Latest news with #Norway-based
Straits Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Iran arrests dissident rapper formerly on death row, his supporters say
Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi has criticised both Israel's attacks on Iran and Iran's failure to protect citizens in the face of Israel's bombardment, which began on June 13. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/TOOMAJOFFICIAL Iran arrests dissident rapper formerly on death row, his supporters say PARIS - Iranian authorities have arrested Toomaj Salehi, a prominent rapper who is sharply critical of the Islamic republic's leadership, the artist's supporters said on his social media accounts on June 29. The reported arrest of Salehi, who is known to fans as Toomaj and had previously been sentenced to death in the wake of nationwide protests, comes amid the nearly week-old war triggered by Israeli attacks on Iran and as rights groups have warned of a crackdown on dissent by Tehran. Salehi, 34, has bitterly criticised Israel's strikes on his country as well as the failure of Iranian authorities to protect citizens in the face of the bombardment which began on June 13. According to a statement published by supporters of Salehi on his official Instagram and X accounts, he had been arrested in the Gulf island of Kish, on Iran's southern coast. 'We have no information about the detaining agency, his place of detention, or his health. The government is directly responsible for anything that happens to his health and life,' it said. 'Toomaj must be released immediately.' Rights groups have sounded the alarm on a crackdown in Iran against the background of the Israeli attacks which analysts believe could be aimed at ousting the country's clerical leadership. Amnesty International said on June 18 that 'Iranian authorities have responded to Israel's latest military attacks by imposing internet restrictions, arresting journalists and dissidents within the country.' Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights said on June 19 that at least 223 people have been arrested nationwide on charges related to collaboration with Israel. The group said its tally is based on official media reports, but the real figures are likely higher. Internet monitor Netblocks said that Iran was under its most severe 'blackout incident' since a 2019 wave of protests. Salehi was previously arrested in October 2022 after publicly backing demonstrations that erupted a month earlier, triggered by the death in custody of Iranian Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini. He was initially sentenced to death in a verdict that caused international uproar but it was later reduced to prison time and he was released in December 2024. Activists have accused Iran of torturing him during his 2022 arrest, after state media published a video purporting to show the rapper blindfolded, with bruising on his face, apologising for his support of the protests. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Wall Street Journal
4 days ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Oil Tankers on Fire After Collision Off Coast of United Arab Emirates
Two oil tankers were on fire after colliding in the Gulf of Oman, as the conflict between Israel and Iran entered its fifth day and continued to rattle energy incident occurred approximately 17 miles off the coast of the United Arab Emirates port of Fujairah near the Strait of Hormuz early Tuesday, a spokesman for Frontline, which owns one of the vessels, said. Norway-based Frontline said the collision was due to navigational issues and not related to the current conflict in the region.
Business Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Singapore to host S$64 million fund by Norway-based firm for start-ups in Asia ocean health
[NICE, France] Norway-based impact investment firm Katapult Ocean will launch a US$50 million (S$64 million) fund in Singapore in early 2026 to invest in start-ups that support ocean health in Asia, The Straits Times (ST) has learnt. The firm, which has made 75 investments in companies globally since 2018, is considered one of the world's most active ocean impact venture fund managers. It has investments in sustainable seaweed production and offshore wind power infrastructure, among other areas. Katapult Ocean Asia associate director Maureen Bresil told ST on Jun 11 that there are many opportunities in the region, including in decarbonisation, tackling ocean pollution, sustainable aquaculture and eco-tourism. Speaking on the sidelines of the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, Bresil said: 'We wanted to be in Asia – closer to funders, closer to issues we need to tackle.' Existing estimates suggest that five Asian countries – China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam – accounted for up to 60 per cent of the plastic waste leaking into the ocean. UN data also shows that Asia accounted for 75 per cent of the world's total fisheries and aquaculture production. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up She added: 'We also want to be in Singapore, because we know that there is a lot of capital there that can be diverted into ocean impact in Asia.' News of Katapult's Ocean Asia Fund comes amid growing interest from the private sector in the blue economy. The World Bank defines the blue economy as the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem. Ahead of the UN Ocean Conference, which started on Jun 9, some of the world's top financial institutions gathered in Monaco on Jun 7 and 8 to spotlight the economic opportunity from investing in the health of the ocean and the perils of inaction. The Blue Economy and Finance Forum hosted about 2,000 delegates from major banks, asset management funds and other financial institutions. Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, speaking on behalf of Asean during a panel on advancing sustainable ocean-based economies on Jun 11, said the waters in the region are one of the most vital, congested, busy and strategic maritime spaces in the world. 'Our countries depend on these very waters for trade, livelihood, transportation and the other elements of life. Sustainable ocean-based economies, sustainable maritime transport and coastal community resilience are, therefore, key priorities for all Asean member states,' said Dr Balakrishnan. He added that Asean is now formulating a blue economy implementation plan from 2026 to 2030, which aims to harness the economic system's potential across a range of key sectors. 'It will take into account the varying levels of development among the Asean member states to promote a regional blue economy development based on principles of value creation, inclusivity and sustainability,' he said. Other developments show that the blue economy is picking up in South-east Asia. In May, the 1,000 Ocean Startups coalition Asia-Pacific was launched in Singapore as the regional chapter of a World Economic Forum initiative that started in 2021. The coalition aims to help start-ups in the region scale up ideas or business models that are profitable or have the potential to generate profit, while also contributing to ocean health. Thomas Knudsen, a principal of Singapore-based family office Rumah Group, which is a member of the coalition, said it was significant that Katapult Ocean decided to establish a fund for Asia based in Singapore. 'At this moment, there are no ocean-focused funds that are based in Singapore, so having one of the global leaders in this space is important,' he told ST. Katapult's investments in start-ups based in South-east Asia could enable these firms to grow in the region, potentially helping them scale up globally too. Knudsen said the Norwegian firm's global portfolio could also introduce potential new solutions for the region – concepts or technologies tested elsewhere that have relevance for South-east Asia. 'Katapult's involvement in the blue economy in South-east Asia gives companies based here more confidence to invest in the region,' he said. 'These companies may not have been comfortable in the past because the blue economy may be a new area for them but having a partner on the ground will allow them to deploy capital through this fund.' Another key player in the ocean space in the region is Circulate Capital, a private equity firm founded in 2018 in Singapore. Its key mandate is to prevent plastic pollution from ending up in the oceans in South and South-east Asia. Speaking to ST on Jun 11, founder and chief executive of Circulate Capital, Rob Kaplan, said: 'We are thrilled that Katapult is investing more in the region. I think the blue economy is an under-invested sector, particularly in South-east Asia, and it is where most of the impact is.' Circulate Capital has a focus on the circular economy – promoting the reuse and recycling of plastics so that it does not end up in the oceans. 'We see a lot of great start-ups that are way outside our scope. But there are a lot of other areas, and there is not enough capital flowing to them,' he said. On the business case for investing in plastic recycling, Kaplan said: 'The idea is that if we can build a market for plastics and profitably collect it, sort it, recycle it, manufacture using it, we can divert it from the environment and into the supply chains of global multi-national packaging and consumer goods companies.' He noted that many such firms want access to recycled plastics but cannot get the quality and quantity they need to meet that demand. 'We saw that there were many quality recycling companies, small and medium-sized enterprises and family businesses, but they have never had any outside capital to help them professionalise and scale up. So that's where our strategy fits in,' he said. Kaplan added that Circulate Capital has shown that investing in the ocean economy – particularly in efforts that prevent plastics from ending up in the blue – is feasible. 'The path forward for the next five years is... to unlock billions of dollars more,' he added. THE STRAITS TIMES
Straits Times
12-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Singapore to host US$50m fund by Norway-based firm for start-ups in Asia ocean health
UN data also shows that Asia accounted for 75 per cent of the world's total fisheries and aquaculture production. PHOTO: AFP NICE, France – Norway-based impact investment firm Katapult Ocean will launch a US$50 million (S$64.1 million) fund in Singapore in early 2026 to invest in start-ups that support ocean health in Asia, The Straits Times has learnt. The firm, which has made 75 investments in companies globally since 2018 , is considered one of the world's most active ocean impact venture fund managers. It has investments in sustainable seaweed production and offshore wind power infrastructure, among other areas. Katapult Ocean Asia associate director Maureen Bresil told The Straits Times on June 11 that there are many opportunities in the region. These include decarbonisation, tackling ocean pollution, sustainable aquaculture, and eco-tourism. Speaking on the sidelines of the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, Ms Bresil said: 'We wanted to be in Asia – closer to funders, closer to issues we need to tackle.' Existing estimates suggest that five Asian countries – China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand – accounted for up to 60 per cent of the plastic waste leaking into the ocean. UN data also shows that Asia accounted for 75 per cent of the world's total fisheries and aquaculture production. Ms Bresil added: 'We also want to be in Singapore, because we know that there's a lot of capital there that can be diverted into ocean impact in Asia.' News of Katapult's Ocean Asia Fund comes amid growing interest from the private sector in the blue economy. The World Bank defines the blue economy as the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem. Ahead of the UN Ocean Conference, which started on June 9, some of the world's top financial institutions gathered in Monaco on June 7 and 8 to spotlight the economic opportunity from investing in the health of the ocean and the perils of inaction. The Blue Economy and Finance Forum hosted about 2,000 delegates from major banks, asset management funds and other financial institutions. Singapore's Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, speaking on behalf of Asean during a panel on advancing sustainable ocean-based economies on June 11, said the waters in the region are one of the most vital, congested, busy and strategic maritime spaces in the world. 'Our countries depend on these very waters for trade, livelihood, transportation and the other elements of life. Sustainable ocean-based economies, sustainable maritime transport and coastal community resilience are therefore key priorities for all Asean member states,' said Dr Balakrishnan. He added that Asean is now formulating a blue economy implementation plan from 2026 to 2030, which aims to harness the potential of this blue economy across a range of key sectors. 'It will take into account the varying levels of development among the Asean member states to promote a regional blue economy development based on principles of value creation, inclusivity and sustainability,' said the minister. Other developments show that the blue economy is picking up in South-east Asia. In May, the 1,000 Ocean Startups coalition Asia Pacific was launched in Singapore as the regional chapter of a World Economic Forum initiative that started in 2021. The coalition aims to help start-ups in the region scale up ideas or business models that are profitable or have the potential to generate profit, while also contributing to ocean health. Mr Thomas Knudsen, a principal of Singapore-based family office Rumah Group, which is a member of the coalition, said it was significant that Katapult Ocean decided to establish a fund for Asia based in Singapore. 'At this moment, there are no ocean-focused funds that are based in Singapore, so having one of the global leaders in this space is important,' he told ST. Their investments in South-east Asia-based start-ups could enable these firms to grow in the region, potentially helping them scale up globally too. Mr Knudsen said Katapult's global portfolio could also introduce potential new solutions for the region – concepts or technologies tested elsewhere that have relevance for South-east Asia. 'I also think Katapult's involvement in the blue economy in South-east Asia gives companies based here more confidence to invest in the region,' he said. 'These firms may not have been comfortable in the past because the blue economy may be a new area for them, but having a partner on the ground will allow them to deploy capital through this fund.' Another key player in the ocean space in the region is Circulate Capital, a private equity firm founded in 2018 in Singapore. Its key mandate is to prevent plastic pollution from ending up in the oceans in South and South-east Asia. Speaking to ST on June 11, founder and chief executive of Circulate Capital Rob Kaplan said: 'We are thrilled that Katapult is investing more in the region. I think the blue economy is an under-invested sector, particularly in South-east Asia, and it's where most of the impact is.' Circulate Capital has a focus on the circular economy – promoting the reuse and recycling of plastic so that it does not end up in the oceans. 'We see a lot of great start-ups that are way outside our scope. But there are a lot of other areas, and there's not enough capital flowing to it,' he said. On the business case for investing in plastic recycling, Mr Kaplan said: 'The idea is that if we can build a market for plastic and profitably collect it, sort it, recycle it, manufacture using it, we can divert it from the environment and into the supply chains of global multi-national packaging and consumer goods companies.' He noted that many of such firms want access to recycled plastic, but cannot get the quality and quantity they need to meet that demand. 'We saw that there were a lot of quality recycling companies, small and medium enterprises and family businesses, but they have never had any outside capital to help them professionalise and scale up. So that's where our strategy fits in,' he said. Mr Kaplan added that Circulate Capital has shown that investing in the ocean economy – particularly in efforts that prevent plastics from ending up in the blue – is feasible. 'The path forward for the next five years unlock billions of dollars more,' he added. Audrey Tan is an assistant news editor overseeing sustainability coverage. She has reported on the environment for more than a decade and hosts the Green Pulse podcast series. Find out more about climate change and how it could affect you on the ST microsite here.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iran hangs man over 2022 protest deaths, activists say conviction wrongful
Iran on Wednesday hanged a man convicted of killing seven people, including a 10-year-old boy, during nationwide protests in 2022 but human rights groups said he was the victim of a wrongful conviction. Abbas Kurkuri, also known as Mojahed Kurkur, was hanged at dawn in Sheiban prison in the western city of Ahvaz, the Norway-based Iran Human Rights and Hengaw groups said. His execution was reported by the Iranian judiciary's Mizan Online website which said he had been convicted by a Revolutionary Court of the capital offences of "corruption on earth" and "waging war against God". He had been arrested more than two years previously over the deaths in November 2022 at the height of the nationwide protests sparked by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, an Iranian Kurd detained for an alleged breach of Iran's strict dress code for women. He was accused of opening fire with a military weapon in the town of Izeh northeast of Ahvaz in an attack that left seven people dead, including 10-year-old Kian Pirfalak, whose death sparked outrage at the time. At his trial, Kurkuri confessed to the charges and said he had been "under the influence of social media", Mizan said. But human rights groups said his confession, which was broadcast by Iranian state media and re-published by Mizan on Wednesday, had been obtained under duress and accused the authorities of framing him to take the blame away from the security forces. - 'Tsunami' of executions - "During his detention, Korkor endured severe torture and was denied access to legal counsel," said Hengaw, adding that Pirfalak's mother had said at her son's funeral that it was security personnel who fired at their vehicle. It noted that the execution had taken place on what would have been the boy's birthday. IHR director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam described the execution as "an extrajudicial killing". "The Islamic republic authorities attempted to blame him for the murder of 10-year old Kian Pirfalak by forcing confessions under torture," he said. He said the hanging of Kurkuri, a member of Iran's Bahktiari minority, was the latest in a "tsunami" of executions in Iran, with convicts currently being put to death at a rate of four a day. According to IHR, at least 569 people have been hanged in Iran so far this year. Nobel Peace laureate Narges Mohammadi, currently on leave from her own prison sentence, said Kurkuri had been "brutally tortured in solitary confinement (and) falsely accused of Kian's murder based on fabricated claims by interrogators and the regime's judiciary". Amnesty International said he was convicted after a "grossly unfair sham trial marred by torture-tainted 'confessions' obtained while he was subjected to enforced disappearance". The London-based group said its investigations had showed "plainclothes security officials used unlawful lethal force during protests in Izeh and fatally fired live ammunition at the child". "Authorities immediately blamed 'terrorists', but the boy's family repeatedly refuted these claims publicly and attributed the responsibility to the authorities." Over 550 people were killed in the authorities' crackdown on the protests, according to the IHR's figures. The authorities emphasise that members of the security forces also lost their lives. Kurkuri's execution comes a day after Iran hanged nine men convicted of plotting to carry out attacks in 2018 on behalf of the Islamic State group. Iran is the world's second most prolific executioner after China, according to human rights groups including Amnesty International. bur-sjw/ekf/kir
