Latest News
-
Poland intercepts Russian aircraft over Baltic and reports airspace violations from Belarus
Poland sent fighter jets over the Baltic Sea to intercept a Russian reconnaissance aircraft. They also said that dozens of objects had entered overnight from Belarus, warning the incidents could be a sign of provocation. Polish fighter jets intercepted and visually identified a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying near the borders of Polish airspace this morning. They then escorted it out of their area. The Polish army announced on Thursday that a Russian reconnaissance plane was flying near the borders of Polish airspace. Since September, countries on NATO's eastern flank have been on alert for possible airspace incursions. Three Russian military jets violated Estonian airspace for twelve minutes just days after over 20 russian drones entered Polish airspace. The National Security Bureau of Poland said that'several dozen objects' entered Polish airspace from Belarusian territory. Four of the objects discovered to date were likely smuggling smuggling helium balloons. "...the violation of Polish airspace was of a mass scale, it occurred during a special holiday period, and the Russian aircraft activity in the Baltic Sea has been assessed. The Belarusian and Russian embassies at Warsaw have not responded to our requests for comment. Vilnius Airport was closed because of smugglers' balloons that were originating from Belarus. Lithuania claims that the balloons were sent by smugglers who are transporting cigarettes, and they constitute a hybrid attack by Belarus, an ally of Russia. Belarus has denied responsibility. According to the Polish army, a part of the airspace above northeast Poland's Podlaskie area, which borders Belarus was temporarily closed for civilian traffic in order to ensure security. (Reporting and editing by Emelia Sithole Matarise and Howard Goller;
-
Gazprom, a Russian company, will supply 38 billion cubic meters of gas to China through the Power of Siberia Pipeline in 2025
Alexei Miller said that Gazprom, the Russian gas corporation, supplied 38.8 billion cubic meters of gas to China through the Power 'of Siberia' pipeline this year. This is an increase of nearly a fifth compared to the previous year. Miller stated that by the end of 2025, the company will have exceeded its contractual obligations to China in terms of gas supply. Sources familiar with data said on Monday that Russia’s pipeline exports to China of?natural?gas were expected to hit around 38.6-38.7 bcm this year. This is up from 31 bcm by 2024 and exceed the pipeline's annual capacity of about 38 bcm. Miller stated?in October? that the Power of Siberia will supply more than 38 bcm of fuel this year. The Power of Siberia 1 gas pipeline began transporting Russian gas to China late in 2019. Barbara Lewis, Barbara Lewis (Reporting)
-
Five people killed in helicopter crash on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Aviation authority reports
The civil aviation authority reported on Thursday that a helicopter crashed on Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, killing five people. Local media said the aircraft was on an 'emergency medical rescue mission. The Tanzania National Parks issued a statement identifying the victims as a guide, a doctor (both Tanzanians), a pilot from Zimbabwe and two tourists from the Czech Republic. In a press release, the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that a helicopter had crashed on Wednesday near Barafu Camp in the mountains. According to the?Mwananchi and East Africa TV, which cited Kilimanjaro's regional chief of police, the helicopter was on a?medical rescue mission. Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, ?is nearly 6,000 metres (20,000 ?ft) above sea level. Mwananchi said that the crash occurred between?4,670 to 4,700 metres. Kilimanjaro is climbed by around 50,000 tourists each year. (Written by George Obulutsa, edited by Saad sayeed and Emelia Matarise Sithole)
-
Serbia supports negotiations with Hungary's Mol regarding the sale of NIS sanctioned oil company
Serbia is in favor of the talks between the Russians and Hungary's MOL over the sale a majority share in the country's sanctioned NIS Oil Company, reported the Tanjug News Agency on Thursday. Tanjug reported Dubravka Djedovic handanovic saying, "The Hungarian Government supported those talks and we, the government,... will provide support for finding a?solution to remove sanctions." Gazprom, the Russian oil company, holds a stake of 11.3% in?NIS. Its sanctioned unit Gazprom neft has a 44.9% stake. The Serbian Government owns?29.9% of the company, while employees and small shareholders hold the rest. Aleksandar Vucic, the Serbian President, said on Tuesday that MOL is in discussions with Russian shareholders about a possible stake sale. The U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control approved a license for NIS on Wednesday to allow them to sell their Russian stake but not to purchase and process crude oil. In October, the?OFAC sanctioned NIS as part of broader sanctions?against Russia’s energy sector after a series of waivers since January. The sanctions have stopped crude oil supplies via Croatia's JANAF pipe, closing down the NIS refinery located in Pancevo in Serbia, the only facility of its kind in the Balkans.
-
Poland intercepts Russian aircraft over Baltic Sea
The 'NATO member country's army announced on Thursday that Polish jets intercepted an Russian reconnaissance plane flying near its airspace over the 'Baltic Sea. Since September, when three Russian military jets entered Estonian airspace for 12 minutes after over 20 'Russian drones' had violated Polish airspace just days earlier, countries on NATO's east flank have been alert to possible airspace incursions. The army said that, "This morning over the international waters of the Baltic Sea, Polish fighter jets intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying near the borders of Polish airspace, identified it visually, and then escorted them out from their zone. The army claimed responsibility for a Russian reconnaissance plane flying near the border of Polish airspace. The report also stated that objects from Belarus were seen entering Polish airspace at night. The?army stated that "after detailed analysis it was determined?that?these smuggling... balloons were moving according to the wind's?direction and?speed," The?army said that a part of the airspace 'over northeast Poland’s Podlaskie area, which borders Belarus was temporarily closed for civilian traffic in order to ensure security.
-
Due to sanctions, Russia has delayed its LNG production target of 100 millions tons per annum.
The Russian government has delayed by "several" years its plan to achieve a 100 million-ton annual target for liquefied gas production, Alexander Novak, deputy prime minister, told state television on Thursday. He cited the impact of Western sanctions on Russia's energy industry. Sanctions imposed by the United States over the conflict with Ukraine have impacted Russia's plans to increase its share of the global LNG industry from 8% today to a fifth by 2030-2035. This includes the new Arctic LNG 2 facility. According to a recently updated government strategy, Russia will produce 90-105 millions tons of LNG in 2030 and 110-130 millions tons by 2036. "Our target was 100 million tons. Novak, without going into detail, told the Rossiya-24 television station that it was clear sanctions-related restrictions would push this back several years. Novak said that the Russian oil and gas condensate output this year will be roughly unchanged from 2024. It is expected to reach around 516 millions tons or about 10.32 million barrels a day. This is an improvement over the?previous forecast of 1% decline given by President Vladimir Putin last October. In 2024, Russia's LNG output will increase by 5.4% to 34.7 millions tons, which is below the 35.2 million tonnes expected. Qatar is already the dominant supplier of LNG to Asia, but there are also stiff competition from the United States who is expanding their sales into Europe. The delays in the implementation of the Arctic LNG 2 Project, which began production in December 2023, but only delivered a first cargo to Chinese end-users in August this year, highlight Russia's struggle in increasing LNG output. Murmansk LNG is also facing delays. It's slated to be Russia's biggest LNG plant with a production of up to 20.4 million tonnes per year. (Reporting and editing by Gleb Brianski, Kirsten Doovan; Oksana Kobieva and Vladimir Soldatkin)
-
Vingroup, Vietnam's bidder for the $67 billion North-South high speed railway, withdraws its bid
Vingroup, Vietnam's largest conglomerate said it would withdraw its proposal to invest $67 billion in the North-South high speed railway project of Vietnam, and instead focus on other projects. Vingroup said that the decision to register, which was "submitted" in May, was made after a reassessment was done of the company's resources following the awarding of major national projects including a stadium with Olympic standards and rail lines linking key locations. Vingroup shares and those of its units (including?developers Vinhomes, Vincom Retail and Vinpearl) fell by 7%, while hospitality company Vinpearl dropped 3%. This announcement dragged the benchmark index to a decline of 2.24%. Vinspeed, founded by Vingroup Chairman Pham Nhat Vuong in May, submitted a bid to build the 1,540-km (958-mile) railway connecting Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Vinspeed promised to fund 20% of the project, while seeking an 80% loan from the state at zero-interest over a 35-year period. The central bank was concerned about Vingroup's high level of leverage and its lack of expertise in rail infrastructure. It warned that the loan request, and the required guarantees, could be a risk to the banking stability. According to a?May 19, opinion, the proposal would require "special state guarantee." The Finance Ministry also cited the proposal's zero-interest rates and 30-year repayment schedule with servicing only at maturity as "equivalent" to a government subsidy which could affect Vietnam's credit rating. Investors such as THACO (auto industry company), Vietnam Railways, and Vietnam Investment and Development Group, in addition to Vingroup have expressed interest in the project. Vingroup stated that its withdrawal from the project would not impede its progress, and would enable the company to concentrate on other large-scale projects. The winner of the North-South Railway will be announced by the government in January.
-
Heavy rains in Southern California cause flash flooding and mud slides
On Wednesday, torrential rains caused flash flooding and mud slides across Southern California. Authorities warned drivers to stay off the roads while urging those in flood zones either to evacuate or to shelter in place. Christopher Prater, spokesperson for the San Bernardino County Fire Department, said that emergency crews were busy answering rescue calls in the mountain resort of Wrightwood east of Los Angeles. They also pulled drivers from submerged cars. According to Prater, no casualties had been reported by Wednesday night. The fire department posted aerial video footage online showing rivers of mud flowing through flooded cabin neighborhoods. The latest atmospheric storm in the region, a huge airborne current of "dense" moisture that was swept from the Pacific and into the greater Los Angeles area, caused downpours of up to?inch (2.54cm) of rain per hour. According to the U.S. National Weather Service, the storm that began on Christmas Eve was expected to continue into Friday. This would create unsafe driving conditions in a period of travel which is normally busy during holidays. The weather service warned that "widespread flash flooding" was expected to occur in Southern California on Christmas Day. The flash flood warning was displayed across Los Angeles County up until 6 pm PST. It warned motorists to avoid the area if they were not fleeing it, or if there was an evacuation order. Los Angeles officials have urged residents in the area where wildfires last year ravaged?Pacific Palisades to obey evacuation orders for 130 homes deemed especially vulnerable to debris flows and mudslides. San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department had issued an evacuation order for Wrightwood in the morning, but the advisory was upgraded to a shelter in place order as the flood conditions worsened. Flooding forced the closure of two sections of the Angeles Crest Highway (a major traffic route in San Gabriel Mountains). The heavy rain on Wednesday was accompanied with strong winds, which officials claimed were responsible for the downing of trees and powerlines. The storm was predicted to bring heavy snowfall in the Sierra Mountains' upper elevations. NWS meteorologist Ariel Cohen said that 4 to 8 inches had fallen on some foothill areas as of 9 a.m. Los Angeles City News Service and PST reported many rockslides. Forecasts predicted that more than one foot (30.48cm) of rain would fall over certain lower-terrain mountain regions by the end of this week. A rare tornado warning was issued for a small area of the east-central Los Angeles County, due to thunderstorm activity in Alhambra. Forecasters say that the rain in the area has subsided as of Wednesday night. However, a second storm system is expected to arrive on Thursday.
The long journey of the Nord Stream gas pipeline to Europe
The United States' push to end the conflict in Ukraine has raised concerns about how European companies could re-engage Moscow and return to the Russian markets, including by resuming natural gas supplies.
Nord Stream, which crosses the Baltic Sea and flows into Germany, is the largest route.
Here is a look into the idea of resuming Nord Stream:
What is the NORD STREAM PIPELELINE?
Nord Stream is actually two double pipelines that can deliver 110 billion cubic meters (bcm), or enough gas to supply 26 million homes, to Europe every year.
Nord Stream 2 was completed in 2021 but has never been granted an operating permit.
The project, which was controlled by Russian gas company Gazprom, also had the backing of large Western energy companies, including Shell, E.ON Uniper, Engie, OMV, and Wintershall Dea (now owned by Harbour Energy).
What happened when explosions hit the pipeline?
The damage caused by the explosions that occurred in September 2022 is a major obstacle to resuming supplies via Nord Stream.
Damage was sustained to both pipes of the first pair and one pipe of the second pair. One line was left intact. The cause of the damage is still unknown. Some Western officials suggested that Moscow had blown up its own pipes, but Vladimir Putin dismissed this idea as "idiotic".
Russia has accused the United States of being responsible for the explosions. These countries have denied any involvement.
According to estimates, the broken line of NS2 still contains approximately 9-10 millions cubic metres of gas while the intact line is still filled with gas.
What are NORD STREAM's financial problems?
Second pair of pipes is also facing financial problems, as operator Nord Stream 2 AG - a unit of Russia’s Gazprom - faces pressure from its creditors to pay.
A Swiss court has set a deadline of May 9 for Switzerland-headquartered NS2 AG to both restructure its debts and pay back its small-scale creditors, adding it could declare it bankrupt if this condition was not met.
In January, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that the possible bankruptcy or sale of NS2 AG amounted to "theft".
NS2 AG was not available for comment.
Gazprom has not responded to a comment request
What is the status of legal cases?
There are several arbitration cases against Gazprom relating to disruptions in its gas supply.
Cederic Crémers, executive vice-president of integrated gas at Shell – one of the financial supporters of the NS2 pipe – said that these cases must be resolved before considering a restart. And even then, the question remains whether Europe wants to continue its dependence on Russian natural gas.
In December, under the then-President Joe Biden, the U.S. Administration issued additional sanctions against entities based in Russia for their involvement in NS2, which included its operator and a Russian insurance company that provided coverage to companies involved in this project.
WOULD EUROPE WANT to buy Russian gas again?
The reopening of Nord Stream may be complicated by the fact that Europe is no longer interested in Russian energy since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and annexed Crimea in 2014.
The European Commission delayed its announcement of a plan for the EU to reduce its reliance on Russian Energy. However, the Commission said that NS2 was not a project in the common interest nor did it diversify EU energy sources.
Germany, Europe's largest gas buyer, has recently stated that it is not in negotiations with Moscow about gas supplies.
The majority of European countries are seeking alternative sources, including increasing the importation of liquefied gas (LNG), from the United States, Africa, and the Middle East, as well as taking on more pipeline imports, such from Norway and Algeria. They also increase renewable energy production. (Reporting from Frankfurt by Christoph Steitz and Nina Chestney; Additional reporting from Ariane Luthi, Kate Abnett and Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Jason Neely & Susan Fenton).
(source: Reuters)