Results for: Middle East conflict

Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah have intensified, raising concerns of a full-scale war. Hezbollah, an Iran-aligned militant group, opened a battlefront with Israel in October, following a deadly Israeli raid in Gaza. Israel has warned it is prepared for a military operation along its border with Lebanon. The US has cautioned against escalation, fearing it could harm Israeli security. The UN has expressed concern and called for de-escalation. The conflict has displaced thousands along the border and is being fueled by Hezbollah and Hamas attacks on Israeli military installations.

In a significant rebuke of President Biden’s policy towards Israel, several House Democrats joined Republicans in passing the Israel Security Assistance Support Act. The bill condemns the administration’s withholding of offensive aid to Israel and mandates the expeditious delivery of previously approved weapons shipments. The move highlights growing concerns within the Democratic Party over Biden’s handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

The Indian government has issued an updated travel advisory for its citizens traveling to Iran and Israel, advising them to remain vigilant and maintain contact with the Indian embassy in those countries. The advisory comes as tensions remain high in the Middle East following an Israeli air strike on an Iranian embassy complex in Damascus and subsequent retaliatory actions by Iran. The advisory replaces a previous one issued on April 12 that urged Indian citizens to avoid visiting Iran and Israel.

President Joe Biden has finally addressed the campus unrest over the war in Gaza, condemning violence while supporting the right to peaceful protest. Amidst criticism for his previous silence and handling of the situation, Biden stated that destroying property, vandalism, and shutting down campuses is illegal and not a form of peaceful protest. He emphasized the importance of dissent in a democracy but stressed that it should not lead to disorder or infringe on the rights of others. In response to questions about deploying National Guard troops, Biden said he did not believe it was necessary.

Gold prices soared today, gaining $28.44 or 1.23% to reach $2343.68, setting a new intraday high of $2344.89. This upward momentum has pushed the price above its 100-hour moving average of $2335.13. Sustaining above this average could indicate further bullish sentiment, with the 200-hour moving average at $2356.62 emerging as the next critical target. Gold’s record high was set on April 12 at $2431.78. Despite easing tensions between Iran and Israel, the recent intensification of Israeli strikes on Rafah has redirected attention to the conflict in Gaza and Hamas, highlighting gold’s role as a safe haven asset.

Oil prices stabilized on Thursday, balancing signs of weakening fuel consumption in the US with escalating conflict risks in the Middle East. Both Brent crude futures and US West Texas Intermediate crude futures witnessed marginal gains. Data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) indicated a smaller-than-estimated decline in gasoline stockpiles and an unexpected increase in distillate inventories, suggestive of decelerating demand. This slowdown coincides with indications of subdued business activity in the US in April and expectations of delayed interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, dampening economic optimism.

Oil prices declined in early trading on Thursday due to worries about a possible slowdown in the U.S. economy amid delayed interest rate cuts, outweighing concerns about potential conflict expansion in the Middle East. Brent crude futures fell 9 cents, or 0.1%, to $86.95 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures dropped 7 cents, or 0.1%, to $82.74 per barrel.

High school students across western Washington staged walkouts on Tuesday, calling for the United States to halt the supply of weapons to Israel amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas. The protests follow the first night of Passover celebrations, prompting Jewish leaders to express concerns over the potential for antisemitism. In Seattle, hundreds of students gathered for a rally after the walkout, while student organizers emphasized the importance of speaking out against human rights violations. Despite concerns from the Jewish community, organizers stressed their commitment to peaceful and respectful demonstrations.

The escalation of tensions in the Middle East has heightened concerns among financial experts that it could potentially delay the implementation of interest rate cuts. According to Dun & Bradstreet, the ongoing conflict could have a negative impact on economic growth and market stability, leading to a more cautious approach by central banks.

Approximately 100 students at the University of Texas at Dallas occupied the campus’s administration building on Tuesday evening, demanding action by the university administration on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

The peaceful sit-in began as an outdoor protest but moved indoors after the dean of students attempted to dissuade the group from continuing their demonstration. The students have issued a list of demands to the university, including a public statement condemning the violence and support for Palestinian rights.

The protest is part of a wave of demonstrations on college campuses across the country over the conflict. Columbia University canceled in-person classes and police arrested dozens of students at New York University and Yale as tensions continue to escalate.