All posts tagged: Accords

Ukraine’s Zelenskiy Says Middle East Visit a Success, Announces Accords

Ukraine’s Zelenskiy Says Middle East Visit a Success, Announces Accords

March 30 (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pronounced ⁠his ⁠tour of Middle Eastern ⁠countries a success on Monday and said a number ​of security cooperation accords had been clinched or were under discussion. Zelenskiy embarked on ‌a tour of the region ‌to offer Ukrainian expertise on how to counter attacks from drones ⁠fired by ⁠Iran in its conflict with the United States and Israel, ​which has spread across the Middle East. He has promoted Ukrainian know-how acquired in its four-year-long war against Russia, which has long deployed Iranian-designed drones to strike Ukraine ​since Moscow’s February 2022 invasion. Speaking in his nightly video address after his ⁠return ⁠to Kyiv, Zelenskiy said “historic” ⁠security agreements ​had been reached with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. Ukraine, ​he said, was also ⁠working with Jordan and Kuwait and two other countries – Bahrain and Oman – had also expressed interest. “For Ukraine, this is not only about prestige and respect for our people,” Zelenskiy said. “This is a very concrete and practical ⁠matter. We are exporting …

The quiet conquest of the West Bank and the death of the Oslo Accords | Israel-Palestine conflict

The quiet conquest of the West Bank and the death of the Oslo Accords | Israel-Palestine conflict

Israel always had a plan to annex more land in the occupied West Bank, and its actions prove it. This week, the Israeli cabinet approved a plan to claim Palestinian lands in the West Bank as “state land”. The proposal, pushed by far-right Israeli leaders, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Defence Minister Israel Katz, emphasises Israeli supremacy over Palestinians. The Israeli government has created 35 new positions and allocated 244.1 million shekels (nearly $79m) for the land registration project from 2026 to 2030. The process outlined in the proposal is not new in itself. It is a process that has been frozen since 1967, and the most recent resumption is a continuation of Israel’s longstanding plan to take over Palestinian lands. While Israel suspended the land registration process in 1967, it did not suspend its practices of ethnic cleansing, colonial violence and de facto land annexation. For Palestinians, this decision does not mark a new escalation but a solidification of the Israeli presence in the West Bank. While it may seem …

Portugal joins global space efforts by signing Artemis Accords

Portugal joins global space efforts by signing Artemis Accords

Portugal has officially joined a growing list of nations committed to advancing responsible space exploration by signing the Artemis Accords. The signing was led by Portugal’s Secretary of State for Science and Innovation, Helena Canhão, during a ceremony in Lisbon coinciding with a semi-annual US-Portugal government cooperation meeting. Portugal becomes the latest of 60 countries to endorse the agreements, reinforcing its commitment to international collaboration in lunar, Martian, and broader space missions. Speaking on the signing, Hugo Costa, Executive Director of the Portuguese Space Agency, said: “2026 is the year in which humans will return to the Moon. “It will mark the beginning of a new era of space exploration, reminiscent of the Portuguese explorers of the past, such as Magellan and his circumnavigation of our planet. “As a nation that approaches space sustainability with great care and responsibility, Portugal and the Portuguese Space Agency are proud to join the Artemis Accords and contribute to the sustainable, beneficial, and peaceful use of space for all humankind.” Origins of the Artemis Accords The Artemis Accords were …