Author: Abdul Quddoos

The United Arab Emirates has been taking more cargoes of Russian crude oil, according to ship tracking data and trading sources, in another example of how Western sanctions on Russia have adjusted traditional energy trade flows. Russia has been selling both crude and refined products at discounted prices after international sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a “special military operation,” left it with fewer buyers. The development also highlights growing cooperation between Russia and top Gulf oil producers, such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Gulf Arab states have resisted U.S. pressure to help isolate Russia and to pump…

The Maritime Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has released new details from its investigation into bunker fuel contamination at the Port of Singapore, the world’s top bunkering hub, revealing new details about where the fuel came from and measures to prevent a recurrance of the incident in the future. As reported previously, the MPA said as many as 200 ships had been supplied with High Sulphur Fuel Oil (HSFO) containing high concentration levels of chlorinated organic compounds (COC) at the Port of Singapore, of which 80 have reported various issues with fuel pumps and engines. The MPA was notified of contamination on…

South Korea’s military is considering the purchase of an Israeli “electric eye” as part of efforts to bolster its capabilities to detect small North Korean drones, a defense source in Seoul said Sunday, Report informs via Yonhap. The move comes as the South’s defense authorities have come under fierce criticism for the failure to counter the penetration of five North Korean drones into its airspace late last month. It was belatedly revealed that one of them even intruded into the no-fly zone, called P-73, near the presidential office in the central district of Yongsan. In order to beef up its…

Saudi Arabia and China intend to strengthen cooperation to ensure the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program, Report informs referring to TASS. The countries also called on Iran to cooperate with the IAEA and comply with safeguards obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Earlier the IAEA reported that Iran began enriching uranium up to 60% at the nuclear facility in Fordow. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in April 2021 stated that the country was able to start enriching uranium up to 90%.

Today, Shavkat Mirziyoyev spoke to the president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Shavkat Mirziyoyev congratulated the UAE’s President on his birthday, warmly wishing him good health and well-being, great success in his state activities, as well as peace and prosperity to the friendly people of this country. During the conversation, the counterparts discussed the ways to further expand the multifaceted cooperation, primarily in the areas of trade, investment, innovation and high technology, green energy, agriculture, logistics and transport. They noted with satisfaction that in recent years there had been a dynamic development of Uzbek-Emirati relations.…

The delegation of the Ministry of Defense of Kyrgyzstan led by Minister Lt. Gen. Baktybek Bekbolotov is on a working visit to the United Arab Emirates from February 22-25. The delegation of Kyrgyzstan traveled to Abu Dhabi to attend the International Defence Exhibition & Conference IDEX 2023. Defense Minister Baktybek Bekbolotov became familiarized with the latest models and developments of the leading international defense industry manufacturers. Defense Minister Bekbolotov also met with Minister of state for Defense Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi. They discussed bilateral cooperation in defense, prospects of cooperation between the Defense Ministries.

A Chinese envoy called on the international community on Thursday to continue supporting Iraq’s anti-terrorism efforts. “The international community should continue to support Iraq in combating terrorism, eliminating terrorist extremist forces such as Da’esh, preventing their return and spread, and consolidating the hard-won achievements in counter-terrorism,” Dai Bing, China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, told a Security Council briefing on Iraq. Dai said that the current security situation in Iraq “remains dire,” and terrorist remnants “are still conducting asymmetric attacks,” resulting in casualties including among civilians. The United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by…

UN special envoy for Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, on Thursday called on Iraq’s political class to take advantage of the present climate to end chronic cycles of instability. Following a year of tensions and political discord, Hennis-Plasschaert expressed hope that the confirmation of the new government will provide a chance to structurally address the country’s pressing issues. “Effecting meaningful change will take time, as this can only happen through structural change that requires systemic socio-economic reform, stronger institutions and better governance at all levels,” she said. “It is of the greatest importance that political parties and other actors prioritize the country’s…

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held meetings with top Iraqi leaders on Monday in Baghdad to discuss bilateral ties and unpaid arrears to Russian energy companies in Iraq due to U.S. sanctions over the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said in a joint press conference with Lavrov that the two sides “discussed how to deal with the dues of Russian companies operating in Iraq, and we will discuss this issue during our visit to Washington Wednesday.” “The sanctions should not be imposed on Iraq because its cooperation with Russian companies continues,” Hussein told the press conference. Earlier, the…

The wife of Scotland’s new First Minister, Humza Yousaf, showcased her Palestinian heritage by wearing a traditional embroidered thobe, known as tatreez, in the Scottish Parliament last week. Nadia El-Nakhla was present for her husband’s official confirmation as the head of the Scottish Government on 28 March, when he signed the nomination form. Yousaf made history last month by becoming the first Muslim and ethnic minority leader of a British political party, having been elected as Chair of the Scottish National Party (SNP), replacing Nicola Sturgeon after her surprise resignation. El-Nakhla, 39, is an SNP councillor in Dundee. She was born in Scotland to…