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Ukraine eyes money and tech in return for Middle East drone support

Al Jazeera

Could Iran be using China's BeiDou system? Ukraine wants money and technology as payback after sending specialists to the Middle East to help down Iranian drones during the ongoing Israel-United States war with Iran . President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told reporters on Sunday that three teams were sent to the region to undertake expert assessments and demonstrate how drone defences work as countries in the Middle East continue to be targeted by Iran over hosting US military bases. We are not at war with Iran," Zelenskyy said. Earlier this week, Ukraine's leader announced military teams were sent to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and a US military base in Jordan. But he explained that more long-term drone deals could be negotiated with Gulf countries, and what Kyiv gets in return for its assistance still needs to be established. "For us today, both the technology and the funding are important," Zelenskyy said. Throughout the four-year Russia-Ukraine war, Moscow has widely used Iranian Shahed-136 "suicide" drones, giving Kyiv expertise in knowing how to down the unmanned aerial vehicles through cheap drone interceptors, electronic jamming tools, and anti-aircraft weaponry. However, US President Donald Trump has said he does not need Ukraine's help in taking down Iranian drones attacking American targets. Zelenskyy said he doesn't know why Washington hasn't signed a drone agreement with Kyiv, which it has pushed for months. "I wanted to sign a deal worth about $35bn-50bn," he said. Still, as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues with no end in sight, Zelenskyy raised concerns that the ongoing war in the Middle East will impact Kyiv's supplies of air defence missiles. "We would very much not like the United States to step away from the issue of Ukraine because of the Middle East," he told reporters. But as interest has grown for Ukrainian drone interceptors in light of the war, Zelenskyy said Kyiv's rules to buy the drones must be tightened, with foreign countries and firms being unable to bypass the government and talk directly to manufacturers. "Unfortunately, representatives of certain governments or companies want to bypass the Ukrainian state to purchase specific equipment," Zelensky told reporters. "Even in some free countries, we do not initially receive contracts from the private sector.


FPV drone slams into US military base in Iraq

Al Jazeera

Could Iran be using China's BeiDou system? Iraq's Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah has released drone video from an attack on the US's Victory Base near Baghdad International Airport. It's believed to be the first time the group has successfully used the FPV attack drone to skirt US defences. Iran's Space Research Centre severely damaged in strikes Thousands in Madrid protest'forgotten' Gaza, warn Iran war may spiral into


Iran continues intensified attacks across Gulf in US-Israel war fallout

Al Jazeera

Could Iran be using China's BeiDou system? Iran has pressed on with sustained missile and drone attacks across the Gulf region, despite repeated protests from its neighbours, in ongoing retaliation in the war launched by the United States and Israel . Tehran's strikes targeted multiple countries, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, late on Friday and in the early hours of Saturday. The ministry also said late on Friday that the country's armed forces intercepted a ballistic missile launched towards the al-Kharj governorate. Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on Saturday that five US Air Force refuelling planes were damaged in recent days while on the ground at an airbase in Saudi Arabia. According to the WSJ, quoting unnamed US officials, the aircraft were damaged in an Iranian attack.


'Kill the people': How men were left to starve in a South African gold mine

Al Jazeera

How men were left to starve in a South African gold mine. This image was created by Mohamed Hussein using the artificial intelligence (AI) tool Midjourney. Ayanda Ndabeni watched the faint glow from his headlamp fight the vast darkness 1,500 metres (4,920 feet) below ground. His miner's lamp had lasted for more than a week after he was lowered down into the shaft of the gold mine. But now the batteries were dying. He gently flipped the plastic switch of his lamp, turning it off, and the trapped men around him became shadows. In the stifling heat and humidity, their anxiety pressed in from all sides. Ayanda had descended into Shaft 10 of the Buffelsfontein mine in late September 2024, lowered by a team of nearly 20 men operating ropes and a pulley above ground. That day, he'd spotted police vehicles near the mine's entrance. The 36-year-old assumed it was just routine patrols around the mine system, which is 2km (1.2 miles) deep. But then the rope pulley, via which food, water, batteries and other items arrived, stopped moving. The shouting that usually indicated the rope operators were sending down a man or supplies also fell silent. When huge rocks came crashing down the shaft, they knew it was a warning. The men whispered of their growing fears that something was very wrong on the surface. Patrick Ntsokolo was also in Shaft 10. He was a few hundred metres higher up than Ayanda and had arrived in late July. Patrick was new to the mines. Tasked by the leaders of the artisanal miners with collecting the food, water and alcohol lowered down by the rope pulley, he hauled supplies along the slippery tunnels to small shops.


Drone attack on market in Sudan kills 11, as air war civilian toll mounts

Al Jazeera

A drone attack on a busy market in western Sudan has killed 11 people and wounded dozens more, including children, as the United Nations warns that the country's rapidly escalating air wars have claimed more than 200 civilian lives in little over a week. The attack on Adikong market, near Sudan's border with Chad, ignited fuel reserves and sent flames tearing through the area on Thursday. MSF described it as the second deadly drone attack on the same area in less than a month. Drones have become a key weapon used by both sides in the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces that began in April 2023. UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk said on Thursday he was appalled by the scale of intensifying aerial assaults on civilians in the war, warning that more than 200 people had been killed by drones across the Kordofan region and White Nile state since March 4 alone.


Ukraine finds new role as protector of US, Gulf allies amid Iran war

Al Jazeera

How the US left Ukraine exposed to Russia's winter war Will Europe use frozen Russian assets to fund war? How can Ukraine rebuild China ties? The United States, which stopped providing military and financial assistance to Ukraine under President Donald Trump, has asked for Kyiv's assistance in protecting its bases from Iranian retaliatory strikes in the Gulf. Ukraine's head of the Center for Countering Disinformation, Andriy Kovalenko, made the request public on March 6. On March 9, Zelenskyy also dispatched chief negotiator Rustem Umerov to sell Ukrainian interceptor drones to Gulf states.


US's new scramble for Africa is biomedical imperialism

Al Jazeera

US's new scramble for Africa is biomedical imperialism Late in February, Zimbabwe pulled out of a proposed $367m United States health funding agreement after objecting to provisions requiring broad American access to sensitive health data. The five-year programme was presented as support for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and epidemic preparedness efforts. However, the terms demanded extensive sharing of national health intelligence, including epidemiological surveillance data and pathogen samples, while offering no binding guarantees that Zimbabwe would receive equitable access to medical technologies developed from them. Harare called the proposal an "unequal exchange", warning that Zimbabwe risked supplying the "raw materials for scientific discovery" while the resulting benefits could remain concentrated in the United States and global pharmaceutical firms. Critics increasingly describe this pattern as biomedical extractivism: a toxic combination of exploitative research practices and colonial thinking that reinforces Western dominance.


Can AI in military operations really be ethical?

Al Jazeera

Could Iran be using China's BeiDou system? The Stream Can AI in military operations really be ethical? We examine concerns about AI's role in military operations and the broader ethical challenges facing tech companies. Amid growing backlash against ChatGPT and OpenAI, including social media campaigns calling for a boycott, we examine whether so-called "ethical alternatives" truly live up to their claims. We also explore emerging initiatives seeking to challenge Big Tech's dominance and develop more accountable AI systems.


Trump's Board of Peace faces its first test on Gaza

Al Jazeera

'The next stage of the Gaza genocide has begun' How important is the Rafah crossing reopening? Trump's Board of Peace faces its first test on Gaza NewsFeed Trump's Board of Peace faces its first test on Gaza Members of Donald Trump's Board of Peace have expressed optimism about peace and rebuilding in Gaza at its inaugural session. Despite multibillion dollar pledges, there are doubts about how it will manage the enclave's unresolved issues. Trump gives Iran 10-15 days to make deal, warns'bad things will happen' Masked protesters arrested outside Trump's Board of Peace meeting Palestinians in Gaza say'Board of Peace' will further occupation OpenAI's Sam Altman: Global AI regulation'urgently' needed


Venezuela signs amnesty law as families await prison releases

Al Jazeera

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez signed an amnesty law that could free hundreds of people jailed over protests and political unrest dating back decades. The law marks a shift for the country, which has long denied holding any political prisoners. Trump's Board of Peace faces its first test on Gaza Trump gives Iran 10-15 days to make deal, warns'bad things will happen' Masked protesters arrested outside Trump's Board of Peace meeting Palestinians in Gaza say'Board of Peace' will further occupation OpenAI's Sam Altman: Global AI regulation'urgently' needed