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France 24
a day ago
- Politics
- France 24
Why did Israel attack Iran in the middle of US-Iran nuclear talks?
Once again, the world has woken up to watch the minute hand inch closer to midnight. Early on Friday, more than 200 Israeli fighter jets hurtled across the skies over Iran, hitting targets linked to the nation's burgeoning nuclear programme and killing at least three senior members of the Islamic Republic's military leadership – as well as several nuclear scientists. The attacks, which Israel has said will not stop, reportedly also hit a number of residential apartment blocks in the capital Tehran, killing an unknown number of women and children, state media said. Emergency services have said that 95 people wounded in the strikes have so far been brought to medical centres across the country. The strikes came the morning after news broke that the sixth round of the US-Iran nuclear talks would take place in Oman Sunday, with US President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff set to hold another round of indirect negotiations with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. For now, the two sides seem far apart – a US proposal shared with Tehran in May reportedly called for a complete end to the enrichment of nuclear fuel on Iranian soil, even for a civilian energy programme. Tehran has reportedly been drafting its own counter-proposal, which would preserve the Islamic Republic's right to domestically enrich uranium for civilian purposes while also securing a way out from under the crippling economic sanctions levelled by Washington. As rumours spread Thursday of an impending Israeli attack on Iran, Trump told reporters he was counselling restraint. "We are fairly close to a pretty good agreement," he said. "I don't want [Israel] going in, because I think it would blow it." Hours later, Israel's fighter jets were in the air. 'Sabotage' Diba Mirzaei, a doctoral researcher at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA), said that it was no coincidence the attacks had been launched on the eve of the talks. 'I don't think that Israel only wanted to derail the negotiations,' she said. 'I actually think they wanted to sabotage them, to force Iran to maybe abandon them altogether." Seyed Ali Alavi, a lecturer in Middle Eastern studies at SOAS University of London, said that the strikes would doubtless cast a shadow over Sunday's talks – if they still went ahead. "The recent direct attacks on Iran are unprecedented since the Iran-Iraq War. It is very likely to impact the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran, particularly the Sunday meeting," he said. "However, we have not yet received news or announcements from Tehran regarding the Sunday meeting. This does not imply that the negotiations have been fully terminated – it is likely that they could continue, but under a more intense atmosphere." Mirzaei pointed to reports in Iran's own state media that the initial attacks had badly wounded Ali Shamkhani, one of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's senior advisors and a crucial figure in the ongoing talks. 'During the attacks, one of the main negotiators on the Iranian side, Ali Shamkhani, has been reported either killed or severely injured – so an important person on the Iranian side is now missing or not capable of being part of those negotiations.' As the US woke up to the news of the attacks, Trump struck a decidedly different tone. As US officials denied any involvement in the attack, only saying that Israel had informed the US of its strikes ahead of time, the president took to his personal social media platform Truth Social, where he appeared to portray the attacks as a triumph of hardline negotiating tactics. 'I gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal,' he wrote. 'I told them, in the strongest of words, to 'just do it,' but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn't get it done.' 'There has already been great death and destruction, but there is still time to make this slaughter, with the next already planned attacks being even more brutal, come to an end. Iran must make a deal, before there is nothing left.' A few hours later, the president posted again, reminding the world of a 60-day deadline he had reportedly given the Islamic Republic at the beginning of the talks. 'Two months ago, I gave Iran a 60-day ultimatum to 'make a deal',' he wrote. 'They should have done it! Today is day 61. "Now they have, perhaps, a second chance!" Months in the making Mirzaei said that the US's hardline position during the talks cast some doubt on how committed Trump – who pulled the US out of the six-nation nuclear treaty with Iran during his first term in office – was to sealing a deal on Tehran's nuclear programme. 'I'm not really sure how sincere the Trump administration is in those nuclear talks,' she said. 'The US basically wants Iran to not even have the civil use of nuclear energy, which would be very far-reaching. No country has to do that – when you look at the non-proliferation treaty, every country has the right to use nuclear energy for civil purposes. So of course Iran would not agree to such a deal.' Iran's own willingness to restrict its nuclear programme to civilian use was called into question earlier this week when the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) – the UN's nuclear watchdog – determined that Tehran was not complying with its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. It was the first such censure issued against Iran in almost 20 years, prompting a furious Tehran to announce that it would be setting up a new enrichment site in a 'secure' location. 'The censure by the IAEA is very severe,' Mirzaei said, adding that the litany of non-proliferation breaches listed in the report suggested that Tehran "isn't interested in de-escalating either". Tehran launches about 100 drones towards Israel after Iran's nuclear sites hit 04:04 Israel, the only nation in the Middle East to possess nuclear weapons, has consistently painted a nuclear Tehran as an existential threat – a refrain once again picked up in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's first speech following the attacks. Mirzaei, who stressed that Israel had fought hard against the first multilateral agreement on Iran's nuclear programme more than 10 years ago, said that the magnitude of Friday's attack spoke to a plan potentially months in the making. '[As a trigger,] the nuclear talks between Iran and the US were more important for Israel than the IAEA censure,' she said. 'Because if you look at an attack of that scale, this is not something that has been planned for a couple of days, but has probably been planned for weeks, for months even … I think the plans were there, and now, because of the meeting that was supposed to take place on Sunday between Iran and the US, they basically saw that the timing was fit to do that.' Now, with Tehran reeling from the unprecedented assault, the question of just how Iran will respond to the strikes in the days to come has taken on an urgent edge. 'I don't think that Iran is interested in a full-scale war, but I don't think that it can actually prevent a full breaking out if those attacks continue,' Mirzaei said. 'But instead of just looking at the military options that Iran has, you can also look at the political options. And I do believe that Iran could in the near future actually withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty, for example – it could abandon its cooperation with the IAEA, it could actually just cancel all of the negotiations with the US. And all those options on the political front are also very worrisome.'
Hospitality Net
3 days ago
- Business
- Hospitality Net
EHL Innovation Rewind: Christine R. Gould on Breaking Silos, Remixing Traditions, and the Next Gen Innovation Stack
At the EHL Open Innovation Summit, we had the chance to sit down with Christine R. Gould, Founder and CEO of GIGA, for a conversation about the future of innovation in hospitality. Christine shared her perspective on why the next big shift won't come from a single technology, but from a new mindset—one that values remixing over reinvention, embraces collaboration across sectors, and brings young changemakers directly into the innovation process. Do you see one specific innovation or technology changing the hospitality industry over the next 5 to 10 years? We have always had hyped technologies, whether it be the metaverse, AI or generative AI. But what we are seeing now is a realization that it is not about a single technology. It is going to be the integration of these technologies into a new tech stack that fundamentally shifts what opportunities are available. For me, it is not about the technology. It is about the innovation approach. That means breaking down silos and fostering collaboration, especially across industries. There is a huge opportunity for hospitality to work more closely with food and agriculture. Technology is the enabler, but it is this approach of open innovation that is really exciting. How do we reconcile the tension between innovation and tradition, especially when younger generations take over legacy businesses? I do not believe it is innovation versus tradition. At my previous organization, Thought For Food, we identified an innovation approach called multispectral thinking. It comes from agriculture and medicine, where you use a multispectral camera to see more than what the eye can see. I thought, what if we could equip our brains to think this way? It would allow us to move beyond binary thinking and see a rich palette of possibilities. That is how you blend tradition and technology to unlock new opportunities. I also see this in music. I am learning to DJ and I love how electronic music embraces experimentation and remixing. We need more of that in hospitality and food. I want to see remixes. Let's remix our industries. Why is it that we welcome innovation in music, but remain so protective of tradition in food and hospitality? It is so true. In music, innovation is welcomed. In food and hospitality, especially in cultures with strong traditions like Italy, it can be more sensitive. But I believe there is a rising generation of digitally savvy, curious and entrepreneurial people who are looking for new, differentiated experiences. That is where the remix comes in. We need to futureproof our businesses by welcoming this experimentation. We can still honour tradition, but we can also evolve it. If you had one suggestion for someone entering the market today, in hospitality or food, what would it be? Know your customer. There will always be customers who want what they know and value tradition. But the next generation wants something different. They want to be part of something new. My advice is to engage with innovators from that next generation. Do not just invest in them or look at them top down. Actually bring them into your innovation strategy. Let them help you pilot, prototype, and scale new ideas. That is where the real opportunity lies. About the EHL Open Innovation Summit 2025 This interview was recorded during the EHL Open Innovation Summit in Lausanne, where Hospitality Net joined as official media partner. The event brought together a global mix of thinkers and doers to explore the future of hospitality, food, and travel through open innovation. What made it special was the mix of ideas, formats, and people. It was not only about tech or talks. It was also about people showing up, working together, and sharing energy in real time. Key Figures 385 participants 48 speakers and contributors from more than 20 countries 7 innovation challenges collectively addressed 45 sessions 25 student volunteers 15 F&B startups letting us taste the future 1.5 days of connection, learning, and co-creation Key Insights from the Summit
Japan Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Disposal questions arise as student learning devices need replacing in Japan
Personal computers and tablets allocated to elementary and junior high school students across Japan for classroom use are now reaching the end of their service life and are due for renewal. Some local governments are repurposing the used devices for administrative use by teaching staff or incorporating them into educational programs to teach students about waste management and environmental issues. At the same time, local authorities must commission specialist companies to dispose of the devices, as they contain personal information. Experts and parents have voiced concerns about the potential risk of data leaks involving schoolchildren's personal details. The nationwide deployment of learning devices, including PCs, to all elementary and junior high school students began in earnest in fiscal 2021 as part of the Japanese government's GIGA School Initiative, which aims to digitalize education. GIGA, which stands for Global and Innovation Gateway for All, seeks to enhance the learning environment by integrating information and communications technologies into classrooms. With these devices, students benefit from visual aids, such as interactive diagrams in arithmetic and mathematics, and can also communicate with school staff about their concerns via chat functions. The rollout of the devices was originally scheduled for completion by fiscal 2023, but the timeline was accelerated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led many schools to adopt online classes. As a result, nearly all schoolchildren had received their devices by the end of fiscal 2022. As the devices' batteries typically have a service life of four to five years, many local governments are expected to begin renewal efforts in fiscal 2025, which ends in March 2026. According to private research company MM Research Institute, an estimated 4.74 million devices will be replaced in fiscal 2025, followed by an additional 4.55 million in fiscal 2026. In November last year, the Osaka city board of education organized classes in which elementary school students disassembled devices slated for disposal and learned about the recycling of the rare metals contained in them. "These terminals, actually used by the children, themselves, helped them better understand recycling and environmental issues," an official from the board said. According to the education ministry, used devices have been repurposed for a variety of uses, including by school principals and external supporters, for parent-teacher association activities, and at libraries and community centers. Their disposal requires careful handling, however, because the devices contain personal information about schoolchildren. "In addition to sensitive information, such as records of counseling on school bullying, the devices also store IDs and passwords, which could be misused (if leaked)," said Koji Tsukamoto, a senior official at the Children and Student Data Privacy Association. "It's essential that all data be thoroughly erased." The association, which is made up primarily of recycling businesses, provides guidance to local governments on proper disposal practices. In a survey conducted by the association in November last year, more than 80% of 687 parents and other guardians of elementary and junior high school students said they were concerned about potential leaks of photos and family-related information. The education and environment ministries have issued a notice warning local governments that they could be held liable if personal data are not properly deleted. The ministries urged municipalities to entrust device disposal to businesses certified by the national government. Some local officials, however, appear not to be thoroughly informed about the proper procedures. According to the association, several local government and school staff members said they did not know how to dispose of the learning devices or were unaware of certified disposal service providers. "This is the first time that such a large number of devices have been disposed of at once," Tsukamoto noted. "Some local governments have yet to formulate disposal plans. First and foremost, it's important to draw up those plans."
Time of India
30-04-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Hemant's foreign trip to woo investors for state concludes
1 2 Ranchi: Chief minister Hemant Soren returned from his foreign tour on Wednesday, marking the end of a 13-day diplomatic mission aimed at attracting investments to the state. The CM, along with an 11-member delegation, embarked on a tour to Spain and Sweden on April 18, where they engaged with potential investors and explored opportunities for the economic growth of Jharkhand. This was Hemant's first major attempt to woo global investors after assuming the CM's office for the second consecutive term in Nov, 2024. Among many fruitful meetings with global investors, Tesla Group's positive nod to set up a GIGA factory in Jharkhand was the highlight of the investment tour, to assemble commercial and industrial battery storage products. The CM met Dusan Lichardus, CEO and Co-founder of Tesla Group AS of Czechoslovakia. During the tour, the delegation first stepped into Spain on April 19, where they met entrepreneurs from the Indian diaspora and Spanish dignitaries. The team, led by the CM, held key meetings with investors and FC Barcelona (FCB) for future collaborations. They met the vice-president of FC Barcelona, Elena Fort, and engaged in discussions focused on a potential partnership to nurture sporting talent from Jharkhand, boost training, and improve sports infrastructure. The delegation also observed the ongoing redevelopment project of Spotify Camp Nou, which will make it the largest stadium in the entire Europe after its completion. On April 20, the delegation took an insightful visit to the Gavà Museum of Mines in Barcelona, to explore ancient mining techniques and relics of the Neolithic age. The chief minister attended a high tea reception hosted by the Consulate General of India in Barcelona, joined by Indian CEOs based in Barcelona. Soren engaged in discussions focused on investment opportunities in Jharkhand, fostering innovation ecosystems, research and development in indigenous medicine, cooperative training in sports, and start-up collaborations. The CM, on April 22, interacted with a delegation representing multiple sectors such as startup mentorship, clean energy, environmental sustainability, biopharmaceuticals, and others, and eminent personalities of Indian origin in Barcelona. While in Sweden, the CM delegation visited a Volvo Truck plant in Gothenburg and interacted with the officials at the plant. Discussions were held on the possibility of Volvo setting up a truck manufacturing unit in Jharkhand, along with the state's requirements in trucks and dumpers for mining operations. Apart from this, the CM addressed global investors in Gothenburg, Sweden, highlighting Jharkhand's immense potential in manufacturing, mining, and clean energy. Over 50 industry leaders joined the event hosted by the Indian Embassy in Sweden.
Japan Times
30-04-2025
- Science
- Japan Times
Technology institute warns of digital device accidents amid a series of fires
The National Institute of Technology and Evaluation is calling for caution over accidents involving digital devices, following a series of fires caused by foreign objects entering the USB-type charging connectors of digital devices such as laptops. The warning comes as some students interact with electronic devices for the first time under the "giga school" initiative of distributing information devices to every student, especially after a new academic year began this month. According to NITE, a boy sustained a burn in October 2020 when he picked up a tablet he had dropped in a train car. The device's internal battery is believed to have overheated due to the impact of the fall. In January 2023, a fire broke out at an elementary school in Kanagawa Prefecture apparently after a short circuit due to liquids such as juice entering the charging connector of a digital device. There has also been a case in which sparks flew out of a device after a connector was inserted and removed from a port at an angle. According to the education ministry, roughly 19,000 devices distributed under the GIGA school initiative were damaged or lost between April and July 2021. There were many repairs after devices were used in unexpected ways, such as repairs to deal with sand that had entered device connectors. A NITE official emphasized the importance of telling children to consult with adults around them if they notice anything unusual. "Even if it doesn't lead to something serious, it's still dangerous," the official said of accidents. "We hope digital devices will be handled carefully."
