Global Pulse

分类： world

  • Despite drop in 2025, Russian oil exports exceed pre-war volumes: report

    Despite drop in 2025, Russian oil exports exceed pre-war volumes: report

    A comprehensive analysis by Finland’s Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) reveals that Russian crude oil exports have maintained volumes approximately 6% above pre-invasion levels in the fourth year of the Ukraine conflict, despite extensive Western sanctions. This persistent export flow has been facilitated by an elaborate “shadow fleet” consisting of aging tankers with opaque ownership structures, specifically designed to circumvent restrictions imposed by the EU, US, and G7 nations.

    While export volumes remain elevated, Russia’s oil revenues have experienced a significant downturn, dropping 18% to €85.5 billion in the year leading to February 24 compared to the previous year. This financial contraction stems from Moscow’s forced adoption of substantial price discounts to maintain market access. According to CREA analyst Isaac Levi, while enforcement measures have impacted Russian earnings, critical loopholes continue to enable high-volume exports.

    The report identifies several systemic vulnerabilities in current sanction regimes, including false flagging of vessels and re-exportation of refined petroleum products derived from Russian crude to sanctioning nations. Notably, 93% of Russian crude exports now flow to three nations: China, India, and Turkey.

    CREA researchers have called for enhanced enforcement measures, including detaining shadow fleet vessels that pose environmental and security risks to European coastlines. The European Union currently lists 598 vessels suspected of shadow fleet operations, prohibiting their access to EU ports and services. The report additionally highlights continued imports by Hungary and Slovakia, which saw an 11% increase in Russian crude imports during the first ten months of 2025 under EU exemption clauses.

  • Indian, British, Chinese citizens among 19 killed in Nepal bus crash

    Indian, British, Chinese citizens among 19 killed in Nepal bus crash

    A catastrophic bus accident in Nepal’s mountainous Dhading district has resulted in 19 fatalities and 25 injuries, with citizens from multiple nations among the victims. The tragedy occurred in the pre-dawn hours of Monday when the vehicle veered off a treacherous mountain road near Behighat, plummeting approximately 200 meters (650 feet).

    The ill-fated bus was transporting 44 passengers from the popular tourist destination of Pokhara to the capital city of Kathmandu when the accident transpired approximately 80 kilometers west of the capital. According to official police statements, the deceased included citizens from the United Kingdom, China, and India. Among the injured, who are currently receiving medical treatment at Kathmandu hospitals, were a New Zealander and another Chinese national.

    This devastating incident highlights the persistent road safety challenges in Nepal’s difficult mountainous terrain, where inadequate infrastructure and hazardous conditions contribute to frequent accidents. The Nepalese government has promptly responded by initiating a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

    Road transportation accidents remain a critical public safety concern throughout Nepal, with hundreds of fatalities recorded annually. The country’s rugged geography and underdeveloped road network present ongoing challenges for both local commuters and international visitors alike. This particular tragedy underscores the vulnerabilities of road travel in developing nations with complex topographies.

  • Over 7,000 US flights cancelled; New York closes schools as blizzard slams US Northeast

    Over 7,000 US flights cancelled; New York closes schools as blizzard slams US Northeast

    A catastrophic winter storm has brought the Northeastern United States to a virtual standstill, triggering massive travel disruptions, widespread power outages, and emergency declarations across multiple states. The powerful blizzard, which began its assault on Monday, has dumped over a foot of snow (30cm) throughout the region, with some areas anticipating accumulations reaching two feet.

    The aviation sector has been particularly devastated, with FlightAware.com reporting approximately 5,700 Monday cancellations and an additional 1,600 Tuesday flights preemptively scrapped. The air travel collapse has been most severe at major Northeastern hubs including New York’s John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, Boston’s Logan, and Newark Liberty International airports.

    New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued urgent pleas for residents to remain indoors as emergency crews battled to clear impassable roads. ‘I’m urging every New Yorker to please stay home,’ Mamdani emphasized. The city’s public school system joined numerous districts across the region in closing facilities amid the dangerous conditions.

    Meteorologist Bob Oravec from the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center confirmed the storm met official blizzard criteria, characterized by sustained wind gusts reaching 40-60 mph from Delaware through Boston. ‘It’s a pretty big storm and it’s definitely a blizzard,’ Oravec stated, noting that some areas including Eastern Long Island and Nantucket recorded gusts exceeding 60 mph.

    The storm’s impact extended beyond transportation, knocking out power to thousands of homes and businesses while forcing the unprecedented closure of the United Nations headquarters complex in Manhattan. New York Governor Kathy Hochul activated 100 National Guard members to assist in Long Island, New York City and the Lower Hudson Valley—regions expected to bear the brunt of the heavy snow and coastal winds.

    State responses varied across the affected region. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey declared a state of emergency and ordered non-essential government workers to remain home. Connecticut implemented commercial vehicle bans on limited-access highways, while New Jersey suspended train and bus commuter lines indefinitely. The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority announced complete service suspension through Monday.

    The Department of Homeland Security warned that powerful wind gusts reaching 70 mph created significant risks of falling trees and extended power outages across the Northeast. Despite ongoing funding challenges, FEMA confirmed its disaster-response operations continue uninterrupted with life safety and property protection remaining top priorities.

  • An attacker detonates an explosive device in Moscow, killing a police officer and himself

    An attacker detonates an explosive device in Moscow, killing a police officer and himself

    A lethal suicide bombing struck central Moscow in the early hours of Tuesday, resulting in the death of a police officer and the assailant, with two additional officers wounded. The explosive detonation occurred adjacent to a patrol vehicle near the Savyolovsky Train Station shortly after midnight, as confirmed by the Moscow Interior Ministry branch.

    According to official reports, the unidentified individual approached a traffic police car and activated an explosive device. The immediate blast killed one officer instantly. The two injured law enforcement personnel were promptly transported to a medical facility for treatment. Russia’s top investigative body, the Investigative Committee, has initiated a criminal probe into the incident. Authorities have thus far withheld the assailant’s identity, potential motivations, or any possible affiliations.

    The timing of the assault carries significant symbolic weight, coinciding with the four-year anniversary of President Vladimir Putin’s decisive order to commence military operations in Ukraine. The attack underscores ongoing security challenges within the Russian capital, raising questions about motive and potential connections to broader geopolitical tensions.

  • New US military-led group aided Mexico’s hunt for ‘El Mencho’ cartel boss

    New US military-led group aided Mexico’s hunt for ‘El Mencho’ cartel boss

    A recently established U.S. military-led intelligence unit played a pivotal role in supporting the Mexican military operation that resulted in the death of notorious drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias ‘El Mencho’. The shadowy leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) was killed during a raid in western Jalisco state on Sunday, triggering widespread retaliatory violence across multiple Mexican states.

    The Joint Interagency Task Force-Counter Cartel (JITF-CC), formally launched last month, specializes in intelligence gathering against drug trafficking organizations operating along the U.S.-Mexico border. According to U.S. defense officials speaking anonymously, the multi-agency task force provided critical intelligence that aided Mexican authorities in locating one of Mexico’s most elusive criminal figures.

    Mexican Defense Ministry officials confirmed receiving ‘complementary information’ from U.S. counterparts but emphasized the operation was exclusively planned and executed by Mexican forces without physical U.S. military involvement. A former U.S. official revealed that American agencies had compiled an extensive target package on El Mencho, incorporating intelligence from multiple law enforcement and security agencies.

    The operation’s success represents a significant victory in Mexico’s protracted war against drug cartels responsible for smuggling billions of dollars worth of narcotics, particularly fentanyl and cocaine, into the United States. The Trump administration has intensified pressure on Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government to combat drug trafficking, including threats of direct intervention.

    Brigadier General Maurizio Calabrese, leading the JITF-CC, described how the task force applies counterterrorism methodologies developed against groups like al Qaeda and Daesh to map cartel networks. While noting fundamental differences in motivations, Calabrese emphasized the importance of identifying entire criminal ecosystems for effective disruption.

    The aftermath of El Mencho’s death has been marked by extreme violence, with Mexican Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch reporting 25 National Guard members and one security guard killed in 27 separate cartel attacks. Authorities confirmed 30 cartel operatives and one bystander killed, with at least 70 arrests across seven states as government forces monitor potential cartel restructuring.

    The JITF-CC represents part of a broader U.S. strategy that includes increased military operational control along the border and controversial strikes on suspected drug vessels in international waters, measures that have faced legal challenges from Democratic lawmakers and experts.

  • Father and son killed by mudslide in Peru as floods affect thousands of homes in southern provinces

    Father and son killed by mudslide in Peru as floods affect thousands of homes in southern provinces

    LIMA, Peru — A devastating landslide triggered by torrential rains in southern Peru has claimed the lives of a father and son, highlighting critical urban planning failures as climate extremes batter the region. The tragedy occurred in Arequipa, where authorities confirmed the victims were swept away in a neighborhood constructed directly atop a historic natural waterway.

    The catastrophic mudslides have impacted approximately 5,500 households, prompting mass evacuations across the region. Experts emphasize that these residential areas dangerously encroach upon ancient drainage paths that have channeled stormwaters for centuries during peak rainfall periods.

    In response to the escalating crisis, Arequipa authorities have urgently petitioned Peru’s interim president to declare a state of emergency. Regional Governor Dr. Rohel Sánchez Sánchez announced the immediate establishment of multiple emergency shelters throughout Arequipa, with the National Institute of Civil Defense and regional government distributing essential supplies including food and tents to displaced residents.

    Meteorologists attribute the extreme weather to the El Niño Costero phenomenon, which has produced weeks of intense rainfall. Official reports indicate warming Pacific waters are expected to slightly intensify this climate pattern through March. This oceanic warming creates elevated evaporation rates, generating extreme precipitation events and significantly increasing river flows throughout vulnerable regions.

  • Why attacking Iran could be riskier than capturing Maduro

    Why attacking Iran could be riskier than capturing Maduro

    Military analysts and regional experts are issuing stark warnings about the profound complexities and potential catastrophic consequences of any U.S. military action against Iran, drawing sharp contrasts with the recent operation in Venezuela. Unlike the swift capture of President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas, which concluded within hours, confronting Iran would engage a nation with extensive military capabilities and a sophisticated network of regional proxy forces capable of sustaining prolonged resistance.

    Iran possesses one of the most substantial and diverse missile arsenals in the Middle East, including medium-range ballistic missiles with a reach exceeding 1,200 miles. This capability places U.S. bases across the region—from western Turkey to Israel and the Arabian Gulf States—within striking distance. Recent demonstrations of military prowess, such as the testing of a new sea-based air defense missile in the Strait of Hormuz, underscore Tehran’s readiness to respond decisively to any aggression.

    Beyond its conventional forces, Iran’s strategic doctrine relies on its ‘Axis of Resistance’—a network of proxy groups including the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon. These allied forces could open multiple retaliatory fronts against U.S. interests and allies, potentially escalating a limited strike into a broader regional conflict. Intelligence officials note that Israel’s defense systems, already strained from prolonged engagements, might be overwhelmed by a concentrated Iranian missile barrage.

    The economic implications of such a conflict would be immediate and severe. Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy transit through which approximately 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas passes. Any disruption would trigger dramatic spikes in energy prices worldwide, creating economic shockwaves far beyond the conflict zone.

    Political analysts emphasize that Iran’s leadership structure presents another layer of complexity. Unlike Venezuela, where power was concentrated in Maduro, Iran’s theocratic regime is deeply entrenched with multiple power centers and ideological foundations solidified over nearly five decades. This makes any attempt at ‘decapitation’ significantly more challenging than the Venezuela operation.

    As President Trump contemplates military options in an election year, experts caution that there exists no low-cost, clean military solution regarding Iran. The consensus among conflict resolution specialists is that any military engagement would likely result in American casualties and potentially draw the United States into another protracted Middle Eastern conflict with unpredictable outcomes.

  • Kuwait mandates military service for male citizens aged 18

    Kuwait mandates military service for male citizens aged 18

    Kuwait has enacted sweeping legislative reforms making military service compulsory for all male citizens upon reaching 18 years of age. The new mandate, which applies retroactively to individuals born on or after January 1, 2012, represents a significant shift in the nation’s defense policy framework.

    The National Assembly approved substantial amendments to the 2015 National Military Service Law, addressing what officials described as ‘legislative and procedural gaps’ in the original legislation. According to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), the revisions aim to streamline administrative processes and clarify previously ambiguous provisions.

    Key modifications include a tripled registration window extension from 60 to 180 days, providing young citizens substantially more time to comply with conscription requirements. The updated statute also introduces familial considerations by exempting only sons from mandatory service obligations.

    Notably, the amendments expand professional exemptions to include Kuwait Oil Company firefighters, granting them parity with their counterparts in the Kuwait Fire Force. Employed conscripts will maintain their full compensation packages—including salaries, allowances, and bonuses—throughout their service period. Additionally, their military tenure will contribute directly to retirement and seniority calculations.

    The National Military Service Authority retains jurisdiction to assign recruits across four critical security sectors: the Kuwait Armed Forces, Ministry of Interior, Kuwait National Guard, and Kuwait Fire Force. This structural flexibility aims to optimize national security resources while accommodating individual skill sets.

    Government sources indicate these reforms address systemic challenges in transaction processing and legal interpretation that emerged under the previous legislative framework. The changes reflect Kuwait’s strategic response to regional security dynamics while modernizing its national service administration.

  • US orders non-essential staff at Beirut embassy to leave

    US orders non-essential staff at Beirut embassy to leave

    In a significant security development, the United States Department of State has mandated the departure of non-emergency personnel and family members from its embassy in Beirut, Lebanon. The directive was confirmed by a senior official on Monday, February 23, 2026, signaling heightened concerns over the stability of the region.

    The evacuation order comes amidst a complex geopolitical backdrop. While Secretary of State Marco Rubio currently maintains plans for an official visit to Israel, a State Department spokesperson indicated this itinerary remains fluid and subject to alteration based on evolving security assessments. This cautious approach reflects the administration’s prioritization of diplomatic security.

    This decision aligns with a pattern of heightened security protocols across U.S. diplomatic missions in the Middle East. Recent advisories, including an ‘increased caution’ alert for personnel in Saudi Arabia and Qatar’s announcement of implementing its own precautionary measures, suggest a coordinated response to broader regional instability. The move is often interpreted by analysts as a precautionary measure against potential retaliatory actions or escalating violence that could threaten American interests abroad.

    The State Department’s decision underscores the volatile climate in the region, potentially linked to recent military engagements and political friction between neighboring states, though the official statement did not cite a specific immediate threat. The safety of U.S. government employees and their families remains the paramount concern, guiding such proactive security determinations.

  • Israeli minister says army to occupy all Gaza if Hamas does not disarm

    Israeli minister says army to occupy all Gaza if Hamas does not disarm

    Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a key member of the nation’s security cabinet, declared on Monday that Hamas faces an imminent deadline to surrender its weapons or risk comprehensive military occupation of Gaza by Israeli forces. In a televised interview with public broadcaster Kan, the far-right minister revealed that Palestinian militants would shortly receive a formal ultimatum demanding complete demilitarization.

    Smotrich asserted that should Hamas refuse compliance, the Israel Defense Forces would possess both international legitimacy and American support to execute a full-scale occupation. The minister confirmed military strategists are already developing operational plans for this contingency, with multiple alternatives under active consideration.

    This development occurs within the fragile framework of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement that recently concluded two years of sustained conflict. During the initial phase, Israeli troops withdrew to positions behind the designated Yellow Line while maintaining control over more than half of Gaza’s territory. The subsequent phase, initiated last month, envisions progressive Israeli military withdrawal coupled with Hamas disarmament—a provision the militant organization has vigorously opposed.

    The American peace proposal, championed by President Donald Trump, additionally calls for establishing a 20,000-strong International Stabilization Force (ISF). While several nations have pledged troop contributions, Smotrich expressed skepticism regarding the rapid deployment of international forces. He suggested coordinated arrangements with American officials would ensure foreign troops quickly withdraw to facilitate Israeli military operations if necessary.