Latest News
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Bloomberg News reports that the Russian Baltic port has resumed crude loading following an attack.
Bloomberg News reported that a major Russian Baltic port, 'Ust-Luga, resumed crude loading after days of disruptions due to multiple Ukrainian drone strikes in the area. Bloomberg's shipping data revealed that The Jewel, Aframax class vessel, started a cargo load on Saturday. In late March, Ukrainian drones attacked Russia's Baltic Sea Port of Ust-Luga for the fifth time in 10 days. Industry sources said that the drones hit crude oil loading stations operated by Russian pipeline monopoly Transneft. The report could not be verified immediately. Transneft didn't immediately respond to a comment request. Last month, calculations based on data from the market showed that at least '40%' of Russia’s oil export capability has been affected by a series of?drone strikes, a disputed strike on a pipeline, and the seizure of tankers. (Reporting and editing by Cynthia Osterman in Bengaluru)
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Charity groups say that ships near Italy have rescued 32 migrants and 71 others who were lost at sea.
Rescue charities reported that two merchant ships near the Italian coast recovered the bodies?of?two migrants?and rescued 32 survivors?from a boat attempting to?cross?to europe from Libya at Easter weekend. The survivors claimed 71 other people were lost at sea. Mediterranea Save Humans and Sea-Watch, two groups that work together to save lives in the Mediterranean, have confirmed the victims' transfer to a patrol boat of the Italian coast guard and their arrival on the Italian island of Lampedusa. The Italian?interior minister said that it did not have any comment to make on the report. The Italian?Coast Guard didn't immediately respond to a request for a comment. Sunday is Easter in Italy. The rescue charities reported that survivors said 105 people were on board the ship, but 71 of them drowned at sea. A video released by Sea-Watch showed a dozen people holding on to a capsized, orange boat when the merchant ship approached it. The 'Mediterranean has been ravaged by bad weather this year. This has limited the number of departures out of North Africa, and caused serious problems for those who have managed to set sail. IOM estimates that at least 683 people have died in the central Mediterranean this year. This is the highest death toll since 2014. (Reporting and Editing by William Maclean, Joshua McElwee and Matteo Negri)
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Trump says he will strike Iran's infrastructure on Tuesday, if the Strait is blocked
In a sarcastic social media post published on Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump said that the United States would target Iran's bridges and power plants on Tuesday if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened. In Iran, Tuesday will be "Power Plant Day" and "Bridge Day", all rolled into one. It will be a first !!!" Trump stated in a "Truth Social" post that Tehran had effectively closed the main shipping lane since the U.S. launched its attacks against Iran over a month ago. Trump concluded his?Easter Morning post by saying: "Praise to Allah." Separately, the president said that he would hold a news conference in the Oval Office on Monday after?the U.S. The?pilots of the?downed aircraft in Iran. (Reporting and editing by Susan Heavey; Dan Burns, Ros Russel)
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Shipping data shows that a tanker loaded with Iraqi crude oil passes through Hormuz.
Data from LSEG/Kpler showed that an oil 'tanker' loaded with Iraqi crude was seen transiting the Strait of Hormuz near the Iranian coast a few days after Iran announced Iraq was exempted from any restrictions on transiting this vital -sea route. Kpler data shows that the Ocean Thunder loaded approximately 1 million barrels of Basrah heavy crude on March 2. It is expected to "discharge" its cargo in Pengerang, Malaysia by mid-April. Iran closed the Strait after U.S. airstrikes and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February escalated a conflict. Later, it said that vessels without U.S. and Israeli connections would be allowed to pass through the strait. In recent days, three Omani tankers, as well as a French-owned container vessel?and a Japanese owned?gas carrier?have crossed.
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Leaders say that explosives were found near a gas pipeline in Serbia that supplies Hungary.
Leaders from Serbia and Hungary said that explosives of "devastating power" were discovered near the Turkstream pipeline in Serbia, which carries Russian gas to Hungary. Hungarian Prime Minster Viktor Orban claimed that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had told him explosives were found near the pipeline transporting Russian gas from the Balkans into Central and Eastern Europe. Vucic, an ally close to Orban, wrote on Instagram that "our units found explosives of devastating power." "I told Orban, the?PM that we would keep you updated on this investigation." Orban, after a phone call with Vucic on Sunday, announced in a post on Facebook that he called an "extraordinary defence council meeting". The incident occurs a week ahead of the pivotal election on April 12, where Orban, a nationalist, is fighting to maintain his 16-year hold on power. His party trails in polls the opposition Tisza Party. Orban had increased security around the energy infrastructure of?the nation in February. He raised the stakes for?the elections by saying that it was a matter of choosing between war and peace. Budapest is also embroiled in a dispute with Ukraine due to a halt in oil deliveries via the Druzhba Pipeline. Orban's Fidesz has tried to link?opposition leader Peter Magyar with Brussels and Ukraine by suggesting that voting for his Tisza Party means voting for war and tanks. (Reporting and writing by Krisztina than; editing by Hugh Lawson, Helen Popper, and Edward McAllister)
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After drone attacks, a fuel reservoir was hit in Primorsk. The NORSI refinery is on fire.
Russian authorities reported that a drone attack caused fuel to leak at the port of Primorsk in Russia's Baltic Sea, and an oil refinery called?NORSI? caught fire after a drone strike. Ukraine intensified its attacks against Russian energy infrastructure over the last month to damage Russia's main source of revenue, and undermine its military power. Alexander Drozdenko, the governor of Leningrad's north-western?region, initially claimed that a pipeline had been damaged in Primorsk. Primorsk is one of Russia’s major oil exporting ports. Later, he said on Telegram that the pipeline wasn't damaged but the fuel reservoir near the port was leaking when it was struck by shrapnel. U.S. commercial images of satellites taken by on Thursday showed that the drone attack in Ukraine last month destroyed at least 40% of Primorsk's storage facilities, which are capable of handling 1 million barrels of oil per day. Around 40% of Russia's ability to export oil was shut down last month due to the attacks and the closing of the Druzhba Pipeline in Ukraine. Also, tankers with a Russian connection were seized. OIL REFINERY ON FIRE Gleb Nikitin (the Governor of Nizhny Novgorod Region) said on Telegram on Sunday that a fire broke out at Russia's NORSI Oil Refinery, the fourth largest in the country, after a drone strike. He added that two facilities were also?hit. According to initial information, a "power station" and "several houses" were damaged in the attack. However, no one was injured. NORSI can process up to 16 million metric tons of oil a year or 320,000 barrels a day. Andrey Kravchenko is the mayor of Novorossiysk, Russia's biggest?port along the Black Sea. He said that an air alert had been triggered due to the drone attack threat. During such alerts, oil loadings are typically suspended, including at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal that handles Kazakhstan's oil exports. Kevin Buckland, Hugh Lawson and Kevin Buckland edited the report.
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Sheriff's Office: Vehicle crashes into Louisiana crowd injuring 15 at least
Law enforcement officials reported that a car slammed into crowd in New Iberia (Louisiana) on Saturday. Some of the injuries were critical. Rebecca Melancon, spokesperson for the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office, said that a suspect was arrested and an investigation is?ongoing' following the incident. The incident occurred near a celebration of 'Lao New Year'. She said it was not clear whether the incident in the car was intentional. Acadian Ambulance announced on social media that it transported 13 people to hospital. The ambulance service posted on X that two of the 13 people were airlifted. The Louisiana Lao New Year Festival organizers announced on Facebook that they were canceling Saturday night's concerts as well as the alcohol sales. The organizers posted on Facebook: "We're?deeply saddened" by the news about the?incident that occurred near the festival grounds. "We are pleading for the?victims and their families in this difficult time." This three-day festival, held every Easter weekend, includes live music and a parade as well as other activities celebrating the Lao new year. Noel Randewich reported from San Francisco, Sergio Non edited by Matthew Lewis and Matthew Lewis.
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Chelsea tries to turn the corner after Port Vale's 7-0 FA Cup defeat
Chelsea is hoping Saturday's 7-1 thrashing over Port Vale, in the FA Cup quarterfinals, will?draw a line under the dismal.run of form and the internal turmoil that threatened to?ruin their season. Chelsea's coach Liam Rosenior announced on Friday that Enzo Fernandez, the club's vice captain and record-breaking signing, would be suspended from playing for two matches after suggesting he may leave. Chelsea has been in a state of crisis ever since they were beaten 8-2 on aggregate by European champions Paris St Germain in the Champions League and suffered domestic league losses to?Newcastle United & Everton in a fraught 10-day period in March. The goal-fest on Saturday, despite being against Port Vale who are likely to be relegated into the fourth division of English football in the near future, at least brought smiles to Chelsea's fans and players. Rosenior said to reporters that "when you 'go through a difficult time, like we did during that 10-day period... you come out stronger, and you know what you want to fix," he explained. Rosenior said that the recent international break, and the big win on Saturday could help lift his mood after he had been thrown into a busy?schedule in January when Enzo Maresca unexpectedly left Stamford Bridge. Rosenior stated, "I have a group who believe as I do that we can still have an outstanding year in terms winning the FA Cup and qualifying for Champions League." Rosenior, when asked about Fernandez’s reaction to the suspension of his player, said that it was "brilliant", to see him in attendance at Saturday’s match. Next Sunday, in the Premier League, Chelsea will face a tougher test. They will host Manchester City in second place. Both teams will be chasing the table-toppers Arsenal. Fernandez is still absent. Chelsea hadn't scored a goal in more than 300 minutes in any competition before Saturday, but the Dutch defender Jorrel hato put them in front after Port Vale failed to clear a set-piece. Brazil striker Joao Peter misled his marker with an ingenious dummy, before making it to 2-0. The Blues went 3-0 ahead before the half when Port Vale’s Jordan Lawrence Gabriel deflected Cole Palmer's shot into his own goal. Tosin Adarabioyo, Andrey Santos and Tosin Adarabioyo scored goals with their heads in the eighth minute. Brazil's Estevao then reacted quickly to an Alejandro Garnacho effort that had hit the post. The rout was halted by a late Garnacho penalty. Port Vale's fans, despite the fact that they failed to score a single goal in the game, took over Stamford Bridge's Shed End. (Writing and editing by Andrew Cawthorne; William Schomberg)
China clears memorial to mass killing victims as federal government scrambles to react
Authorities in the southern Chinese city of Zhuhai got rid of wreaths, candles and even bottles of Chinese alcohol laid at the scene of the most dangerous mass killing in the country in a decade, as the federal government rushed to react and censor the outrage online.
On Monday, a male driver mad at his divorce settlement rammed his vehicle into a crowd at a sports centre in the city of 2.5 million, eliminating 35 people and hurting 43, however the federal government took almost a day to reveal the death toll.
This triggered an outrage on Chinese social networks, where posts grumbling about the federal government's sluggish reaction and raising questions about the mental health of a country shaken by a current wave of comparable killings, were being rapidly eliminated.
Despite the efforts to clear the website in Zhuhai, which is near Macau, shipment motorists on motor-bikes kept dropping off fresh flowers on Wednesday morning, even as authorities erected momentary barriers around the makeshift vigil location and released security workers.
The authorities had not launched any information - some coworkers mentioned it and I could not think it at first, however it was validated later on, said a 50-year-old man who determined himself as Zheng who brought flowers to the website.
It's just a spontaneous sensation I had. Although I do not. understand them personally, I had member of the family who passed away in. the past, so I comprehend that feeling, said Zheng.
Some wreaths brought handwritten notes: Strangers travel. well. May there be no demons in paradise, checked out one. On another:. May there be no punks in paradise. Great will accomplishment over evil. Rest in peace.
After at first permitting reporters to briefly speak to the. individuals laying the flowers, a handful of security workers. sporting light blue uniforms and caps informed reporters not to talk. to individuals or to movie particular messages on the arrangements.
The attack occurred as Zhuhai recorded China's attention. with individuals's Freedom Army's largest annual airshow,. where a new stealth jet fighter is on display screen for the very first. time.
China's state broadcaster CCTV did not discuss the attack in. its 30-minute midday news. Rather, the program led. with President Xi Jinping's departure for the APEC summit in. Peru and devoted a portion of the airtime to the airshow.
Other state media, such as China Daily's Chinese language. website, also plainly displayed the news of Xi's upcoming. see to Peru. The existing affairs part of China Daily's site. and the city page did not point out the event either.
Numerous rescue workers were deployed to offer. emergency treatment, and more than 300 healthcare employees from. 5 hospitals worked around the clock to save lives, state. media's Beijing Daily reported on Tuesday.
There was no indicator that the attack was related to the. airshow. However it was the second such incident to take place throughout the. Zhuhai airshow: in 2008, a minimum of 4 people were killed and 20. hurt when a man drove a truck into a crowded schoolyard. during the airshow. Cops stated that attacker had actually been looking for. vengeance over a traffic disagreement.
Xi, cited by CCTV on Tuesday, purchased full-scale efforts to. deal with the injured and required extreme punishment for the. criminal. The main government has actually dispatched a group to. offer guidance on handling of the case, CCTV stated.
Violent crime is unusual in China due to tight security and. strict gun laws. However, a rise in reports of knife attacks in. large cities has actually drawn spotlight to safety in public. spaces.
The most dangerous attack Reuters had the ability to recognize in recent. years in China happened in Urumqi, in China's western Xinjiang. region, in 2014, in which suicide bombers killed 39 individuals and. 4 of the 5 assailants also died.
(source: Reuters)