Oman serves as crucial back channel between Iran and US as tensions flare in the Middle East

SEOUL, April 19 (AJU PRESS) - Prior to launching a barrage of drones and missiles at Israel last week, Iran reportedly got word to Washington that its response to an earlier strike on its embassy compound in Syria would seek to avoid major escalation. The message was conveyed via the Gulf Arab state of Oman. The current crisis in the Middle East is one that officials in Oman have spent years trying to avoid. Located across the Strait of Hormuz from Iran, and with close defense and

April 19, 2024

Will global oil supply be at risk if Iran and Israel pull the Middle East into war?

SEOUL, April 18 (AJU PRESS) - Tensions in the Middle East have escalated following Iran's weekend missile and drone attacks on Israel, heightening concerns of a wider conflict. As with the Russian invasion of Ukraine, further conflict has the potential to destabilize oil prices and disrupt supply chains. In Australia, already grappling with a cost-of-living crisis, the ripple effects could soon be felt. Rising oil prices lead to increased inflation, first affecting fuel

April 18, 2024

Ukraine is losing the war and the west faces a stark choice: help now or face a resurgent and aggressive Russia

SEOUL, April 18 (AJU PRESS) - Ukraine is now experiencing a level of existential threat comparable only to the situation immediately after the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. But in contrast to then, improvements are unlikely – at least not soon. Not only have conditions along the frontline significantly worsened, according to the Ukrainian commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrsky, but the very possibility of a Ukrainian defeat is now discussed in public by people

April 18, 2024

Once enemies, Japan and U.S. strengthen their alliance – and it goes beyond AUKUS

SEOUL, April 17 (AJU PRESS) - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's state visit to the White House has already resulted in one of the most ambitious boosts to the United States-Japan alliance. This alliance is now at the core of American strategy to strengthen a regional coalition to counter China's geopolitical rise. In a joint press conference following a welcoming ceremony on April 10, U.S. President Joe Biden announced a range of measures to intensify the already clo

April 17, 2024

Israel accused of using AI to target thousands in Gaza, as killer algorithms outpace international law

SEOUL, April 16 (AJU PRESS) - The Israeli army used a new artificial intelligence (AI) system to generate lists of tens of thousands of human targets for potential airstrikes in Gaza, according to a report published last week. The report comes from the nonprofit outlet +972 Magazine, which is run by Israeli and Palestinian journalists. The report cites interviews with six unnamed sources in Israeli intelligence. The sources claim the system, known as Lavender, was used with other AI

April 16, 2024

Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel was a strategic miscalculation. Can all-out war now be averted?

SEOUL, April 16 (AJU PRESS) - Close to midnight on April 13, hundreds of military drones were launched from both Iran and Iraq toward Israel. Subsequently, several waves of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and rockets followed, originating from Iran, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon – all directed at Israel. This unprecedented multi-front attack on Israel constitutes a de facto declaration of war and marks the first direct assault against Israel from Iranian soil. However, despite t

April 16, 2024

Shadow war no more: Hostilities between Israel and Iran have strayed into direct warfare – is there any going back?

SEOUL, April 15 (AJU PRESS) - For decades, Iran and Israel have been engaged in a "shadow war." Falling short of direct military confrontation, this conflict has been characterized by war through other means – through proxies, cyber attacks, economic sanctions and fiery rhetoric. Events over the last few weeks in the Middle East have, however, changed the nature of this conflict. First, Israel – it is widely presumed – broke diplomatic norms by bombing

April 15, 2024

[OPINION] Election loss weakens Turkey's President Erdoğan

KENOSHA, April 11 (AJU PRESS) - At the end of March, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan suffered a major political defeat, including but reaching well beyond the el

April 11, 2024

[OPINION] Baltimore bridge disaster and our vital infrastructure

KENOSHA, April 04 (AJU PRESS) - Baltimore’s famed Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed quickly, after being struck by an enormous ocean-bound container ship. The disaster

April 4, 2024