Non-Covid-19 stories from the last week

These would have received more attention in the UK if it had not been for the pandemic

Iran's Revolutionary Guard launch military satellite

Al-Jazeera reports that "As a military satellite, what we're likely to see is this to be used specifically for intelligence gathering and secure communications for the navigation of forces on land and sea". Iran learned the hard way of the value of satellite data during the Iran-Iraq war. Saddam, who was in 1988 regarded as a US asset, was supplied with data about Iranian troop movements by the CIA.

The intelligence about military activities by Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and their allies will no doubt be invaluable to Iran's clients worldwide and must surely be of more concern than Iran's developing a successful launch vehicle.

Flash floods in Yemen aggravate cholera epidemic

- and raise fears about Covid-19.

Facebook buys large stake in Indian conglomerate

Mark Zuckerberg increases his presence in India. Two things occur to me: although his stake is in a subsidiary of Reliance, Zuckerberg may well be straying beyond the pure provision of social media platforms. The other is that this heats the battle with China for the Indian market, with the UK (if only we would use it more) and America having the benefit of the English language.

2019 was Europe's hottest year

On the fiftieth Earth Day, it was revealed that 2019 had been Europe's warmest year since comprehensive records began. It also looks as if this month will turn out to the UK's driest April on record.

Floods in Tanzania

Northern provinces of Tanzania have been hit by floods and mudslides. In addition to the loss of homes and life, there must also be the danger of water-borne diseases.

Lesotho murder case drags on

In the meantime, the prime minister implicated in the scandal has been eased out of office.

Germany tries Syrian former officials accused of torture

This is not the first instance of a trial mounted by a third party nation on grounds of crimes against humanity, but it seems to me a major step by Germany.

India extends Kashmir high-speed internet ban

Anti-terrorist measures a cover for economic warfare? DW has the story.