Global Pulse

分类： world

  • Sudan’s RSF waged starvation campaign in siege of el-Fasher

    Sudan’s RSF waged starvation campaign in siege of el-Fasher

    A groundbreaking collaborative study from Yale’s Humanitarian Research Lab and NASA’s Harvest program has presented conclusive satellite evidence confirming the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) conducted a systematic campaign of agricultural destruction around el-Fasher, Sudan. The report documents the deliberate razing of 41 farming communities between March and June 2024 during the initial phase of a siege that would persist for over 500 days.

    The forensic analysis of remote sensing data reveals a pattern of intentional destruction, with ten communities attacked multiple times and one village completely leveled on at least seven separate occasions. The research shows that following these attacks, 28 communities displayed no visible patterns of life, indicating either mass displacement or extermination of residents. Concurrently, agricultural activity in the region plummeted by more than 80%, creating deliberately engineered famine conditions.

    These findings directly corroborate last month’s UN Fact-Finding Mission report which determined the RSF’s takeover of el-Fasher exhibited all the hallmarks of genocide. The UN investigation found the paramilitary group intentionally created conditions calculated to bring about the physical destruction of non-Arab communities, particularly targeting the Zaghawa and Fur ethnic groups.

    The conflict context reveals complex international dimensions, with the United Arab Emirates facing persistent allegations of supporting the RSF despite official denials. Conversely, the Sudanese Armed Forces receive backing from Egypt, Turkey, and increasingly Saudi Arabia, which finds itself embroiled in a regional dispute with its former ally the UAE.

    This systematic destruction of agricultural infrastructure and food production capabilities represents the first documented case of using remotely sensed data to forensically analyze and confirm a campaign of intentional starvation in conflict settings. The war, which began in April 2023, has already displaced over 11 million people and created one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.

  • Ukraine says hit ‘key’ Russian military factory in missile strike

    Ukraine says hit ‘key’ Russian military factory in missile strike

    In a significant escalation of cross-border strikes, Ukrainian forces targeted a critical Russian military manufacturing facility in the western city of Bryansk on Tuesday. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the operation, characterizing it as a justified retaliatory measure against Russia’s sustained assault campaign.

    The targeted facility, identified as the Kremniy El microelectronics plant, specializes in producing sophisticated semiconductor components and integrated microchips that serve as essential guidance systems for Russian missile arsenals, including Iskander ballistic missiles. Ukrainian military officials disclosed that the strike was executed using British-supplied Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles, which reportedly inflicted substantial damage to production infrastructure.

    Russian authorities reported contrasting casualty figures, asserting the attack resulted in six civilian fatalities and at least thirty-seven injuries—claims that Ukraine has not formally addressed. Regional Governor Aleksandr Bogomaz confirmed the wounded were receiving medical treatment at Bryansk Regional Hospital.

    This strategic operation occurs against the backdrop of intensified military engagements in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region, where Russian strikes recently killed four individuals in the town of Sloviansk. Simultaneously, diplomatic efforts continue as the United States proposes renewed trilateral negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, potentially scheduled for next week in Switzerland or Turkey according to President Zelensky’s statements.

  • Iranian missiles might be testing Nato air defences in Turkey to target crucial radar base

    Iranian missiles might be testing Nato air defences in Turkey to target crucial radar base

    NATO air defense systems have successfully intercepted multiple Iranian ballistic missiles entering Turkish airspace over the past week, according to Middle East Eye analysis. The incidents have raised serious concerns about potential targeting of critical NATO infrastructure in the region.

    The first interception occurred near Hatay, approximately 100 kilometers east of Incirlik Air Base, a facility previously hosting U.S. military personnel. A second missile launched toward Turkey on Tuesday was neutralized by U.S. destroyers using RIM-161 Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) interceptors. NATO analysis indicates the missiles originated from east of Tehran, with open-source reports suggesting possible launches from the Revolutionary Guard’s Damghan missile base in Semnan province.

    Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan conveyed strong objections to Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, declaring ballistic missile incursions into Turkish territory ‘unacceptable.’ While Iranian leadership denied responsibility and suggested possible Israeli false-flag operations, Turkish experts point to Iran’s decentralized command structure following recent high-ranking official casualties as a potential factor in these unauthorized launches.

    Strategic analysts believe the missiles may have been testing NATO’s air defense capabilities to assess vulnerabilities in the Kurecik radar base in Malatya. This facility hosts a TPY-2 X-band radar critical to NATO’s European Phased Adaptive Approach (EPAA) missile defense system. According to Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) analysis, this radar represents the cornerstone of NATO’s air defense architecture, providing essential tracking data for Iranian missiles bound for Europe.

    In response to these developments, NATO has deployed advanced PAC-3 Patriot missile systems from Germany’s Ramstein base to Malatya, upgrading from the insufficient PAC-2 models previously stationed in southern Turkey since 2015. These new systems will provide comprehensive coverage for eastern Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean, integrating with regional NATO assets for autonomous interception capabilities.

    Defense experts note that Iran has previously targeted radar systems across the Gulf region, including facilities in Qatar, UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. The strategic positioning of Turkey’s TPY-2 radar makes it particularly vulnerable, as its failure would critically degrade NATO’s early warning capabilities against Iranian missile threats to Europe.

  • US energy secretary’s post saying US escorted tanker in Hormuz deleted

    US energy secretary’s post saying US escorted tanker in Hormuz deleted

    A brief social media post by US Energy Secretary Chris Wright claiming American naval forces had escorted an oil tanker through the volatile Strait of Hormuz triggered significant market turbulence before being abruptly deleted Tuesday. The unexplained deletion occurred mere minutes after publication, amplifying uncertainty in already jittery energy markets.

    The incident unfolded against the backdrop of ongoing US-Israel military operations against Iran that commenced on February 28. Oil prices initially plummeted following Wright’s assertion, only to partially recover once the post disappeared from his official account. Neither the Energy Department nor the Pentagon provided immediate clarification regarding the controversial post.

    Maritime traffic analysis reveals dramatically altered patterns in the critical waterway since hostilities began. Where approximately 138 vessels previously transited daily, only around 20 commercial ships have been detected crossing the strait since March 2, with many navigating with disabled transponders to conceal their positions. Among those transmitting signals, nine were identified as oil tankers alongside two liquefied natural gas carriers.

    The Trump administration has implemented measures to stabilize global energy markets, including offering reinsurance to shipping companies and promising naval escorts. However, Wright’s deleted message marked the first official suggestion that such escorts had actually occurred, as no US naval escort operations had been previously confirmed.

    Crude oil has experienced extreme volatility, surging to nearly $120 per barrel before retreating amid conflicting signals from the administration. While President Trump hinted at potential de-escalation, Defense Secretary vows of intensified strikes created additional market uncertainty. The conflict has already targeted Iranian oil depots and energy infrastructure in traditionally stable Gulf nations, reshaping regional security perceptions.

  • Russia’s deportation of Ukrainian children amounts to crime against humanity, UN says

    Russia’s deportation of Ukrainian children amounts to crime against humanity, UN says

    A damning United Nations report has conclusively determined that Russia’s systematic deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children constitutes both crimes against humanity and war crimes. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine reveals that Russian authorities, with “direct involvement” from President Vladimir Putin “visible from the outset,” have relocated thousands of minors from occupied Ukrainian territories.

    The investigation documents 1,205 confirmed cases of children taken to Russia in 2022, with approximately 80% remaining separated from their families. Most originated from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, areas illegally claimed by Moscow. Prior to its full-scale invasion, Russia evacuated these children under the pretext of protecting them from imminent Ukrainian attacks, subsequently placing them with Russian families or institutions while granting them Russian citizenship.

    According to the UN findings, this forced removal has created a “coercive environment” causing “deep distress” among the children. Those who manage to return to Ukraine frequently exhibit severe psychological trauma, anxiety, and fear of abandonment—often resulting from harsh treatment in Russian institutions. The report cites one instance where staff at a Russian orphanage told a child that Ukraine “does not exist anymore, everything has burnt down, and your parents have probably died.

    Moscow continues to deny all allegations of forced transfers, with Putin previously dismissing reports as “exaggerated” and insisting children were merely “rescued” from conflict zones. However, the UN confirms that repatriation efforts face “huge difficulties,” with many parents remaining unaware of their children’s whereabouts.

    The International Criminal Court has already issued arrest warrants for both Putin and his Commissioner for Children’s Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, for their alleged roles in the unlawful deportations. Lvova-Belova previously described in an interview how she personally “took in” a reluctant 15-year-old from Mariupol for “re-education.”

    While Ukraine estimates nearly 20,000 children have been illegally transferred to Russia and Belarus, only about 2,000 have been successfully recovered. The report notes that even US First Lady Melania Trump has attempted to facilitate reunifications through an “open channel of communication” with Putin.

    This humanitarian crisis continues amid a conflict that has entered its fifth year, claiming over 15,000 civilian lives, injuring 41,300, and displacing 3.7 million people despite multiple diplomatic interventions.

  • Press freedom in the Americas saw a ‘dramatic deterioration’ last year, watchdog says

    Press freedom in the Americas saw a ‘dramatic deterioration’ last year, watchdog says

    A comprehensive regional assessment has revealed a severe decline in press freedom conditions throughout the Western Hemisphere during 2025. The Inter American Press Association (IAPA), a Miami-based watchdog organization, documented alarming trends including journalist homicides, arbitrary detentions, and widespread impunity for crimes against media professionals across 23 evaluated nations.

    The organization’s annual Chapultepec Index, maintained since 2020, presented a troubling classification of American nations. Venezuela and Nicaragua received the most severe designation as countries ‘without freedom of speech,’ while multiple nations including Ecuador, Bolivia, Honduras, Peru, Mexico, Haiti, Cuba, and El Salvador were categorized under ‘high restriction’ status. Several democracies including Canada, Brazil, Chile and Panama were recognized for maintaining ‘low restrictions’ on press freedoms.

    Notably, the United States was classified as a nation with significant ‘restrictions’ on freedom of speech, with documentation of 170 attacks against journalists in 2025. The report highlighted particular concerns regarding press freedoms during coverage of immigration enforcement operations. Researchers additionally noted inadequate government response to disinformation campaigns and concerning official efforts to limit free expression and information access.

    The IAPA analysis connected the deteriorating press freedom environment to the emergence of authoritarian leadership patterns across the region. In Venezuela, self-censorship has become institutionalized, with minimal domestic media coverage of the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to opposition leader María Corina Machado due to fears of government retaliation. Nicaragua has implemented constitutional reforms that effectively institutionalize censorship by placing all government branches under presidential control.

    El Salvador’s ‘high restriction’ status reflects systematic intimidation tactics against journalists through strategic lawsuits and criminal investigations, with 180 documented attacks against media workers within a three-month period. Ecuador experienced 290 acts of aggression against journalists, including four murders allegedly committed by criminal gangs, with one journalist shot by police during protest coverage.

    Haiti appeared in the report for the first time, immediately ranking among the hemisphere’s most restrictive environments. The assessment noted two journalists killed by gang members during a hospital reopening ceremony in Port-au-Prince, with widespread impunity for crimes against journalists in gang-controlled territories where intimidation campaigns target both media workers and residents.

    The IAPA, representing over 1,300 member news organizations, continues to advocate for press freedoms throughout the Americas amid these concerning developments.

  • Jihadis intensify attacks against Nigeria’s military, killing officers and carting away weapons

    Jihadis intensify attacks against Nigeria’s military, killing officers and carting away weapons

    ABUJA, Nigeria — In a significant escalation of violence, jihadi extremist factions have executed a series of coordinated assaults against Nigerian military installations in the northeastern region over the past week. Security analysts report these meticulously planned operations resulted in multiple casualties among defense forces and the seizure of substantial military assets.

    The intensified attacks, primarily concentrated in Borno and Yobe states as well as the Lake Chad basin, demonstrate unprecedented tactical coordination among militant groups. According to verified security assessments, extremists conducted at least six separate assaults during the weekend, successfully appropriating military vehicles and hardware during their raids.

    Military spokesperson Sani Uba confirmed the loss of several personnel, including officers, though precise casualty figures remain undisclosed. The Nigerian Armed Forces characterized these incidents as deliberate attempts to overwhelm defensive positions through synchronized offensive actions.

    This resurgence of violence occurs despite enhanced international support, including the deployment of approximately 100 U.S. military personnel providing training and logistical assistance under a renewed security partnership. While American intelligence surveillance has facilitated aerial campaigns against militant hideouts, the persistence of sophisticated attacks underscores the enduring operational capabilities of extremist networks.

    Analysts including Vincent Foucher of France’s National Center for Scientific Research note the remarkable coordination displayed in these simultaneous attacks represents a tactical evolution for groups like Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP). Video evidence disseminated by ISWAP showcases captured weaponry and vehicles, though independent verification remains pending.

    Security experts indicate these assaults serve dual purposes: demonstrating military dominance while replenishing armaments through targeted base raids. Malik Samuel of Good Governance Africa observes that vulnerable military installations effectively provide armed groups with weapon procurement alternatives.

    The ongoing crisis highlights structural challenges in regional security governance, including limited force deployment capacity and the military’s necessity to rapidly transition between multiple conflict zones. Despite periodic successes against jihadist elements, the persistent vulnerability of bases continues to enable militant regrouping and rearmament.

  • Lebanese man jailed in Germany for Hezbollah membership

    Lebanese man jailed in Germany for Hezbollah membership

    A German court has delivered a significant verdict in a national security case, sentencing a 35-year-old Lebanese national to six-and-a-half years imprisonment for membership in Hezbollah’s military wing, designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union. The defendant, identified only as Fadel Z under German privacy protections, was convicted on multiple charges including complicity in attempted murder and systematic violations of EU embargo regulations.

    The Celle Regional Court established that Fadel Z had been an active Hezbollah member for approximately a decade, eventually ascending to a critical position within the organization’s drone development initiative. Evidence presented demonstrated his central role in orchestrating the acquisition of sophisticated components worth approximately €1.4 million (£1.2 million) from international suppliers.

    Prosecutorial documents revealed meticulous operational details: Fadel Z sourced over 2,000 combustion and electric motors alongside 600 precision propellers through a network of front companies registered under his associates’ names. These entities facilitated financial transactions and concealed the ultimate destination of the controlled technology.

    The investigation uncovered a sophisticated transnational procurement network with materials originating from European, Chinese, and American manufacturers. Fadel Z coordinated logistics from multiple operational bases, initially operating from Barcelona in 2022 before relocating to Salzgitter in Lower Saxony during summer 2023. Shipments were deliberately routed through Hamburg and Spanish ports via container ships, with additional components transported through air freight channels.

    Most critically, prosecutors established direct operational impact: two engines procured through Fadel Z’s network were incorporated into weaponized drones deployed against civilian targets in Israel. One such aircraft penetrated a Herzliya retirement home during Yom Kippur observances on October 11, 2024. Although the explosive payload detonated within the residential facility, approximately 200 occupants escaped physical injury through what authorities described as fortunate circumstances.

    The German Federal Prosecutor’s Office emphasized in supplementary statements that Hezbollah maintains “an extensive drone program” that has systematically targeted both military and civilian infrastructure since the October 2023 Hamas attacks. The organization reportedly employs international operatives specifically for covert technological acquisition operations within European jurisdictions.

    Fadel Z remains in custody with a seven-day window to appeal the verdict, marking one of Germany’s most significant counterterrorism prosecutions related to drone technology diversion to designated terrorist organizations.

  • Russia committed ‘crimes against humanity’ in deporting Ukrainian children: UN inquiry

    Russia committed ‘crimes against humanity’ in deporting Ukrainian children: UN inquiry

    A landmark United Nations investigation has concluded that Russia’s systematic deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children constitutes a crime against humanity. The UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine presented these findings Tuesday, revealing evidence of thousands of children removed from occupied territories since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

    The commission has documented 1,205 confirmed cases, with an alarming 80% of these children remaining in Russia four years after their displacement. Investigators determined that Russian authorities have established no effective system for repatriation, instead focusing on long-term placement with Russian families or institutions while withholding information from relatives about the children’s whereabouts and status.

    The report explicitly cites the involvement of President Vladimir Putin, noting his direct authority over entities executing this policy since its inception. This finding reinforces the International Criminal Court’s 2023 arrest warrant against Putin for alleged unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children—a highly sensitive issue in ongoing peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.

    Russia maintains that these transfers were protective measures to safeguard children from hostilities, but the UN commission found these actions violated international law and were “not guided by the best interests of the child.”

    Additionally, the investigation uncovered systematic evidence fabrication and fair trial violations in Russian proceedings related to the Ukraine conflict. The report also detailed extreme violence against international recruits from 17 countries who were deployed as frontline combatants, often through deception and under conditions described as “cannon fodder” treatment.

    Regarding Ukraine, the commission expressed concern about the broad interpretation of “collaboration” crimes and reports of violent treatment toward conscientious objectors during mobilization. Moscow continues to deny recognition of the commission and refuses to respond to its requests for access and information.

  • War in the Middle East: latest developments

    War in the Middle East: latest developments

    The Middle East conflict entered a perilous new phase as the United States announced its most intensive day of airstrikes within Iran since hostilities commenced ten days ago. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the escalation during a Pentagon briefing, signaling a sharp intensification of military operations.

    Diplomatic fissures emerged as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed grave concern over the apparent lack of a coordinated end strategy between the US and Israel. “We share many of these goals, but with each day of the war, more questions arise,” Merz stated, highlighting European apprehensions about the conflict’s trajectory.

    The regional violence expanded significantly with a drone attack igniting fires in Abu Dhabi’s industrial sector, though Emirati authorities reported no casualties. Simultaneously, Israeli forces launched fresh strikes against Tehran, with explosions reported across the Iranian capital and damage to Kerman airport infrastructure.

    Iranian officials remained defiant, with Security Chief Ali Larijani dismissing US threats as “empty” and warning Washington to “take care of yourself not to be eliminated!” despite American promises of heightened retaliation if oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz were disrupted.

    The economic dimension intensified as Saudi Aramco CEO Amin H. Nasser warned of potentially “catastrophic consequences” for global oil markets, emphasizing the critical need to resume shipping through the strategic strait. Meanwhile, oil prices dropped approximately 8% following statements from US leadership suggesting the conflict was nearing completion.

    Humanitarian concerns mounted with the UN reporting over 100,000 displaced persons in Lebanon within 24 hours as Israeli strikes targeted Hezbollah positions. In a contrasting development, Azerbaijan delivered humanitarian aid to Iran despite recent hostilities between the nations.

    The diplomatic landscape further deteriorated as Iran’s foreign minister declared negotiations with the US “not on our agenda anymore,” citing previous “bitter experience” during talks. Regional security measures intensified with Turkey deploying US-made Patriot missile systems following NATO’s interception of Iranian ballistic missiles in Turkish airspace.