IAEA chief offers to visit Iran ahead of Additional Protocol halt
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has offered to visit Iran over Tehran’s decision to suspend the IAEA’s snap inspections. IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi announced on Feb. 16 that he was ready to visit Iran after Tehran informed the UN body of its decision to end voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty...
ECB head warns Europe’s economic outlook is ‘darkening’ amid soaring energy, food prices
The chief of the European Central Bank (ECB) has warned that the economic outlook for the continent “is darkening” and that business activity could “slow substantially” in the coming months amid skyrocketing food and energy prices in the wake of the Ukraine war. Christine Lagarde, speaking at the European Parliament on whether the eurozone would sink into recession, admitted that...
Malaysia says it will be more ‘aggressive’ in ditching dollar
Malaysia says it will move away from the dollar by adopting appropriate policies to expand the use of local currency ringgit in international trade. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Oct. 10, “To entirely stop the reliance on the U.S. dollar will be difficult, but Malaysia will be more active and aggressive in the use of ringgit (in trade).” The veteran...
UN forum: Nations must collaborate now or risk further setbacks in sustainable development
Today’s multilateral arrangements—global and regional organizations and major development banks—are “not up to the job” of helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the deputy UN chief said on Feb. 20. The 11th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) kicked off in Bangkok, with participants echoing a compelling plea for nations to swiftly implement urgent actions, fostered by robust and sustained...
Iran’s FM Zarif discusses latest regional developments with Turkmenistan officials, wraps up Central Asian tour
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has met with top Turkmen officials in Ashgabat, where they discussed the latest regional and bilateral developments. Mr. Zarif, concluding his Central Asian tour, met on April 8 with his Turkmen counterpart, Rasit Meredow, during which he praised Tehran-Ashgabat political, economic and cultural relations as positive. The Iranian foreign minister underlined the necessity of boosting the...
Ethiopian drone strike kills 17 on day of Biden-Abiy call
NAIROBI, Kenya—An Ethiopian drone strike has killed 17 civilians in the country’s Tigray region on the day that President Joe Biden during a call with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed expressed concern about such attacks in the ongoing war, local authorities say. A report by the zonal administration said women at a flour-grinding mill made up most of those killed in...
Iraq resort shelling a ‘shocking disregard for civilian life,’ UN envoy says
The deadly shelling of a mountain resort in northern Iraq represented a shocking disregard for civilian life and international obligations on civilian protection, the UN Special Representative for the country, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, told an emergency session of the Security Council. Ambassadors convened late in the afternoon July 26 New York time, to discuss the July 20 attack in Zahko, a...
U.S. effort to block Ethiopian dam recalls legacy of British colonialism
(GIN)—Based on guidance from President Trump, the State Department is suspending $130 million in security-related aid to Ethiopia over a nearly-completed dam that would lift Ethiopia from poverty and end the shadow of British colonialism that favored Egypt. Programs on the chopping block include security assistance, counterterrorism and military education and training, anti-human trafficking programs, and broader development assistance funding,...
Libyan rebels out of oil business?
(FinalCall.com) - Not anticipating the emergence of a stalemate and the creation of two Libyas may have thrown an unintended monkey wrench in plans by Western powers and Arab allies' desire to allow Libyan rebels–now called the Interim National Council–to sell captured oil. According to published reports, the complexity of sanctions of Libya may mean companies wanting to do...
Temporary ceasefire in Gaza is not enough, activists argue
War was temporarily sidelined for 96 hours to free Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons on one side and Israeli and foreign captives on the other as part of a negotiated “truce” between the Zionist State of Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian resistance group. After weeks of bloodshed the temporary ceasefire allowed for the release of 50 women and children...