Latest News
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State highway patrol reports 12 deaths in Missouri plane crash
Law enforcement officials reported that 12 people died in the crash of a private plane on Sunday in Butler, Missouri. Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that the crash happened near Butler Memorial Airport about 60 miles south of Kansas City. The?agency posted on X that "at this time, reports indicate that all occupants (12 in total) have died." A spokesperson for Bates County Emergency Management confirmed to local TV station Fox4 that the victims included 11 skydivers and one pilot. Bates County Sheriff Chad Anderson told reporters that the plane had taken off from Butler Memorial Airport and crashed shortly after. Anderson stated that the plane was not a commercial airliner. It was a local aircraft that took off from a local airport. Anderson said at a press conference that "this appears to be an accidental." He said that family members of the victims were present when the crash occurred. Anderson?said that officials from the?U.S. Federal Aviation Administration were at the'scene of a crash, and National Transportation Safety Board Investigators are on their?way. Anderson said that multiple local fire departments as well as?coroners offices responded to an emergency call shortly before 11:15 a.m. (1630 GMT) As of Sunday afternoon, authorities were still 'working to identify the victims and notify their families. (Reporting and writing by Gnaneshwarrajan; editing by Sergio Non, Edmund Klamann and Christian Martinez)
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Iraq has asked Turkey for an extension of the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline agreement by at least one year
Ali Nizar, head of Iraqi state oil marketer SOMO said on its official website that Iraq has asked Turkey to extend the current Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline agreement for a minimum of a year in order to give more time to negotiate. Since the beginning of June, Iraq has exported 12,000,000?barrels? of crude oil through its southern ports. Ali Nizar, the SOMO's chief Ali Nizar, said that the Iraqi Government had requested Ankara for more time to?talks about a replacement contract covering the main export route. The long-standing Turkey-Iraq Crude?Pipeline??Agreement that governs the exports via the Kirkuk-Ceyhan Pipeline is due to expire?on?July 27, 2019. Baghdad is still in talks with Ankara about a new draft of the agreement. Reporting by Muayad Suadi, Ahmed Rasheed and Ahmed Tolba; writing by Ahmed Tolba from Cairo; editing by Barbara Lewis
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Minister: Saudi Arabia and Turkey want to build a railway link with Jordanian and Syrian.
Abdulkadir Uraloglu, Turkish Transport Minister, said that Turkey and Saudi Arabia are planning to build a railroad to connect?the two nations with Jordan and Syria within the next three to four years. He added that other Gulf countries will also be joining the project. Uraloglu told Al Jazeera that the railway will help ease future problems caused by the disruption of Strait of Hormuz due to the war in Iran. A memorandum signed last week between Ankara, Saudi Arabia and Riyadh on logistics and railways describes the project. Uraloglu stated that in the first phase, the rail link would allow the transportation of goods, natural gas, oil and people between Saudi Arabia and Turkey, Syria, Jordan and Europe. He added that later, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Qatar and Oman would also be included. "A train departing from Saudi Arabia from Riyadh has already reached?several areas of Saudi Arabia. This is a plan to get it from Jordan and Syria to Turkey. Uraloglu said that the route would carry all types of cargo to Europe. He said that the route from Saudi Arabia up to Jordan's borders had been completed. On the Turkish side the link from Islahiye in the southeast of Turkey to Kilis, and Gaziantep near the border with Syria, has also been completed. He said that this?leaves an gap of about 400 km (248.55miles) between Syria?and?Jordan. Uraloglu stated that in addition to the commercial trade, the railway could be used for the annual Muslim Hajj pilgrimage. After the fall of Bashar al-Assad in 2024, the Turkey, which borders Syria, built strong ties with the government?in Damascus and said that it would help rebuild the country. Uraloglu said to?Al Jazeera that a financial plan for the rail project would be?drawn up. The investment will include $100 million for the reconstruction of the route between Turkey's Aleppo and Syria, creating a link directly to Damascus. (Reporting and editing by Barbara Lewis; Tuvan Gumrukcu)
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UK anti-Islam Robinson detained briefly under terrorism laws
Tommy Robinson, a British anti-Islamist activist, said that he was detained and his phone confiscated at Heathrow Airport on Saturday. This came after he had posted a lot?online for a week about 'racist and antiimmigrant riots? in Northern Ireland. Robinson, whose actual name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon said on X that he was detained on Saturday night for about three hours, under the Counter-Terrorism and?Border Security Act. He said, "My phone was seized by?police", on X. Please help me start my legal defense fund. Robinson tweeted about the violence in Belfast that spread after a viral video showed a brutal stabbing attack on a man who lost an eye. A Sudanese has been charged with the attempted murder of a man. The police have stated that they do not consider the attack to be terrorism. In the days following, rioters attacked 'homes and businesses of ethnic minorities or foreigners in what the British Minister?for the Province called racist thuggery. Local politicians have said that far-right online agitators helped coordinate or promote violence. A?police spokesperson said that officers stopped a man in his 40s on Saturday at Heathrow Airport, after he returned?to Britain from Russia via Turkey. The man's communication devices were confiscated and he was interviewed by police officers. The spokesman confirmed that he was released. (Reporting and editing by Barbara Lewis; Kate Holton)
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Manhattan erupts in chaos after Knicks victory, with a World Cup bus on fire
A World Cup bus caught fire and a teenager was wounded by a gunshot in chaotic scenes that broke out in Midtown Manhattan late Saturday night as basketball fans poured onto the streets to celebrate the historic victory of the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals. After spilling from packed bars and outdoor venues and chanting, "Knicks in Five!" some fans fired smoke grenades and set off fireworks. Fans celebrate their team's win in the fifth of seven possible games by setting off fireworks and firing smoke grenades. The New York Knicks are yet to win a championship since 1973. This was their third finals appearance after losing in 1994 and 1998 - both times to the Houston Rockets and the San Antonio Spurs. They won on Saturday night. WORLD CUP SHUTTLE BIKES SWOUNDED A New York Police officer reported that a 17 year old was shot in the leg at 2 am during celebrations in Times Square. He added that three persons of interest had been taken into custody. As the celebrations continued into the evening, hundreds of mainly young people swarmed around a convoy consisting of 15 shuttle buses, after they had transported soccer fans to the area of Times Square from the first World Cup match between Brazil and Morocco which ended in a tie. Some of them climbed on the roofs, sat inside the bus and drove it. According to a journalist who saw the bus in flames, one of the yellow buses that the city hired to transport soccer fans had been set on fire. The incident was not reported as a serious injury. Three more shuttle buses have been badly damaged by the crowds. The Brazilian soccer team and Knicks supporters joined together on the top of a bus to wave their national flags. A man walked among the crowds with a bleeding facial injury, but it was not clear what had caused it. Youssef Sabbr, a 49-year-old Canadian with Moroccan descent who got off a World Cup bus before it became surrounded by a crowd, said: "They're expressing their joy, a bit violently. But it is what it Is." Sabbr stated that "that's what happens everywhere in the world when teams win." The police move in to arrest fans After holding back for two hours, police in riot gear moved in and chased fans through the streets. The Knicks home court, Madison Square Garden, was cleared by officers riding on horses. Carol Marino in her fifties, an estate agent in New York was taking a break on the sidewalk after watching a game in a bar. "Oh my god. She said that the celebrations were like New Year's Eve 'time twenty'. Other fans jumped on traffic lights and scaffolding, hugged, and played the?drums. Dean and Christina Smiros, a couple from New York who have both been Knicks supporters for their entire lives, were delighted to see the team win their first championship in their lifetime. Christina stated, "They haven't won since we were born." (Reporting and editing by Helen Popper; Ed Ou, Maria Tsvetkova).
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Australian state reviews drone restrictions after shark attack
A regulator will review restrictions on drones flying above 'Australia's Coogee Beach so that rescuers from New South Wales can monitor for sharks after an attack Saturday left a woman critically injured. On Saturday morning, emergency services were dispatched to Coogee Beach on the eastern side of Sydney after reports that a woman aged 35 had been bitten about 30 metres from shore by a large white shark. A spokesperson said that the woman's condition was critical but stable at St Vincent's Hospital after she suffered serious injuries to her left lower leg and arms. Coogee Beach, as well as other beaches in the Randwick Council area of the city, were closed for 24 hours after the attack. Drones were used to scan the skies for sharks under emergency measures. Tara Moriarty is the minister of agriculture for New South Wales. She said, "It has been a tough summer in Sydney with shark attacks and activity. The NSW government takes this very seriously." Moriarty stated that the NSW government will consider new measures to protect swimmers from shark attacks. This includes using drones and other technology. Australian lifesavers are using drones to monitor for sharks. However, Coogee Beach is restricted from commercial drone usage because it lies under the flight path at Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport. A Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesperson said that after the attack they would be looking at how to adapt the existing rules. PADDLEBOARDER RESCUES Charlie Verco, 25, a paddleboard champion and lifeguard who was off duty, rescued the woman from the water. He told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation he felt "very afraid" when he saw a three to four metre shark close to a group swimming. He said: "I looked at the beach and tried to?signal to the lifeguards a large code X to get them to?understand what was happening?outthere, clear the waters if they could, get the power crafts out there." "She was submerged for a second. I could not see her because she was in a sea of red. She popped up, and the shark let her go. I was able get close enough to catch her. The woman was then taken to the hospital by ambulance after being greeted by police, lifeguards and medical experts. This year, Australia has experienced a number of shark attacks. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the majority of shark attacks happen along Australia's east and southeast coasts, with an average of 20 incidents per year.
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Haiti: Senior defense official reported abducted in Port-au-Prince
According to reports in the media on Saturday, June 13, armed men have kidnapped in Haiti a senior government and police official in Port-au-Prince. This is 'the highest-ranking abduction in recent years in a nation gripped by gang-related violence. James Boyard was reportedly seized in the Bourdon area on Thursday, according to a source familiar with the case. Boyard, a security expert widely respected in Haiti and a leader in the field of security, was abducted on Tuesday. His kidnapping marks an important escalation in the targeting of senior officials there. Gangs in Haiti have tightened their grip over 'the capital. As criminal groups increase their influence in Haiti, they are 'undermining the government authority' and worsening an already deteriorating humanitarian crisis. Authorities have not commented publicly on Boyard's case. Reporting by Cassandra Garrison, Mexico City; editing by Kim Coghill
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Governor of Temryuk says that a drone strike in Ukraine has killed one and ignited a fire in the Russian port.
Veniamin Kondratiev, the governor of the Krasnodar Region, said that a 'Ukrainian drone attack' sparked an blaze at a sea port in Temryuk in southern Russia. Peace talks to end the Ukraine War have stagnated. Temryuk was previously attacked by Ukrainian drones in late May when Kyiv’s security service claimed it had hit a gas station there. Regional authorities cited Governor Andrei Bocharov as saying that a separate strike took place on Saturday and caused a fire to break out in an industrial area of the Kotovo District in the Volgograd Region. Bocharov did not disclose the details of the damages or the affected facilities. The?report on June 1?stated that Lukoil's Volgograd oil refining plant in Russia's south has been suspended since May 29 due to a Ukrainian drone strike.
Sources say that Iran's oil is now being exported to new countries.
According to data and shipping sources, Iran has sent small amounts of crude oil to destinations like Bangladesh and Oman. This is the latest indication that Tehran wants to maintain its output near to its highest level in five years.
Iran's main revenue source is oil sales. The country has been trying to find ways to avoid U.S. sanctions imposed by former President Donald Trump in 2018 on Tehran's nuclear program.
Iran is not subject to the output quotas of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. It is aiming at maximising production and exports.
According to the semiofficial Mehr News Agency, Oil Minister Javad Owji stated in July that Iran sold crude oil to 17 different countries, including Europe. Details could not be corroborated.
Claire Jungman from the United Against Nuclear Iran advocacy group said that the Golden Eagle tanker sailed to the port of Chittagong, Bangladesh, earlier this year, after receiving oil from a vessel that had loaded it on Iran's Kharg Island, according to the available evidence based upon shipping data.
In April, the Golden Eagle transferred parts of its cargo to smaller vessels in ship-to -ship transfers around Chittagong, according to Jungman. His organisation monitors Iran-related tanker activity via satellite data.
Another oil export tracking source confirmed the shipment to Bangladesh.
Unofficially, an official of the state-owned Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), which operates the main refinery in the country, stated that it had not purchased the cargo. It was also difficult to determine who the buyer was.
It was not possible to reach the Liberian owner and manager of Golden Eagle listed in shipping databases for a comment.
The Iranian officials didn't immediately respond to our request for comment.
SYRIA OMAN
According to OPEC, Tehran's oil production has topped 3.2 millions barrels per day, the highest level since 2018. This is after Tehran posted one of OPEC’s largest output increases in 2023 despite U.S. restrictions still in place.
According to Petro-Logistics a Geneva-based company that tracks tanker shipments, Iranian crude exports reached new heights in 2018. The period between March and May was the strongest since mid-2018.
Virginie Baniak, of Petro-Logistics, said: "But volumes appear to be plateauing."
Shipping sources reported that at least eight cargoes - mainly from Iran – were headed to Syria, with some already discharged. Shipping to Syria is down from its peak a few years ago, as Iran looks for other export destinations.
According to UANI's Jungman, Iranian oil exports into Syria averaged 57190 bpd by 2024, compared to a peak of 147,000 in 2022.
UANI's Jungman, citing shipping information, said that a separate tanker transported a shipment believed to be Iranian crude into the Omani Port of Sohar in the month of June. The consignment was loaded via a shipto-ship transfer, with another vessel which had picked up the shipment earlier this year from Iran's Kharg Island.
This cargo was also confirmed by the ship tracking source as having arrived in Sohar.
Sohar Port, Oman's Maritime Security Centre and the Sohar Port did not respond immediately to requests for comments.
Iran has begun to ship crude oil into China's Dalian port in the northeast. This is another new destination.
The port has been flooded with Iranian exports to China which do not recognize U.S. sanctions. This is helping the country maintain its oil imports near record levels.
Dealers and tanker trackers say traders are rebranding Iranian oil bound for China to look like it is from Malaysia, Oman, or the United Arab Emirates.
Homayoun Falikshahi is a senior analyst at Kpler. He said that Iranian oil exports are now at their peak, and they have stabilized around 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) since February. (Reporting from Jonathan Saul and Alex Lawler, with additional reporting from Ruma Paul in Dhaka; Yousef Sabah and Parisa Hafezi, in Dubai. Editing by Tomaszjanowski.)
(source: Reuters)