live U.S.-Iran standoff continues as Hormuz shipping and diplomacy remain uncertain
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to res...
The UAE and Bahrain jointly launched two Earth-monitoring satellites on Saturday, advancing their space exploration efforts.
Etihad-SAT: UAE’s Advanced Radar Satellite
Developed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), the UAE’s Etihad-SAT was launched aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Air Force Base at 10:39 a.m. UAE time. Equipped with advanced radar technology, it can capture high-precision images in any weather, aiding environmental monitoring, oil leak detection, maritime tracking, and smart agriculture.
The launch coincides with a decade since the UAE’s formal space sector entry in 2014.
Al-Munther: Bahrain’s First Satellite
Bahrain’s Al-Munther, launched at 9:39 a.m. Bahrain time via the same Falcon 9 under the Transporter-13 mission, marks the country’s debut in space. With onboard AI capabilities, it processes space images without relying on ground stations, enhancing efficiency.
The satellite supports environmental monitoring, desertification studies, urban planning, and food security. Operating at 550 km above Earth, it has a five-year mission lifespan.
National Space Science Agency CEO Mohamed Ibrahim Al Aseeri highlighted this as a milestone for Bahrain’s space ambitions.
The collective-defence agreement between Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signals that regional powers no longer want to rely solely on external security guarantees. Whether it becomes a stabilising deterrent or another axis of rivalry remains unresolved.
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains limited on Thursday, with no increase in vessel crossings as U.S.-Iran talks to resolve the conflict remained stalled. Nine commodity vessels transited the key waterway on Wednesday, unchanged from the previous day, according to Kpler data.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed, according to the latest data, as uncertainty over the waterway’s reopening kept most shipowners away. Six commodity vessels crossed the strait on Tuesday, down from nine the day before and below the 10-day daily average of 11.
Iran has said the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils the terms of an interim deal, including lifting the maritime blockade and sanctions and releasing Iran’s frozen assets.
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