In a move that reflects both the increasing ties between Moscow and Tehran and the difficulties both countries have in shipping via the Caucasus land bridge given instability and political changes there, the two governments have announced plans to open trade on the Caspian Sea between Astrakhan in Russia and Bender-Enzeli in Iran.
The splendour of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s crowning moment where he wangled a third term during the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the rising protests by demonstrators calling an end to his signature zero-COVIDstrategy and even seeking his ouster are a study in contrast. As Xi commences his third term in office, he is confronted with a virulent resurgence of the pandemic, which has kicked in lockdowns in cities, and simmering discontent that has led to protests in universities across the nation.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude futures were volatile during the holiday-shortened trading week amid plans to impose a price cap on Russian oil. The policy is poised to go into effect on Dec. 5 when the European Union establishes a boycott on nearly all of Moscow’s petroleum products. Officials are still debating the level, with the proposal in the range of $65 to $70. But while Western governments are championing the idea, will this exacerbate the global energy crisis? The next six months should be fascinating to monitor the international oil and gas markets.
The yearly growth rate of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell to 7.7 percent in October from 8.2 percent in September. Note that in October 2021 the yearly growth rate stood at 6.2 percent.
Some experts are of the view that it is quite likely that the momentum of the CPI might have peaked.
Last week, Azerbaijani President Ilham Alliyev told the ‘Along the Middle Corridor’ Conference that “we will do everything possible to defend our way our life as well as the secular direction of the development of Azerbaijan and of Azerbaijanis, including Azerbaijanis living in Iran. They are part of our nation” (salamnews.org/ru/news/read/480504).
The United States was able to quickly confirm the death of the Islamic State’s leader in southern Syria this past October because it had his DNA and other biometric data on file from an encounter with him from long before he took the helm of the terror group.
U.S. officials are still refusing to share the true identity of the man known to most of the world only by his nom-de-guerre, Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi.
The ceasefire between the Government of the Republic of Yemen and Houthi opposition forces formally expired in early October and continues to deteriorate.
In November, the Houthis attacked government-controlled energy infrastructure targets, but they have thus far stopped short of resuming strikes on targets inside neighboring Saudi Arabia.
Turkiye has been attacking Kurdish groups in Syria and Iraq in response to a November 13 terrorist attack in central Istanbul.
Ankara is threatening to launch a ground operation to widen the buffer zone along its border with Syria.
The Turkish offensives are increasing strains with Washington, which is allied with Kurdish groups in both Syria and Iraq.
Les quatre hommes soupçonnés d’avoir voulu renverser l’Etat auraient été torturés puis assassinés. Le gouvernement a ordonné une enquête.
Le gouvernement de Sao Tomé-et-Principe a ordonné, jeudi 1er décembre, une enquête sur « des actes cruels et inhumains » présumés commis par des militaires sur des hommes accusés par le premier ministre d’avoir tenté, le 25 novembre, de mener un « coup d’Etat », annonce STP-Press, l’agence de presse publique.
A looming crisis of succession in several African countries indicates a troubling persistence of ego-driven political paternalism.
Democratic transition in Africa offers much to celebrate. For one thing, support for democratic principles, especially among young people, remains robust. Contra creeping anti-democratic sentiment across the West (for instance, research by UK-based think tank Onward found that “60% of 18- to 24-year-olds agree that having a strong leader who does not have to bother with parliament or elections is a good way to run the country, more than double the number in 2017”), a high percentage of young Africans continue to express strong support for core democratic values, including freedom of belief and universal suffrage.