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Islamic State Claims Attack on Niger Airport as Global Events Stir Markets
Niamey, Niger – Islamic State in the Sahel claimed responsibility for an attack on the international airport and adjacent air force base in Niamey, the capital of Niger, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks jihadist activity. The assault, which occurred shortly after midnight on Thursday, involved militants on motorcycles using heavy weaponry and drones. The attack damaged planes belonging to an Ivorian carrier and a Togolese airline.
The attack in Niger occurred amidst a backdrop of rising global political uncertainty that has impacted financial markets. Gold prices recently surged to record highs, surpassing $5,000 per ounce before briefly hitting $5,500, according to BBC Business. Silver and platinum prices also experienced similar increases. This surge was attributed to investors seeking safe haven assets amid global instability. However, prices have since fallen sharply following signs of political stability in the US, though they remain higher than last year. According to BBC Business, tariffs introduced by US President Donald Trump have upset global trade, contributing to the uncertainty.
Meanwhile, in the technology sector, Apple reported record-breaking iPhone sales for the final three months of last year, driven by the new iPhone 17 range, according to BBC Technology. Revenue rose by 16% compared to the same period last year, reaching $144 billion, marking the strongest growth since 2021. Sales were boosted by growth in China, Europe, the Americas, and Japan. Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that the company was in "supply chase mode" to meet the high demand. However, sales of wearables and accessories, including the Apple Watch and AirPods, experienced a decline, as did Mac computer sales, which fell by just over 7%.
In other tech news, Elon Musk's SpaceX applied to launch one million satellites into Earth's orbit to power artificial intelligence (AI), according to BBC Technology. The application claims that "orbital data centres" are the most cost and energy-efficient way to meet the growing demand for AI computing power. SpaceX argues that the processing needs driven by the expanding use of AI are already outpacing "terrestrial capabilities." This would drastically increase the number of SpaceX satellites in orbit, adding to its existing Starlink network of nearly 10,000 satellites.
Adding to the geopolitical landscape, Israel is closely watching Iran, with some officials eyeing potential regime change and counting on support from the US, according to BBC World. Danny Citrinowicz, a senior Iran researcher at Israel's Defence Intelligence, noted the significance Prime Minister Netanyahu places on the current moment, evidenced by his relative silence on the matter. Iranian officials have warned of an "immediate and unprecedented" response to any US attack.
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