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☆ Migratory species are in a shocking state of decline, landmark UN report shows
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Angela Dewan | Rachel Ramirez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Migratory species include some of the most iconic animals on the planet, like elephants. Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty ImagesBaby Leatherback sea turtles head to the sea at sunset on Indonesia's Lhoknga Beach in February 2023. Those activities also fragment migratory species’ pathways, sometimes making it impossible for them to complete their journeys. Around 58% of the monitored locations recognized as important for migratory species are facing what the CMS says are unsustainable levels of pressure from humans. “Migratory species have a special role in nature as they don’t recognize political boundaries,” said Anurag Agrawal, professor of environmental studies at Cornell University.

Persons: They’ve, Yasuyoshi Chiba, Chaideer Mahyuddin, Didier Brandelet, Kristin Laidre, Amy Fraenkel, Scott Gibbons, Zheng Yuanjian, Carl de Souza, Sergio Pitamitz, Wolfgang Kaehler, ” Inger Andersen, ”, Anurag Agrawal Organizations: CNN, UN, Convention, Animals, Getty, McCormick, United Nations Environment, Cornell University Locations: Asia, Alaska, Kimana, Kenya, AFP, Beach, Greenland, Elsehul, South Georgia, longline, Chicago, Lake Michigan, Xinhua, Mongolia, UN, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

☆ What's Next in Pakistan Election Deadlock
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Gibran Naiyyar PeshimamISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's national election ended with no party winning a majority in parliament, in polls marred by militant violence, political turmoil and questions of transparency. The two, along with other smaller parties, form a coalition government in which Sharif or his brother is prime minister and important positions are given to other parties. The two parties were in government together for 16 months till August, with Bhutto Zardari as foreign minister and Sharif's brother Shehbaz as prime minister. BHUTTO ZARDARI PUSHES TO HEAD COALITION GOVERNMENTWhile Sharif and Khan's candidates won the most seats, no party can form government without the PPP. With both looking to keep the other out of power, the PPP strikes a deal to make the young Bhutto Zardari prime minister.

Persons: Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam, Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan, SHARIF, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Benazir Bhutto, Bhutto Zardari, Shehbaz, Khan, BHUTTO ZARDARI, Sharif's, Gibran Peshimam, Sonali Paul Organizations: Monetary Fund, National Assembly, Pakistan Peoples Party Locations: Gibran Naiyyar Peshimam ISLAMABAD, Sharif, Pakistan

☆ Why only a trickle of aid is getting into Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Nadeen Ebrahim | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Getting any form of relief into Gaza is a long and arduous process, aid workers and the UN say. An average of 95 aid trucks per day entered Gaza between October 10 and February 1, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent, down from 500 commercial and aid trucks a day before the war, when Palestinians weren’t facing mass displacement and starvation. Following pressure from the US, Israel began allowing aid trucks to pass through Kerem Shalom in late December. Protesters blocking trucksIsraeli protesters have more than once blocked trucks carrying humanitarian aid for Gaza via Israeli crossings. Risk of bombardmentOnce relief enters Gaza, Israeli bombardment, damage to roads from airstrikes, communications blackouts and mass displacement impede distribution within the enclave.

Persons: Martin Griffiths, Yoav Gallant, Israel, Juliette Touma, Philippe Lazzarini, ”, ” Lazzarini, Kerem Shalom, Sameh Shoukry, Erez, Khan Younis, Belal Al Sabbagh, “, Griffiths, ” Touma, Khan, Abed Zagout, Touma Organizations: CNN, United Nations, Humanitarian Affairs, Emergency Relief, UN, Palestinian, Palestine, UNRWA, Israeli Defense Forces, International Court of Justice, Getty, ” Trucks, Food Programme, IDF, United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF, Food Locations: Gaza, Israel, United States, Territories, Egypt, Rafah, Khan, AFP, Kerem Shalom, Khan Younis, Anadolu, ”, Gaza City

☆ US Special Envoy on North Korea to Visit Tokyo, Seoul
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

TOKYO (Reuters) - The U.S. special envoy on North Korean human rights issues, Julie Turner, will travel to Tokyo and Seoul from Monday, the State Department said. On the visit through Feb. 22, Turner will meet with government officials, activists and North Korean defectors, the department said in a news release on its website on Friday. "Special Envoy Turner's trip will underscore the U.S. commitment to promoting human rights in North Korea, increasing access to uncensored information within the closed country, and empowering survivor voices advocating for concrete change," the release said. President Joe Biden, however, had vowed on taking office that human rights would be at the centre of his foreign policy. (Reporting by Kevin Buckland in Tokyo; Editing by William Mallard and Tom Hogue)

Persons: Julie Turner, Turner, Joe Biden, Kevin Buckland, William Mallard, Tom Hogue Organizations: U.S, State Department, North Korean, State Department's Office, East, of Democracy, Human Rights, Labor Locations: TOKYO, North, Tokyo, Seoul, North Korea, United States, Pyongyang, East Asia

☆ Coup juntas threaten to quit West Africa bloc: Here’s what it means for the region — and Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

ACCRA, Ghana - ECOWAS flag with member flags at the second extraordinary summit on the political situation in Burkina Faso, in Accra, Ghana, on February 3, 2022. OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso - Jan. 20, 2023: A banner of Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen during a protest to support the Burkina Faso President Captain Ibrahim Traore and to demand the departure of France's ambassador and military forces. Mali has ruled out leaving WAEMU, while Burkina Faso is considering it. "Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger will likely draw on the extractive sector to improve their weak economies. A recent UN Development Programme report surveyed 5,000 people who had directly experienced a recent coup or unconstitutional change of government, including citizens of Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, Mali and Sudan.

Persons: NIPAH DENNIS, Bola Tinubu, Vladimir Putin, Captain Ibrahim Traore, Alex Vines, there'd, Tinubu, Ouattara, —, Vines, Mucahid Durmaz, Verisk Maplecroft, Durmaz, Balima Boureima, insurgencies, Wagner, Niger, specter, Mohamed Bazoum, Rey Byhre Organizations: Getty, Economic, West African States, ECOWAS, Nigerian, Africa, Chatham House, CNBC, Algeria —, West, Cote D'Ivoire, Anadolu Agency, Getty Images, Wagner Group, West African Economic, Monetary Union, CFA, National Council for, UN Locations: ACCRA, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Accra, AFP, Mali, Niger, Sahel, Mauritania, OUAGADOUGOU, Chatham, France, Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Algeria, Malian, Russia, Bamako, Mucahid, West Africa, Togo, Benin, Cote, NIAMEY, NIGER, Niamey, West, U.S, Moscow, WAEMU, Seme, Chad, Guinea, Sudan, The Gambia, Tanzania, Kati

☆ Shipping giant Maersk suspends share buybacks amid Red Sea disruption, flags 2024 earnings uncertainty
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Karen Gilchrist | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON — Danish shipping giant Maersk on Thursday flagged "high uncertainty" in its 2024 earnings outlook as Red Sea disruptions continued to weigh on the industry. The company also said that it would be suspending share buybacks on the back of the uncertainty. Maersk said it expected underlying EBITDA (or earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) of between $1 billion and $6 billion this year, compared to the $9.6 billion recorded in 2023. "The impact of this situation is causing new uncertainty for how this is going to play out from an earnings perspective throughout the year," CEO Vincent Clerc told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe." Global supply chains have faced serious disruption since late 2023 after major shipping companies began diverting journeys away from the Red Sea following a string of attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels.

Persons: Maersk, Vincent Clerc, CNBC's, Yemen's Houthi Organizations: LONDON Locations: Ocean, Iran, Gaza, Israel

☆ Havana waves and high winds hurl jellyfish and seaweed into the streets
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —An unusually strong cold front slammed Cuba’s north coast on Tuesday, with white-capped waves flooding streets with seawater, causing scattered power outages and littering the capital Havana with blowing trash and downed branches. People navigate through a flooded street on a raft in Havana, on February 6, 2024. Yamil Lage/AFP/Getty ImagesAt dawn, the water flowed through some city streets like coastal rivers, moving jellyfish, seaweed and flotsam several blocks landward. “The climate has changed.”Havana, a coastal city built centuries ago on the Gulf of Mexico, is particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels and strengthening storms brought on by human-caused climate change, scientists and city planners have said. Rising sea levels threaten some coastal cities like Havana and could completely wipe from the map low-lying states in parts of the South Pacific Ocean.

Persons: Yamil Lage, ”, Jaqueline Dalardes Organizations: CNN, Getty, UN Locations: Havana, Florida, Cuba, AFP, of Mexico

☆ Factbox-Policy Pledges of Indonesia's Presidential Candidates
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

(Reuters) - Three candidates are running in Indonesia's presidential election on Feb. 14. The following is a summary of policy objectives they have pledged while campaigning. ANIES BASWEDAN- Target 5.5%-6.5% average annual economic growth from 2025-2029- Create 15 million jobs, including 'green' jobs- Raise the tax-to-GDP ratio from 10.4% in 2022 to 13%-16% by 2029- Target annual inflation of 2%-3% from 2025-2029- Offer incentives for renewable energy projects- Impose a carbon tax with proceeds to be used as an endowment fund to finance development of renewable energy- Increase the 'village fund' to 5 billion rupiah ($317,965) for each village, from the current 1 billion rupiah. - Widen access to global markets for palm oil farmers- Strengthen free trade agreements and Indonesia's role in international financial institutions- Minimise imports of staple foods- Create 2 million new affordable housing units, including for informal workers, youth- Expedite forest conservation and rehabilitation projects- Limit new construction of, and retire existing coal-fired power plants, especially in Java, Bali islands- Review debt of state-owned enterprises, continue debt restructuring programme- Revise Jobs Creation Law with goal to ensure fair wages for workers- Evaluate the $32 billion new capital city project- Evaluate food estate programme, replacing it with contract farming, a scheme to ensure farm products will be sold- Impose a wealth tax on Indonesia's 100 richest people- Audit the nickel industry with focus on its impact on the environment and ensuring welfare of domestic workers- Strengthen the anti-corruption agency by revising the law that regulates it- Ease permitting requirements for building places of worshipGANJAR PRANOWO- Continue programmes of outgoing President Joko Widodo's administration- Target average annual economic growth of 7%- Create 17 million new jobs- Expedite construction of new capital city- Increase the defence budget as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) to between 1%-2%, from about 0.8% presently. Modernise military hardware- Target 30% share for renewable sources in energy mix by 2029- Allow more renewable energy producers to use electricity grids of state utility firms to boost green energy adoption- Set up a dedicated ministry for the palm oil sector- Maintain moratorium on deforestation, accelerate reforestation programmes- Create digital tax collection system under the new tax agency separated from finance ministry- Limit permit issuance of new nickel smelter to avoid a further oversupply- Expand social welfare to cover 15 million families, up from 10 million currently- Provide funding to ensure at least one member of a poor family receives education until college- Strengthen national anti-corruption agency- Maintain foreign policy of non-alignment- Strengthen Indonesia's commitment to support fight of Palestinian people- Revitalise the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its decision-making process, especially regarding South China Sea disputes.

Persons: ANIES, GANJAR, Joko Widodo's, PRABOWO, Joko, Stanley Widianto, Ananda Teresia, Stefanno Sulaiman, Bernadette Christina Munthe, Martin Petty Organizations: Reuters, Association of Southeast Asian Nations Locations: Java, Bali, South

ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey has seen its fifth central bank leader depart in as many years as Hafize Gaye Erkan, the first woman in the top role, stepped down after just eight months in the job. Photos You Should See View All 45 ImagesHere are key things to know about the central bank shakeup and what it means for Turkey's battered economy:WHY IS THERE A NEW CENTRAL BANK LEADER? Erkan resigned after weeks of media stories about her father’s undue influence in the central bank’s Istanbul office. Previous changes in central bank leadership has seen Erdogan row back on efforts to bring inflation under control through interest rate hikes. He was brought in as the bank’s deputy head at the same time Simsek took over the Finance Ministry and Erkan was appointed to lead the central bank.

Persons: Hafize Gaye Erkan, Goldman Sachs, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, — Erkan, ”, Fatih Karahan, Mehmet Simsek, Erdogan, Erkan, Karahan, Simsek's, Simsek, Liam Peach, Selcuki, ” “ It’s, ” Selcuki Organizations: —, Finance, WHO, FATIH, Finance Ministry, University of Pennsylvania, Federal Reserve Bank of New, Amazon, Capital Economics, Istanbul Economy Research Locations: ISTANBUL, — Turkey, Turkey, Istanbul, Simsek, U.S, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Columbia, New York, Ankara

☆ Israel's Netanyahu Cautious on Hostage Deal Amid Coalition Rifts
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday Israel was not ready to accept a deal at any price to release hostages held by Hamas amid rifts in his coalition over a U.S. push to get more aid into Gaza. "The efforts to free the hostages are continuing at all times," Netanyahu said in comments ahead of a cabinet meeting that were released to the media. "As I also emphasized in the Security Cabinet – we will not agree to every deal, and not at any price." War in Israel and Gaza View All 194 Images"If Trump was in power, the U.S. conduct would be completely different," he said. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the United States would continue trying to get more aid into Gaza, which is facing an acute humanitarian crisis.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Sunday Israel, Netanyahu, Itamar Ben, Gvir, Joe Biden, Israel's, Biden, Ben, Donald Trump, Trump, Antony Blinken, Gantz, Jake Sullivan, James Mackenzie, Giles Elgood Organizations: Sunday, National, Wall Street, U.S, House, Gaza, CBS Locations: JERUSALEM, U.S, Gaza, Israel, United States

☆ Turkey central bank chief quits, citing need to protect her family
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Turkish Central Bank Governor Hafize Gaye Erkan answers questions during a news conference for the Inflation Report 2023-III in Ankara, Turkey on July 27, 2023. Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty ImagesTurkey's central bank governor Hafize Gaye Erkan resigned on Friday, citing a need to protect her family amid a "reputation assassination", and she was swiftly replaced by a deputy who is expected to carry on her tight policy stance. The first woman to lead the central bank, Erkan was its fifth governor in as many years. Since then the central bank had hiked its key rate to 45% from 8.5%. Last month, opposition newspaper Sozcu published an article about a central bank employee who said she was wrongfully dismissed from the bank by Erkan's father.

Persons: Turkish Central Bank Governor Hafize Gaye Erkan, Hafize Gaye Erkan, Tayyip Erdogan, Erkan, Fatih Karahan, Erdogan, Sozcu, Erkan's Organizations: Turkish Central Bank Governor, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Official Gazette, Turks, Federal Reserve Bank of New Locations: Ankara, Turkey, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, U.S

☆ Russian Cosmonaut to Set Record Sunday for Most Time Spent in Space -Reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-03 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko is expected to set a world record on Sunday for the duration of space flights with nearly 2-1/2 years in total, Russian news agencies reported. Kononenko, who is the commander of the Russian space state agency Roscosmos cosmonaut corps, is conducting his fifth space flight. Upon completion of the current expedition, scheduled for Sept. 23, Kononenko will have logged 1,110 days in space. At the age of 34, Kononenko began training as part of the group of cosmonauts selected for the International Space Station (ISS) programme, according to the European Space Agency's website. In December, Roscosmos said that a cross-flight programme with NASA to the ISS had been extended until 2025.

Persons: Oleg Kononenko, Gennady Padalka, Kononenko, Roscosmos, Lidia Kelly, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Reuters, International Space, NASA, ISS, Washington Locations: Russian, Moscow, United States, Russia, Ukraine, Kyiv, Melbourne

☆ Indonesia Leader Accused of Bias, Interference in Presidential Election
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

In Indonesia, sitting presidents are allowed to campaign for candidates provided they do not use state resources and take official leave to do so, but incumbents have typically remained neutral. The furore has prompted Jokowi to repeatedly clarify his stance and even show reporters print-outs of the election law to clear his name. "Some of our campaign activities were indeed cancelled or not permitted by various local governments...and non-governmental entities, which likely were influenced by those in power," said Ade Chandra, a campaign spokesperson for rival presidential candidate Anies Baswedan. State rice handouts have allegedly included Prabowo campaign stickers, prompting complaints from rivals, according to media. Discontent with Jokowi's actions is also extending to his cabinet, from which chief security minister Mahfud MD, who is a vice presidential candidate on a rival ticket, has said he will resign soon.

Persons: Kate Lamb, Stanley Widianto, Joko Widodo, Prabowo Subianto, Prabowo, Jokowi, Ade Chandra, Anies Baswedan, Mahfud, Kanupriya Kapoor, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Defence, Prabowo, Gadjah Mada University Locations: Stanley Widianto JAKARTA, Indonesia, alma, Gadjah Mada

☆ IMF, Egypt Agree on 'Main Policy Elements' of Economic Reform Programme
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

CAIRO (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund said on Thursday it had agreed with Egypt on the key policy components of an economic reform programme, in a further sign that a final deal to augment the country's $3 billion loan is nearing completion. Ivanna Vladkova Hollar, the IMF mission chief for Egypt, said both sides had made "excellent progress" on the discussions of a comprehensive policy package that could kickstart long-delayed reviews of the country's economic reform programme. "To this end, the IMF team and the Egyptian authorities have agreed on the main policy elements of the program. The authorities expressed a strong commitment to act promptly on all critical aspects of Egypt's economic reform program," Hollar said in a statement. The Egyptian pound, fixed at 30.85 to the dollar since then, has been trading on the black market as low as 71 pounds.

Persons: Ivanna Vladkova Hollar, Hollar, Kristalina Georgieva, Hatem Maher, Jacqueline Wong, Leslie Adler Organizations: Monetary Fund, IMF Locations: CAIRO, Egypt, Israel, Gaza, Cairo

☆ Ahead of Election, Pakistan Seals Plan to Sell National Airline
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +8 min

"Our job is 98% done," Privatisation Minister Fawad Hasan Fawad told Reuters when asked about the plan to sell the airline. Details of the privatisation process have not been previously reported. PIA had liabilities of 785 billion Pakistani rupees ($2.81 billion) and accumulated losses of 713 billion rupees as of June last year. Its CEO has said losses in 2023 were likely to be 112 billion rupees. PIA spokesman Abdullah Hafeez Khan said the airline was assisting the privatisation process, extending "full cooperation" to the transaction adviser.

Persons: Asif Shahzad, Fawad Hasan Fawad, Fawad, Ernst & Young, Shamshad Akhtar, Abdullah Hafeez Khan, Nawaz, Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan, Sharif's, Ishaq Dar, EASA, Brendan Sobie, Gibran Peshimam, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Pakistan International Airlines, International Monetary Fund, PIA, IMF, Reuters, Caretaker, Ernst &, Ernst, FAST, Pakistan Muslim League, European Union Aviation Safety Agency, Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, Kuwaiti Locations: Asif Shahzad ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Czech, Hungarian, Karachi, Europe, Kuala Lumpur, Toronto, Singapore, East, North America, Paris, New York

☆ ’50 shades of green’: UN’s Usher highlights financing challenge for companies still in green transition
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Vicky Mckeever | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

But the real challenge is everything in between — some would say the '50 shades of green'," Usher said during a "IOT: Powering the Digital Economy" panel moderated by CNBC's Steve Sedgwick at this year's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. This refers to companies still working toward making their businesses more sustainable, making them more difficult to label as truly green investments, according to Usher. watch now"If you're going to work in helping deal with heavy emitting sectors and you're going to put more capital in to help them reduce [emissions], that's going to increase your emissions profile," he explained. "So there's a lot of definitional stuff that's needed before the capital is going to flow really at scale," Usher added. More and more businesses strived to make their businesses more sustainable amid severe weather events across the globe.

Persons: Mark Kerrison, Eric Usher, Usher, Steve Sedgwick, hasn't Organizations: United Nations Environment, Finance Initiative, Economic, UNEP FI Locations: London, United Kingdom, —, Davos, Switzerland, U.S, Europe

☆ Palestinians are eating grass and drinking polluted water as famine looms across Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Sana Noor Haq | Rosa Rahimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

“They are weak now, they always have diarrhea, their faces are yellow,” El Jamara, whose family was displaced from northern Gaza, told CNN on January 9. “Unfortunately, many relatives and friends are still in the northern Gaza Strip, suffering a lot,” Hamouda, a father-of-three, told CNN. The first 1,000 days of a child’s life are “absolutely critical” for physical growth and cognitive development, Inglis told CNN. “It is not enough to meet my family’s needs at all,” the student, who is sheltering in a tent in Rafah, told CNN. “We simply don’t have enough, and we cannot keep up with the overwhelming needs of people on the ground,” she told CNN.

Persons: CNN — Hanadi Gamal Saed El Jamara, El Jamara, Arif Husain, Martin Griffiths, “, ”, El, Mohammed Hamouda, Odeh Al, Haw, Hamouda, Yahya Hassouna, Israel, ” Hamouda, Jabalya, Gihan, Baz, ” El Baz, Hoor, Hazem Saeed Al, Mohammed Hamouda Hamouda, Abu Youssef Al, Rebecca Inglis, Inglis, Shadi Bleha, Khan Younis, OCHA, Mohammed Hamouda Juliette Touma, Naizi Organizations: CNN, Food Programme, Integrated Food Security, UN, of Health, “, Getty, United Nations Relief, Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, UNRWA, Najjar Hospital, UNICEF, World Health Organization, United Nations Population Fund, WFP, OCHA, World, Al Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel, Egypt, “, Gaza City, AFP, East, Britain, Al, Territories, Deir al, Balah

☆ Iran Executes Four People It Says Are Linked to Israeli Intelligence -State Media
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran carried out the death sentences of four people on Monday that it says were linked to an Israeli intelligence operation, after the Supreme Court rejected their appeal, Iranian state media reported. The defendants were accused of illegally entering Iranian territory from Iraq's Kurdistan region to carry out a bombing operation in an Isfahan-based factory producing equipment for Iran's Ministry of Defence. Their operation was meant to take place in the summer of 2022 on behalf of Israel's Mossad and was averted by Iranian intelligence, according to the reports. Iran and Israel are longtime foes and are currently locked in a row over Iran's nuclear programme. Israel accuses Iran of backing militant attacks against it, while Iran says Israel has carried out a number of killings of Iranian officials and scientists.

Persons: Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Reuters, Iran's Ministry of Defence, Dubai Newsroom Locations: DUBAI, Iran, Kurdistan, Isfahan, Israel

☆ No European country more than Germany is going further in clamping down on Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-28 | by ( Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Adding to a complex picture, Germany has the largest Palestinian diaspora in Europe, estimated at 300,000. J'rg Carstensen/picture-alliance/dpa/APThere are thought to be around 450 Hamas members in Germany and, like the rest of the European Union, Germany considers Hamas a terrorist organization. There were also reports of people celebrating the Hamas attacks on the streets of Berlin. Spreading propagandaOn November 2, Germany took the step of banning Hamas and all activities linked to the group. Police stand outside a building that houses a synagogue following a pre-dawn attack on October 18 in Berlin, Germany.

Persons: Friedrich Merz, “, Molotov, Jakon Schindler, Schindler, ”, Uli Deck, Der Spiegel, Matthew Levitt, Maja Hitij, Yossi Mekelberg, ’, Germany we’re, Lamya Kaddor, Nadine Schmidt, Sophie Tanno Organizations: CNN, Nazi, Christian Democratic Union, ZDF, Palestine, European Union, Federal Office, Protection, Counter Extremism, Hamas, Police, Brandenburg’s, Act, George Washington University, Israel, Washington Institute for Near East, U.S ., EU, Atlantic Council, IDF, Israel Defensce Forces, Chatham House, West Bank, Reuters, Rights Watch Locations: Israel, Gaza, Germany, Berlin, Europe, Rotterdam, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, German, Potsdam, Karlsruhe, Israel American, U.S, Austria, Hamas, East, Africa, Chatham, Palestine, London

☆ Meloni Looks to Reset Italy's Relations With Africa
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

"What needs to be done in Africa is to build cooperation and serious strategic relationships as equals, not predators," Meloni told a news conference this month. Founder Mattei expanded Italy's presence in Africa, presenting his company as a friendly alternative to U.S. and French oil majors. But climate change experts question the wisdom of sinking significant new investments into gas infrastructure when existing projects already guarantee Italy's energy security. Meloni is not the first Italian leader to seek better ties with Africa and draw a veil over Italy's fraught colonial legacy, which Rome has never wanted to confront. "My goal is to work in Africa and block the departures in Africa," she said this month.

Persons: Crispian Balmer ROME, Giorgia Meloni, Enrico Mattei, Meloni, Arturo Varvelli, Mattei, Crispian Balmer, Alison Williams Organizations: Eni, United Arab, European Council, Foreign Relations, Union, European Commission Locations: Rome, Italian, Italy, Africa, Europe, China, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Meloni, Ukraine

CNN —An oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden is on fire after a missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi militants, in the latest incident linked to the Iran-backed group in the key shipping route. US Central Command said the ship had issued a distress call and reported damage after militants fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen. The USS Carney, a guided missile destroyer, and other coalition ships responded “and are rendering assistance,” Central Command said. Earlier in the day, the USS Carney had shot down a Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile that targeted the US warship, according to US Central Command. Houthi forces stormed the capital Sanaa in 2014, and toppled the internationally recognized and Saudi-backed government, triggering a civil war.

Persons: Yemen’s, ”, Carney, Biden, Abdul Malek al, Houthi Organizations: CNN, US Central Command, ”, Command, Resource Management, US, United Nations Development Programme Locations: Gulf, Aden, Iran, British, Yemen, Britain, Israel, Gaza, America, Africa, Suez, Saudi

☆ Tuvalu: Climate-threatened Pacific nation holds election closely watched by China and Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Story Reuters | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Voting began on Friday in the tiny Pacific island nation of Tuvalu in a national election that is being closely watched by China, Taiwan, the United States and its ally Australia, amid a tussle for influence in the region. Most of Tuvalu is forecast to be flooded by high tides by 2100, says the United Nations Development Programme, which is working with Tuvalu to bolster its coastline. Tuvalu is one of three remaining Pacific allies of Taiwan, after Nauru cut ties this month and switched to Beijing, which pledged more development support. The new government should decide whether Taiwan or China can best respond to Tuvalu’s development needs, he said. Prime Minister Kausea Natano has told Taiwan he continues to support ties, Taiwan said.

Persons: “, ”, Seve Paeniu, Kausea Natano, Enele Sopoaga, Natano, Simon Kofe, Sopoaga, Kofe Organizations: CNN, United Nations Development, Washington, Tuvalu’s Finance, Reuters, Australia Locations: Tuvalu, China, Taiwan, United States, Australia, Funafuti, Pacific, Nauru, Beijing, Nukulaelae, Kofe, United Nations, Canberra

☆ Climate Threatened Tuvalu Holds Election Watched by Taiwan, China
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Kirsty NeedhamSYDNEY (Reuters) -Voting began on Friday in the tiny Pacific Island nation of Tuvalu in a national election that is being closely watched by China, Taiwan, the US and its ally Australia, amid a tussle for influence in the region. Most of Tuvalu is forecast to be flooded by high tides by 2100, says the United Nations Development Programme, which is working with Tuvalu to bolster its coastline. Taiwan on Thursday said China was trying to influence the Tuvalu election and "seize our diplomatic allies". The new government should decide whether Taiwan or China can best respond to Tuvalu's development needs, he said. Prime Minister Kausea Natano has told Taiwan he continues to support ties, Taiwan said.

Persons: Kirsty Needham SYDNEY, Seve Paeniu, Kausea Natano, Enele Sopoaga, Natano, Simon Kofe, Sopoaga, Kofe, Kirsty Needham, Ben Blanchard, Michael Perry Organizations: United Nations Development, Washington, Tuvalu's Finance, Reuters, Australia Locations: Tuvalu, China, Taiwan, Australia, Funafuti, Pacific, United States, Nauru, Beijing, Nukulaelae, Kofe, United Nations, Canberra, Sydney, Taipei

☆ UN's Usher highlights financing challenge for companies in green transition
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | 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 EmailUN's Usher highlights financing challenge for companies in green transition"The money is starting to move away from the really non-green stuff but the real challenge is everything in between – some would say the '50 shades of green'," the head of the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative, Eric Usher, told CNBC at this year's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Persons: Eric Usher Organizations: United Nations Environment, Finance, CNBC, Economic Locations: –, Davos, Switzerland

☆ Erdogan, Eyeing More Trade With Iran, Says Turkey Weighing Opening New Border Crossings
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey is considering opening new border crossings with eastern neighbour Iran, President Tayyip Erdogan said late on Wednesday after talks with his Iranian counterpart, as they seek to revive sagging economic relations. Trade between Turkey and Iran peaked in 2012 at nearly $22 billion but has since fallen. Efforts to establish trade centres in border (areas) to increasing the economic development of our border provinces continue," he said. Turkey, a NATO ally, and Iran currently have four border crossings between them. Turkey, which has also been hit with U.S. sanctions for acquiring Russian defence systems, opposes what it calls unilateral economic sanctions as a policy.

Persons: Tayyip Erdogan, Erdogan, Ebrahim Raisi, Omer Bolat, Daren Butler, Gareth Jones Organizations: Turkish Trade Locations: ANKARA, Turkey, Iran, Tehran, NATO, Ankara

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