Three dead in fire at methanol storage in Iran's South

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• After Israel's attack on Iran, ships are warned to avoid the Red Sea and log their Hormuz journeys.

  The Combined Maritime Force, a multinational force led by the United States, said that despite Israel's attack on Iran, merchant shipping continued to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, even though some shipowners wanted to avoid the area. Iran has threatened in the past to close down the Strait of Hormuz as a retaliation to Western pressure. The Strait of Hormuz could be closed, which would impact the global oil price and restrict trade. The Combined Maritime Force issued an advisory saying that the Strait of Hormuz was open, and commercial traffic continued to flow unhindered. It also said that the events of the previous day had increased the risk of regional conflict. Documents seen by revealed that Greece and Britain had advised their merchant ships to avoid sailing the Gulf of Aden, and to record all journeys through the Strait of Hormuz in the wake of Israel's attack on Iran. Jakob Larsen is the chief safety and security officer at the shipping association BIMCO. He said, "We've heard that ship owners are exercising more caution and opting to avoid the Red Sea and Persian Gulf." Larsen stated that if the United States was perceived as being involved in an attack, "the risks of escalation increase significantly". Such an escalation would include missile attacks against ships or the laying of seamines in the Strait of Hormuz. Israel claimed that it targeted nuclear plants, missile factories, and military commanders as part of an ongoing operation to stop Tehran from building a nuclear weapon. Iran denies that it has any such plan. The tanker shipping association INTERTANKO stated that "Hormuz, as a waterway without alternatives, is critical for the tanker trades. Any impediment to or threat against free shipping will have a significant impact on the global economy." According to a document sent by the Greek shipping association on Friday, Greek shipowners were asked to provide details of their vessels that are sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. Greek owners are in control of the largest tanker fleet in the world. The document stated that "due to the developments in the Middle East, and the escalation of militaristic actions in the region, the Greek Ministry of Shipping... calls upon shipping companies to urgently send... details of Greek owned ships sailing in maritime area of Strait of Hormuz," A separate document released by the UK transport ministry advised all UK-flagged ships, including the Gibraltar'red ensign'registries and Isle of Man's'red ensign'registries to avoid the southern Red Sea or Gulf of Aden. The advisory stated that vessels should adhere to the highest levels of security and limit the number crew members on board during voyages. Aspides is the European Union's navy in the Red Sea. It is operating as usual, but it is also monitoring the developments in the area, said an Aspides official. (Editing by Gareth Jones & Peter Graff).

• Egypt deports dozens planning pro-Palestinian march, organisers say

  The Egyptian authorities deported dozens foreigners who came to Egypt for a pro Palestinian march. Dozens more are facing deportation. According to airport and security sources, and the organizers of the event on Thursday. The Global March to Gaza was an international initiative to put pressure on Israel to end its blockade and to draw attention to the humanitarian situation in Gaza. Organizers confirmed that people from 80 different countries would be marching to Egypt's Rafah crossing with Gaza and also confirmed that some were deported or detained at airport. At least 73 foreigners were deported from a flight bound for Istanbul on Thursday, after the authorities claimed they had violated entry protocol. They also said that another 100 people waited at the airport to be deported. The Foreign Ministry didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. The Foreign Ministry had previously stated that visits to the Rafah region border must be coordinated with Egyptian embassies and government entities in advance. It also stressed the importance of following official procedures for safety and security. In a late-night statement, the organisers confirmed that they had met all of the requirements. The organisers stated that they had worked directly with Egyptian embassies located in more than 15 countries, as well as the Foreign Ministry, to ensure transparency throughout the entire process. Israel's Defence Minister told Israeli soldiers on Wednesday that they should prevent demonstrators from entering Gaza via Egypt. He also said that the march was a danger to Israeli security and regional stability. Egyptian officials claim that Israel has closed the Rafah crossing on the Gaza side. They want international pressure to be applied to Israel to open the crossing to allow aid in. Reporting by Cairo Bureau, Editing and Publishing by Timothy Heritage

• New York Times Business News - June 12,

  These are the most popular stories from the New York Times' business pages. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch their accuracy. Israel is reportedly preparing an attack on Iran soon, according to officials from the United States and Europe. This could delay the efforts of the Trump administration in brokering a deal that would stop Iran's progress towards building a nuclear weapon. A U.S. official stated on Wednesday that the Trump administration is reviewing a security agreement between the United States and Britain to provide Australia with nuclear subs. The agreement is meant to "align with the president's America First Agenda". Sean Duffy, secretary of transportation on Wednesday, endorsed the calls for the inspector general to audit the air safety protocols in Washington DC following a fatal crash between a civilian flight and a helicopter. Officials told senators that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Army will soon sign a policy to prevent such accidents. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Health Secretary, named eight doctors and scientists, including four that have expressed their opposition to vaccinations in some form, on Wednesday. They will replace about half of the experts he dismissed from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Compiled Bengaluru Newsroom)

• Three dead in fire at methanol storage in Iran's South

  State media IRNA reported that at least three people died and 10 were injured after a methanol tank caught fire in Bushehr in southern Iran. State TV reported that a vessel docked in the port of Bandar Dayyer, belonging to the Kaveh Petrochemicals Company and carrying methanol had caught fire. The cause is unknown. The head of emergency services in the province said that it was likely the death and injury toll would rise, given the size of the fire. A large explosion occurred at the Shahid Rajaee Some officials blamed the poor storage of chemicals inside containers for the deaths of 57 people in a port in southern Iran. The official investigation into this incident is still ongoing. Reporting by Dubai Newsroom Editing done by Louise Heavens, Peter Graff

• Army radio reports that the Israeli Navy has struck Yemen's port Hodeidah.

  Israeli Army Radio reported on Tuesday that the Israeli Navy carried out attacks against Yemen's Red Sea Port of Hodeidah in a campaign that is usually airstrikes. Al Masirah TV, a Houthi-run channel, said that Israel had struck the docks at Al Hodeidah Port with two strikes. No immediate reports have been made of any casualties. After the Israeli military called for the evacuation of Houthi-controlled port cities of Ras Isa and Hodeidah on Monday, the strikes came. The Houthis, who are aligned with Iran, have been firing at Israel since the beginning of the Gaza war in October 2023. They claim that they were doing this in solidarity with Palestinians. The majority of the missiles and drones that were fired at Israel either missed their target or were intercepted. Israel has launched a series retaliatory attacks. Israel has also weakened the other Iranian allies in the region, including Hezbollah of Lebanon and Hamas. Tehran-backed Houthis in Iraq and pro-Iranian groups are still there. Reporting by Jana Choukeir, Editing by Jacqueline Wong and Saad Sayeed; Lincoln Feast.

• Four projects on the east coast are preparing Australia to import LNG as early as 2027.

  Australia may import liquefied gas (LNG), based on the progress of projects at import terminals along its east coast. This would be to meet potential shortages. The competition regulator of the country has stated that a shortfall may be a long-term problem for the east coast due to a higher demand and structural decline. Here is a list four projects that are being developed on the East Coast. These projects consist of floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) which will send the gas back via pipelines to the mainland. Squadron Energy is the operator of the Port Kembla Energy Terminal. The terminal will be located in New South Wales and have a capacity to import 2 million tons of LNG per year. It is expected to begin operations by 2027. Port Kembla Energy Terminal has already been commissioned. It plans to import approximately 2 million metric tonnes of LNG annually. According to a spokesperson for the company, the project's date of commercial operation has been pushed back to 2027, from 2026. This is because operator Squadron Energy extended to Egypt's EGAS the sub-charter to the FSRU Hoegh Galleon until the end of 2026. According to Australian Energy Market Operator, the terminal is already linked to gas and electric distributor Jemena’s Eastern Gas Pipeline. OUTER HARBOR TERMINAL OPERATOR : Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific LNG Location: Port Adelaide LNG IMPORT CAPABILITY: 2 million tonnes a year OPERATIONAL DATES: 2027 Singapore-based Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific LNG (AG&P LNG) has agreed to purchase Australian energy infrastructure developer Venice Energy and develop its Outer Harbor Import Terminal in South Australia. A 145,000 cubic metre LNG ship will be converted into an FSRU, pending a decision on the final investment. Venice Energy announced on its website that the construction is expected to be finished by the end 2026 and the first gas will flow into the system around mid-2027. GEELONG TERMINAL OPERATOR: Viva Energy Group LOCATIONS: Geelong and Victoria LNG IMPORT CAPABILITY: 2 million tonnes per year OPERATIONAL DATES: 2028 The Australian government has approved the construction of Viva Energy Group LNG terminal in Geelong. The terminal will be equipped with an FSRU that has a 7.35 kilometer (4.35 mile) pipeline connecting to Victoria. Its capacity is 160 petajoules, or approximately 2.9 million tons per year. First gas deliveries should begin in 2028. Vopak is the operator of the Victoria Energy Terminal. Vopak has begun talks with gas suppliers for its LNG terminal project in Victoria. The company expects to reach a final decision on investment in 2026-2027. It hopes to begin terminal operations by 2029. Vopak wants an FSRU that can regasify LNG with a 170,000 cubic metre capacity. Gas would then be transported through a 19-km underwater pipeline to Victoria. One LNG cargo weighs approximately 70,000 metric tonnes

• Armenians are increasingly worried about war with Azerbaijan due to escalating ceasefire violations

  Khnatsakh residents are anxious at nightfall. Locals claim that every evening, around 10 pm, Azerbaijani soldiers fire into the night skies from their positions high above. Villagers say that bullets have been hitting houses regularly, but no one has been injured so far. Azerbaijan has denied that its troops are firing across the border and accused Armenian forces of violating ceasefire. Karo Andranyan (66), a retired mechanic, said, "It is very tense at home because we have children, little ones and elderly." Azerbaijani flags and a military position on a hillside are only 100 metres away from his door. This is a reminder that Armenia's bitter enemy is close by. Since the early 1990s, the heavily militarized 1,000-km border is closed. Two major wars have been fought in the last 40 years. This has destabilised the Caucasus, a region which is important for Russia, Iran, and Turkey because it contains major oil and natural gas pipelines towards Europe. Experts say that the rising tensions along the border increase the likelihood of a new conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as the two countries approach a crucial juncture in their tortuous peace process. In March, both sides announced that they had reached an agreement on the outline of a treaty of peace to be signed by 2026. This raised hopes for reconciliation. The draft envisages both sides delineating their shared borders, but requires Armenia to amend the constitution before Azerbaijan can ratify the deal. After months of relative calm, the reports of ceasefire breaches along the border are now soaring. Andranyan believes the gunfire at night is meant to intimidate both the local villagers and the small garrison Armenian troops that are stationed in the village. He said that the village, which according to census data had 1,000 residents, was emptying because locals were afraid of a return to war. What are we to do? Despite the fact that there has been no death on the border in over a year, cross-border gunfire is reported frequently. Azerbaijan has made the majority of accusations against Armenia since March. These include cross-border gunfire, and damage to property. Both sides have denied claims of ceasefire violation. Since 2020, the simmering conflict has decisively shifted in Azerbaijan’s favor. The oil and gas producer regained territory lost during the 1990s. It also progressively reestablished control over Nagorno Karabakh where ethnic Armenians established de facto autonomy since the collapse the Soviet Union. It retook Karabakh in 2023, causing 100,000 ethnic Armenians from the region to flee to Armenia. Marco Rubio, the U.S. secretary of state, told a hearing of Congress last month that there was "a real risk" of war. He stated that the U.S. wished Azerbaijan to "accept a peace accord that doesn't cause them to invade a neighboring nation, Armenia." Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev has been in power since 2003. He said that in January, Armenia was a "fascist menace" that must be eliminated. Laurence Broers is an expert in Armenia and Azerbaijan from London's Chatham House. He said that a full-scale conflict was possible but more localised clashes are more likely. He said Azerbaijan's population, which is 10 million, is three times that of Armenia. It has little incentive to sign a peace agreement quickly and could instead use smaller scale escalation to force its neighbor to make further concessions during the talks. Ilham Aliyev's strategy of escalation and militarization was a great success, he said. The Armenian authorities have insisted that there will not be a war. Nikol Pashinyan, the Prime Minister of Armenia, said in a speech delivered last month that "despite all arguments and all provocations", the two countries will not fight again. Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry responded to questions regarding the tensions along its border by referring to previous comments. In a May statement, Baku said it was committed to peace and had no territorial claims against Armenia. In a statement in May, it said that Yerevan’s actions "call Armenia’s commitment to peace into question". The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry has denied Armenian reports that cross-border gunfire had taken place. Tensions in the South The conflict is centered in Armenia's southernmost region of Syunik, where the majority of ceasefire violations have been reported. Syunik divides Azerbaijan's main body to the east and the Azerbaijani enclave of Nakhchivan in the west. It is also a crucial trade route between Armenia and Iran, with which it shares a border to the south. Azerbaijan demands that Armenia build a route through Syunik and Nakhchivan since 2020. Baku said the passage would be Armenian territory, but with minimal control from Yerevan. Azerbaijani officials also claim that the southern part of Armenia was historically Azerbaijani land, but they haven't made a formal territorial claim. Armenia has closed its border with Azerbaijan and its frontier with Turkey, a close ally to Baku. This makes its border with Iran the lifeline of trade. Syunik's corridor could cut off the country's access to its remote mountainous border. Armenia and Iran share a warm relationship, despite Armenia’s Christian faith and its increasingly pro-Western orientation. Iran was Armenia's largest importer in 2022. Tehran's Defence Minister visited Yerevan in May. Iranian media reported that he expressed Iran's opposition against redrawing borderlines in the region. Armenia's tensions with its traditional ally Russia are a major problem. Russia opposes Armenian efforts to move closer to the west and has strengthened its ties with Azerbaijan. "Armenia has open borders with Georgia and Iran. "This keeps the country moving," said Tigran Grizaryan, director at the Regional Centre for Democracy and Security, a think tank in Yerevan. Grigoryan stated that Azerbaijani demands for the corridor may be the spark to future military escalation. He said that the ceasefire violation could be an attempt to force Armenia to make concessions over the issue. He said: "If Armenia lost its border with Iran that would be a disaster." Requests for comments from the Iranian and Russian Foreign Ministries were not answered. The Iranian connection is evident throughout Armenia's south. Iranian road workers work to widen a mountainside road that is clogged by lorries coming from the south, headed north toward Georgia and Russia. Some locals are selling red wine in plastic bottles to newly-arrived truckers from Iran where alcohol is prohibited. Meghri is the historic town at the southernmost point of Armenia, and the gateway to Iran. Bagrat Zakaryan, Bagrat's deputy mayor, said that the town, which is only 16 km from Azerbaijan and has a population of 4,000, had its everyday life overshadowed due to tensions with Baku. He said that "given the recent events of Karabakh and what President Azerbaijan says, there's this feeling of terror." Opportunity for Peace Some people are more optimistic than others about the prospects of peace. Armen Davtyan, who was deputy director at Meghri railway station from 1993 to 1993, sat on a crossroads that connected Yerevan with Baku and Iran with the Soviet Union until its dissolution in 1991. After the Karabakh War of 1988-1994 and the closing of the border, Davtyan began working as a borderguard. A derelict train with an emblazoned Soviet emblem lingers in the parking lot of the station, just metres away from the Iranian border. Davtyan said that he remembered fondly the days before the war, when Armenians worked with Azerbaijanis on the railways. He hopes to see cross-border trains again arrive at Meghri Station one day. He said: "I understand that some people fear that the Azerbaijanis may return if the rail reopens." "But if people in 2025 are still afraid of us opening up transport links, that seems a bit absurd." (Reporting and editing by Daniel Flynn; Felix Light)

• Ukrainian pea prices could rise due to expected exports to China. Producers say

  Ukrainian producers' union UAC stated on Thursday that prices for Ukrainian peas could rise dramatically by mid-summer due to the expected large supply to China which opened its market this spring to Ukrainian peas. According to data from the farm ministry, farmers sowed peas on 250,000 hectares in 2020, compared to 212,000 hectares sown in 2024. UAC stated in a press release that "China has opened their market and a substantial part of the peas are likely to go there." UAC stated that an increase in demand may push pea prices as high as 16,000 hryvnias (385.33) per ton EXW in late summer, compared to the current 14,000. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, pea production could rise from 409,000 metric tons during 2024/25 to 476,000 tons during 2025/26's July-June. The ministry stated that Ukraine exports peas mainly to Turkey, India and Malaysia.

• Bloomberg News: Adani aims to IPO airport units by 2027 and accelerate $100 billion capex pace.

  Bloomberg News reported Wednesday that billionaire Gautam Adani’s group plans to list Adani Airports by 2027 as part of its growth plan, which requires $100 billion in investments across all businesses over the coming years. Reports citing anonymous Adani Group executives said that the unit would be spun-off and listed in March 2027. Adani Airports has eight airports in India. This includes the Navi Mumbai International Airport located on the outskirts India's financial center, and which is expected to be operational very soon. The report also stated that the company has doubled its capital expenditure plan, and expects to spend $100 billion over the next five to six year period instead of the previous decade. Last week, a group of international banks invested $750 million in the airport unit. A portion of the funds will go towards refinancing debts of $400 million. Adani Group didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment.

• US Ocean Imports Dropped in May after China's Tariff of 145%

  Data from Descartes Datamyne shows that imports to the United States from some of its busiest seaports fell sharply in May after President Donald Trump's 145% tariffs were imposed on many Chinese goods. Overnight, the world's largest economies announced a framework for a trade agreement that would set tariffs against China at 30%. The final approval is still pending. This rate will be added to the 25% tariffs that were imposed by Trump during his first term. The total China rate will then reach 55%. China is the largest supplier of goods to the United States that arrive via sea. This cargo is usually for major manufacturers and retailers, such as Walmart. West Coast ports receive a large percentage of China's shipments, and they suffered a big volume drop in May compared to last year. Long Beach imports fell by 20.9% in California and Los Angeles dropped by 8.5%. Seattle imports dropped 17.3% in Washington and Tacoma fell 39.4%. The East Coast saw a 15.3% decline in imports at the Port of New York & New Jersey. Norfolk, Virginia, fell 14.7% and Wilmington, North Carolina dropped 17.6%. Houston, Texas and Mobile, Alabama (both Gulf of Mexico ports) both saw declines of 3.4% and respectively 20.4%. According to Descartes, a provider of supply chain technology, the overall U.S. imports from China fell 28.5% in May compared to last year. Importers rushed to book shipments halted in China after the first U.S. - China tariff truce lowered rates last month to 30%. The head of Los Angeles' largest port, which is also the country's biggest, has said that he doesn't expect a flood of freight, as 30% tariffs are still a significant increase in costs for importers.

• India attempts to tow burning ships to prevent an ecological disaster, says ministry

  India's Defense Ministry said that the Indian Coast Guard was trying to tow the burning cargo ship off the coast in the southern state Kerala, which contained hazardous cargo. This would prevent an ecological disaster. The Singaporean-container vessel MV Wan Hai 503 is carrying 120,000 metric tons of fuel and hundreds of containers, including hazardous cargo, the ministry said. A vessel bound for India's financial center Mumbai was involved in an accident Monday about 144 km off the coast of Kerala, a southern Indian state. Multiple explosions and fires broke out on the vessel and 40 containers fell into the Arabian Sea. The Ministry of Defence said that while firefighting efforts had significantly reduced the visible flames, the fire remained active on the inner decks as well as near the fuel tanks. The Ministry of Defence stated that "the fire has not yet been fully extinguished and efforts are being made to set up a towline to pull the vessel from the coast to prevent an ecological disaster." A container ship sank off the coast of Kerala last month. It released 100 cargo containers in the Arabian Sea and left authorities scrambling in the state to contain the oil spill. This vessel was owned by MSC Shipmanagement in Cyprus and carried 640 containers. 13 of them contained "hazardous goods" while 12 were filled with calcium carbide. (Reporting by Chandni Shah in Bengaluru)

• UKMTO warns mariners about possible impacts of Middle East tensions on their safety

  In an advisory note published on Wednesday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations stated that they were aware of an increase in tensions in Middle East. This could result in a military activity escalation which would have a direct effect on mariners. The UKMTO warned vessels to exercise caution as they pass through the Gulf of Oman, Straits of Hormuz and Gulf of Arabia. The UKMTO alert did not mention the specific nature of tensions which prompted the alert. This week, the United States and Iran will hold a series of talks on Iran's nuke programme. Washington has warned that it will take military action should the talks fail. Iran also said on Wednesday that it would strike US bases in this region if conflict arose. Reporting by Ahmed Elimam, Elwely Elwelly and Peter Graff.