A tale of two worlds

Off-Ramp In Progress? Israeli Media Signals 'Completion Phase' Of Iran War It's no secret that Washington is looking for an off-ramp amid what has been a steady pattern of escalation with Iran over the past month since Operation Epic Fury began. The White House's anticipated timeline and even list of objectives has seriously shifted since the war's start, as has the scope, given Tehran's 'unexpected' big retaliatory strikes on the Gulf and Israel - including on energy and infrastructure targets. It seems Trump was thinking Iran could be parallel to the...

China Sidesteps Solar Targets In New Five-Year Plan China’s latest five-year plan avoids setting ambitious solar targets, signaling rising challenges for the sector after years of explosive growth, according to Bloomberg. Released during the annual National People’s Congress, the plan does not include a goal for solar installations by 2030. That omission contrasts with clearer commitments elsewhere in the energy mix, including plans to double offshore wind capacity and expand nuclear and pumped-hydro power. Solar receives relatively little attention overall, while policymakers instead emphasize broader transition initiatives such as zero-carbon industrial...

Russia, Ukraine Agree To Breakthrough 32-hour Orthodox Easter Ceasefire In a huge and very positive development, Russia's President Vladimir Putin has announced a 32-hour ceasefire for Orthodox Easter, or Pascha, which is this weekend. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has immediately confirmed that Ukraine will honor the holiday truce.  "We proceed on the basis that the Ukrainian side will follow the example of the Russian Federation," the Kremlin then further confirmed in a statement. Pravoslavie.Ru Based on regional media reporting of the rare ceasefire, the pause in fighting will begin at 4pm Moscow time...