David Butter

I write about the Middle East and energy. Associate Fellow, @CH_MENAP

[Mario Kaiser @MarioKaiserNYC]

If you want to read one story about what Trump and Netanyahu's war is doing to civilians in Lebanon, make it this one by @Raniaab for @NewYorker. It's heartbreaking, it's infuriating. It's journalism at its finest. https://t.co/giVwkUNWSu

[Ambassador Tom Barrack @USAMBTurkiye]

The discovery and securing of undeclared Assad-era chemical weapons is a major milestone for the new Syria and for international security.

Thanks to the courageous work of Syrian authorities and the @OPCW, with the support of @POTUS and international partners, another step has been taken toward eliminating the brutal legacy of chemical weapons from Syria once and for all.

A safer, sovereign, and accountable Syria is in the interest of the Syrian people — and the world.

https://t.co/hqvlzlwCMw

[Egypt Independent @EgyIndependent]

#AMAY| 10 billion cubic meter deficit in Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam storage capacity: Expert
#EgyptIndependent
https://t.co/BDWmKbzF0A

[David Butter @DavidCButter]

@NesrineMalik Great job in conveying the complexities and contradictions and basic humanity.

[David Butter @DavidCButter]

Take a look at this video, 'sonny rollins pathet' https://t.co/fZH7xjBh7i

[David Butter @DavidCButter]

@glcarlstrom @Taylor_Luck Sudan?

[David Butter @DavidCButter]

FT https://t.co/kjE2RT8A0B

[Stanimir Dobrev @delfoo]

39 people. Putin went to China with 39 people, all 5 deputy prime ministers, half the council of minister, he brought Nabiulina even. And stayed there for under 2 days. And he got nothing and as per usual China wants prices Russia can't afford when it comes to Power of Siberia 2

[David Butter @DavidCButter]

In #Egypt, #fertiliser producers ramp up exports to #India amid Gulf war price surge. But they have to meet quotas for domestic supply, and pay $90/tonne export tax. Urea price currently about $850/tonne, up from av $420 in 2025. https://t.co/Cu0yHXDgkv

[Sanam Vakil صنم وكىل @SanamVakil]

The who’s who of the third Islamic Republic (aka the deep state) coming into public view👇

[David Butter @DavidCButter]

Q1 #Saudi budget actuals: oil rev holds up (y/y), despite one month impairment; spending on subsidies and grants up a lot, also big rises for military, transport and capex. Deficit more than double to $34bn. With E-W pipeline & price boost, oil rev likely to hold up in Q2.

[Argus Media @ArgusMedia]

📣 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝗽𝗰 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗡𝗚 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀' 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗽𝘂𝘁

Australia's federal government has fixed the amount of gas production that must be kept onshore for domestic users, with 20pc of LNG export volumes required to be supplied into local markets from 1 July 2027, with an exception for any existing contracts.

Read the full article by Tom Major:
https://t.co/PAMes45ZX8

#ArgusMedia #illuminatingthemarkets

[Qalaat Al Mudiq @QalaatAlMudiq]

#Syria: the Petroleum Company announced that, following recent improvements, the operational capacity of the Baniyas Terminal has increased by 30%.

The unloading capacity for Iraqi oil is now ~500 trucks per day.

With truck capacity at around 220 barrels, this corresponds to roughly 110,000 barrels per day.

[David Butter @DavidCButter]

@HarrySilver17 Of course -- but higher oil revenue feeds through into non-oil activity

[David Butter @DavidCButter]

Q1 #Saudi GDP grew by 2.8% y/y, despite one-month impact of Iran war. Oil GDP growth slowed to 2.3% from 10.8% in Q4 2025; non-oil growth slipped to 2.8% from 4.3%. Bigger hit to growth likely in Q2, despite probable higher oil export revenue.

[Qalaat Al Mudiq @QalaatAlMudiq]

#Syria: before the capture of oil fields from #SDF, areas under Government control produced ~15,000 barrels per day.

Today, output has increased to 133,000 barrels per day.

By the end of the year, the CEO of the Petroleum Company expects it to reach 150,000 barrels - and by late 2027 production will at least double.

[Sam Heller | سام هيلر @AbuJamajem]

Worth reading: @ScprSyria critique of new Syrian government fiscal policy: https://t.co/KUtx8qdXOT

[Ziad Daoud @ZiadMDaoud]

Arab Gulf states have borrowed more than $13 billion since the Iran war began in late Feb

Most of the borrowing comes from the richest three: UAE, Qatar, Kuwait

Probably a sign they can find willing lenders, not just a need for funds

https://t.co/KAy4THFSY6

[Gregory Waters @GregoryPWaters]

A delegation from the Saudi firm Sami Rock arrived in Khanasir today following a new memorandum signed by the Ministry of Energy and Saudi Arabia to build plants for extracting oil shale in the area for phosphate production.

[Mathieu flamini @mathieuflamini]

Most people are surprised when they hear I went from professional football to green chemistry.
But to me, it was a natural transition. ⚽️👨🏽‍🔬

Growing up in the south of France, I was surrounded by nature and the sea from an early age. As my football career progressed, so did my awareness of global warming and the impact that different industries have on the environment and on our health.

The products most of us use every day, from shampoos to cleaning products to paints, are still built on fossil-based ingredients. Changing that became my mission.🌱

In 2013, I co-founded GFBiochemicals to make everyday products safer and more sustainable using plant-based ingredients.

Football prepared me for this journey more than I expected the discipline, the resilience, and what it truly means to be part of a team. But there is an important shift: as a player, you’re judged on your own performance. As a founder & CEO, your role is to lead and inspire your team, and to share success together.

I spoke with Harvard Business Review France about my journey: the transition from international footballer to Green Chemistry entrepreneur, the challenge of building in a sector I came to as an outsider.

Read the full interview: https://t.co/wESh2lENho