Latest News
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Agency reports that 243 passengers from an Indonesian passenger ship have been reported missing at sea.
The Indonesian search and rescue agency reported that a passenger ship carrying 243 passengers was reported as'missing' after it lost contact in the Java Sea during bad weather early Sunday morning. The 'Virgo Transport 8' ship left the East Java town of Surabaya on Saturday for the South Kalimantan City of Banjarmasin, but lost contact. The agency stated that "at the time of this statement, it is not possible to contact the ship and its location is unknown." The agency said that rescuers had launched a search and sent a team to its last-known position. Indonesia is an archipelago consisting of over 17,000 islands. It relies heavily on ferries for transportation. Sea routes are more affordable and accessible than air travel. Safety?standards may not be?always strictly enforced, leading to a high accident rate.
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The PM's Office says that one person has died and more than 30 people are missing after a Vanuatu Ferry sinks.
In a statement, the office of Prime Minister Jotham Napat said that at least one person had been confirmed dead and more than 30 others were missing after a boat sank near Vanuatu. The statement on Facebook said that search and rescue operations are continuing in the Pacific Island Nation located approximately 1,750 km (1.090 miles east of Australia) after the MV Matui with its crew and passengers went down. It added that 15 of them were alive. RNZ, the public broadcaster of New Zealand, reported that search efforts had begun since Friday's inter-island?ferry sank between the islands Ambae and Santo in bad weather. The Napat office stated that the search was "being eased while efforts are being moved towards a search along South-East coast where currents could have carried survivors". The statement said that "this loss appears to be the result of not heeding marine warnings and strong winds, as well as possible negligence including overloading the vessel." "We pray for the strength and recovery of those who survived." "Please know that we stand with the families of the'missing' and those who have died," it added. The Vanuatu Police, the Vanuatu Maritime Safety Authority, and the 'ferry operator Tui Shipping Agency did not respond immediately to comments.
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Hyundai Motor will roll out a driver-assist technology in-house in 2029
Hyundai Motor Group plans to launch its driver-assistance technology in late 2029. This is two years later than originally planned. Hyundai executives said that the South Korean automaker would 'partner with U.S. Chipmaker to 'roll out advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in 2028. These are known as ADAS Level 2+ or Level 2++. This shift highlights the difficulties Hyundai faces in developing its own automated driving software, originally scheduled for a debut in late-2027, and raises concerns about its growing reliance on Nvidia. This delay has fueled fears that Tesla and Chinese competitors could catch up to the automaker in the race for commercialising vehicle autonomy. Park Min-woo said at a press briefing that the partnership between Hyundai Motor Group and Nvidia does not mean "leaving our fate entirely in their hand". Park?said Hyundai would co-design the tech with Nvidia, and use data from the system for training and refining its own software?platform dubbed Atria. Park, an ex-Nvidia executive, joined Hyundai in January and has spearheaded the automaker’s deeper ties with the chipmaker. His strategy is a departure from his predecessor Song Chang-hyeon's, who concentrated heavily on internal software before his abrupt December departure. Park stated that Hyundai vehicles powered by Nvidia’s Hyperion 10 will initially forgo expensive lidar sensor in favor of cameras, ultrasonic and radar sensors. Hyundai, however, is looking at lidar to be used with its Level 3 automated driving systems that allow for hands-free driving in certain conditions. Park did not provide a timeframe for commercialisation of Level?3. Park stated that Hyundai and its?affiliate Kia Corp., which are the third largest automakers in the world with sales of more than 7 million cars annually, will use their global fleet to collect data for training their autonomous driving technology. Hyundai expects to surpass its competitors in terms of accumulated driving data before 2033. Hyundai Motor Group has deepened its collaboration with Nvidia in autonomous driving, artificial Intelligence?datacenters and humanoid robotics developed by Hyundai owned Boston Dynamics. Level 2+ systems are more capable on the highway, while "Level 2++ systems can handle more complicated urban driving, similar Tesla's Full Self Driving system. Both require driver supervision.
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Nine Russians are killed and dozens injured in Ukraine by Russian attacks. Moscow claims it hit ships, plants
Officials have confirmed that Russian air strikes on Saturday in various Ukrainian regions killed nine people and injured dozens. They also damaged residential buildings and infrastructure throughout the country. In the last two months, civilian deaths in Ukraine have risen dramatically as Russia intensifies its attacks on power stations and other infrastructure. Ukraine has attacked energy facilities and storage warehouses in remote parts of Russia, and both sides have targeted shipping. According to the city council of Kramatorsk, a Ukrainian "fortress city" on Ukraine's frontline that Russia is trying to capture, Russian forces have attacked and killed three private cars in three separate incidents in a 90 minute period. Four people were injured. The council stated that "these are not military targets." The council said, "They are just ordinary civilian cars." "People were going about their businesses." Vitaliy Bunechko is the governor of Ukraine's Zhytomyr Region west of Kyiv. He said that a Russian attack on an grocery store in Zvyahel killed two people. He said that two petrol stations and an "unidentified enterprise with foreign investment" were also attacked. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the president of Ukraine, had earlier reported that attacks were taking place in Zaporizhzhia (a city located in the south-east) and his hometown of Kryvyi Rih. Ivan Fedorov is the governor of Zaporizhzhia Region. He said that two people died and eleven were injured in "assaults" on Zaporizhzhia. Oleksandr Vikul, the head of Kryvyi Rih’s military administration, confirmed that two people were killed overnight in attacks by drones and rockets on the city. The Russian military claimed that its forces had attacked Ukrainian steelmaker Zaporizhstal, located in Zaporizhzhia. They also said they hit an Interpipe Steel facility in Dnipro, and several plants at Kryvyi Rih including the Northern Iron Ore Benefit Works Complex. It was impossible to independently verify the accounts of either side. Oleh Kiper, the Governor of Odesa Region said that 37 people including an infant had been injured during a series overnight attacks. Two people are missing. RUSSIAN STRikes on UKRAINIAN Port The Russian Defence Ministry stated that Moscow's forces have continued their strikes against Ukrainian ports. It said that a cargo vessel in Odesa was being used to transport military goods. The ministry announced earlier in the day that its forces had?struck two cargo ships?overnight at the Black Sea Port of Chornomorsk. Ukraine's military claimed it had caused a fire at one of Russia's biggest synthetic rubber producers, Togliatti, in the Samara area. It said that the?Togliattikauchuk factory specialised in producing synthetic rubbers and fuel add-ons used in fuel for Russian missiles. Interfax reported that Russian regional governor Vyacheslav Federishchev claimed that Ukrainian drones had attacked industrial facilities in the Samara region, but did not specify which ones or if they had been damaged. Ilya Sukhikh said that several residential buildings had been damaged, and one person injured. Svetlana Kambulova, the local mayor, told TASS that four commercial properties in Taganrog, in the Rostov Region, were also set ablaze.
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Brussels airport traffic disrupted on Friday evening following drone sighting
The traffic at Brussels Airport was disrupted on Friday night for a half-hour after a drone was spotted. Kurt Verwilgen, a spokesperson for the airport, said that the 'drone procedure' was initiated, and includes an interruption of traffic on the runway up to 30 minutes after the last sighting. He refused to "give any details" on the type of drone or how many flights it diverted. He added that the drone vanished after the sightings. After a series of?attacks on civilian airports, military bases, and a nuclear plant, the Belgian authorities purchased defensive kamikazes in November. Belgian officials said at the time that the incursions "bore the hallmark of" Russian interference while acknowledging they had no proof. Russia denied any involvement.
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The death toll from the fire on a Philippine ferry has risen to 76, as rescuers continue to recover more remains
Rescuers in the Philippines recovered another 41 charred remains following a ferry fire. The death toll now stands at 76, and 13 people are still unaccounted for. Forensic teams face the difficult task of identifying victims. The painstaking task had already started after 30 bodies were recovered on Friday and brought to Coron Town, where tents were set-up for forensic teams who would process and identify the deceased. As anxious relatives waited for the news, responders wearing protective suits carried black body bags into tents. Anelyn, 37, was one of those victims. Her husband, who was visiting their children in Manila, was returning to Coron when the ferry caught fire near the end. It was carrying over 130 passengers. "I hope that he's not one of the dead brought off the ship." She said, "I hope he's alive and has just drifted off to another island." She said, "It'll be difficult to accept that he is really gone." "He loved his?very children." The first firefighters entered the ferry on Friday, after putting out the fire more than a week after it started. This allowed authorities to access areas that were hard to reach due to thick smoke and extreme temperatures. Burnt remains were found in the economy section of the ferry, according to Coast Guard. The Coast Guard released images that showed the extent of the damage inside the vessel. Rows of steel bed frames were twisted and covered in ash by the intense heat. Several photographs appear to show skeletal remnants among the debris. At a Saturday press conference, Geronimo Tuvilla of the Philippine Coast Guard said that the first priority was to identify victims and determine what caused the fire. According to a statement from the Maritime Industry Authority, which cited the accounts of survivors, two explosions could be heard on board the ship shortly before it caught fire. GMA News interviewed a survivor who recalled a small amount of smoke which quickly turned into fire. The fire spread throughout the ferry in seconds. The fate of the captain of the vessel remained a mystery. At the same press conference, Coast Guard spokesperson Noemie Cayabyab stated that she received information that the captain was alive. However, the name of the captain was not included on the 43 'confirmed survivors. This is just the latest in a series of maritime accidents that have killed people in the Philippines. The archipelago has more than 7,600 island where millions of people rely on small boats and ferries to travel from provinces and islands.
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The Houthi's advance in Yemen has put the U.S. into a new situation
The Houthis, who are aligned with Iran, have launched a lightning-fast offensive that has placed them in a position to control an important Middle East waterway. This is a new and major problem for U.S. president Donald Trump while his war against Iran continues in its seventh month. Houthi fighters are advancing south along Yemen's coastline, increasing their 'ability' to choke off Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the "Gate of Tears", at the mouth of 'Red Sea, giving Tehran the potential to gain leverage over both of region's major oil-shipping routes. On Friday, militants reached Perim island in the middle strait connecting Yemen with Africa. This is bad news to Saudi Arabia. The country has been shipping most of its oil through Red Sea ports, since the war closed the Strait of Hormuz on the other side of Arabian Peninsula. This comes at a particularly difficult time for Trump who is already struggling with record low approval ratings, and looking for a solution to the conflict. Most recently, he announced an economic pressure campaign aimed at forcing concessions from Iran’s government. The conflict has led to high gasoline prices in the United States, which have weakened the Republican Party's chances at keeping control of Congress during the midterm elections of November. Iran is 'defiant' despite its economic and military losses. Stephen Wertheim is a senior fellow with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He said that Trump had adopted a strategy to squeeze Iran's economic system while maintaining military conflict levels at a level too low for it to affect American economies. The Houthis have destroyed?Trump’s plan. Joining the fight is dangerous The U.S. government can't afford for the Houthis to close the Strait, which would drive up energy prices and disrupt global trade. It would be a dangerous mission to send the U.S. military, already overstretched by the war in Iran, into a battle with a foe who has resisted previous attacks from Saudi Arabia and the U.S. Three sources say that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, the de facto ruler in Saudi Arabia, called Trump on Thursday to ask for U.S. military assistance against the Houthis. The sources say that he was told Washington wouldn't intervene directly at this time but would provide intelligence. Trump confirmed Saturday that he spoke to the crown prince and claimed the Houthis also called his administration to ask Washington to refrain from getting directly involved in this conflict. Senior Trump?administration officials declined to answer specific questions but stated that the U.S.?is focusing on national security concerns such as ensuring the freedom of navigation in Red Sea, "while empowering regional partners to manage and resolve regional security challenges". Saudi Arabia, Iran and Houthis all declined to comment on a request. Iran's Foreign Ministry said in a Thursday statement that the Yemen conflict cannot be resolved by a blockade or a military action against Houthis. It called for dialogue without addressing Irans role. A SECOND KEY STRAIN Iran disrupted the Strait of Hormuz in response to U.S. attacks and Israeli attacks that took place earlier this year. This was the outlet into the Gulf, through which a fifth of the world's oil supply flowed prior to the war. The Houthis closing Bab el-Mandeb would be another economic blow. It would constrain 7% more of the global petroleum supply and 12% more of the global trade. David Schenker is a Washington Institute for Near East Policy think tank and former Assistant Secretary of State for Near East affairs during Trump's initial term. The Iranians have a huge amount of leverage in their hands. Analysts and ex-officials say that Trump now faces a difficult choice. He can either devote U.S. troops and limited air defense munitions towards pushing back the Houthis or leave Saudi Arabia, its allies and the Yemeni government in the south to face them alone. Houthis have seized Yemen's Capital for 12 years, and a Saudi-led intervention has not been able to remove them. By taking on the Houthis, Trump would be putting an end to a deal he made last year whereby the U.S. agreed to stop bombing them in exchange for a suspension of strikes against Red Sea shipping. This would expose U.S. troops to possible missile attacks from Yemen. A STRETCHED U.S. MILITARY The U.S. military would have to shoulder an additional burden. U.S. officials claim that a battle with the Houthis would require significant naval, aerial and intelligence resources. This is because the U.S. needs to identify Houthi positions which have changed from last year. It could be a bad thing for the stockpiles of U.S. air defense interceptors and munitions if U.S. Navy aircraft and vessels have to begin shooting down Houthi missiles and drones. Senior administration officials denied that the U.S. is concerned about its resources. The official stated that the United States Military had more than enough ammunition, munitions and stockpiles in order to meet the strategic goals of the Commander-in Chief. Tim Lenderking is a principal of Squire Patton Boggs and former U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen under Joe Biden. He said that since Trump has indicated he does not want to directly engage in a military campaign against the Houthis the U.S. should do more to provide intelligence to the Saudis to support their air campaign, and to increase diplomatic and material assistance to Yemen's internationally recognised government. Lenderking stated during a Washington webcast sponsored the Middle East Institute think tank that "this administration asked the question, What can Yemen do for me?" "Well, Yemen could ruin our day."
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Philippines starts identifying the victims of ferry fire, but there are still dozens missing
The Philippine authorities started the painful process of identifying the victims of a ferry fire on Saturday. A day earlier, responders had recovered bodies from the burnt-out vessel. This brought the death toll up to 35, and more than 50 others are still missing. The bodies were taken to a port near Coron, where tents were erected for the forensic teams who would process and identify victims. Some family members gathered near the port to watch as responders wearing protective suits moved black body bags from an Coast Guard vessel into temporary tents. Anelyn magbanua was one of them. Her husband, who was visiting their children in Manila, was returning to Coron when the ferry caught fire. The vessel was carrying over 130 passengers. "I hope that he's not among the dead brought off the boat." She said, "I hope he's alive and only drifted over to another island." She said, "It'll be a very difficult thing to accept if it's true." "He loved his kids very much." Firefighters entered a ferry for the first time 'on Friday, after extinguishing a fire that broke out more than a week earlier. This allowed authorities to access areas which had been difficult to reach due to thick smoke and extreme temperatures. The Coast Guard reported that burnt remains had been discovered in the economy section of the ferry. The Coast Guard released images that showed the extent of the damage inside the vessel. Rows of steel bed frames were twisted and covered in ash by intense heat. Some photos appeared to show skeletal remnants among the debris. At a Saturday press conference, Geronimo Tuvilla of the Philippine Coast Guard said that the first priority was to identify the victims and determine what caused the fire. According to a statement by the Maritime Industry Authority, which cited survivor reports, two explosions could be heard on board the ship shortly before it caught fire. GMA News interviewed a survivor who recalled seeing smoke that quickly turned into fire. The fire spread throughout the ferry in seconds. The fate of the captain of the ship was also unclear. At the same press conference, Coast Guard spokesperson Noemie Cayabyab stated that she received information that he was alive. However, the captain's name did not appear on the list. This is just the latest in a series of maritime accidents that have killed people in the Philippines. The archipelago has more than 7,600 island where millions of people rely on small boats and ferries to travel from province to province and island.
The PM's Office says that one person has died and more than 30 people are missing after a Vanuatu Ferry sinks.
In a statement, the office of Prime Minister Jotham napat said that at least one person had been confirmed dead on Sunday and that more than 30 others were still missing after a boat sank off Vanuatu.
The statement on Facebook stated that search and rescue operations are continuing in the Pacific Island Nation located approximately 1,750 km (1.090 miles east of Australia) after the MV Matui, with its crew and passengers, went down.
It added that 15 of them were alive.
RNZ, the New Zealand public broadcaster, reported that search efforts had begun since Friday's inter-island boat sank due to bad weather between the islands of Ambae & Santo.
The Napat office stated that the search in open waters was being lowered, while efforts were shifted?towards a search of?the south east coast where currents could have carried survivors.
The statement stated that "this loss appears to have been caused by strong winds, failure to heed marine warnings and possible negligence such as overloading the vessel."
We pray for the?strength of those who survived and their recovery. Please know that we are with the families of the missing and the ones who have died in this time.
Matai Seremaiah is the representative for the Luganville region in Vanuatu’s parliament. He said that rescue efforts began after a crew member of the MV Matui swam to shore and raised the alarm.
Seremaiah told RNZ that he alerted them to the fact that the ship had capsized. They went on a search.
Vanuatu 'police, Vanuatu Maritime Safety Authority, and the ferry operator, Tui Shipping Agency did not respond immediately to requests for comments.
(source: Reuters)