Israel says delayed Iran’s presumed nuclear programme by two years
Western powers have repeatedly expressed concerns about the rapid expansion of Iran's nuclear programme, questioning in particular the country's accelerated...
Geostrategy
Iran appoints new Revolutionary Guards intelligence chief
Major General Mohammad Pakpour, the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), appointed Brigadier General Majid Khadami as the...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
UN offers mediation to put Libya back on path to election
Stephanie Williams, UN chief Antonio Guterres' Special Advisor on Libya, warned in a series of tweets that "the solution to...
- The country endured two rival governments from 2014 to early 2021, when Dbeibah's administration was approved by key factions after a ceasefire late the previous year.
- She also urged the country's politicians to "engage constructively together to move towards elections, for the sake of the 2.8 million Libyans who registered to vote" last year.
Science
Smoke robs Iraq of the dream of clean energy
In the oilfields of southern Iraq, billions of cubic feet of gas literally go up in smoke, burnt off on...
- The flares produce vast amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, contributing to global warming without any economic or social benefit
- Currently, only half of the three million cubic feet of gas that comes out of Iraqi oil wells each day is captured and processed
Geostrategy
800 Iraqi refugees return home from Syria, more to follow
Eight hundred Iraqi refugees returned home from northeast Syria on Thursday and hundreds more are to follow, a Syrian official...
- The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the first group left on buses via the Al-Yarubiyah border crossing.
- Relatives of IS militants, including children, are held in Kurdish-controlled camps in Syria's northeast, the largest of which is Al-Hol with around 56,000 displaced people.
Business
Google Maps and Tripadvisor nix war news in reviews
Both services face a campaign by activists to use online reviews of businesses such as restaurants to get news of...
- Both services face a campaign by activists to use online reviews of businesses such as restaurants to get news of the war to Russians being fed information from the government.
- Safeguards included temporarily blocking new reviews, photos, or videos from being added to Maps for locations in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine
Science
Russia sanctions pile on helium industry woes
Helium is used in the manufacturing of semiconductors, and its shortage is expected to exacerbate the paucity of computer chips.
- Russia is expected to eventually produce the equivalent of a third of the world's current helium production
- However, with Western sanctions over the Ukraine invasion, experts worry that gas won't reach the global market
Science
How commercial satellites are shaping the Ukraine conflict
Thanks to the explosive growth of the private satellite industry, the volume of imagery is greater and turnaround time faster...
- Thanks to the explosive growth of the private satellite industry, the volume of imagery is greater and turnaround time faster compared to prior conflicts
- A growing army of open-source intelligence analysts offer near real time assessments of battleground developments
Economy
China-backed bank halts lending to Russia, Belarus
In a statement issued Thursday, the AIIB said that "in the best interests of the bank, management has decided that...
- In a statement issued Thursday, the AIIB said that "in the best interests of the bank, management has decided that all activities relating to Russia and Belarus are on hold
- China, whose bilateral relationship with Russia has strengthened in recent years, has thus far avoided criticizing Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine
Economy
Erdogan replaces agriculture minister of Turkey
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appointed Vahit Kirisci as minister of agriculture and forestry after the resignation of Bekir Pakdemirli.
- A rapid succession of floods and wildfires engulfing Turkey killed some 100 people in July and August last year
- Turkey was criticized over the lack of firefighting planes, and accepted help from Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, and Ukraine
Geostrategy
US lawmakers seek to halt Russian oil imports
US president Joe Biden on Wednesday said he had not ruled out halting imports of Russian oil.
- US president Joe Biden on Wednesday said he had not ruled out halting imports of Russian oil
- But the White House later warned that such a step could cause further jumps in oil prices
Geostrategy
Saudi Arabia offers to mediate between Russia and Ukraine
Prince Mohammed bin Salman called for a "political solution" after the Russian invasion and also reiterated his support for the...
- Arab countries in the Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, have mostly refrained from criticizing the invasion by Russia
- On Wednesday, however, they voted for a UN General Assembly resolution urging Russia to withdraw from Ukraine
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Israel says delayed Iran’s presumed nuclear programme by two years
Western powers have repeatedly expressed concerns about the rapid expansion of Iran's nuclear programme, questioning in particular the country's accelerated...
Geostrategy
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IMF, World Bank say Gaza and Red Sea attacks risk to world economy
World Bank President Ajay Banga said that "what's going on Gaza, but also the challenges of Ukraine... and the Red...
Economy
Energy transition led Saudi Arabia to halt oil expansion, says official
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – The Kingdom's surprise decision to halt a planned expansion of its oil production capacity reflects ambitions to...
Business
Red Sea issue puts Yemen peace process on hold
DUBAI, UAE- As Houthi attacks roil the Red Sea and Western air raids target the rebels, moves to end Yemen's long-running...
Geostrategy
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Geostrategy
Relative of freed Israeli hostages appeals for Gaza deal
Talks have been underway for weeks to secure a second truce in the four-month war, which would see more hostages...
- A special forces raid in Gaza's southern city of Rafah saw Louis Har, 70, and Fernando Simon Marman, 60, freed
- The Hostages and Missing Families Forum stepped up pressure on Israeli authorities to bring home the remaining captives
Geostrategy
Court asks Netherlands to stop export of F-35 parts to Israel
The Appeals Court in The Hague sided with a group of human rights organizations that argued the parts contributed to...
- The Appeals Court in The Hague sided with a group of human rights organizations that argued the parts contributed to violations of law by Israel in its war with Hamas.
- "Israel does not take sufficient account of the consequences for the civilian population when conducting its attacks," said the court.
Geostrategy
Israeli assault on Rafah a ‘terrifying’ prospect: UN rights chief
UN human rights chief Volker Turk urged world powers to "restrain rather than enable" as fears of a looming ground incursion...
- UN's agriculture agency, meanwhile, said the population of the Gaza Strip is suffering "unprecedented" levels of "near famine-like conditions".
- All 2.2 million people in Gaza are in the top three hunger categories, from level three, which is considered an emergency, to level five, or catastrophe, an FAO official said.