Author: Steven Sahiounie

The UK deployed hundreds of soldiers to Cyprus to assist its citizens in leaving Lebanon amid the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The British government has urged its nationals in Lebanon to leave the country immediately. The UK Foreign Office stated that while emergency plans are being put in place, around 700 troops supported by a border force will be moved to Cyprus within the next few hours. Additionally, the ministry noted that the Royal Air Force has transport aircraft on standby, ready to provide support if necessary. British Defense Secretary John Healey emphasized the urgency, saying, “The events…

Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdullah Bou Habib announced on Tuesday that the number of people displaced due to the escalation between Israel and Hezbollah in the south is approaching half a million. Bou Habib emphasized that “the United States holds the key to our salvation. The U.S. is the only country that can make a difference in the Middle East.” He also mentioned that “the Lebanese Prime Minister hopes to meet with U.S. officials in the next couple of days.” Israeli envoy to the United Nations, Danny Danon, stated on Tuesday that Israel is open to ideas for de-escalating the conflict…

Researchers in New Zealand announced on Tuesday the identification of a new species of ghost shark, a deep-sea predator capable of hunting in the depths of the Pacific Ocean. The research team reported the discovery of this narrow-snouted species in the Chatham Rise, a region in the Pacific Ocean stretching over 1,000 kilometers east of New Zealand. Ghost sharks, also known as chimaeras, are related to sharks and rays. They have a cartilaginous skeleton and feed on crustaceans at depths of up to 2,600 meters. Researcher Brit Finucci, who named the species “Harriotta avia” in honor of her grandmother, explained…

The US risks getting stuck in another forever war, the former president has arguedThe United States needs a clear exit strategy for the conflict in Ukraine, former President Donald Trump told a campaign rally, insisting that neither current US leader Joe Biden nor his Democratic rival Kamala Harris has any such plan. “Biden and Kamala got us into this war in Ukraine, and now they can’t get us out. They can’t get us out,” Trump told the crowd in Savannah, Georgia, on Tuesday, reiterating his promise to end the conflict as soon as he is reelected. “I think that we’re stuck…

The Pentagon and the State Department reportedly disagree on the issueVladimir Zelensky is expected to bring up the issue of restrictions on long-range attacks into Russian territory when he meets with US President Joe Biden later this week, White House national security spokesman John Kirby has said. Ukraine’s leader is scheduled to meet with Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday, after giving a speech at the UN General Assembly in New York. “I’m sure the issue will come up,” Kirby told reporters on Tuesday, speaking on the sidelines of the UN session, adding that Biden “has not made a policy…

The move comes as the result of mounting debts linked to the pandemic and the Ukraine conflict, Finnish state broadcaster Yle has reported A Finnish zoo is preparing to return two giant pandas to China because it can no longer afford their upkeep, state broadcster Yle has reported. The pandas, named Lumi and Pyry, were brought to Finland’s second-largest privately owned zoo in January 2018, nine months after Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the Nordic country and signed a joint agreement on protecting the animals. However, Ahtari Zoo has faced financial difficulties in recent years and management announced on Monday that…

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) predicts that global energy demand will increase by 24% by 2050, driven by economic growth and population expansion. Despite the rise of renewable energy sources, OPEC emphasizes that oil and gas will remain central to ensuring global energy security. According to OPEC’s 2024 World Oil Outlook report, released in Brazil on Tuesday, global energy demand is projected to grow from 301 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (mboe/d) in 2023 to 374 mboe/d by 2050. This growth is expected to occur alongside a robust global economic expansion, averaging 2.9% annually over…

According to Reuters calculations released on Tuesday, Russia’s oil and gas revenues are expected to surge by 49% year-on-year, reaching 8.3 trillion rubles (equivalent to $89.4 billion) from January to September. This increase is driven by rising oil prices and a weakened ruble. Oil and gas revenues are a critical source of income for the Kremlin, contributing between one-third and one-half of the total federal budget over the past decade. Preliminary estimates indicate that Russia’s oil and gas revenues in September reached 779 billion rubles, marking a 5% increase compared to the same month in 2023 and remaining unchanged from…

Libya’s crude oil exports have plummeted to around 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) in September, down from 1.02 million bpd in August, according to port and shipping data. This sharp decline comes as the OPEC member nation grapples with a political crisis that has significantly reduced its oil production. Data from oil analytics firm Kpler and port agents indicate that the majority of Libya’s crude oil exports this month have been directed to Italy and Greece, with smaller shipments heading to China and Canada. The ongoing political turmoil in Libya has led to the shutdown of a substantial portion of…

Gulf stock markets closed higher on Tuesday, aligning with the rise in oil prices and gains in Asian stocks, which were bolstered by widespread stimulus measures in China. However, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East limited the overall gains. Oil prices, a key driver for Gulf financial markets, surged more than 2% amid China’s monetary stimulus actions and concerns that tensions in the Middle East could disrupt supply from the region. Additionally, a new hurricane threatens oil supplies in the United States, the world’s largest crude producer. Pan Gongsheng, the Governor of the People’s Bank of China, announced plans to…