Latest news

 

Athens, Greece, July 2023. Petros Giannakouris / AP

 

Climate threatGlobal challenges  

The extreme heat threatens the global energy supply  

 

The summer has been characterized by extreme heat that poses a growing threat to the global energy system, writes Bloomberg.  

 

The heat waves have increased electricity consumption as more people use air conditioning. At the same time, the heat has led to disruptions at oil refineries, resulting in higher petrol and diesel prices.  

 

Globally, oil production fell by at least 2 percent over the summer, and Europe experienced a decline of 700,000 barrels a day.  

 

When important transport routes dry up, such as the Rhine River and the Panama Canal, it also increases costs.  

 

- Disruptions to refineries or shipping increase uncertainty and price volatility in the market, says Serena Huang, analyst at Vortexa.

​

 

Satellite image of the dam. AP 

  

The giant dam on the Nile 

Controversial dam in the Nile fully filled with water 

 

Ethiopia has completed the controversial dam in the Nile, which has received harsh criticism from, among others, Egypt and Sudan. On Sunday, the fourth and final phase of filling the dam was completed, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced.  

 

The dam is expected to be Africa's largest and produce around 15 terawatt hours per year. Ethiopia has hopes that it will contribute to the country becoming Africa's largest electricity exporter. 

 

Egypt and Sudan have expressed concern that the dam will affect the amount of water in the Nile. Both countries are heavily dependent on the river for their water supply.  

 

Smoke over Khartoum. Illustration image. AP  

The crisis in Sudan  

At least 40 killed in attack on market in Sudan  

 

At least 40 people have been killed and around seventy injured in an air attack on a market in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, AFP reports.  

 

Local activists tell AFP that the attack came from military aircraft, while AP writes that it was a drone. It is one of the deadliest attacks since fighting broke out between the army and the paramilitary group RSF in April.  

 

The latest wave of conflict has claimed at least 7,500 lives, according to figures cited by AFP. The real death toll is likely much higher.  

 

Beirut. Illustration image. Hussein Malla / AP  

 

Swedish principal imprisoned in Lebanon since last summer  

 

A Swedish man who works as a principal has been imprisoned in his country of birth Lebanon, reports Södra Dalarnes Tidning (SDT).  

 

The man traveled to Lebanon this summer for the first time since 2012 and was arrested directly at the airport. 

 

- He was released after two days with the request to report to the authorities once a week, a friend tells SDT. 

 

Last week, contact was broken after a meeting with a military judge. According to the friend, the man has not had any concrete accusations presented to him. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is aware that a Swedish man in his 40s is detained in Lebanon.  

 

The Foreign Ministry in Stockholm and the embassy in Beirut are working on the case," writes the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to TT.