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  • Iran rushes to load oil onto ships in anticipation of US strikes

    Iran rushes to load oil onto ships in anticipation of US strikes

    Iran is dramatically accelerating its oil export operations in anticipation of a potential US military strike that could severely disrupt its ability to move crude to international markets. According to data from Kpler cited by Bloomberg, Iranian oil loadings from Kharg Island reached approximately 20.1 million barrels between February 15-20—equivalent to over three million barrels per day (bpd). This figure represents nearly triple the volume loaded during comparable dates in January and drastically exceeds Iran’s previous three-month average of 1.54 million bpd.

    Kharg Island, responsible for approximately 90% of Iran’s oil exports, represents a highly vulnerable target in any potential conflict. This urgent export surge mirrors Tehran’s actions in June 2025, when Iran rushed to ship oil ahead of US airstrikes on its nuclear facilities.

    The regional oil production landscape shows other major producers are also taking precautionary measures. Reuters reports that Saudi Arabia is increasing both production and exports as part of a contingency plan should US-Iran hostilities disrupt global supplies. The kingdom implemented similar measures in June 2025, boosting exports by around 500,000 bpd during the previous crisis.

    Market indicators strongly reflect these mounting tensions. Charter rates for Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) have more than tripled since January to over $170,000 daily, according to LSEG data. These rates, determined by supply and demand dynamics, indicate substantially increased booking activity for these massive vessels whose availability remains largely fixed due to lengthy construction times.

    Meanwhile, Brent crude prices have climbed over the past month, trading up 0.38% on Wednesday at $70.84 per barrel amid the escalating geopolitical tensions.

    The current crisis has been building since January, when President Trump first contemplated military action following Iran’s suppression of protests. Although demonstrations have subsided, Trump has maintained aggressive rhetoric while overseeing the largest US military buildup in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq invasion. The region now hosts two aircraft carriers, dozens of advanced fighter jets, and—in a highly unusual move—a deployment of stealth F-22 Raptor jets to Israel, signaling unprecedented preparedness for potential conflict.

  • Top Dems reportedly work to sabotage bill to stop Trump Iran war

    Top Dems reportedly work to sabotage bill to stop Trump Iran war

    A significant political confrontation is unfolding in Washington as Democratic leadership faces internal dissent over handling potential military action against Iran. Representatives Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) have introduced a bipartisan war powers resolution requiring congressional authorization for any attack on Iran, responding to President Trump’s military buildup in the Middle East and signals of imminent strikes.

    Despite overwhelming public opposition to war with Iran—with only 27% supporting military action according to a recent YouGov poll—Democratic leadership on the House Foreign Affairs Committee has reportedly worked to suppress the resolution. Multiple sources indicate committee staffers deliberately inflated projections of Democratic opposition, suggesting 20-40 potential defections, to discourage support for the measure.

    Senior Democratic staffers acknowledge leadership employs familiar tactics to delay or sideline votes on contentious foreign policy matters. Rather than openly opposing popular measures, they utilize procedural objections and unity arguments to maintain party consensus. This approach mirrors previous handling of war powers votes that challenge national security establishment positions.

    Notable Democrats including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have focused criticism on procedural aspects rather than substantive opposition to potential military action. Schumer, a top recipient of AIPAC funding, has emphasized the need for public discussion rather than closed-door briefings but hasn’t questioned the policy itself.

    Similarly, Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) expressed concerns about unclear objectives rather than opposing military action in principle. This positioning occurs as reports indicate Trump considers massive operations potentially including assassination of Iranian leaders, while Iran has warned of retaliatory strikes against US bases.

    Behind the scenes, some Democrats reportedly believe Iran requires military confrontation but prefer Trump bear the political consequences. According to sources, the calculation involves allowing Trump to initiate conflict that would damage both Iran and his political standing.

    The resolution faces additional opposition from pro-Israel Democrats Representatives Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), who derided it as the ‘Ayatollah Protection Act’ despite intelligence assessments contradicting their nuclear weapons claims. Iran has expressed willingness to negotiate limits on nuclear development in line with nonproliferation treaties.

    Representative Khanna argues opposition stems from powerful interests seeking regime change in Iran and suggests colleagues avoid contentious positions to prevent targeting by influential donors. He continues rallying support for the resolution, acknowledging challenges in overcoming congressional preference to avoid difficult foreign policy votes.

  • First special train carrying about 600 workers returning from holiday arrives in Guangzhou

    First special train carrying about 600 workers returning from holiday arrives in Guangzhou

    In a significant post-Spring Festival workforce mobilization effort, high-speed train D3627 completed its journey from Guigang in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to Guangzhou South Railway Station on Tuesday afternoon. The special transport operation, carrying approximately 600 workers, represents a collaborative initiative between Guangdong and Guangxi’s human resources departments alongside China Railway Guangzhou Group.

    This coordinated return-to-work program addresses the critical need for labor resumption following China’s most important annual holiday period. The initiative demonstrates regional cooperation in workforce management, ensuring enterprises in Guangdong—China’s manufacturing powerhouse—receive adequate staffing to maintain production continuity.

    Among the passengers was Zhou Ying, a 2024 graduate currently employed at a Guangzhou-based technology company. Specializing in game character design and modeling, Zhou represents the growing tech talent pool migrating to Guangdong’s thriving digital economy. Her stable income and career prospects highlight the economic opportunities driving interprovincial labor mobility.

    The special train service forms part of broader measures to facilitate smooth workforce transitions after extended holiday periods. Such organized transport solutions help mitigate travel challenges while ensuring timely return of skilled and unskilled workers essential to Guangdong’s industrial and technological sectors.

    Authorities have indicated this initial transport represents the first of several planned coordinated movements, with additional special trains anticipated in coming days to address the substantial return-to-work demand following the Spring Festival celebrations.

  • Awe-inspiring Wuxi: Taibo Temple Fair wows intl visitors

    Awe-inspiring Wuxi: Taibo Temple Fair wows intl visitors

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  • Shanghai eases residency requirements for homebuyers

    Shanghai eases residency requirements for homebuyers

    In a significant policy shift aimed at revitalizing its real estate sector, Shanghai has announced comprehensive reforms to its property purchasing regulations. The new measures, effective February 26, 2026, substantially reduce residency requirements for non-local homebuyers seeking properties within the city’s Outer Ring Road.

    Under the revised framework, non-local families and individual buyers without Shanghai household registration (hukou) now qualify for residential purchases after just one year of tax payments in the municipality—a considerable reduction from previous requirements. Those maintaining three years of tax contributions gain eligibility for additional property acquisitions.

    The policy package further eliminates income tax prerequisites for long-term residents, permitting families and single adults holding Shanghai residence permits for five or more years to purchase one housing unit regardless of income tax status.

    Beyond residency adjustments, the seven-point initiative includes lowered thresholds for housing provident fund loan applications and modifications to property tax exemption criteria. These coordinated measures aim to address diverse housing needs while stimulating market activity.

    Jointly issued by multiple municipal authorities including the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Housing and Urban-Rural Development and the Shanghai Municipal Tax Service, these reforms represent a strategic effort to balance housing supply with evolving demand patterns. The policy framework explicitly targets the promotion of stable, healthy real estate market development while accommodating legitimate residential requirements.

  • Ministry warns schools not to cut physical education classes

    Ministry warns schools not to cut physical education classes

    In a significant move to prioritize student wellness, China’s Ministry of Education has launched a stringent ‘health first’ initiative targeting educational institutions that reduce physical education classes or restrict outdoor activities during breaks. This crackdown comes alongside newly released data demonstrating remarkable improvements in national student fitness metrics over the past decade.

    During a high-level meeting convened in Beijing, education officials revealed that all provincial-level regions have now fully implemented policies guaranteeing primary and secondary students receive minimum two hours of daily physical activity, including mandated 15-minute inter-class breaks. The comprehensive approach represents a paradigm shift in educational priorities, placing physical wellbeing alongside academic achievement.

    The ministry’s report highlighted substantial workforce expansion, with physical education teachers in compulsory education increasing by 71.6% since 2012, while arts educators grew by 60.9% during the same period. These staffing investments have yielded measurable results: the 2024 National Student Physical Health Survey indicates a 9.3 percentage point improvement in overall excellence rates for physical health across all educational levels since 2016.

    Notable progress has been achieved in combating youth myopia, with national rates declining consistently for four consecutive years (2021-2024), reaching 50.3% in 2024. This achievement meets the government’s annual target of reducing myopia prevalence by 0.5 percentage points each year.

    Concurrently, school food safety management has been substantially enhanced, with 99.9% of institutions now monitored through a comprehensive online surveillance system covering kitchen operations and meal preparation facilities.

    Looking toward 2026, the ministry plans intensified efforts focusing particularly on kindergarten and primary school levels. Strategic measures will include guaranteed outdoor activity time, restricted electronic device usage, and improved classroom lighting conditions to alleviate visual strain.

    The ministry issued explicit warnings against ‘fake curricula’—schedules that appear compliant but aren’t implemented—and vowed rigorous investigation of any practices that compromise physical education requirements or prevent students from accessing outdoor spaces during designated break times.

  • Near-zero visibility: UAE residents to face monster fog all this week

    Near-zero visibility: UAE residents to face monster fog all this week

    The United Arab Emirates is currently experiencing a prolonged period of intense fog conditions that have significantly reduced visibility across multiple emirates, creating substantial disruptions to daily life and transportation networks. Meteorological experts indicate this weather pattern will persist throughout the week before gradual improvement begins in early March.

    On Tuesday morning, Dubai residents awoke to severely obscured skylines as thick fog settled over large sections of the emirate. The phenomenon resulted in dramatically reduced visibility that severely impacted road conditions during peak commuting hours. Major highways witnessed vehicles moving at exceptionally slow speeds, while school transportation and office commuters faced considerable delays. Similar challenging conditions were reported throughout Sharjah, with motorists describing the experience as navigating through dense cloud formations.

    The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has identified the specific atmospheric conditions responsible for this persistent fog formation. According to Dr. Ahmed Habib, meteorologist at the NCM, the combination of exceptionally calm wind patterns and a stable high-pressure system affecting both surface and upper atmospheric layers has created optimal circumstances for fog development. These conditions have resulted in cooler surface temperatures that, when combined with existing humidity, generate the thick fog banks currently affecting the region.

    Meteorological projections indicate the fog will continue beyond Wednesday, with particularly dense formations expected in interior regions including Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Dubai. Residents in affected areas should anticipate continued transportation disruptions during morning hours, requiring additional travel time and heightened road safety precautions.

    Weather patterns are forecast to undergo modification later this week, beginning with anticipated cloud formation on February 26th. While fog conditions may persist, meteorological models suggest reduced frequency compared to current levels. Afternoon periods may present alternative challenges as northwesterly winds are predicted to create potentially rough sea conditions. These strengthening winds are expected to gradually diminish fog formation likelihood.

    Dr. Habib emphasized that such weather patterns represent typical seasonal transition phenomena common during this period. The UAE’s winter season traditionally continues until March 21st, with fog episodes frequently occurring during periods of atmospheric stability. Temperature fluctuations are expected throughout the week, with gradual warming projected from March 1st onward following a brief temperature decrease expected on February 27th due to returning northwesterly winds.

  • Sudan’s Hemedti closely linked to Dubai property portfolio

    Sudan’s Hemedti closely linked to Dubai property portfolio

    A comprehensive investigation has uncovered substantial Dubai real estate holdings valued at approximately $1.7 million connected to Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, the commander of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group. The findings, documented in a recent report from investigative organization The Sentry, reveal a complex network of property transactions and corporate entities that allegedly serve to conceal the assets of the Sudanese military leader known as Hemedti.

    The investigation identifies three residential apartments in Dubai’s eastern suburbs, purchased by Hemedti in March 2020 near the UAE’s al-Minhad military air base, along with commercial property in the emirate. Although initially acquired under his personal name, these assets were subsequently transferred in July 2022 to Prodigious Real Estate Management Supervision Services, a UAE-registered entity.

    Prodigious is wholly owned by Abo Zer Abdelnabi Habiballa Ahmmed (also known as Abozer Habib), whom the US Treasury sanctioned in 2025 as owner of the Capital Tap group. This conglomerate has longstanding connections to the RSF, with constituent companies allegedly providing financial and military equipment to the paramilitary force.

    The report estimates the three Dubai properties associated with Hemedti at nearly $1 million, while Prodigious maintains additional commercial holdings worth approximately $670,000. Between 2023 and 2025, these properties generated minimum annual rental income of $80,000 from tenants unaware of their landlords’ connections to the Sudanese conflict.

    The investigation utilized leaked Dubai property records from 2020 and 2022 obtained by the Centre for Advanced Defense Studies (C4ADS), with verification support from the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

    These findings emerge amid mounting evidence of substantial ties between the UAE and the RSF, despite official denials from Abu Dhabi. The relationship predates Sudan’s April 2023 conflict, with Hemedti previously acknowledging that Sudan provided 30,000 fighters—primarily from RSF ranks—to support the UAE and Saudi-led coalition in Yemen.

    The report further details a sophisticated gold smuggling operation from RSF-controlled territories in Sudan’s Darfur region to UAE markets through multiple transit routes. Companies including US-sanctioned Al-Junaid, along with UAE-based Glow Gold and AZ Gold, facilitate this trade that international statistics indicate has recently experienced a ‘massive surge’ through Kenya.

    Hemedti’s corporate empire reportedly extends beyond real estate and gold to include livestock, construction, tourism, and banking sectors, with previous connections to multinational companies such as UAE-based Tradive General Trading and Aoun Commercial Brokers.

  • Trump, Zelensky speak before Ukraine-US talks in Geneva

    Trump, Zelensky speak before Ukraine-US talks in Geneva

    In a significant diplomatic development preceding crucial peace talks, former U.S. President Donald Trump engaged in a substantive telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The discussion, lasting approximately thirty minutes according to Ukrainian presidential advisor Dmytro Lytvyn, focused on coordinating strategies for upcoming multilateral negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian conflict.

    President Zelensky publicly acknowledged the exchange via social media, expressing gratitude for Trump’s ‘active involvement’ in peace efforts and recognizing contributions from Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who participated in the call. The dialogue specifically addressed agenda items for the bilateral meeting between Ukrainian lead negotiator Rustem Umerov and Trump’s representatives scheduled for Geneva, alongside preparations for comprehensive trilateral negotiations with Russia anticipated in early March.

    The Geneva discussions represent the latest iteration of Trump-mediated diplomacy that has thus far yielded limited progress in ending Europe’s most devastating military confrontation since World War II. The conflict, ignited by Russia’s full-scale invasion four years prior, has resulted in catastrophic human casualties and widespread territorial destruction across eastern and southern Ukraine.

    Central to the diplomatic impasse remains the disputed status of Donbas, with Russia demanding complete control over Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region under threat of military escalation. Ukraine maintains its refusal to concede territorial sovereignty while insisting on robust international security guarantees to prevent future aggression. Both leaders expressed support for elevating negotiations to the head-of-state level, with Zelensky reiterating that direct engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin remains essential for resolving the conflict’s most complex issues.

  • Antonio Tejero, former Spanish lieutenant colonel who led failed military coup, dies at 93

    Antonio Tejero, former Spanish lieutenant colonel who led failed military coup, dies at 93

    MADRID — Antonio Tejero, the former Spanish lieutenant colonel whose audacious 1981 parliamentary seizure became the most dramatic challenge to Spain’s democratic transition, passed away Wednesday evening at age 93. His death in Alzira, eastern Spain, was confirmed by his family’s legal representatives at A. Cañizares Abogados, who noted he died peacefully surrounded by family after receiving last rites.

    In a remarkable historical coincidence, Tejero’s demise occurred on the very day Spain’s government released previously classified documents pertaining to the February 23, 1981 coup attempt. The former military officer had led approximately 200 armed civil guards in storming the Spanish Congress of Deputies during a pivotal parliamentary session to install Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo as prime minister.

    The attempted takeover, characterized by Tejero’s iconic patent leather tricorn hat and pistol-waving commands of “Everyone, freeze!”, represented the final serious effort to reverse Spain’s democratic evolution following General Francisco Franco’s 1975 death. Television cameras captured unforgettable scenes of officers firing weapons and lawmakers sheltering beneath parliamentary benches during the 18-hour siege.

    The coup ultimately collapsed after King Juan Carlos I delivered a televised address denouncing the rebellion and urging military loyalty to Spain’s nascent constitution. Tejero subsequently served nearly 16 years of a 30-year sentence for military rebellion before dividing his later years between Málaga and Madrid.

    Despite his incarceration, the imagery of Tejero’s parliamentary invasion remains indelibly etched in Spain’s collective consciousness, symbolizing both the fragility of young democracies and their ultimate resilience against authoritarian threats.