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German court stops authorities from selling suspected Russian oil tanks cargo
The German top fiscal court has ruled in two separate cases that the authorities cannot sell or otherwise use an oil tanker and the cargo it carries, seized near the Baltic Sea coast. Federal Fiscal Court announced on Thursday that the owners, who are not identified, had won an earlier court challenge against the confiscation procedures of customs authorities. Customs officials appealed but the federal court upheld their earlier decision. The Panama flagged tanker Eventin was discovered drifting in the?German coast in January, after leaving Russia with approximately 100,000 metric tonnes of oil valued at around?40million euros ($47million). The court said that it was bound for India. German authorities suspect that the vessel is part of "shadow fleet", which Russia uses to avoid European Union sanctions after its full-scale invasion in Ukraine 2022. Industry experts warn that such ships, which are often uninsured or operate outside of conventional standards, can pose serious safety and environmental hazards. Other European countries have raised similar concerns. In October, French soldiers boarded an alleged shadow fleet tanker near Saint Nazaire. The German finance ministry, which oversees customs and is responsible for the handling of the tanker, has said that the court's ruling was preliminary, but a final decision on what the authorities can do about the vessel is still pending. The ministry confirmed that the tanker remains moored off the island of Ruegen, but declined to comment on the next steps. The Russian authorities said that they had no information on the owner or ship. EU sanctions are aimed at putting pressure on Moscow and limiting its ability to fund the war in Ukraine. They target shadow fleet vessels that transport oil, weapons and grain despite restrictions.
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Gascade, Germany, puts 400 km of hydrogen pipeline into service
Gascade, a German gas grid operator, announced on Thursday that it had converted a 400-km (249-mile) high-pressure pipe to transport low carbon hydrogen southwards as part of an 'European core network' to ship alternative fuels. The Ukraine conflict has also heightened the importance of energy security and the replacement of Russian gas in the EU. The pipeline can transport locally produced hydrogen from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state ?via Brandenburg to Saxony-Anhalt initially, with a view to reaching the industry in southern Germany by ?2029, and branching out to Poland, the Czech ?Republic and Austria later. Gascade's managing director Ulrich Benterbusch said: "Converting existing natural gas pipelines of 1.4 meter diameter to hydrogen is an innovative technical achievement." He spoke at an inauguration at the Baltic Sea Port of Lubmin. This port, which was formerly used as a landing point for Russian submarine pipelines, is now aiming to become a hydrogen-cluster. Technically, the pipeline is ready to operate after it has been?lined with cushion gas. Ines Jesse said that Gascade's decision would pave the way for further industrial development in the area and, hopefully, more?investments. Green hydrogen is a storage medium for wind and solar energy. It can be produced at large-scale electrolysis plants, and transported and stored. The development of green hydrogen is expensive, and can cause investment decisions to be delayed in difficult economic conditions.
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Portugal general strike stalls transport, closes schools in labour reform protest
On Thursday, train services were halted across Portugal, hundreds of flights cancelled and schools closed, as unions began their first "general strike" in more than a decade to protest proposed labour reforms. The centre-right minority government claims that the changes proposed - amending over 100 articles of the labour code - are intended to increase productivity and spur economic development. Unions, however, accuse the government of putting employers' interests ahead of workers rights despite an economy that is strong and low unemployment. The far-right Chega Party is expected to support the bill when it is presented to Parliament. Lisbon's streets were noticeably quieter. Although hospitals were open, many surgeries and appointments had to be postponed because nursing staff went on strike. The government downplayed the impact, saying that workers in the private sectors, which outnumber those employed by the public sector roughly five-to-one, had not joined the strike, despite some being affected by the?transport stops. "The vast majority of people in the country are working" It seems to be more of a partial strike than a general one. Cabinet Minister Antonio Leitao Amaro said at a press briefing. The unions cited disruptions in several large companies including the hub of the auto industry around Volkswagen's Autoeuropa near Lisbon where the morning shift halted their tools. The government is trying to minimize the impact of the strikes to push its political agenda. But the workers are resisting, just as they do now, said Tiago Oliveira. He added that a'major general strike' was in progress. FIRST STRIKE AFTER BAILOUT ERA The largest unions CGTP & UGT called the action, which is the first one-day general strike in Portugal since June 2013. At that time, Portugal was under austerity measures imposed by a bailout international that reduced wages and raised taxes. The reforms envisage easing the just-cause dismissals for small and medium-sized businesses, and lifting limitations on outsourcing. The cap on flexible work rights for nursing mothers is another controversial measure. The government is not backing down, and insists that the changes will benefit all Portuguese. Luis Montenegro, the Prime Minister of Portugal, pledged Wednesday that his administration "will never give up being reformist and transformational". Some people who went to work Thursday still said that they had no choice, even if they sympathised the strike. "I do not have a contract that is permanent." Joao Silva, a 32-year old stationery store employee told the reporter that he could not go on strike. "They want older people fired so that they can hire younger employees...with lower wages...Why do (labor changes) always need to be in favor of company profits?" He said. (Reporting and writing by Sergio Goncalves, editing by Charlie Devereux & Ros Russell; Andrei Khalip)
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Sources say that oil exports via the Caspian Pipeline fell 12% m/m in November.
Two industry sources reported on Thursday that oil exports by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which ships 'oil from Kazakhstan through a pipeline and then to a Russian Black Sea terminal, had declined 12% from October. CPC, the company that handles around 80% Kazakhstan's oil exports, was severely damaged by a Ukrainian drone in November. Since then, SPM-2 has been?damaged, and SPM-3 is under maintenance. Sources said that exports fell last month from 1.52 millions barrels per day to 5.088 metric tons or 1.34million barrels per day. CPC exports increased by 15% between January and November to 66.541 millions tons. CPC doesn't comment on its operational activity. Kazakhstan announced earlier on Thursday that it would be adjusting its 2026 oil production plan due to maintenance expected at major oilfields, and major damage to CPC Black Sea Terminal (Reporting & Editing by Kirsten Doovan).
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PCK refinery in Germany says leakage of pipeline has no impact
PCK, Germany's PCK, said Thursday that it was operating normally. It also stated that they were drawing from "internal stock" a day following a crude spillage in a pipeline feeding the re-finery via the port of Rostock. PCK reported that the incident occurred at a valve-station near Gramzow. There were no injuries or dangers for residents in the area. There are no immediate effects on the refinery's operations. PCK has enough stocks to cover short-term interruptions in supply," said a PCK spokesperson. According to the current information, "there is no damage in the pipeline." A restart can therefore be planned and prepared simultaneously. PCK estimated that the oil spill was 200 cubic metres (7,500 cubic feet) in volume and spread over a 2 hectare (5-acre) area. The environmental damage to water and soil is being assessed. According to the report, the outside influence could not be blamed for the incident. The spill was most likely caused by the planned preparations for a safety test. PCK is one of Germany's largest refineries with a processing capacity of 11,5?million tons per year. Petrolchemisches Kombinat Schwedt was the name of the refinery in Communist East Germany. Since September 2022 and following Russia's invasion in Ukraine, the German government has held PCK Schwedt in trust along with other German subsidiaries of Rosneft. Vera Eckert is reporting, and Alexander Smith is editing.
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US communities fight back against encroaching warehouses of e-commerce
During the pandemic, warehouse construction boomed. The 'Indirect Source Rules' are gaining renewed interest Local pollution can be addressed by ISRs By Carey L. Biron She said that since the pandemic everyone has started to order more, referring the boom in online retail. "We started seeing more trucks arrive and these warehouses start to rise." Jenkins stated that there are now half a dozen e-commerce stores in the densely-populated neighborhoods of Red Hook, including across the street from schools and parks. "These warehouses were built without consultation with residents" "They just appeared overnight", said Jenkins, the communications manager of Red Hook Initiative, an?local?nonprofit. Amazon's spokesperson revealed that the company is working on a plan to introduce 100,000 electric delivery vehicles over a period of time. In 2024, they will begin testing a brand new model of ebikes in Brooklyn. FedEx and UPS, two major transport companies, did not respond when asked for comments. Other cities are also seeing similar trends as the companies delivering goods that people increasingly purchase online move their hubs nearer to or in the middle of populated areas. This has led officials in New York City and State, as well as many other states, look at an obscure regulatory mechanism called an "indirect-source rule" to address residents' concerns, especially about pollution. Sam Becker, project manager at Environmental Defense Fund, a research group and advocacy group, said that such rules or ISRs have only been used in a few cases, but they are a powerful way to address very localized “pollution hotspots”. This is especially important as President Donald Trump's government weakens environmental regulations to combat pollution in low-income communities and reduces clean vehicle standards. Becker explained that the system allows for local air pollution reductions to be achieved by facilities like warehouses which generate large volumes of traffic. CALIFORNIA ROOTS A report by the Environmental Defense Fund last year found that revenue from ecommerce in the United States has roughly doubled over the past half-decade. It was estimated that in a sample of 10 states, 15?million residents now live within half a mile of a large storage facility, and minority communities bear the brunt for public health risks such as increased air pollution. The report revealed that in New York, new ecommerce warehouses are responsible for around 260,000 diesel trucks trips per day. Local policymakers are unable to address the growing concerns of residents. The law does not provide many ways to deal with pollution that is indirectly related, such as the delivery trucks. Ports, rail hubs and airports have all been the subject of similar concerns. In Los Angeles, an ISR aimed at reducing?air pollution by 15% was launched in 2021. Now, it is the basis of new or revised regulations in New York, New Jersey and other states, including California, Illinois, New York, and others. Brennon Mendez is an environmental law fellow and professor at UCLA School of Law. He says that ISRs have been available for a while, but are still underutilized in many air districts throughout California. He said that regulators were fighting air pollution with "one hand tied behind theirback" because of what he called the "pollution-magnets", like long lines for large trucks parked at ports. He said that many people were looking at what they could do on a state and local basis to promote environmental causes, despite the federal government’s anti-environment agenda. "So, it's very important to convey that the current state of law is on the side ISRs." California truckers are pushing back against the new rules. They warn of high costs for compliance and point out that warehouses have already reduced emissions. In November, the regulators approved a deal with two major Californian cities for them to develop plans of zero-emission infrastructure in their facilities. These rules also guide new investments in cleaner cars. Sam Wilson, senior analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists, stated that between 2021 and 2023, the warehouses affected by the new rule will see their use of solar power grow from 3 gigawatts to 85 gigawatts. He said that as the Trump administration ends its electric vehicle programs, ISRs are a great way to continue decarbonizing the nation's transportation network. The country is still heavily reliant on trucks. "It is the seed that is planted which can influence wider electricification." NEW YORK'S NEXT WAVE New York, inspired by communities like Red Hook, is now leading the way in possible ISR expansions. Proposals are being discussed both at city and state levels. In an email, Marcela Mitaynes of the New York State Assembly said that "the Trump Administration made it a top priority to cut key environmental protections with a special eye on weakening?standards for vehicles emissions". She wrote: "These standards are weakening at a time we see an explosion in the number of last-mile storage facilities in New York City, putting the health and safety of all New Yorkers in danger." She said that nearly two-fifths of New York City residents live within half a mile of a warehouse. A disproportionately large number of them are low-income and Black or Hispanic. Mitaynes sponsors the Clean Deliveries Act of the state, which requires warehouse operators to reduce associated air pollution. Local warehouse zoning laws date back to the 1960s when policymakers were more concerned with bakeries and a few trucks that came each day. Kevin Garcia, senior transportation planner at NYC Environmental Justice Alliance (a nonprofit), said this. This meant that developers could build new ecommerce warehouses without many reviews during the pandemic. Garcia stated that "communities were only just beginning to notice these new warehouses." Mitaynes, Garcia and others began a campaign in October to increase public support for the Clean Deliveries Act.
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Somali defence minister rejects latest Trump insults
Somalia's Defence Minister said Somalis will not tolerate being degraded after U.S. president Donald Trump insulted the people of East Africa. Trump criticized migration from countries in the "Third World", during a speech he gave on Tuesday, Pennsylvania. "We take people out of Somalia because it's a place that is a disaster. Right?" He said. "Filthy and dirty, disgusting and rife with crime," he said. He added that the only thing pirates are good at is pursuing ships off the Somali coast. Trump called Somalis "garbage", saying that "they run around killing one another" during a cabinet meeting last week. In a text message to the Somali Defence Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi, he said that Trump should concentrate on fulfilling his promises to the?American voters rather than "busy himself with Somalia". He expressed gratitude to the U.S. military for their support in the fight against al Qaeda linked militants in the nation, but rejected Trump's characterization of Somalis. He said that the Somali people were known for their hardwork around the globe. "They are known around the world for their resilience when faced with adversity." They have endured hardships and many enemies, including those who denied their existence, killed them, or humiliated them. "They have all survived and have overcome them." Trump increased his attacks on Somalis following the shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington last month, which led to him promising to freeze migration from poorer countries. A man of Afghan descent has been charged for murder in the Washington shootings. He has denied all charges. Trump has called for the expulsion of Congresswoman Ilhan omar, a Democratic Member of Congress who is a vocal critic of Trump's and who immigrated to the United States from Somalia thirty years ago. Reporting by AbdiSheikh; Writing and Editing by Elias Biryabarema
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Heathrow Airport in London names Jansen, former BT chief executive officer, as its chairman
Heathrow Airport in London appointed Philip 'Jansen, WPP Chairman and former BT Group CEO as its new chairperson on Thursday to guide?the _airport? through a critical period of growth. Media reports said that Jansen was widely expected to become the next chairman of 'Europe's busiest Airport. Heathrow will 'undergo a expansion worth 49 billion pounds ($64 billion), which includes the addition of a third runway. The UK government chose to support this project to boost the UK's economic growth and to end the uncertainty surrounding the future of the airport. Jansen stated in a press release that he was "fully aware of Heathrow's vital role in the UK's economy" and "motivated to play my part in its success." Jansen led BT during a crucial?period of its 177-year history. He secured funding to build a national fibre network that will cover 25 million homes and businesses. Thomas Woldbye, Heathrow's CEO said: "Jansen will be a valuable asset as we move forward with our development plans."
Trafigura and Gupta attorneys trade blame as the trial ends
Commodity traders Trafigura and Prateek Gupta, both Indian businessmen, told London's High Court that they had failed to prove their employees knew about or participated in a $600,000,000 metals fraud. This was as lawyers made final arguments in the long-running case.
Gupta’s lawyers countered that?unusual trade practices indicated Trafigura employees devised the scheme underlying the dispute. This involved substituting low-value metals or nickel for cheap ones.
Trafigura of Geneva, which sued Gupta in court more than two year ago, has insisted that no employees were aware of the fraud before cargo inspections, scheduled for November 2022,
Gupta alleged that Trafigura employees fabricated a series of complex transactions in order to "inflate" the group's position in nickel trading. He?tried remotely from Dubai, where he lives.
In written closing arguments, Gupta’s lawyers stated that Mr Oikonomou & Mr Bhatia continued to trade despite uncommercial practices & red flags. This led them to conclude that they were participants in the fraudulent arrangement.
Sokratis Bhatia was a trader based in India who worked for Trafigura. Harshdeep Oikonomou, the head nickel trader, also left Trafigura. Both are no longer employed by the company, and they have both submitted affidavits stating that they were not aware of the fraud or participated in it.
Gupta claimed that staff at his company and Trafigura had worked together in order to prolong the credit period offered by Citi, and to reduce the chance of cargo inspections which would reveal the true contents.
Citi declined to comment about the case.
Gupta’s team provided emails and chats with Trafigura employees, which included discussions about "red flags", that they claimed proved he wasn't acting alone.
Trafigura claimed during the trial Gupta was a fraudster with a long history and that he had taken money from the 'alleged scheme' to help his struggling business.
Trafigura's lawyers stated in their written closing arguments that Mr Gupta’s evidence was "implausible", inconsistent, both internally and with previous accounts, incoherent and simply unbelievable.
This approach... doesn't begin to fill in the evidence void that (alleged arrangement was ever agreed upon).
Gupta's assets have been frozen since February 2023. He unsuccessfully tried to lift the order in December of that year. Reporting by Eric Onstad. Mark Potter (Editing)
(source: Reuters)