takeover of Call of Duty-maker Activision Blizzard deal completed
After the competition watchdog blocked the takeover earlier this year, Microsoft’s president Brad Smith hit out at the CMA’s decision, which it said was “bad for Britain” and contradicted “the ambitions of the UK to become an attractive country to build technology businesses”. It has proved controversial and received a mixed response from regulators around
Middle East Support for Hamas
In Egypt’s second city, Alexandria, a policeman shot dead two Israeli tourists and their guide. Across Israel’s jittery border with Lebanon, there has been sporadic fighting. Supporters of Hamas have taken to the streets, from Bahrain to Morocco. In Damascus, the capital of Syria, the Palestinian flag lit up the opera house. In Lebanon’s Palestinian
Hamas attack on Israel effect on Middle East
Hamas’s murderous assault has blown up the status quo between Israel and the Palestinians. The coming weeks will determine whether war in Gaza sinks the Middle East deeper into chaos or whether, despite Hamas’s atrocities, Israel can begin to create the foundations for regional stability and, one day, peace. More than 1,200 Israelis, most of
new mpox cases are in China
In July and August the country said it had found nearly 1,000 new cases, more than half of the new infections reported worldwide in those months. This marked a sharp rise from zero infections early in the year. The mpox virus has spread across China, with 26 of the mainland’s 31 provincial regions reporting infections.
The fight in Black Sea
Attacks on commercial shipping in the Black Sea would doubtless send prices leaping again. Insurers would raise their rates or refuse to underwrite cargoes at all. Grain would not be the only casualty: some 2m barrels of oil and a further 1m barrels of refined petroleum products are exported through the Black Sea every day.
Russian Military Advances in Ukraine
The Russian offensive in the Avdiivka region of Donetsk Oblast launched on October 9, marking a significant escalation in the conflict. The assault involves up to three Russian battalions supported by armored vehicles, with the aim to encircle and capture the city of Avdiivka. The advancement in Avdiivka could be a strategic move to tie
Rwanda connects methane plant to national grid
Lake Kivu has 60-70 cubic kilometres of methane of which 44.7 cubic kilometres can be extracted, according to official estimates. Currently, there are three projects extracting methane gas for power generation from Lake Kivu. These are SPLK, KivuWatt Phase I (26MW) and Kibuye Power I (3MW). The fourth project by Gasmeth Energy seeks to produce
Zelenskyy surprise visit to NATO
The UK has already announced a new package of support worth £100 million (€115.6 million) to help Ukraine clear minefields, maintain vehicles and shore up defensive fortifications to protect critical infrastructure. Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters upon arrival that the priority for the country was “how to survive during the winter.” Zelenskyy should address defence ministers
the new ‘mu’ COVID-19 Variant in Taiwan
The ‘mu’ variant, also known as B.1.621, was first identified in Taiwan and has since been reported in several other countries. This variant is characterized by a number of mutations that could potentially make it more resistant to current vaccines. Taiwan has seen a recent increase in COVID-19 cases, with a significant proportion attributed to
Azerbaijan gain control over Nagorno-Karabakh
Azerbaijan has finally gained control over the Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as the Republic of Artsakh, however this isn’t the end of the story. The Azerbaijani government recovered control of Nagorno-Karabakh in a large-scale military offensive between September 19 and 20, 2023. The breakaway Republic of Artsakh, which has been fighting for survival