In The News

Cybersecurity Group Suspends Huawei: Wall Street Journal

Anna Isaac September 19, 2019
The Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams, or FIRST, has encouraged international cooperation in preventing hacking since the 1990s, reports the Wall Street Journal. “Members share information and intelligence to identify and isolate cyberattacks or vulnerabilities quickly, and disseminate information to protect against their rapid spread,” explains Anna Isaac. “While largely working...

Urgency for Alternative Energies Is Here: IOL

September 18, 2019
Nations that rely on oil imports are closely monitoring global supply after attacks on a Saudi Aramco facility cut half that country’s production capability, representing about 5 percent of the world’s supply. Crude and refined petroleum lead South Africa’s imports, most from Saudi Arabia. “South Africa’s top two oil suppliers – Saudi Arabia and Nigeria – are in regions that could, at best, be...

Evidence Points to Iran in Aramco Attack: Reuters

Rania El Gamal and Aziz El Yaakoubi September 16, 2019
A drone attack on Saudi Arabia’s Aramco facilities reduced the world’s oil supply by 5 percent, prompted a spike in global oil rises and increased tensions in a volatile part of the world. The United States and Saudi Arabia point fingers at Iran. Iran, already under US sanctions, denies the accusation, and President Hassan Rouhani suggests that the attack is due to the war in Yemen as Yemenis...

Crippling Aramco Attack: Bloomberg

Nayla Razzouk and Javier Blas September 15, 2019
A drone strike on a Saudi Aramco in Abqaiq slashed production by half, representing about 5 percent of the world’s oil supply. The company expects to restore production within days, but other analysts suggest months. Saudi Arabia supplies about 10 percent of the world’s crude oil and suppliers will fill the gap with reserves. OPEC tried to slow production in recent years to lift oil prices. The...

Iran’s Strategy Is Working: Stratfor

Reva Goujon September 13, 2019
After the United States abandoned the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action – an international agreement limiting Iran’s nuclear weapons program – and reinstated sanctions, Iran remained defiant, this despite economic hardship accompanyng reduced oil exports and high inflation. The United States expresses a willingness to talk, but Iran refuses without some sanctions relief. “Over the past three...

Netanyahu Annexation Pledge: Al Jazeera

September 11, 2019
In a quest for votes prior to the September 17 election, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to annex parts of the occupied West Bank, applying Israeli sovereignty, if he wins reelection. Sections include the Jordan Valley and northern Dead Sea, making up 30 percent of the West Bank, as well as Jewish-only settlements in the territory, reports Al Jazeera: The report goes on to...

Politicizing Weather Forecasts: Washington Post

Jane Lubchenco, D. James Baker and Kathryn D. Sullivan September 10, 2019
Accurate weather forecasting saves countless lives and prevents property damage. The agriculture, defense, transportation, energy, travel and other industries rely on accurate forecasts and an expensive infrastructure of observational equipment, supercomputers and models, and researchers. Also, the National Weather Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration contribute to global...