Latest News
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Kremlin: It's 'highly probable' that Ukraine planted explosives in the vicinity of a gas pipeline bound for Hungary
The Kremlin said on Monday that although there was not conclusive proof, it was "highly probable" that evidence would be found that 'Ukraine planted explosives near a pipeline in Serbia that carries Russian gas into Hungary. Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister who is facing a tough reelection campaign on Sunday, convened a?emergency defense council' on Sunday following explosives found near the TurkStream pipeline in Serbia. Orban claimed that Ukraine has been trying to cut Europe off from Russian oil for years, but he did not directly blame Kyiv. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry rejected any attempt to?link it with the?explosive. "The situation could be very dangerous." It is a vital energy channel that is under severe strain. As we all know, the Kyiv government was directly involved with such "acts of sabotage" against critical energy infrastructure prior to this. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov informed reporters. He added that it was highly likely that signs of Kyiv's involvement would?be discovered?this time as well, and said Moscow hoped Budapest and Belgrade will act to minimise the threat. "We hope that during recent talks (Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy) held in Ankara the head of 'the Kyiv regime' was made aware if such aggressive actions against infrastructure of South Stream and Blue Stream pipes are unacceptable". Reporting by Dmitry Antonov, Writing by Anna Peverieri, Editing by Andrew Osborn
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Ship-tracking data indicates that Qatar LNG vessels with cargoes of LNG are retreating after approaching the Strait of Hormuz.
Ship-tracking data revealed that two LNG-laden vessels from Ras 'Laffan in Qatar turned around after moving?eastward toward the Strait of Hormuz. If the vessels had successfully crossed the strait, it would have been first transit of LNG cargoes along the waterway after the U.S. Israel war with Iran began February 28. The data from Kpler and LSEG shows that the Al Daayen tanker and?Rasheeda vessel loaded their cargoes at the end of February. Data also showed that the tanker?Al Daayen was currently signaling for China. Also, Kpler data showed that both tanks were controlled by QatarEnergy. QatarEnergy has not responded to an immediate request for comment. A Japanese LNG tanker named Sohar LNG had previously managed to cross the strait. Lines announced on Friday. Lines said on Friday. The U.S. and Israel have been attacking Iran for more than five weeks. This war has caused thousands of deaths and has damaged economies through the increase in oil prices. Tanker traffic along the Strait of Hormuz has also been slowed by the fighting and retaliatory strikes on this route, which carries a fifth of the global oil and LNG flows. Qatar is the second largest LNG exporter in the world, with most of its shipments going to Asian buyers. The Iranian attacks have knocked out 17% of Qatar's LNG?capacity. Repairs are expected to take three to five more years to complete.
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Official: Senior Russian commander killed by March air crash
According to a senior official quoted by Russian media, a senior Russian air force officer?was killed in a crash of a military transport aircraft last week that?killed 30 people. The crash killed Alexander Otroshchenko who was the commander of the 45th Army of the Northern Fleet Air Force and Air Defence. An-26 military transportation plane crashed on March 31,?into the cliff of Crimea. The Russian Defence Ministry announced shortly after that the initial cause of the crash was a technical malfunction. The An-26 is a model that has been in service since the 1960s. It has been used to transport freight by airlines, but it has also been involved in several deadly crashes during the past decade. One person was killed when a Ukrainian An-26 aircraft crashed in the Zaporizhzhia region of Ukraine in 2022. In 2020, a?training?flight was lost in the?northeast Ukraine. All but one person on board died. In 2020, eight people, including five Russians?were killed in a crash of an An-26 in South Sudan. In 2017, four?of the 10 people onboard?were fatally injured when an An-26 crashed in Ivory Coast, West Africa. Reporting by Felix Light. Writing by Andrew Cawthorne. Editing by Andrew Cawthorne.
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AirAsia X is committed to opening Bahrain hub despite Middle East Conflict
'Budget carrier AirAsia X' said on Monday it remained committed to opening a planned Bahrain hub in 'June. However, the airline’s?chief exec was non-committal about if?the plans will go ahead if?the Middle East conflict continues. AirAsia X announced in February that it would resume flights between Kuala Lumpur and London via its Bahrain hub. This was the airline's first flight outside Asia. Services were due to start on June 26. This announcement was made before the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes against Iran that took place later in the month. These airstrikes disrupted air travel across the Middle East and many airlines cancelled routes to avoid the airspace. Bo Lingam, AirAsia's X chief executive, told a news conference that the Bahrain service will definitely be offered if the conflict ends before June. However he declined to confirm if they would continue in the event of a prolonged conflict. When asked if AirAsia?X would explore alternative routes to Europe via existing flights in Turkey, he replied, "Anything is possible." Jet fuel prices have soared during the conflict and the airline, which took over the short-haul business in January from its former parent Capital A, has been?hit hard. Bo stated that fuel shortages in Asia led to some countries - including Thailand and Vietnam - limiting plane refuelling. Tony Fernandes, a Capital A CEO and AirAsiaX co-founder, said that the airline would need to increase fares in areas where it cannot cover fuel costs. Jet?fuel is now up to $300 a barrel in certain markets. Fernandes, however, said that demand for flights was still 'high' and he felt confident that?the airline will return stronger once the crisis is over. Fuel surcharges have been raised by around 20% and fares increased between 31% to 40%.
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Russia claims to have shot down 148 Ukrainian drones within three hours
The Russian military announced early Monday morning that its air defence units had shot down 148 Ukrainian drones in a period of three hours. Officials also said that emergency crews were working to restore power to nearly half a million households who suffered outages due air attacks. A drone struck an apartment in the Russian Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk on Sunday evening. The drone also killed a volunteer for civil defence in Russia's border area of Belgorod. According to a?statement from the Russian Defence Ministry, air defence units intercepted between 8 and 11 pm 148 'drones', mainly in the central and southern regions of the country. Sundasy (1700-2100 GMT). Andrei Kravchenko said that?drone debris struck a high rise apartment building. No word yet on the number of casualties. The governor of Sevastopol, a port city in Crimea that was seized by Russia and annexed 10 years ago, said four drones had attacked his city throughout the day. Seven drones have been?struck down in the latest wave. Andrei Chertkov said that in the Russian-occupied Donetsk Region?in eastern Ukraine, repair crews have restored power to two major cities: Donetsk & Makiivka?after Ukrainian assaults on energy infrastructure. Chertkov said earlier that a half-million households were left without electricity. The work was still being done in areas that were still without electricity. Crews also restored power in areas held by Russia of the Zaporizhzhia Region. (Reporting and editing by Cynthia Osterman).
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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)
How Iranian oil link could complicate insurance claims after tankers clash off Singapore
An accident between 2 tankers off Singapore in July raises questions over insurance coverage claims, as one of the vessels formerly delivered Iranian oil, possibly complicating payments due to Western sanctions, shiptrackers and industry sources state.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Singapore-flagged Hafnia Nile and the Sao Tome and Principe-flagged Ceres I clashed and caught fire about 55 km ( 35 miles) northeast of the Singaporean island of Pedra Branca on July 19.
No oil spill has actually been detected, only a sheen thought to be from damage to the Hafnia Nile's bunker tank, Malaysia's Marine Department said.
The vessel, which was bring a cargo of naphtha, suffered engine damage and was secured by tugs at the crash site.
On Thursday, ship supervisor Hafnia said that an oil boom has been released at the stern of the ship and around the damaged area, and 2 tugboats are distributing the light oil shine.
Hafnia stated it was dealing with Malaysian and Singaporean authorities to finalise a towage strategy.
WHAT'S THE IRANIAN OIL CONNECTION?
The Ceres I had no cargo at the time of the mishap.
Nevertheless, ship information from providers including LSEG and Kpler reveal the tanker brought Iranian crude in the past.
Ceres I last crammed Iranian oil by means of transfer with an Iranian tanker in March off the nation's Kharg terminal, consequently transferring the cargo to two tankers around the Malacca Strait in between April 7-9, said Claire Jungman, chief of personnel at advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran, which tracks Iran-related tanker traffic through satellite information.
That cargo reached China on May 29, Jungman said.
Ceres I packed Iranian oil at least 4 times considering that 2019, transferring 8 million barrels, according to analysis by Jungman. The vessel also made four journeys carrying Venezuelan oil in between 2021 and 2023 amounting to 7.5 million barrels, she stated.
The China-based owner of the Ceres I noted in shipping databases could not be grabbed comment.
China, the biggest purchaser of Iranian crude, says it opposes unilateral sanctions, but traders rebrand Iranian oil predestined for the country as stemming somewhere else, such as Malaysia, Oman or the United Arab Emirates, tanker trackers and traders state. Chinese customs have actually not reported any imports of Iranian oil because June 2022.
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT THIS SITUATION?
This is thought to be the very first such collision in current years including a vessel that is part of the so-called shadow fleet of tankers transferring oil cargoes that are subject to Western sanctions, insurance professionals stated. Federal government and market authorities have raised issues over threats posed by the growing shadow fleet.
The current accident in between Hafnia Nile and Ceres I marks a dangerous precedent, said Jonathan Moss, head of transportation with law office DWF and an insurance coverage claims professional.
Neither vessel nor owners are designated (by Western sanctions), nevertheless, if the Ceres I was or had in the past been carrying Iranian crude, their insurance companies might have factor to decrease cover or may require to inform the authorities of a. possible sanctions breach, he said.
WHAT INSURANCE COVERAGE REMAINS IN LOCATION?
Ships typically have protection and indemnity (P&I). insurance coverage, which covers third-party liability claims consisting of. environmental damage and injury. Separate hull and equipment. policies cover vessels versus physical damage.
The Hafnia Nile is covered by Norwegian P&I insurer Gard,. one of the top 12 such companies covering around 90% of the. world's ocean-going ships.
Gard stated it was actively supporting its member BW Group,. which runs the Hafnia Nile, decreasing to provide specifics.
Normally, a P&I club that belongs to a worldwide group. of the 12 biggest business in the sector covers the first $10. million of P&I losses, with members mutually reinsuring each. other by sharing claims above $10 million to $100 million. The. group holds reinsurance conceal to $3.1 billion.
A person familiar with the matter stated the Ceres I has P&I. protection with a worldwide insurance company that is not amongst the. leading 12 suppliers, and hull and machinery coverage from a. Chinese insurer.
WHAT HAPPENS WITH DECLARES?
Claims in this case could include costs to fix both. vessels, pulling the Hafnia Nile to a dock, time in dock for. repairs and those sustained by the salvage business and pulls as. well as ship surveyors.
Generally, each celebration in a crash advises its own loss. assessor to prepare a report on what took place, establishing. liability and then notify its insurance companies and make a claim.
The claims process itself is typically handled by both. hull and P&I insurers and will last months if not longer.
Liability will be determined by a court, most likely in Asia.
Any claims sent to hull & & machinery, freight and P&I insurance companies. will be complicated by sanctions rules, DWF's Moss stated.
Moss stated if the hull & & machinery or P&I cover had actually been. positioned by insurance providers in the London market or other jurisdictions,. sanctions exclusion provisions could be set off. This could. avoid investigation of the claim including the consultation of. loss assessors, loss adjusters, fire experts and others,. possibly leaving the insured without cover from both direct. insurers or reinsurers, Moss included.
(source: Reuters)