be appropriate. I don't have a connection to those countries,' Tucci explains. In fact, it sounds like Tucci doesn't think there should be another Anthony Bourdain at all. Instead, he wants the Tucci in Italy model to be repeated globally – starring figures who are looking to explore their roots, not modern-day adventurers looking to become the Indiana Jones of restaurants. 'I think it would be more interesting to have somebody like me explore those countries in the way that I've done it – and they need to have a connection to those countries. They need to speak the language, and they have to really, really appreciate the food – not just like to eat. 'They have to know food and be willing to explore and ask questions. It's not just about what's delicious – it's about understanding the passion of the people that make it.' In fact, the next season of Tucci in Italy may be the final food travel series for Tucci. 'I'm kind of tired,' he says. Tucci is grappling with the fact that, at 64, he's aging. And part of knowing himself now is about knowing how to navigate his limitations. He's doing that by focusing, once again, on food. 'As a person who's getting older, your body is changing all the time – meaning it's getting weaker all the time. You need to know what it is you need to strengthen yourself - to keep yourself strong. Otherwise I'll grow impatient with myself, too.'
