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)
How many US agencies have been affected by Trump's and Musk's job cuts?
Elon Musk is one of Donald Trump's closest advisors. Together, they have launched a massive campaign to reduce the 2.3 million federal employees. They have fired more than 10,000 workers in a chaotic and unprecedented effort.
Layoffs were targeted primarily at employees who had been working in their current positions for less than one year. These workers have fewer protections on the job than those with longer tenure. About 75,000 workers also accepted buyouts offered by the Trump administration.
The Trump administration is yet to provide a number of people that it has terminated.
Reporters have gathered some details about the recent layoffs in federal departments and agencies.
Internal Revenue Service
A senior executive told employees on Thursday that the Internal Revenue Service would be firing 6,000 people, according to someone familiar with the situation.
A source said that the IRS will lay off around 6,700 workers, mostly those hired during the Biden administration to combat fraud by wealthy taxpayers. Republicans opposed the expansion claiming it would result in harassment of ordinary Americans.
The tax collection agency employs approximately 100,000 people.
Department of the Interior
Sources said that around 2,300 employees were laid off by the Interior Department. This included about 800 workers from the Bureau of Land Management. The Bureau of Land Management manages millions of acres of federal land for uses such as oil and gas exploration, timber harvesting, recreational activities, and cultural preservation.
The department oversees 500,000,000 acres (202.3,000,000 hectares) in public land, including dozens national parks.
Department of Agriculture
People familiar with the plans say that the U.S. Forest Service is letting go 3,400 probationary staff, which equals 10% of their workforce.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Tuesday that several employees who were working for the federal government on its response to the H5N1 bird flu outbreak had been accidentally laid off and that they are now trying to reverse those layoffs.
Sources said that workers at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (which supports agricultural science and technological research) and the Economic Research Service (which produces reports and statistics on the farm economy) were also fired.
It is unclear how many people will be laid off from the Agriculture Department. The department employs almost 100,000 employees.
Department of Health and Human Services
A source said that 45% of newly hired employees at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who were still on probation were laid off.
According to the Associated Press, nearly 1,300 CDC employees were fired. This represents one-tenth (10) of the agency’s staff.
According to an internal email, the National Institutes of Health laid off 1,165 people, mainly probationary employees.
STAT News also reported that FDA workers were laid off. It is not known how many FDA employees lost their jobs.
More than 80,000 people work for the Department of Health and Human Services. This department oversees the CDC and NIH, as well as Medicare and Medicaid. STAT News reports that around 5,200 have lost their job.
Department of Veterans Affairs
The Department of Veterans Affairs has laid off more than 1,000 employees. This department provides health care and other benefits for millions of veterans.
After the Democratic U.S. She said Senator Tammy Duckworth expressed concerns on X. Patty Murray, another Democratic Senator, stated that about 30 employees were rehired by an agency which operates a Pacific Northwest Hydroelectric Dam, after 200 employees had been fired, causing a public outcry regarding the reliability of power supply.
The Department employs over 450,000 people, and supervises more that 1,500 healthcare facilities.
Department of Energy
The Department of Energy announced on Wednesday that 700 workers had been laid off. According to sources, up to 2,000 workers were informed that they would be laid off. Managers were instructed to give evidence as why certain employees should be rehired.
Sources say that on February 14, 325 employees were notified that they would be laid off by the National Nuclear Security Administration. This is an Energy Department Office that manages and safeguards the U.S. arsenal of nuclear weapons as well as dangerous nuclear material around the globe.
The Energy Department announced on Sunday that fewer than fifty workers were eventually sacked from the agency after an uproar in the public and an attempt by the administration, to hire some of these employees back.
The Energy Department employs approximately 14,000 people and contracts with 95,000 others.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENT
The Environmental Protection Agency fired 388 probationary staff. The Environmental Protection Agency, which enforces environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act, has announced the firing of 388 probationary employees.
FEDERAL AVIATION Administration
Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation, said that the FAA has fired over 300 of its 45,000 employees. This comes as concerns about air traffic safety are raised in light of recent plane crashes.
Department of Education
A letter obtained by has revealed that at least 160 new hires have been informed of their termination from the Department of Education. Trump has asked for the dissolution and termination of the entire Department of Education, including its 4,400 staff. However, Congress must approve.
The federal department, while local and state governments are responsible for most education issues in the United States provide billions in grants and loans for higher education. It also provides funding for students who have disabilities or are economically disadvantaged. The department enforces civil right laws.
CONSUMER FINANCIAL HEALTH BUREAU
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), which was responsible for protecting consumers against banks, debt collection agencies, and other financial companies, has been shuttered in large part after the Trump Administration ordered that it cease all activities.
People familiar with the situation said that between 140 and 200 probationary or so-called "term" employees of the agency have been terminated.
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
Sources claim that 100 General Services Administration employees received termination notices. More than 12,000 employees work for the independent agency that manages government real estate and oversees government contracts.
Office of Personnel Management
Sources said that all probationary employees of the Office of Personnel Management (which handles the human resources of the U.S. Government) were terminated in a group meeting of around 100 people.
Small Business Administration
In a letter obtained by, the Small Business Administration fired at least 45 probationary staff. The agency employs thousands of people and provides support to small businesses. (Reporting and editing by Scott Malone, Deepa Babington, and Joseph Ax)
(source: Reuters)