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Divers and helicopters search for survivors of Mumbai boat crash that killed 13.
Officials said that helicopters and divers searched the waters near Mumbai, India's financial center, on Thursday to find survivors after a boat accident which killed 13 people, including three navy personnel, a day before. A speedboat from the navy lost control, colliding with a private vessel that was taking tourists to nearby Elephanta Caves. These caves are famous for their rock artwork. As a result of the collision, 114 people were saved from the capsized ferry. The municipal corporation announced on WhatsApp that 97 of the 114 people rescued were in stable condition, while four others were in critical conditions and thirteen died. A naval officer who requested anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak with the media said that the navy and coastguard vessels searched the harbour to find at least two persons still missing. An adult and a young child. The officer stated that the accident occurred during a test of a new engine type for the speedboat. The officer said, "It seems that the engine stuck at maximum speed but we will know more once the investigation is complete." When asked to comment on these remarks, a spokesperson for the Navy did not respond immediately. On television, a speedboat with five people on board crashed into the passenger ship. Witnesses said that water gushed into the privately owned Neelkamal immediately after it was rammed. Passengers scrambled for life jackets and jumped into the water. The Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences for the deceased, offering a relief payment of 200,000 Indian Rupees (2,400 dollars) to their next-of-kin and 50,000 Indian Rupees (600 dollars) to each injured person. In a Wednesday post on X, he said: "The boat mishap is saddening." Tourists flock to the caves which date back to the 5th and 6th centuries A.D. They take boats for the hour-long trip from the Gateway of India at the southern tip of the city. Shilpa jamkhandikar and Shivam patel reported from Mumbai and New Delhi, respectively; Clarence Fernandez edited the article.
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South Korea's NOFI offers to purchase up to 138,000 metric tonnes corn
European traders reported on Thursday that the leading South Korean feed manufacturer Nonghyup Feed Inc. (NOFI) had issued an international bid to purchase up 138,000 metric tonnes of animal feed corn. The deadline to submit price offers for the tender is Thursday, December 19, also. Two consignments of between 45,000 and 69,000 tonnes of corn are expected to arrive in South Korea in March 2025. The traders believe the corn came only from America, South America, or South Africa. The first consignment of corn was expected to arrive in South Korea by March 15. The shipment must be received between February 10 and March 1 if it is sourced from U.S. Pacific Northwest Coast, or from U.S. Gulf coast between January 21 and February 9, South America between January 16 and february 4, and South Africa between the dates of Jan. 26 to Feb. 14. Around March 25, the second corn shipment is expected to arrive in South Korea. If you are sourcing from the U.S. Pacific Northwest Coast, the shipment will be between February 20 and March 11. From the U.S. Gulf of Mexico between January 31 and February 19, or South America between January 26 and february 14, or South Africa between the dates of Feb. 5 to Feb. 24. The sellers have the right of choice in the origins they supply. Traders said that they were looking for offers in both outright prices per tonne c&f as well as a premium to the Chicago March 2025 Corn contract. The Feed Leaders Committee of South Korea (FLC) purchased around 65,000 tonnes of feed corn on Wednesday in a private transaction without launching an international tender. Due to the forecast of lower U.S. stocks, Asian buyers have shown an increased interest in corn. (Reporting and editing by Abinaya VIjayaraghavan, with Michael Hogan)
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South Korea's FLC purchases 65,000 T of corn in a private deal, traders claim
The Feed Leaders Committee of South Korea (FLC) purchased around 65,000 tons of animal feed in a private transaction on Wednesday, without holding an international tender. This was confirmed by European traders on Thursday. The United States, South America and South Africa were expected to supply the product. The corn was bought at an estimated cost of $234.99 per ton, including freight. There was an additional $1.50 surcharge per tonne for port unloading. The seller was thought to be Columbia Grain International. Arrival in South Korea was scheduled for March 25, 2025. If the shipment originated from the U.S. Pacific Northwest Coast, it was shipped between February 10 and March 10, 2025. The reports reflect the opinions of traders, and it is still possible to estimate prices and volume later. Michael Hogan reported that the FLC bought 66,000 tonnes of corn at an international tender on Tuesday for $235.99 per ton c&f.
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Thirteen dead when a naval vessel strikes a passenger boat near Mumbai
Officials said that at least 13 people were killed when an Indian navy boat collided on Wednesday with a passenger ship carrying more than 100 passengers, which capsized. The accident occurred off the coast of Mumbai's financial capital. The navy reported that 99 people had been rescued, and efforts are ongoing to rescue others. A malfunctioning engine caused an Indian Navy vessel to lose control in Mumbai Harbour while conducting engine tests. The boat then collided into a passenger ship, which capsized as a result. Local TV stations showed that a boat with at least five passengers hit the passenger car, causing an accident. The speedboat crashed into the boat, and water began to enter our boat. It overturned. A passenger aboard the vessel said that "the driver asked us to put on life jackets". The passenger who refused to identify himself said, "I swam 15 minutes before another boat rescued me." The boat accident in Mumbai is tragic. "Condorations to the bereaved family," India's PM Narendra Modi wrote in a late Wednesday post on X. Modi announced that he would also pay 200,000 rupees (2,356.63) as an ex-gratia to the next of kin for each of the deceased victims of the boating accident. The injured will receive 50,000 rupees. BMC reported that the privately owned passenger boat called Neelkamal was headed towards the Elephanta Caves, an important tourist destination just off the coast of Mumbai when it capsized. The caves are a UNESCO world heritage site, and were built in the 5th-6th century A.D. Regular trips are made by boats from the southernmost point of Mumbai, the Gateway of India to ferry tourists an hour away to the site.
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Drone talk has individuals pointing lasers at aircraft over New Jersey, US states
Reported sightings of drones over New Jersey have actually prompted a. spike in the number of people in the state pointing lasers at. airplanes flying overhead, which is prohibited and can be. unsafe, the U.S. Federal Air travel Administration said. The FAA said reports are up 269% to 59 in the first half of. December, compared to 8 in the very same period last year. Intending a laser at an aircraft is a major security concern and a. infraction of federal law. U.S. agencies have actually repeatedly said the. spike in drone sightings does not position nationwide security risks. and seem primarily aircraft, stars or hobbyist drones. The FAA stated it has actually received lots of brand-new laser reports. from pilots in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania airspace. The FBI in New Jersey independently warned people Wednesday not. to shoot at believed drones or point lasers at them, cautioning. there might be harmful and perhaps fatal consequences if. manned aircraft are targeted incorrectly as drones. Federal firms have actually stepped up tracking of drones in New. Jersey and in neighboring states after a craze of public issue. Less than 100 of the more than 5,000 reported sightings. in New Jersey and other northeastern U.S. states warranted. investigation, officials at the Defense Department, Homeland. Security Department, FBI and FAA stated today. The Biden administration offered members of the U.S. House. of Representatives Intelligence Committee a classified briefing. on the problem on Tuesday. Officials have actually consistently said the majority of the big. fixed-wing sightings involved manned aircraft, and came after. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Monday required more. federal discuss the reported sightings. There are about 1 million signed up drones flying about. 42 million flights each year. There are countless industrial,. enthusiast and law enforcement drones lawfully in the sky on any. provided day. With the technology landscape developing, we expect. that number to increase gradually, agencies said this week.
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US Senate turns down quote to fast-track bill to deal with threats from drones
The U.S. Senate declined a quote on Wednesday to fasttrack legislation to expand U.S. federal government authority to discover and destroy drones that might present security hazards over arenas and other areas. Congress has debated for many years expanding authority in the middle of growing security concerns. Senator Gary Peters looked for consentaneous consent to approve the costs after reports of drones sighted over New Jersey raised widespread concerns. The FBI and other companies have actually stated many of the sightings are of airplanes or airplanes and do not present safety issues. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said the expense explicitly licenses state and regional authorities to conduct drone detection and helps them better coordinate with federal police to keep neighborhoods safe. Republican Senator Rand Paul blocked the request stating the expense would give the government sweeping authority to perform broad security and Congress need to not rush to enact laws. It has to do with unattended federal government overreach. It has to do with taking advantage of worry and media-driven hysteria that might violate the civil liberties of Americans. The White House and sports leagues because 2022 have actually been pushing for broadened authority to find threatening drones, with the NFL, Major League Baseball and other leagues cautioning formerly that without broadened authority, airports and sporting occasions are at significant threat from destructive and unauthorized (drone) operation. The NFL stated last week rogue drone flights into the limited air space above stadiums during NFL games rose to 2,845 in 2023 from 2,537 in 2022 and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell met congressional leaders. Drone flights are forbidden approximately 3,000 feet (914 m). before major U.S. sporting occasions in a three-mile radius of. arenas. Congress in 2018 expanded the power of the Justice. Department and Homeland Security to disable or damage. threatening drones, however authorities state they need brand-new authority. Legislation would broaden federal coverage for airports. and critical facilities like power plants, oil refineries or. chemical centers and high-risk detainee transportations. It would. also allow use of expanded counter-drone authorities by state. and local police. Owners or operators of airports or important. facilities might also utilize federally vetted drone-detection. capabilities.
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Martin Midstream states Glass Lewis backs buyout deal with Martin Resource
Martin Midstream Partners said on Wednesday that proxy advisory firm Glass Lewis has advised the energy infrastructure firm's unitholders to vote for the business's proposed buyout deal with Martin Resource Management Corp. . The statement of the Glass Lewis report comes days after Martin Midstream had actually stated that another proxy advisory company Institutional Investor Provider (ISS) had also suggested a. favorable vote for the deal. However, 2 hedge funds Nut Tree Capital Management and. Caspian Capital, holding 13.6% of Martin Midstream, are. promoting a competing bid and urging investors to vote against. the deal. The two hedge funds have argued that a $4.02 per typical unit. deal undervalues the business. The unitholder satisfy is scheduled for Dec. 30. Martin Midstream consented to a $157 million deal with Martin. Resource in October. Martin Midstream, which focuses on saving and carrying. fuels, said Glass Lewis has reported the merger represents an. attractive exit assessment and premium for the company's. unaffiliated unitholders. Nut Tree, Caspian, Glass Lewis and ISS did not right away. respond to ask for comment.
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US problems fresh sanctions associated with Nord Stream 2 pipeline
The United States released fresh sanctions on Wednesday on several Russiabased entities over their involvement in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, the State Department said, consisting of brand-new measures versus the operator of the project. The U.S. State Department said in a declaration it was re-imposing sanctions on a variety of entities associated with the building of the pipeline that were already designated, as well as several brand-new owners of vessels already under sanctions. Among those targeted on Wednesday were Russia-based marine services and water transport entities, the state-owned maritime rescue service and over a lots vessels, the State Department said. Likewise targeted was Nord Stream 2 AG, the operator of the job, and a Russia-based insurer that offered insurance to business involved in the project, the State Department said. Nord Stream 2, built across the Baltic Sea by Russia's. state-controlled Gazprom to pump natural gas to. Germany, was harmed on Sept. 26, 2022 in the wake of Russia's. intrusion of Ukraine. Nobody has taken duty. Some Western authorities have recommended Moscow exploded its own. pipelines, an interpretation dismissed as idiotic by Russian. President Vladimir Putin. Russia has actually blamed the United States, Britain and Ukraine for. the blasts, which largely cut Russian gas off from the financially rewarding. European market. Those nations have denied participation.
US FAA ends evaluation of Southwest Airlines after security occurrences
The U.S. Federal Air Travel Administration said on Wednesday it had finished a safety evaluation of Southwest Airlines it opened in July after a. series of events, consisting of some that raised serious concerns. and resulted in investigations.
The evaluation did not identify any significant safety issues,. the FAA said.
Southwest said it valued the chance to engage with. the FAA as part of our shared commitment to security.
The FAA started the review after a Southwest aircraft in July. flew at a very low elevation over Tampa Bay, Florida, among a. series of flights that raised concerns about the provider's. security practices.
It followed other occurrences consisting of a flight in April that. came within about 400 feet (122 meters) of the ocean off Hawaii. after the very first officer accidentally pushed forward on the. control column and the aircraft hit an optimum descent rate of about. 4,400 feet per minute.
The FAA is also investigating another very low elevation. flight that dropped to about 500 feet around 9 miles (14.5 km). from its location airport in Oklahoma.
The U.S. National Transport Safety Board and FAA. are likewise investigating a 737 MAX flight on May 25 that. experienced a Dutch roll at 34,000 feet while en route from. Phoenix, Arizona, to Oakland, California.
Such lateral asymmetric motions are named after a Dutch. ice skating method and can position severe security threats.
The FAA is also examining a June flight that left. from a closed runway in Portland, Maine.
Southwest informed pilots in September it would hold a. safety day for them on a staggered basis through early 2025. permitting frank discussions without fear of retribution,. including a thorough, facilitated, peer-to-peer conversation. about particular occasions.
The FAA said in October had actually found no significant security. concerns in a similar review of United Airlines after a. series of incidents and ended its improved oversight and. approval procedures for that carrier to include aircraft and. services.
Southwest did not deal with the exact same limitations. FAA. Administrator Mike Whitaker stated it in September its review of. Southwest was a bit more narrow than its assessment of. United.
(source: Reuters)