Libyan commander Khalifa Haftar’s forces have been clandestinely supplying smuggled fuel to Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) at the behest of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to a report by the US-based watchdog, The Sentry. This illicit activity, which has escalated into a national crisis for Libya, costing the country approximately $6.7 billion annually, is also exacerbating the deadly conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese army and the RSF. The report highlights how Haftar’s loyalty to the UAE has made him a key enabler of the RSF’s operations, particularly in the Darfur region, where the paramilitary group has been accused of systematic atrocities, including murder and sexual violence against civilians. The RSF’s mobility and tactical operations in Darfur are heavily reliant on the persistent flow of diesel and gasoline provided by Haftar’s forces. Additionally, the Haftar family has strengthened its strategic control in southeastern Libya through this illegal trade. The report also implicates Russia as a beneficiary of Libya’s fuel smuggling, which supports Moscow’s military activities in sub-Saharan Africa. Fuel smuggling, a long-standing issue in Libya, has surged since the current government took office in 2021, with more than half of the imported fuel being siphoned off by criminal networks. This has led to severe economic consequences for Libya, including a $20 billion loss in revenue, exacerbating fiscal imbalance, currency depreciation, and inflation. Despite pledges to reform fuel subsidies, the surge in smuggling persists, undermining Libya’s legitimate economy and further entrenching the power of its incumbent rulers.
分类： world
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Freed British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah barred from flying to the UK
British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah, recently pardoned and released from prison, was reportedly stopped at Egyptian passport control while attempting to travel to the UK, according to his family. Abd el-Fattah, a prominent figure in the 2011 Arab Spring uprising, had been imprisoned for nearly a decade following President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s military coup in 2013. He was pardoned on September 22 and released from Wadi al-Natrun prison. Abd el-Fattah was scheduled to fly to the UK with his sister, Sanaa Seif, to attend the Magnitsky Human Rights Awards in London, where he and his mother, Laila Soueif, were honored with the Courage Under Fire award for their relentless fight for his freedom. Seif accepted the award on their behalf, expressing her wish for Abd el-Fattah to reunite with his 13-year-old son, Khaled, who lives in Brighton, UK. The Free Alaa campaign noted that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer had pledged to secure Abd el-Fattah’s release and reunite him with his family. Despite his release, Abd el-Fattah’s travel plans remain uncertain as he faces obstacles at Egyptian passport control.
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Twenty-five states funnelled oil to Israel during genocide: Report
A recent report by Oil Change International has unveiled that 25 countries supplied Israel with crude oil and refined petroleum products during its two-year military operations in Gaza. Between November 1, 2023, and October 1, 2025, a total of 323 shipments, carrying nearly 21.2 million tonnes of fuel, were tracked. Among these, 171 shipments transported 17.9 million tonnes of crude oil, with 70% originating from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Azeri crude is routed through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline to Turkey, while Kazakh crude is exported via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) to Russia’s Black Sea coast. Despite being listed under Turkey and Russia as countries of origin, the crude is identified as Azeri BTC and Kazakh CPC, respectively. Shipments from Africa and Brazil were also recorded, though Brazilian exports to Israel reportedly ceased in 2025, possibly redirected to refineries in Italy. Additionally, 17 countries supplied 152 shipments of refined petroleum products, with 45% coming from Russia. Notably, the U.S. contributed nine shipments of JP-8 jet fuel and two diesel shipments. The report raises legal and ethical questions, particularly in light of the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) interim order on preventing genocide. Dr. Irene Pietropaoli, in a legal opinion, emphasized that states risk complicity in genocide under the Genocide Convention by continuing fuel exports to Israel. In September 2025, the UN’s Independent International Commission urged member states to halt arms and fuel transfers to Israel, citing potential use in military operations involving genocide.
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Protesters in Pikachu costumes demand Japan end fossil fuel financing at UN climate conference
In a striking demonstration at the United Nations climate conference (COP30) in Belem, Brazil, activists donned Pokemon costumes to protest Japan’s continued financing of coal and natural gas projects in Southeast Asia and other Global South regions. The protest, organized by environmental groups including Friends of the Earth Japan, coincided with the conference’s energy-focused thematic day. Activists accused Japan of undermining Asia’s transition to renewable energy by funding fossil fuel developments in countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Hiroki Osada, a representative of Friends of the Earth Japan, emphasized the importance of Global South voices in pressuring Japan to halt such investments. The Japan Bank for International Cooperation, a key player in Japan’s overseas aid, has reportedly financed $6.4 billion in coal projects and $874 million in gas projects from 2016 to 2024, according to a study by the Center for Energy, Ecology and Development. The protest featured life-sized inflatable Pikachu costumes, with activists chanting slogans like “Only Pokemon, no fossil fuels” and “Sayonara fossil fuels.” The event highlighted the growing frustration with Japan’s fossil fuel agenda, which activists argue is incompatible with global climate goals. The demonstration was part of a series of anti-fossil fuel actions at COP30, including a “Kick Out the Suits” event targeting fossil fuel lobbyists and a planned “funeral for fossil fuels” march. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has called for a clear roadmap to phase out fossil fuels, a sentiment echoed by several countries. However, environmental groups like Greenpeace International stress the need for actionable outcomes rather than symbolic pledges.
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Mali suspends French TV channels over alleged false reports
In a significant move, Mali’s ruling military junta has suspended the operations of two prominent French television channels, TF1 and LCI, accusing them of disseminating unverified and false information regarding a fuel blockade imposed by the al-Qaida-linked militant group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). The decision was announced by Mali’s High Authority for Communication in a letter dated November 13, which was made public on Friday. The regulatory body cited a broadcast from November 9 as the basis for its action, disputing claims that the junta had banned fuel sales, that the regions of Kayes and Nioro were under complete blockade, and that terrorists were nearing the capital, Bamako. The letter stated that the channels’ services would be removed from distribution packages until further notice. Since September, JNIM has enforced a fuel blockade in Mali, exacerbating the country’s security and economic challenges. The resulting fuel shortages have led to long queues at gas stations and heightened instability. In response, several Western embassies, including those of the United States and France, have advised their citizens to leave the country. Mali, along with neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso, has been under military rule following coups in recent years, with leaders promising improved security. However, analysts note that the security situation in the Sahel region has deteriorated significantly, with record levels of attacks and civilian casualties attributed to both Islamic militants and government forces.
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British journalist Sami Hamdi reunited with family after release from Ice detention
British journalist and political commentator Sami Hamdi has been reunited with his family following his release from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention. Hamdi arrived in London on Thursday, three weeks after being detained by ICE agents during a speaking tour in the United States. The detention occurred despite Hamdi entering the U.S. on a valid visitor visa on October 19. His visa was abruptly revoked on October 24 without prior notice, according to Zahraa Billo, executive director of the San Francisco Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA).
Hamdi was accused of overstaying his visa on October 26 while at San Francisco International Airport. He was subsequently transferred to the Golden State Annex in McFarland, California, where he was held in a cell with approximately 80 other detainees. Hamdi reported being denied medical care for severe abdominal pain until his condition gained media attention.
During a hearing on Monday, Hamdi and the U.S. government reached an agreement for his voluntary departure from the country. Upon his return to London, Hamdi stated, ‘What they want is to ensure that people like us don’t go to America. And we will defy them and we will exert our constitutional rights and speak truth against hatred.’
Hamdi’s detention is part of a broader pattern of ICE targeting individuals, particularly those involved in pro-Palestinian activism. Earlier this year, Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk, Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil, and Georgetown University postdoctoral scholar Badar Khan Suri were all detained by ICE without criminal charges. Columbia University students Yunseo Chung and Ranjani Srinivasan were also targeted, with Srinivasan leaving the U.S. voluntarily after her student visa was revoked.
Hamdi’s case has sparked concerns about freedom of speech and the treatment of activists in the U.S. He alleged that the U.S. government is ‘trying to curb freedom of speech because there’s a concern among the extremist Israeli lobby that American public opinion is shifting.’ His detention highlights ongoing tensions surrounding activism and immigration enforcement in the United States.
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UK court finds mining firm liable for Brazil’s worst environmental disaster
In a landmark ruling by London’s High Court, mining giant BHP has been found liable for the catastrophic 2015 collapse of the Fundão dam in Brazil, an event widely regarded as the country’s most severe environmental disaster. The collapse unleashed tens of millions of cubic meters of toxic waste and mud, devastating communities, claiming 19 lives, and causing extensive environmental damage. The civil lawsuit, representing over 600,000 claimants including individuals, local governments, and businesses, was valued at up to £36 billion ($48 billion). BHP has announced its intention to appeal the ruling, arguing that many claimants have already received compensation in Brazil. The dam, located in Mariana, southeastern Brazil, was owned by Samarco, a joint venture between BHP and Brazilian mining company Vale. The claimants’ legal team successfully argued that the case should be heard in London due to BHP’s UK headquarters at the time of the incident. A separate lawsuit against Vale is ongoing in the Netherlands, involving more than 70,000 plaintiffs. Judge Finola O’Farrell ruled that the decision to continue raising the dam’s height despite safety concerns was the direct cause of the collapse, making BHP liable under Brazilian law. BHP’s Minerals Americas president, Brandon Craig, stated that 240,000 claimants in the London lawsuit have already been compensated in Brazil, which he believes will reduce the scale of UK claims. The case has been marked by disputes between BHP and the claimants’ UK law firm, Pogust Goodhead, which has faced accusations of exploiting vulnerable Brazilians. Pogust Goodhead has denied these allegations, claiming that BHP and Vale pressured claimants into settling for less than their claims’ true value. The Renova Foundation, established by BHP and Vale, has disbursed billions in compensation and repair efforts, including building a new city for displaced residents. However, Pogust Goodhead alleges that a $30.3 billion compensation agreement signed in 2024 prevents claimants from discussing the deal or paying legal fees. The firm claims to have incurred $1 billion in borrowing costs to finance the UK case. BHP has rejected all allegations, stating that Brazil remains the most appropriate jurisdiction for compensation. The case highlights the ongoing legal and ethical complexities surrounding one of the world’s worst mining disasters.
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Pakistan says arrested 4 from Afghanistan-based group over Islamabad bombing
Pakistan announced on Friday the arrest of four individuals connected to a suicide bombing in Islamabad, an attack allegedly orchestrated by a group based in Afghanistan. The bombing, which occurred outside court buildings on Tuesday, was claimed by a faction of the Pakistani Taliban, known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The attack resulted in 12 fatalities and left dozens injured. According to a government statement, the network responsible for the bombing was ‘handled and guided at every step by the high command based in Afghanistan.’ The arrested individuals include the cell’s alleged commander and three other members, though the specific locations of the arrests were not disclosed. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi informed the Senate that the bomber, identified as Usman alias Qari, was a resident of Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan. Investigations are ongoing, with more revelations and arrests anticipated. The Islamabad bombing marks a resurgence of militant violence in Pakistan, which officials attribute to armed groups allegedly sheltered in Afghanistan. This incident follows a recent attack on Cadet College Wana, a military-linked school in northwest Pakistan, in which Afghan nationals were reportedly involved. The Taliban government has not directly addressed Pakistan’s allegations but expressed ‘deep sorrow & condemnation’ over both attacks. The accusations have exacerbated the already strained relations between Islamabad and Kabul, leading to recent cross-border clashes that resulted in over 70 deaths, including dozens of Afghan civilians. Despite agreeing to a fragile ceasefire, negotiations to finalize its details have stalled, with each side blaming the other for the impasse. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, addressing parliament, condemned the Islamabad bombing as a ‘horrific act of terrorism’ and emphasized Pakistan’s desire for peace, urging Afghanistan to be a partner in combating terrorism.
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As NATO pushes for faster innovation, drones flood a test battlefield in Greece
Under the pale November sun in Alexandroupolis, Greece, a hillside transformed into a futuristic battlefield. Helicopters soared above tree lines, infantry units maneuvered through smoke and explosions, and a diverse array of drones—quadcopters, fixed-wing models, loitering munitions, and experimental prototypes—orchestrated the mock combat. This marked Greece’s first full tactical exercise testing domestically developed drones and counter-drone systems, a significant step in NATO’s broader push for rapid battlefield innovation. Military observers from the U.S., France, Bulgaria, Armenia, and Turkey witnessed the event, as Greece, historically reliant on imports, joined the global race to develop and deploy its own advanced military technology.
The exercise showcased the versatility of drones in modern warfare. Small quadcopters deployed tire spikes and mines to hinder enemy vehicles, while others laid smoke screens or delivered medical supplies and ammunition to frontline positions. Some drones even carried loudspeakers broadcasting demoralizing messages in English. An experimental two-wheeled ‘tunnel crawler’ demonstrated its ability to leap into the air from confined spaces, carrying explosives, oxygen, or radiation detectors.
Greece’s efforts reflect a broader trend among mid-sized NATO economies, spurred by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Countries like Estonia and Denmark have also invested in indigenous drone technology, viewing autonomy and rapid production as critical to deterrence. For Greece, embroiled in a decades-long maritime dispute with Turkey, this initiative is part of a €25 billion overhaul of its armed forces following years of austerity. NATO’s urgency is further fueled by uncertainty over the U.S.’s long-term security commitments to Europe, prompting calls for Europe’s defense sector to adopt a startup mentality.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasized the need for advanced technology and rapid innovation during a recent visit to Romania. Greek companies, particularly small firms, are seizing the opportunity. Dimitris Stefanakis of Ucandrone, a Greek drone manufacturer, noted that Ukraine’s battlefield adaptations have reshaped the industry, favoring agile, innovative companies over larger, slower-moving ones. Greek developers also foresee military advancements accelerating civilian applications, such as disaster response.
Western officials stress the need for Europe to move away from lengthy procurement cycles toward rapid-development ecosystems. Analysts, including Swasti Rao of India’s Jindal School for International Affairs, highlight the decisive role of rapid innovation in modern warfare. Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias underscored the profound mindset shift required to adapt to this new era of warfare, emphasizing the transition from large mechanized units to small, technology-driven teams.
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Fears of ‘catastrophic consequences’ in Gaza as rain floods tents
A severe winter storm has brought heavy rainfall and thunderstorms to Gaza, flooding the makeshift tents of displaced Palestinians and raising fears of catastrophic consequences for nearly two million people without adequate shelter. Thousands of families in displacement camps awoke on Friday to find their tents submerged in water, according to local media reports. The Palestinian Civil Defence has issued urgent warnings for residents, particularly the displaced, to take precautions against potential destruction from the storm. The Palestinian Meteorological Department has also alerted the region to the risk of flash floods in low-lying areas and valleys across the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, with strong winds and heavy rain expected in the coming days. Adnan Abu Hasna, spokesperson for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), emphasized that the storm could have devastating effects on the already vulnerable displaced population. In the al-Mawasi area of southern Gaza alone, over 900,000 displaced individuals are living in tents, with their safety at risk due to the lack of flood-prevention barriers. Across the Gaza Strip, hundreds of thousands more are displaced, many living in cramped conditions with limited access to basic services. The situation is exacerbated by the extensive damage caused during the two-year conflict, with 83% of structures, including homes, schools, and hospitals, destroyed or damaged. The Global Shelter Cluster reports that more than 282,000 homes have been razed or rendered uninhabitable. Despite a ceasefire agreement last month, Israel has restricted the entry of essential shelter supplies and equipment, leaving at least 259,000 families without adequate protection this winter. While the agreement required Israel to allow the entry of tents and mobile shelters, heavy restrictions on relief materials have persisted, with only 150 aid trucks entering Gaza daily—far fewer than the 600 agreed upon. The humanitarian crisis continues to deepen as displaced Palestinians struggle to cope with the harsh winter conditions.