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☆ Iran's attack has brought 'warmness' back to the U.S.-Israel relationship, Chatham House says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailIran's attack has brought 'warmness' back to the U.S.-Israel relationship, Chatham House saysSanam Vakil, director of Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, discusses Iran's drone and missile attack on Israel.

Persons: Chatham, Sanam Vakil Organizations: Middle, North Africa, Chatham House Locations: U.S, Israel, Middle East, Chatham

☆ 'We have woken up to a new paradigm in the Middle East' following Iran-Israel escalation, analyst says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Iran on April 14 urged Israel not to retaliate militarily to an unprecedented attack overnight, which Tehran presented as a justified response to a deadly strike on its consulate building in Damascus. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP) (Photo by ATTA KENARE/AFP via Getty Images)Iran's weekend attack on Israel marks a "new paradigm" in the Middle East conflict, which risks escalating into a wider regional war, Chatham House's Middle East director said Monday. "The Israeli leadership will have a hard time not responding. Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles against military targets inside Israel on Saturday in response to a suspected Israeli strike that killed top Iranian officials in Syria. The attack, though well telegraphed in advance, has presented some opportunity for Israel to rehabilitate its image following its months-long onslaught in Gaza, which many perceive as disproportionate to Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attacks.

Persons: ATTA KENARE, Sanam Vakil, thinktank, it's, Vakil, CNBC's Organizations: Getty, Chatham House's Locations: Persian, Israel, Tehran, Iran, Damascus, AFP, London, Syria, Gaza

Iran may now be compelled to respond despite its unwillingness to enter war with Israel and the United States. And it has increased such attacks since October 7, when Iran-backed Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping 250, prompting a devastating Israeli war in Gaza. “That would mean that the Israeli attack on Iran has put a target on the backs of American troops in the Middle East,” he said. Washington has, however, tried to distance itself from Monday’s Israeli attack. Attack Israeli interests abroadAfter past attacks on Iran, Israel has often anticipated Iranian retaliation on its interests in foreign countries, and beefed up security at its embassies.

Persons: Donald Trump, Qassem, Israel hasn’t, ”, Daniel Hagari, Hossein Amir, Abdollahian, ” Amir, Israel, CNN’s Paula Newton, Parsi, Biden, Israel Iran’s, Houthis, Sanam Vakil, Jalal Rashidi, Vakil, Omar Sanadiki, ” Vali Nasr, “, Farzan Organizations: CNN, Seven, Revolutionary Guards, Israel Defense Forces, Iran’s, Quincy Institute, Responsible, Islamic, US National Security, Israel, Hezbollah, Chatham House, State Department, Chatham, ” stoke, UN, Global Governance Locations: Iranian, Damascus, Baghdad, Iran, Israel, United States, Syria, Gaza, Quds, Swiss, Tehran, Washington ,, Iraq, Jordan, Washington, Islamic Republic, Lebanon, Iraqi, East, North Africa, London, Argentina, India, Georgia, Thailand, Jalal Rashidi Kochi, Azerbaijan, “, Chatham House, ”, Switzerland

☆ Iran announces record low election turnout despite calls on voters to participate
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

It is unclear if the announced 41% turnout will sink further in the coming days, with some candidates in the parliamentary election going to a runoff. Iran’s last parliamentary election in 2020 saw a turnout of 42.57%, and its last presidential election in 2021 had a turnout of 48.8% – both were the lowest since the establishment of the Islamic Republic. Some 15,000 candidates competed last week for the 290-seat parliamentary election, and 144 ran for the 88 seats of the Assembly of Experts. Some 25 million people cast their ballots out of Iran's 61 million eligible voters. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliament speaker and former Revolutionary Guards air force commander, seemed to lose some votes, coming fourth in this year’s election after his popularity peaked in the 2020 parliamentary election.

Persons: IRNA, ”, Alex Vatanka, Mahsa, Iran’s, Ebrahim Raisi, Hossein Beris, Mohammad Khatami, Azar Mansouri, “, Khatami, Khamenei, ” Vatanka, watchdogs, –, Hassan Rouhani, Atta Kenare, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Ghalibaf’s, ” Sanam Vakil, Vakil, ” Vakil Organizations: CNN, Middle East Institute, “, Saturday, Experts, Getty, Iran’s Guardian, Revolutionary Guards, North Africa, Chatham House Locations: Iran, Washington , DC, Fars, Islamic Republic, Iranian, Tehran, AFP, East, London

☆ Iran holds first elections since Mahsa Amini protests, with low turnout and boycott expected
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Iranian women cast their ballots at a polling station during elections to select members of parliament and a key clerical body, in Tehran on March 1, 2024. Iran holds its parliamentary elections on Friday, in the first vote for Iranians since a nationwide protest movement for women's rights rocked the country in 2022. "Transition from the despotic religious regime is a national demand and the only way for the survival of Iran, Iranians, and our humanity," Mohammadi added. "And providing the political system with overt legitimacy, after the very system has disregarded and abused people and civil rights, is just too much." Country analysts expect a nationwide turnout of between 30% and 50%, while state polling center ISPA estimated the turnout in Tehran at just 23.5% and 38.5% nationally.

Persons: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Khamenei, Mehdi, Narges Mohammadi, Mohammadi, Sanam Vakil Organizations: Islamic, Assembly, Experts, CNBC, Iranian, Chatham House Locations: Tehran, Iran, Iran's, East, North Africa

☆ Killing of senior Hamas leader in Lebanon stokes fears of Gaza war spreading beyond enclave
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-03 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The destroyed Hamas' office that was attacked by Israel on 02 January killing Palestinian leader Saleh al-Arouri and six others pictured from shattered glass in Beirut southern suburb. The killing of senior Hamas leader Saleh al-Arouri in Lebanon's capital of Beirut has sparked fears that the war in Gaza could spread beyond the Palestinian enclave. Lebanon has claimed Israel is responsible for the blast and accused Israel of trying to drag Beirut into a regional war. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the strike, while an advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as a "surgical" hit on Hamas, rather than an attack on Lebanon. A spokesperson for Israel's military has said it was "highly prepared for any scenario" after the assassination of al-Arouri.

Persons: Saleh al, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Sanam Vakil, Vakil, CNBC's Organizations: Chatham House Locations: Israel, Beirut, Lebanon's, Gaza, Al, Lebanon, East, North Africa, British

☆ U.S. has failed the Palestinian people, officials say after vetoed UN vote for Gaza Strip cease-fire
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-11 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

(Photo by Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty ImagesPalestinian officials expressed resounding disappointment after the United States vetoed a United Nations resolution calling for an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza. Yuki Iwamura | AFP | Getty ImagesThe U.S. on Friday vetoed a U.N. Security Council draft resolution that was backed by 13 Security Council members, while the United Kingdom abstained. The vote came about after U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres invoked Article 99 of the U.N. charter to coalesce the 15-nation council to address the crisis in the Gaza Strip. Mohammad Shtayyeh, prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, echoed the disappointment on Sunday, describing the result as "sad" and a "shame." The internationally recognized Palestinian Authority administered the Gaza enclave before the shock win of Hamas in the elections of 2006.

Persons: Majdi Fathi, United Kingdom Husam Zomlot, CNBC's Dan Murphy, White, John Kirby, Israel, Kirby, Antonio Guterres, Yuki Iwamura, Mohammad Shtayyeh, it's, that's, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, Brendan Smialowski, Israel —, Robert Wood Organizations: Hamas, Getty, Nurphoto, United, Doha Forum, CNBC, Air Force, Reuters, UN, United Nations Security, AFP, Security, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, Chatham House's, U.S ., Gaza, Palestinian, U.S, Afp, Israel Defense Forces Locations: Jaffa, Deir el, Gaza, Israel, United Nations, U.S, United Kingdom, Qatar, Lebanon, Washington, Lebanese, New York City, United, Vakil, Chatham, East North Africa, Doha, liaise, Tel Aviv, Palestine

☆ LaPorte, Texas, Issues Shelter in Place After Altivia Plant Leaks Toxic Gas
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Dec. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Altivia Chemical was working to contain a toxic gas leak from its LaPorte, Texas, plant on Monday, as the city's emergency management agency ordered some nearby residents and five neighboring facilities to shelter in place out of caution. Halliburton's Multi-Chem Bayport site, Stepan's Pasadena facility, and three others belonging to Kuraray Americas, Evonik, and NCTI, were sheltering in place after the offsite release of a toxic gas called phosgene, according to community alerts. Located about 30 miles (48 km) east of Houston, La Porte's Office of Emergency Management (LPOEM) said the city issued a cautionary shelter-in-place until the amount of phosgene released is determined. "A chemical emergency has occurred and residents south of Fairmont between Bay Area and S. 16th Street need to immediately shelter in place," LPOEM said on X, formerly Twitter. Exposure to phosgene may cause vomiting, breathing difficulty, chest pain and, when liquid, frostbite.

Persons: LPOEM, Altivia, Chris Reese, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Reuters, Kuraray, Porte's, Emergency Management, U.S . Centers for Disease Control Locations: LaPorte , Texas, Pasadena, Kuraray Americas, Houston, Fairmont, Bay, Bengaluru

☆ Delfin signs 15-year LNG supply agreement with Gunvor
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 27 (Reuters) - Delfin Midstream Inc said on Monday it had entered into a long-term liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply agreement with global commodity trader Gunvor. Delfin said in a news release its LNG plant in Louisiana will supply between 500,000 to 1 million tonnes of LNG per annum to Gunvor on a free-on-board basis at Delfin Deepwater Port for at least 15 years. Delfin has been developing the Delfin LNG Deepwater Port project supporting up to four floating LNG vessels with a combined export capacity of about 13.3 million tons per annum (MTPA), the release said. The company secured commercial agreements for LNG sales, liquefaction services and is in the final phase towards final investment decisions (FID) on its first three floating LNG vessels, the release added. Reporting by Deep Vakil and Rahul Paswan in Bengaluru; Editing by David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Delfin Midstream, Delfin, Vakil, Rahul Paswan, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Delfin Midstream Inc, Delfin Deepwater Port, Delfin, Tellurian Inc, Singapore, Ltd, Thomson Locations: Louisiana, Mexico, Bengaluru

☆ COP28: Sultan Al Jaber, UAE’s oil chief, is proving popular in the developing world, despite criticisms from the West
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-24 | by ( Elizabeth Wells | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

But long-promised finance from rich countries to help it make a green transition simply hasn’t arrived, President Wavel Ramkalawan told CNN in May. But Al Jaber’s decision to focus on increasing finance to help developing countries shift to renewable energy is helping his popularity in the Global South. A 2022 UN-backed report calculated developing countries will need about $2 trillion a year by 2030. “We have seen the West only being extractive and very opportunistic, and actually kept developing countries dependent on fossil fuels,” he said. “It needs to buy more time to diversify its economy further and wants to capitalize on its energy resources for as long as possible,” Vakil told CNN.

Persons: hasn’t, Wavel Ramkalawan, “ We’re, ” Ramkalawan, “, Al Jaber, Al Jaber’s, COP28, ” Al Jaber, Sultan Al Jaber, Abu, Christopher Pike, ADNOC, William Ruto, Masdar, Al Jaber —, ” Ruto, Simone Boccaccio, it’s, Harjeet Singh, Sanim Vakil, ” Vakil, ” Organizations: CNN, UN, Dubai, Abu, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, US, COP28, Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition, Bloomberg, Kenyan, UAE, Climate, North Africa, Chatham House Locations: Seychelles, Canadian, Africa, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, UAE, Kenya, Egypt, Turkana, UN

☆ Australia's Perth Mint agrees to comply with anti money-laundering laws
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 23 (Reuters) - Australia's Perth Mint said on Thursday it had entered into an agreement with the country's financial intelligence agency to fully adhere to anti-money laundering laws after an external audit found compliance issues. The external audit was conducted between November 2022 and July 2023 at the direction of the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), after it found non-compliance in an August 2022 assessment of Perth Mint. "The audit findings reflected AUSTRAC's concerns in relation to Gold Corporation's AML/CTF (anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing) program, monitoring systems and controls, and reporting to AUSTRAC," the agency said. In April, Western Australia state launched a review of its ownership of The Perth Mint, as the company battled allegations it sold diluted gold to China. Reporting by Deep Vakil in Bengaluru; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Diane CraftOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Jacqueline Wong, Diane Craft Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Perth Mint, Australian, Thomson Locations: Perth, New York, U.S, Western Australia, China, Bengaluru

☆ Perth Mint undertakes to comply with anti money-laundering laws
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The world's largest gold bullion coin, the Australian Kangaroo One Tonne Gold Coin, is displayed to mark the official launch of the Perth Mint Physical Gold Exchange Traded Fund (AAAU), outside the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York, U.S., July 16, 2019. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 23 (Reuters) - Australia's Perth Mint said on Wednesday it had entered an enforceable undertaking with the Australian financial intelligence agency AUSTRAC to fully adhere to anti-money laundering laws after an external audit found compliance issues. The world's biggest producer of newly mined gold said it will conclude its anti-money laundering remediation programme, which started in March 2021, by April 30, 2025, adding that no fine had been imposed as part of the undertaking. Reporting by Deep Vakil in Bengaluru; Editing by Jacqueline WongOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, AUSTRAC, Jacqueline Wong Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Perth Mint, Thomson Locations: Perth, New York, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ US Coast Guard seeks source of some 1.1 million gallons of crude oil in Gulf of Mexico
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Jonathan Bachman/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. Coast Guard on Monday said it was still looking for the source of a leak from an underwater pipeline off the Louisiana coast in the Gulf of Mexico that it estimated had released more than a million gallons of crude oil. "Overflight teams observed visible oil Friday moving southwest away from the Louisiana shore," the Coast Guard said, as oil recovery efforts continued and underwater devices surveyed the pipeline to find the leak's source. While the exact volume of discharged oil was not known, the Coast Guard, which was leading the clean-up, said initial engineering calculations placed the volume of the leak at 1.1 million gallons, or 26,190 barrels. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Friday that the Coast Guard had activated the National Response Team, comprising 15 federal entities responsible for coordinating the response to oil pollution incidents. Third Coast Infrastructure, which owns MPOG, declined to comment on Friday and referred questions to the Coast Guard.

Persons: Jonathan Bachman, Elizabeth Varghese, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Coast Guard, Coast Guard, Environmental Protection Agency, Coast Infrastructure, Thomson Locations: Mississippi, Plaquemines Parish , Louisiana, Louisiana, Gulf of Mexico, Delta, Plaquemines Parish, New Orleans, U.S, Bengaluru

☆ North American grid regulator tests physical, cyber security preparedness
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 16 (Reuters) - The North American Electric Reliability Corp (NERC) said on Thursday it has concluded a two-day simulation with power sector entities to stress-test their emergency response and recovery plans for physical and cyber security attacks. We must continue to be vigilant," said NERC senior vice president Manny Cancel, who leads its Electricity Information Sharing and Analysis Center (E-ISAC). The E-ISAC's GridEx, the biggest grid security exercise in North America, took place on Nov. 14-15 with more than 250 participants, including electric and natural gas companies government agencies. NERC warned of evolving cyber threats to the electric grid, "guided by geopolitical events, new vulnerabilities, changes in technologies, and increasingly bold cyber criminals and hackers." In an August report, NERC pushed to develop standards for the power sector on mitigating risk from cloud adoption and artificial intelligence technologies, along with cyber security training for the workforce.

Persons: NERC, Manny Cancel, GridEx, David Gregorio Our Organizations: North American Electric Reliability Corp, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, U.S . Department of Energy, Thomson Locations: Maryland, North Carolina, Washington, South Carolina, North America, Bengaluru

☆ Two-thirds of North America could face power shortages this winter -NERC
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

In its 2023-24 winter outlook, the regulatory authority warned that prolonged, wide-area cold snaps threaten the reliability of bulk power generation and availability of fuel supplies for natural gas-fired generation. "Recent extreme cold weather events have shown that energy delivery disruptions can have devastating consequences for electric and gas consumers in impacted areas," NERC said. It put the U.S. Midwest, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and South, along with some Canadian provinces, at the highest risk for electricity supply shortages this winter. NERC also found that load forecasting in winter is growing in complexity, and underestimating demand is a risk to reliability in extreme cold temperatures. Flows of gas into pipelines were reduced during Elliott, while demand for the fuel for heating and power generation increased, dramatically lowering line pressures.

Persons: Greenlee Beal, NERC, John Moura, Storm Elliott, Elliott, Anjana Anil, Scott DiSavino, Leslie Adler, Marguerita Choy Organizations: PIKE Energy, REUTERS, North American Electric Reliability Corp, U.S ., PJM, Reliability Corp, Texas, Federal Energy Regulatory, Storm, Consolidated Edison, Thomson Locations: Texas, San Antonio , Texas, U.S, Canada, U.S . Midwest, Northeast, South, New England, MISO , New York, New York City, Bengaluru, New York

A view of the turbines at Orsted's offshore wind farm near Nysted, Denmark, September 4, 2023. Orsted, the world's largest offshore wind developer, said in August it may see impairments of 16 billion Danish crowns ($2.3 billion) on its U.S. offshore developments due to supply chain problems, soaring interest rates and a lack of new tax credits. Norway's Equinor (EQNR.OL), BP's partner on those New York offshore wind developments, booked a $300 million impairment on the projects on Friday. In Massachusetts, two offshore wind developers, SouthCoast Wind and Commonwealth Wind, agreed to pay local utilities to terminate deals that would have delivered around 2,400 MW of energy. Avangrid also canceled a contract to sell power in Connecticut from its proposed 804-MW Park City offshore wind farm.

Persons: Tom Little, Denmark's, Joe Biden, Orsted, Jacob Pedersen, Portugal, France's, Avangrid, Scott DiSavino, Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Ron Bousso, Jonathan Oatis, Josie Kao Organizations: REUTERS, BP, U.S, Analysts, Reuters, Commonwealth, Shell, Energias, Thomson Locations: Nysted, Denmark, U.S, Danish, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, In Massachusetts, Commonwealth, Spanish, Copenhagen, London, Bengaluru

Shadi Tabatibi/Reuters Relatives mourn for a family killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on October 21. Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images Europe/Getty Images Palestinians inspect a destroyed area following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza on October 21. Ronen Zvulun/Reuters A woman mourns over a dead man at the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Gaza City on October 18. Fatima Shbair/AP People react at the site of an Israeli airstrike in Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City on Saturday, October 14. Ramez Mahmoud/AP A plume of smoke rises in the sky over Gaza City during an Israeli airstrike on October 9.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Zhai Jun, Beijing’s, Zhai, ”, Sanam Vakil, ” Jonathan Fulton, Said Khatub, Leon Neal, Hatem Moussa, Nir Oz, Wolfgang Schwan, Yousef Masoud, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, Shadi Tabatibi, Ali Jadallah, Belal al Sabbagh, Mohammed Saber, Khan, Rizek Abdeljawad, Ahmad Gharabli, Janis Laizans, Abed Khaled, Mohammed Dahman, Yoav Gallant, Gallant, Yasser Qudih, Ofir Libstein, Aza, Ronen Zvulun, Belal Khaled, Abed Rahim Khatib, Hod, Ayal Margolin, Antony Blinken, Joe Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Brendan Smialowski, Biden, Netanyahu, Kenny Holston, Ariel Schalit, Mohammed Abed, Kfar Aza, Ilia Yefimovich, Mustafa Hassona, Mahmoud Khaled, Samar Abu, Fatima Shbair, Dor Reder, Violeta Santos Moura, Shir Torem, Wahaj Bani Moufleh, Antonio Macías, Macías, Francisco Seco, Eli Albag, Liri, Mohammed Talatene, Sergey Ponomarev, Hatem Ali, Dor Kedmi, Mahmud Hams, Saher, Abraham Cohen, Valentin Ghnassia, Ghnassia, Yuri Cortez, Ibrahim Hams, Bashar Taleb, Baz Ratner, Jack Guez, Yahya Hassouna, Mapal Adam, Abed Zagout, Tamir Kalifa, Agha, Ibraheem Abu Mustafa, Reuters Itzik, Miriam Shafir, Dor Shafir, Savion Kiper, Maya Alleruzzo, Mohammed Salem, CNN Sergey Ponomarev, Eden Guez, Atef Safadi, Ohad, Mohammed Soboh, Said, Noam Elimeleh Rothenberg, Amir Cohen, Ilai Bar Sade, Erik Marmor, Oren Ziv, Majdi, Ramez Mahmoud, Roi Levy, Alleruzzo, Tali Touito, Jalaa Marey, Oded, Khan Younis, Ahmad Hasballah, Mohammed Fayq Abu Mostafa, Tsafrir, Ilan Rosenberg, Eyad Baba, Itai Ron, Hadas Parush, Xi Jinping, ” Vladimir Putin, Putin, ” Zhai, Mikhail Bogdanov, Putin’s, Israel –, Israel, “, Li Mingjiang, Li, China’s, Mao Zedong, Fulton, Zhao Tong, Vakil, China doesn’t Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, United, Palestine, Chatham House, Atlantic Council, Getty, Pictures, Tel Aviv University, AP, New York Times, Reuters, Reuters Civil, AP Rockets, AP Israel's, Regional, Al, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, Israel's, Ahli Baptist Hospital, Israel Defense Forces, Israeli, Ben Gurion International, Shifa, Palestinian, West Bank, Aris Messinis, Haim, Mount, Mount Herzl Military, Nova, Anadolu Agency, CNN, Nova Festival, Ben Gurion, Rockets, United Nations, Reuters Police, Reuters Rockets, Biden, US, UN, Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University ., Israel, Carnegie Endowment, International Locations: China, Hong Kong, United States, Israel, Beijing, Palestinian, Qatar, Egypt, Gaza, peacemaking, East, North Africa, Abu Dhabi, Rafah, AFP, Tel Aviv, Deir al, Anadolu, Khan Younis, Europe, Zahra City, Gaza City, Xinhua, East Jerusalem, Ras, Israel's, Yehuda, Aqsa, Hod HaSharon, Kiryat Shmona, Al, Ahli, Sderot, Gan, Kfar, North Sinai, Samar, Samar Abu Elouf, Beit Kama, Haifa, Cyprus, Nablus, West, Lebanon, Kfar Saba, Israeli, Be'eri, Rehovot, Mount Herzl, Jerusalem, Kibbutz Be'eri, Modiin Maccabim, Kfar Aza, Ashkelon, Mount Herzel, Yassin, Beitar Ilit, Ramat Gan, Itai, Beit Hanun, Rishon Lezion, Ukraine, Russia, Chatham, Iran, Africa, Moscow, Washington, Xinjiang, Leningrad, Communist China, United Nations, Palestine, Beijing –, Saudi Arabia, Lebanese, Tehran

☆ Listen: Where Arab States Stand on the Israel-Hamas War
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

President Biden addressed the nation last night, calling for urgent funding for Ukraine and Israel. In the latest edition of What's News, Chatham House’s Sanam Vakil explains how Arab states are weighing further U.S. involvement in the Middle East and reacting to public demonstrations in support of the Palestinians. Luke Vargas hosts.

Persons: Biden, Sanam Vakil, Luke Vargas Organizations: What's Locations: Ukraine, Israel, What's News, Chatham

☆ Biden's Saudi-Israel normalization plans appear distant as Israel pounds Gaza in offensive
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

A "big victim" of the escalating Israel-Hamas war "is efforts at Saudi and Israel normalization," Fred Kempe, CEO of the Atlantic Council, told CNBC. Iran's mission to the United Nations has denied Tehran's involvement in the militant group's attack on Israel on Saturaday. "More timely for Tehran is that it is looking to slow down Israeli Saudi normalization and through the attack, it might have achieved that," Vakil said. With the Hamas attack on Israel, "it's very clear that Saudi Arabia will take a more gradual approach to normalization," she said. And Iran is consistently messaging to its Gulf neighbors that any attack on Iran from Israel will lead to a domino attack on the Gulf.

Persons: Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Louiza Vradi, Biden, –, Joe Biden's, he'd, Antony Blinken, Benjamin Netanyahu, Jacquelyn Martin, Netanyahu, Fred Kempe, That's, Bashar Taleb, Sanam Vakil, Israel, Vakil, Ilia Yefimovich Organizations: Reuters, Saudi, Palestinian, Hamas, United Nations, Israel's, Israeli Defence Ministry, AFP, Getty Images, Bloomberg, Atlantic Council, CNBC, Afp, Getty, Saudi Foreign Ministry, Iran, Chatham House, . Locations: Saudi, Athens, Greece, Israel, Gaza, Israeli, Tel Aviv, Getty Images Saudi Arabia, Mecca, Medina, Saudi Arabia, Gaza City, Palestinian, Iran, East, North Africa, Tehran, Saturaday ., Be'eri

☆ 'Israel's 9/11': Political analysts react to deadly Hamas attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Children are seen in a destroyed house after Israeli attacks in Gaza City, Gaza on October 07, 2023. Massive attacks by Hamas leadership into Israel… This is no less than Israel's 9/11. 'Massive intelligence failure'The attack also marked a "massive intelligence and defense failure for Israel," Bremmer highlighted, saying it was an oversight stemming from the government's new judicial reforms. From what we see so far … [this] is a Gaza and Israel war. "From what we see so far … [this] is a Gaza and Israel war.

Persons: Mustafa Hassona, Dan Steinbock, Ian Bremmer, Steinbock, Bremmer, Abraham, Fatima Shbair, Benjamin Netanyahu's, It's, Sanam Vakil, Zvi Eckstein, Biden, Ohad, Jalaa Marey, Eckstein Organizations: Anadolu Agency, Hamas, Israel, Eurasia Group, CNBC, NBC News, Palestinian Healthy Ministry, Abraham Accords, Rockets, Chatham House's, Tel Aviv University, Bank of Israel, AFP, Getty Locations: Gaza City, Gaza, Israel, Palestine, UAE, Morocco, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, U.S, Saudi, East, Iran, Ashkelon, Israeli, Metula, Lebanon, Russia, Ukraine

☆ How Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman went from pariah to pragmatic diplomat
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-07 | by ( Polly Thompson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is trying to transform the oil-rich Persian Gulf kingdom. AdvertisementAdvertisementSaudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is on a mission to transform his country. Billboards show portraits of Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) and his father and Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz. US President Joe Biden (L) being welcomed by Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) at Alsalam Royal Palace in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on July 15, 2022. President Joe Biden gives Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman a handshake at the G20 summit this September.

Persons: Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he's, —, Prince Mohammed didn't, King Salman, Fahda bint Falah, Saud, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz, AAMIR QURESHI, Muhammad bin Nayef, Prince Mohammed, Rash, Chris Doyle, GIUSEPPE CACACE, Doyle, he'd, Jamal Khashoggi, Emmanuel Macron, Joe Biden, Prince Mohammed a, Grant Shapps, Vladimir Putin's, Sanam Vakil, Biden, Evelyn Hockstein, Vakil, Duaa, Pierre Crom, Dhainy, Prince Organizations: Service, Saudi, King Saud University, Saudi Arabian Crown, Guardian, Ritz, Carlton, Council, Arab, CIA, Royal, Anadolu Agency, Bloomberg, Washington, Chatham House, Associated Press, Fox News, European Saudi Organization for Human Rights, MBS, United Nations, Getty Images, Human Rights Locations: Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Riyadh, British, Istanbul, Jeddah, Ukraine, Iran, China, Israel, East, North Africa, Delhi, Neom, The Hague, Netherlands, Getty Images Saudi Arabia

☆ California lets insurers factor wildfire risks in rates to widen coverage
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A house is fully engulfed by flames at the Dixie Fire, a wildfire near the town of Greenville, California, U.S. August 5, 2021. REUTERS/Fred Greaves/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Liberty Mutual Group Inc FollowSept 21 (Reuters) - California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara took steps on Thursday to allow property insurers to factor in climate risks including wildfires in rate prices, if they increase underwriting in at-risk areas to wean consumers off state-funded coverage. The measures by the state's insurance regulator follow an executive order by Governor Gavin Newsom urging regulatory action to expand coverage in underserved areas, account for catastrophe risks in rates, and keep the FAIR Plan solvent. The continued retreat of larger insurance carriers from the California residential property insurance market signals ongoing regulatory constraints, rising cost inflation, and higher catastrophe losses, credit rating agency Fitch said in a note earlier this year. Reporting by Deep Vakil in Bengaluru; Editing by Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Fred Greaves, Ricardo Lara, Lara, Gavin Newsom, Gallagher, Fitch, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Companies Liberty Mutual Group, California Insurance, State Farm, Liberty Mutual, FAIR, Gallagher Re, Thomson Locations: Greenville , California, U.S, California, Florida, Bengaluru

The so-called “hijab bill” will be enacted for a three-year trial period. On Thursday, the Iranian parliament passed a controversial bill ramping up penalties against women who do not wear the hijab properly. Those who collude with foreign media and governments to promote nudity, improper hijab, or improper dress, face up to 10 years in prison, the new bill adds. Those who are found guilty of ridiculing or insulting the hijab face a fine, in addition to a possible travel ban up to two years, the bill says. The draft law would also mandate broader gender segregation in universities – common hotbeds of civilian protests – and other public spaces.

Persons: CNN —, Mahsa, ”, Majid Asgaripour, Amini’s, ” Sanam Vakil, Hossein Raeesi, Raeesi, General Saeed Montazerolmahdi Organizations: CNN, Guardian Council, Reuters, UN, Authorities, Chatham, Carleton University Locations: Islamic Republic, Tehran, East, North Africa, London, Iranian, Ottawa, Canada, Iran

☆ The US-Iran prisoner deal is a diplomatic breakthrough, but the bad blood persists
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The carefully choreographed agreement was years in the making and is being seen as a major diplomatic breakthrough for the two foes. The Biden administration is unlikely to engage in “meaningful revival” of the 2015 nuclear deal, said Sanam Vakil, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at the Chatham House think tank in London. Production is the highest it’s been since 2018, when Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions on Iran. The Islamic Republic’s oil exports have also increased, averaging 1.9 million bpd in August, Reuters reported, citing shipping firm TankerTrackers.com. “Those claiming that Biden is ignoring Iran’s exports are assuming that Biden can just shut down Iran’s exports through sanctions,” he said.

Persons: “, ”, Biden, Trump, Sanam Vakil, Ali Vaez, That’s, Ali Ahmadi, there’s, Rafael Mariano Grossi, Nasser Kanaani, Ebrahim Raisi, Raisi, ” Raisi, Trita Organizations: CNN, Five, Biden, Chatham House, Group, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Petroleum, Trump, Reuters, US Energy, Geneva Centre, Security, Islamic, Sunday, US Republican Party, US Treasury Department, NBC, Quincy Institute Locations: Iran, Qatar, United States, Washington, Tehran, East, North Africa, London, China, Islamic Republic, Russia, Ukraine, Washington ,

☆ Life in Iran is a 'general political struggle': Chatham House director
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailLife in Iran is a 'general political struggle': Chatham House directorSanam Vakil, director of Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, speaks to CNBC's Dan Murphy about the situation in Iran one year after massive protests erupted in Iran following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.

Persons: Sanam Vakil, CNBC's Dan Murphy Organizations: Chatham House, Middle, North Africa Locations: Iran, Middle East, Chatham

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