Global Pulse

分类： world

  • Investigation finds US-sanctioned Kinahan cartel leaders ‘living openly’ in Dubai

    Investigation finds US-sanctioned Kinahan cartel leaders ‘living openly’ in Dubai

    An investigative collaboration between The Sunday Times and open-source outlet Bellingcat has revealed that Irish crime syndicate leaders Christy Kinahan and his son Daniel continue to reside openly in Dubai despite international arrest warrants and multimillion-dollar bounties on their heads. The investigation, utilizing advanced digital forensics and AI-powered facial recognition, captured photographic and video evidence of the duo attending a mixed martial arts event at Dubai’s Coca-Cola Arena before an audience of 6,000 spectators.

    The Kinahan Organised Crime Group, valued at approximately $1.1 billion, represents one of Europe’s most formidable transnational criminal networks. According to Irish law enforcement authorities, the cartel dominates narcotics trafficking from mainland Europe to the United Kingdom, establishing itself as a primary supplier of illicit substances to British markets.

    Notably, Christy Kinahan was observed occupying premium VIP seating without apparent concern for his conspicuous status as a globally wanted fugitive. The report documented both men appearing remarkably relaxed and making minimal efforts to conceal their identities during the public gathering.

    United States authorities had previously designated the Kinahan organization as a significant criminal threat, announcing sanctions against family members and offering rewards up to $5 million for information leading to the network’s dismantlement. Multiple nations accuse the cartel of orchestrating large-scale drug trafficking operations, weapons smuggling, and sophisticated money laundering schemes.

    Recent developments have exposed the cartel’s expanding global reach. A September incident involving a light aircraft carrying 200kg of ‘SpaceX-branded’ cocaine that crashed in Brazil revealed connections to the group’s African and European operations. Furthermore, U.S. court records obtained by The Sunday Times indicate the Drug Enforcement Administration successfully infiltrated a narcotics operation linked to the family, providing concrete evidence of their direct involvement in North American drug markets, including methamphetamine and fentanyl trafficking.

  • Police investigate a potential explosion outside the US Embassy in Oslo

    Police investigate a potential explosion outside the US Embassy in Oslo

    Norwegian authorities have launched a formal investigation into a possible explosive incident that occurred near the U.S. Embassy compound in Oslo during the early hours of Sunday. According to official statements from Oslo police, emergency services received multiple reports of a loud detonation-like sound approximately at 1:00 a.m. local time.

    The Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) has responded by deploying additional security personnel to the scene as a precautionary measure. However, PST communication adviser Martin Bernsen confirmed that Norway’s national terrorism threat assessment remains unchanged following the incident. Preliminary assessments indicate no casualties or injuries resulting from the event.

    Both the U.S. Embassy in Oslo and local law enforcement officials have declined to provide immediate commentary, directing media inquiries to the U.S. State Department. At present, specific details regarding the nature of the explosion or potential perpetrators remain undisclosed as the investigation continues. Security perimeter around the diplomatic facility has been reinforced while forensic experts examine the area for evidence.

  • War fuels Cyprus anger over UK military bases

    War fuels Cyprus anger over UK military bases

    A recent drone attack on RAF Akrotiri, a British military installation in Cyprus, has intensified longstanding tensions regarding the United Kingdom’s continued military presence on the Mediterranean island. The assault, which damaged a hangar facility one week ago, has sparked divergent interpretations among stakeholders.

    For British defense analysts, the successful penetration of base defenses highlights concerning vulnerabilities in UK military capabilities. For many Cypriot citizens, however, the incident represents another dangerous consequence of foreign military occupation. Approximately 200-300 protesters gathered outside the presidential palace in Nicosia, brandishing banners demanding the removal of British bases from Cypriot territory.

    Local business owner Natasha Theodotou articulated the sentiment of many demonstrators: ‘We seek an independent Cyprus. Just as we experience occupation by Turkish forces, we remain occupied by the UK.’ Theodotou’s comments reference the island’s complex geopolitical situation, where Turkey controls the northern third since its 1974 invasion, while Britain maintains two sovereign base areas covering 98 square miles under a 1960 independence treaty.

    British military intelligence assesses that Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia, launched the drone from Lebanese territory. While UK officials deny that Akrotiri serves as a launch point for American offensive strikes against Iranian targets, the base’s reported use by U.S. U-2 surveillance aircraft potentially explains why it became a target for Iranian proxies seeking retaliation against U.S.-Israeli operations.

    The demonstration incorporated multiple geopolitical concerns, with participants expressing solidarity with Palestine and criticism of U.S. and Israeli policies. Chants of ‘Say it loud, say it clear, British bases out of here’ echoed through Nicosia’s streets, which remain divided by a UN-patrolled buffer zone—often called the world’s last partitioned capital.

    Protesters emphasized security concerns, with participant Shona Muir stating, ‘Their presence alone here makes us more of a target.’ This contrasts sharply with the UK Ministry of Defence’s position that the bases ‘play a crucial role in supporting the safety of British citizens and our allies,’ noting recent operations where British jets intercepted Iranian drones from the location.

    The Cypriot government has carefully distinguished between the attacked UK facility and Cypriot sovereignty, while Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos acknowledged the base issue requires ‘careful reflection’ following recent events. Demonstrators meanwhile demand greater transparency regarding base activities, with Stephanos Stavros emphasizing that the foundational treaty must be complied with through ‘full transparency.’

    Any potential renegotiation of the base agreements would involve extraordinarily complex diplomatic negotiations between the UK, Greece, Turkey, and both Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, making immediate resolution unlikely despite growing local opposition.

  • Irish government chartered flight from Oman arrives in Dublin

    Irish government chartered flight from Oman arrives in Dublin

    The inaugural Irish government-chartered evacuation flight has successfully transported 194 citizens from the Middle East to Dublin Airport amid escalating regional hostilities. The aircraft, which departed from Muscat, Oman on Saturday afternoon local time, completed its journey with a technical stop in Cairo before arriving in Dublin at approximately 05:00 local time Sunday.

    This emergency evacuation operation follows the deterioration of regional security conditions after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran triggered retaliatory measures from Tehran, resulting in widespread airspace closures across the Middle East. The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs acknowledged significant operational challenges that delayed the originally scheduled Friday departure.

    The evacuation protocol prioritized elderly citizens and individuals with medical conditions, while permitting children under 16 to travel without charge. Adult passengers were required to pay €800 for their seats—a pricing structure that generated some public criticism. Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee defended the fee structure, emphasizing that the charged amount represented a “substantially reduced compared to the overall cost” of the specialized evacuation operation.

    This government-chartered flight follows the earlier arrival of nearly 400 Irish citizens aboard a commercial Emirates flight from Dubai on Wednesday night—the first successful commercial passage in several days after Middle Eastern airspace gradually reopened.

    Concurrently, the United Kingdom has announced plans to charter evacuation flights from Dubai early next week for British nationals seeking to leave the region, contingent upon ground conditions. The UK operation will similarly charge evacuees while permitting spouses, partners, and children under 18 to travel with registered British nationals.

  • War in the Middle East: latest developments

    War in the Middle East: latest developments

    The Middle East conflict escalated dramatically over the weekend with multiple fronts witnessing intensified military actions. Overnight airstrikes, attributed to US-Israeli operations, targeted oil facilities in Tehran, marking a significant expansion of the conflict directly impacting Iranian infrastructure. Iranian officials confirmed damage to several oil installations, raising immediate concerns about global oil markets and regional energy exports.

    Concurrently, Gulf states faced renewed assaults with Saudi Arabia reporting successful interception of 15 drones, including attacks targeting Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter. Kuwait implemented precautionary production cuts following drone strikes on airport fuel tanks, while Bahrain reported three casualties and damage to a water desalination plant from falling missile debris.

    Iran’s Revolutionary Guards declared readiness for sustained conflict, with spokesman General Ramazan Sharif stating their forces could maintain “intense war” operations for six months while promising deployment of more advanced missiles in coming days. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a nuanced address, simultaneously apologizing to neighboring nations for attacks on their territory while warning that Iran would be “forced to respond” to any invasion attempts.

    Israeli military operations expanded significantly with confirmed strikes “across Iran” including targeted infrastructure in Tehran. Lebanon witnessed severe escalation as Israeli strikes on a Beirut hotel killed four people, with Israel claiming the operation targeted Iranian Quds Force commanders. Southern Lebanon experienced intensified bombardment with eight fatalities reported across more than 20 communities.

    The human toll mounted as Sri Lankan hospitals discharged 22 Iranian crew members surviving recent naval engagements, while 84 bodies have been recovered and over 60 remain missing following Wednesday’s submarine attack. A second Iranian warship has sought refuge in Sri Lankan waters following the incident.

    Controversy emerged regarding a deadly strike on an Iranian primary school that killed approximately 150 people. While President Trump attributed the attack to Iranian forces, a New York Times investigation suggested US military involvement, though verification remains challenging due to restricted site access.

  • 12 years on, renewed hunt for missing Flight MH370 comes up empty as families press for answers

    12 years on, renewed hunt for missing Flight MH370 comes up empty as families press for answers

    Malaysian authorities have confirmed the unsuccessful conclusion of the latest deep-sea search operation for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which disappeared twelve years ago with 239 passengers and crew aboard. The Air Accident Investigation Bureau reported Sunday that Ocean Infinity, a Texas-based marine robotics company, completed an extensive survey of the southern Indian Ocean seabed without locating the aircraft wreckage.

    Operating under a unique “no-find, no-fee” agreement that would have earned the company $70 million upon successful discovery, Ocean Infinity conducted search operations across 7,571 square kilometers (2,923 square miles) of ocean floor. The mission, executed in two phases between March 2025 and January 2026, faced periodic weather disruptions that hampered progress. The search focused on a newly identified 15,000-square-kilometer zone where the aircraft is believed to have crashed based on satellite trajectory data.

    The Boeing 777 vanished from radar on March 8, 2014, during its scheduled flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. Most passengers were Chinese nationals. Previous multinational search efforts and a 2018 private search by Ocean Infinity similarly failed to locate the main wreckage, though debris fragments later washed ashore along African coastlines and Indian Ocean islands.

    Voice 370, representing families of the victims, has urgently appealed to the Malaysian government to extend Ocean Infinity’s contract and consider engaging other deep-sea exploration companies under similar performance-based arrangements. The group emphasized that the current contract remains valid until June but noted that Ocean Infinity’s vessel has been redeployed for other projects. With approaching winter months likely to worsen sea conditions, the window for immediate continuation appears limited.

    The families’ organization declared their unwavering commitment to pursuing answers, stating: “We will continue the fight for answers. We will never give up!” Malaysian authorities have not provided specifics regarding when or if the search operations might resume.

  • Explosion reported outside US embassy in Oslo, police say

    Explosion reported outside US embassy in Oslo, police say

    OSLO – Norwegian authorities swiftly cordoned off the perimeter surrounding the United States Embassy in Oslo following a reported explosion that occurred in the early hours of the morning. The incident, which took place at approximately 01:00 local time (00:00 GMT), prompted an immediate and significant deployment of law enforcement resources to the Morgedalsvegen district, situated roughly 7 kilometers from the city center.

    Police Superintendent Michael Dellemyr, who is commanding the operational response, provided initial details to national broadcaster NRK, confirming the detonation occurred at the public entrance to the diplomatic compound. Preliminary assessments from media outlets indicate the embassy structure itself sustained only minor physical damage.

    In an official statement, police officials emphasized that while ‘large resources’ were on the scene, the precise nature of the incident and any potential involved parties remained unknown. ‘The police are in dialogue with the embassy and no injuries have been reported,’ the statement read, underscoring that the situation was ongoing and under investigation. The rapid containment and absence of casualties marked a critical first response to the security breach, though the motive behind the explosion was not immediately clear.

  • Iran says can fight for months as Israel strikes Beirut hotel

    Iran says can fight for months as Israel strikes Beirut hotel

    The Middle East conflict entered a dangerous new phase as Israeli forces targeted a hotel in central Beirut, killing at least four people, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guards declared their capacity to wage intense warfare against the United States and Israel for six months. The strike on Beirut’s Ramada hotel in the tourist-frequented Rawche area left visible damage with shattered windows and charred walls, according to AFP correspondents on scene.

    The regional escalation continues to broaden with Saudi Arabia reporting interception of multiple drones targeting Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter, while Kuwait confirmed attacks on aviation fuel storage at its international airport. These developments have triggered significant energy security concerns, particularly regarding the Strait of Hormuz transit corridor where Kuwait’s national oil company announced production cuts due to security threats.

    Tehran has accused the US and Israel of striking oil infrastructure within the Iranian capital, marking the first reported attack on Iran’s oil facilities since the conflict began. Israel’s military acknowledged targeting “fuel storage facilities in Tehran” that allegedly supported military operations.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to continue military operations “with all our force” following joint US-Israeli raids that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei last week. Despite this, Revolutionary Guards spokesman Ali Mohammad Naini asserted Iran’s preparedness for prolonged conflict, indicating the deployment of “advanced and less-used long-range missiles” in coming days.

    The human cost continues to mount with Iran’s health ministry reporting approximately 926 civilian deaths and 6,000 wounded, though these figures remain unverified independently. Lebanon reports at least 294 fatalities from Israeli airstrikes over the past week, with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam warning of an impending “humanitarian disaster.”

    International responses remain divided with China’s top diplomat Wang Yi stating the conflict “should never have happened” and criticizing what he characterized as “law of the jungle” mentality. Meanwhile, the United States under President Donald Trump has suggested potential troop deployment to secure Iran’s enriched uranium stockpiles, though neither US nor Israeli authorities have claimed responsibility for several attacks including a deadly strike on an elementary school in Minab.

    Analysts indicate no clear resolution path exists for a conflict that officials suggest could persist for months, with regional stability and global energy markets hanging in the balance.

  • Explosion at US embassy in Oslo, no injuries

    Explosion at US embassy in Oslo, no injuries

    Norwegian authorities are conducting an intensive investigation following an explosive incident at the United States Embassy in Oslo during the early hours of Sunday. According to Oslo police statements, the detonation occurred approximately at 1:00 AM local time (0000 GMT), resulting in minor structural damage to one of the embassy’s entrance points but no casualties.

    Police Commander Michael Dellemyr characterized the event as a deliberate act during his televised remarks, stating investigators have developed preliminary theories regarding the explosion’s origin. While refraining from specifying explosive types or damage particulars due to the ongoing investigation, Dellemyr confirmed authorities are pursuing one or multiple suspects through coordinated efforts involving canine units, aerial drones, and helicopter surveillance.

    Multiple witnesses reported auditory and physical manifestations of the blast. Edvard, a sixteen-year-old resident, described subsequent police mobilization with automatic weapons and specialized equipment. Another account from Kristian Wendelborg Einung detailed three distinct concussions that produced ground vibrations and substantial smoke coverage resembling dense fog around the diplomatic compound.

    Despite heightened security alerts at US diplomatic installations globally, particularly throughout Middle Eastern regions following military engagements with Iran, Norwegian officials explicitly stated no current evidence connects the Oslo incident to international conflicts. Police established perimeter security within hours, declaring the surrounding area safe for public transit while soliciting civilian reports of unusual observations between midnight and 2:00 AM local time.

  • Kuwait airport, Saudi Arabia targeted as Iran presses Gulf attacks

    Kuwait airport, Saudi Arabia targeted as Iran presses Gulf attacks

    Gulf nations endured a severe escalation in aerial attacks on Sunday as Iran intensified its military campaign across the region, targeting critical infrastructure including Kuwait International Airport and energy facilities despite earlier diplomatic assurances.

    Kuwait’s military confirmed direct strikes on airport fuel tanks, describing the assault as ‘a direct targeting of vital infrastructure.’ The national oil company implemented precautionary production cuts following what authorities identified as ‘a wave of hostile drones’ penetrating sovereign airspace. Official statements noted civilian facilities sustained material damage from falling interception debris.

    Qatar’s Defense Ministry disclosed that Iranian forces launched 10 ballistic missiles and two cruise missiles toward the nation on Saturday, with most projectiles successfully intercepted without casualties. Saudi Arabia reported neutralizing 15 drones entering kingdom airspace, including attempted attacks targeting Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter.

    The offensive continued despite Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s prior apology to Gulf states for earlier strikes and assurances against further attacks unless provoked. Within hours, Iran’s judiciary chief contradicted this position, vowing continued strikes on locations ‘at the disposal of the enemy.’

    Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest international travel hub, temporarily suspended operations after intercepting unidentified objects nearby. Verified footage captured drone sounds followed by explosions and smoke plumes near airport concourses. Emirates airline initially halted all Dubai operations before resuming services.

    United Arab Emirates President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan delivered a rare televised address declaring the nation in ‘a period of war’ but vowed emergence strengthened from the conflict. The UAE defense ministry reported detecting 221 ballistic missiles and over 1,300 drones since hostilities began on February 28.

    Regional damage assessment revealed Iranian strikes hit Abu Dhabi airport, Palm Jumeirah development, and Burj Al Arab hotel during the past week, with drone debris igniting fires at the US consulate in Dubai. Bahrain reported intercepting 92 missiles and 151 drones since the conflict’s inception, with one civilian injured by falling shrapnel in Manama.

    Saudi defenses destroyed three ballistic missiles targeting Prince Sultan Air Base—host to American troops—and neutralized 17 drones over the southeastern Shaybah oil field, underscoring the broadening scope of Tehran’s offensive operations.