Khamenei laid to rest in Mashhad as clashes persist, Hormuz traffic recovers
Khamenei's flag-draped coffin was carried into the Imam Reza shrine in his hometown of Mashhad, where state television said he...
Geostrategy
Funeral prayers offered for Khamenei, family members amid cries for revenge
The prayers were attended by President Masoud Pezeshkian, senior military commanders and members of Khamenei's family, although his successor, Mojtaba...
Geostrategy
Geostrategy
World’s highest bridge opens to traffic in China
Beijing, China -- The world's highest bridge opened to traffic in China on Sunday, state media said, capping an engineering...
- The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge towers 625 metres (2,051 feet) above a river and vast gorge in the country's rugged southern province of Guizhou.
- Live drone footage broadcast by state media on Sunday showed vehicles traversing the immense structure, its blue support towers partially engulfed in clouds.
Geostrategy
Faced with Russian threat, NATO flexes military muscle in North Sea
NATO flexed its muscles in the North Sea this week in a display of military might, as Russia allegedly tested...
- F-18 fighter jets lined up on the world's largest aircraft carrier, flanked by 20 ships and with some 10,000 military personnel from 13 countries
- US destroyers and French and Danish frigates escorted the giant USS Gerald R. Ford on the high seas as part of NATO's Neptune Strike 25-3 exercise
Geostrategy
Sweeping UN sanctions loom for Iran after nuclear talks fail
Sweeping UN sanctions loomed for Iran late Saturday for the first time in a decade, after last ditch nuclear talks...
- President Masoud Pezeshkian said the United States had offered Iran only a short reprieve in return for handing over its whole stockpile of enriched uranium
- An 11th-hour effort by Iran allies Russia and China to postpone the sanctions until April failed to win enough votes on the Security Council on Friday
Geostrategy
Concluded days after Israeli strikes on Qatar, Pakistan-Saudi defence pact oozes with unknowns
The new mutual defence pact signed by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia this month surprised many and came just days after...
- The agreement comes at an especially volatile time in the wake of both Iranian and Israeli strikes on Doha, and uncertainty over the future of Tehran's nuclear programme
- "Even those accustomed to dramatic developments in the Middle East and South Asia were caught off guard by the announcement," said Joshua White from the Brookings Institution
Geostrategy
Iran sanctions look set to return despite last-ditch China, Russia effort to secure a delay
China and Russia at a Security Council session on Friday put forward a draft resolution, seen by AFP, that would...
- European powers were urging Iran to reverse a series of steps it took after Israel and the United States bombed its nuclear sites in June.
- Complaining that Iran has not complied with a landmark but moribund deal, the Europeans have triggered a return of sweeping UN sanctions
Geostrategy
Netanyahu says Palestinian state would be ‘national suicide’ for Israel and reward for Hamas
Netanyahu, who said his speech was being partially broadcast on Israeli military loudspeakers in Gaza, vowed to "finish the job"...
- Netanyahu, who said his speech was being partially broadcast on Israeli military loudspeakers in Gaza, vowed to "finish the job" against Hamas
- Days after Britain, France and other Western powers recognized a state of Palestine, Netanyahu said that they had sent "a very clear message that murdering Jews pays off."
Geostrategy
Tehran, Moscow sign $25 bn deal to build nuclear plants in Iran: state media
Tehran, Iran -- Iran and Russia signed a $25 billion deal to build nuclear power plants in the Islamic republic,...
- Iran has just one operational nuclear power plant in Bushehr in the south, with a capacity of 1,000 megawatts.
- Each plant will have a capacity of 1,255 megawatts, though no details were provided on the timeline.
Geostrategy
UN identifies 158 firms linked to Israeli settlements
While several companies including Alstom and Opodo had been removed from the non-exhaustive database, major firms such as Airbnb, Booking.com,...
- UN rights chief Volker Turk has condemned as a war crime Israel's policy of settlements on Palestinian territory in the occupied West Bank.
- While most of the companies were based in Israel, others were based in Canada, China, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Britain and the United States.
Geostrategy
Ahead of Netanyahu visit, Trump vows to block Israel annexation of West Bank
Trump voiced optimism about ending nearly two years of devastating war, echoing the confidence expressed a day earlier on the...
- Netanyahu will address the United Nations on Friday and later meet Trump in Washington as Israeli ministers muse of annexing the West Bank
- Trump met Tuesday at the United Nations with the leaders of key Arab and Muslim nations who warned him of consequences if Israel moved ahead
Geostrategy
Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas tells UN no role for Hamas in state
Abbas, who addressed UN General Assembly by video after the US took the unusual step of denying him a visa...
- Abbas took a moderate tone in his speech as he directly took up key concerns of Israel and the United States -- notably on Hamas, which is based in Gaza.
- He distanced himself from the Oct 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, as well as frequent accusations by Israel's supporters that the Palestinians are denying the rights of Jews.
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Khamenei laid to rest in Mashhad as clashes persist, Hormuz traffic recovers
Khamenei's flag-draped coffin was carried into the Imam Reza shrine in his hometown of Mashhad, where state television said he...
Geostrategy
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Iran offers US new proposal to reopen Strait of Hormuz, end war: report
Iran has conveyed a fresh proposal to the United States through Pakistani intermediaries, seeking an agreement to reopen the Strait...
Geostrategy
Countdown begins for NASA’s historic Moon mission
If successful, Artemis II will carry four astronauts on a lunar flyby, testing critical systems needed for future missions that...
Geostrategy
Millions join ‘No Kings’ protests across US
More than 3,000 rallies were held across all 50 states, with participation estimates ranging from several million to as many...
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GCC energy sector strengthens global role despite lower oil output
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries continue to strengthen their position in global energy markets, supported by extensive natural resources, advanced...
- Gulf energy data show rising reserves, stable gas production and gradual renewable expansion.
- Regional electricity interconnection delivers savings and boosts power exchange among GCC member states.
Geostrategy
Strait of Hormuz disruption threatens trade flows: UNCTAD
UNCTAD data shows Brent crude oil prices rose above $90 per barrel, while natural gas prices also increased sharply after...
- Based on shipping flows during the week preceding the military escalation that began on February 28, crude oil accounted for about 38% of trade moving through the strait.
- Liquefied petroleum gas represented 29%, while liquefied natural gas and refined oil products each accounted for around 19%.
Geostrategy
Saudi, Qatar airlines adjust flights as regional tensions disrupt travel
Dubai, UAE -- Airlines has extended the suspension of flights to several Gulf destinations as regional tensions continue to affect...
- Saudi Airlines extends flight suspensions to several Gulf destinations while monitoring developments and evaluating gradual service resumption.
- Qatar Airways launches limited schedule from Doha to reconnect passengers following temporary authorization from civil aviation authorities.