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Can cruise ship passengers sue for the hantavirus outbreak on board?
The legal options for passengers on a cruise ship that was hit by an outbreak of deadly hantavirus are limited. However, the operator could still be held liable if they acted recklessly. The legal situation for passengers of the MV Hondius is described below. What do we know about the outbreak? The?MV Hondius was a Dutch flagged polar expedition cruise vessel operated by Oceanwide Expeditions. It carried nearly 150 passengers and staff near Antarctica. On May 3, it reported to global health authorities a clustering of severe respiratory illness. After hantavirus was found in a passenger that disembarked late in April, and was treated in South Africa, the outbreak was confirmed. The hantavirus is spread by contact with mice and rats, but the strain on the ship has the potential to spread from person-to-person. The health officials are investigating the way in which this virus was able to get on board. As of Tuesday, three people had died since the outbreak began. According to the World Health Organization, nine cases have been reported as of Tuesday. What legal rights do passengers have? Oceanwide's "terms and Conditions" page says that the company is not responsible for any illness or death, lost luggage, or robbery. Legal experts in the Netherlands say that Oceanwide's broad waiver terms may not stand up if passengers prove the company was grossly negligent. Terms and conditions state that all lawsuits must be brought in the Netherlands. No passengers have sued or announced that they would sue. Legal experts say that gross negligence and recklessness is difficult to prove under Dutch law. They would need evidence proving that Oceanwide knew what they were doing was dangerous, but still did it. Legal experts say that examples could include ignoring instructions or warnings from health authorities, and not following basic infection control protocols despite knowing it would harm patients. The MV Hondius Crew has not been reported to have engaged in misconduct. Some passengers have publicly praised the crew for the way they handled the situation. A spokesperson for Oceanwide did not respond when asked to comment. What country's law would apply? The terms and conditions specify that the only court with jurisdiction to hear lawsuits is the District Court of Middelburg, Netherlands. Experts said that courts in the U.S., and other countries, generally honor "forum clauses", and will likely dismiss cases brought from elsewhere. Dutch legal experts say that passengers could claim that Oceanwide's blanket waivers of liability are unreasonable and not enforceable under EU consumer protection laws. Oceanwide's broad terms could also be interpreted as violating EU laws governing "contract fairness" for consumers. These laws make terms unenforceable when they favor a company too much. What rights do non-passengers have? Oceanwide will most likely argue that ticket terms apply to any claims arising from the trip and invoke Dutch exclusive jurisdiction. Families could claim that they have not waived their rights to sue for wrongful death and try to convince the court of Oceanwide's unfair and unreasonable terms. They would still have to prove gross negligence or recklessness. Is there a legal precedent? Legal experts say that there is limited precedent in the Netherlands for passengers suing cruise ships. In the U.S., cruise lines were sued by passengers who were exposed to COVID-19. However, many of these lawsuits were dismissed as plaintiffs could not show that the cruise operator was directly responsible for their illness. Oceanwide, unlike major cruise lines like Carnival, does not seem to have any U.S.-based connections that would allow it to be governed by the U.S. (Reporting and editing by Noeleen Walder and Rod Nickel; New York, Jack Queen)
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Human rights groups call on Poland to stop supporting US deportation flights into Ukraine
Amnesty International, Human Rights First and other organizations urged Poland on Wednesday to stop cooperating with U.S. flights that transfer Ukrainian nationals through its territory. They said the practice could be in violation of international law. In a statement issued jointly, the groups stated that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had conducted at least two similar operations via Poland between November 2025 and march 2026 and deported more than 50 individuals to Ukraine. Uzra Zeya is the CEO and President of Human Rights First. She said, "Forcing Ukrainians to be transferred into a war zone where missiles are being fired at all over the country shocks our conscience and violates International Law." She added that "Poland should refuse to facilitate Trump's forced transfers of Ukrainian refugees back to life-threatening situations." The groups claimed that they wrote to Polish authorities to express their concerns on April 17, but received no reply. They decided to publish the correspondence. "Poland does not have an agreement or arrangement regarding deportations with the United States." "This is an issue between two countries - Ukraine and the United States," Polish Interior Ministry spokesperson?Karolina galecka said. She added that Poland was a transit country, and the country wasn't directly involved. Its Border Guard was only performing clearance procedures. "Perhaps, a Ukrainian national who is about to be deported to Ukraine from the United States has no right to enter Poland." "Here, a simple inspection is carried out in the framework of statutory authorities," Galecka stated. Bartosz Gorski is the vice president of Rzeszow Jasionka Airport. He declined to comment on the deportation flight and refused to answer any questions about the involvement of the Polish government. Requests for comment from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security were not immediately responded to. FLIGHTS WERE RECORDED IN APRIL. Since Donald Trump took office in the United States last year, he has intensified an immigration crackdown, led by ICE. This has resulted in increased detentions and expulsions. Rights groups claim that the policy violates free speech and due process, but the administration claims it's a way to curb illegal immigration and improve security. Amnesty & Human Rights First said that a second flight carrying Ukrainians had landed at Rzeszow Jasionka Airport, although the exact number of passengers on board was not known. The groups stated that the conditions in Ukraine are not safe to return, and added that under international law Poland cannot send people where their freedom or lives could be put at risk. Amnesty International Poland director Anna Blaszczak Banasiak said: "Polish authorities need to investigate these incidents, find out where the victims are, protect them from refoulement and treat them with dignity. They also need an effective remedy." (Kanishka Singh, Barbara Erling, Layli Faroudi, and Amina Mayberry edited the article. Additional reporting was done by Kanishka in Washington DC and Layli in Paris.
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Turkey and Armenia are moving closer to direct trading links as a sign of warming relations
The lifting of?some customs sanctions on Armenia by the Turkish government on Wednesday is a sign that the strained ties between the two nations are finally being normalised. The Turkish government closed its border with Azerbaijan and stopped direct trade in 1993 to support its close ally Azerbaijan during the Nagorno Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Since then, the neighbours have not had formal diplomatic relations due to a deep-seated historical 'hostility' stemming from World War One and the Ottomans' mass killing of Armenians. This was considered genocide in Armenia and many other countries. In a statement released on Wednesday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry explained that under new regulations, goods going from Turkey to a tertiary country, then onto Armenia or vice versa can have their final destination, or country of origin, listed as "Armenia", or "Turkey". A PEACE DEAL CAN TRANSFORM THE SOUTH CAUCASUS Armenia, whose economy is a fraction of Turkey's, and which relies heavily on energy supplies from Russia, Iran and other countries, was delighted by the news. Ani Badalyan, spokesperson for the Armenian Foreign Ministry, told the Armenpress news agency that the decision was significant in terms of expanding business and trade ties between Armenia and the United States, as well as promoting economic connectivity and peace throughout the region. There are currently ongoing negotiations between Yerevan, Turkey and Ankara for the reopening of their 311 km border. Ankara said that it "wants to reopen" the eastern border, but only after Armenia signs a treaty of peace with Azerbaijan with whom Turkey shares cultural and linguistic links. Yerevan also wants to see the border opened. Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a peace agreement in August last year, mediated by the United States. However, they have not yet signed a formal deal. A treaty of this kind could change the South Caucasus region, a region that produces energy and borders Russia, Europe, and Iran. It is crisscrossed with?oil pipelines and riven by longstanding ethnic conflict and closed borders. Oncu Keceli, a spokesperson for the Turkish Foreign Ministry, said that on Wednesday?work to reopen border crossings between Turkey and Armenia is continuing. Both countries signed a memorandum earlier this month for the restoration of Ani Bridge. This historic bridge, built in 10th century, spans a river on their shared border.
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Sources say that Russia's Perm refinery has halted processing following the May 7 drone attack.
Two industry sources reported that the Russian Perm oil refinery halted all processing following a drone attack by Ukraine on May '7, which caused a fire and damaged equipment. Dmitry Makhonin, the local governor, said that on Friday Ukrainian drones had attacked industrial facilities in Perm Region. This is located around 1,460 km (908 miles) east of Moscow. He did not name the facility. Ukraine is targeting Russia's infrastructure to cut off its funds and reduce its military capability. Sources?stated that three primary crude distillation units were urgently stopped?after strikes. They said that some secondary units had also been stopped. CDU-4 was idled since April 30, due to a?drone strike. Sources said that the repairs could take several weeks. Lukoil which owns this refinery did not respond to a comment request. Perm refinery will process around?12.6 millions tons of oil in 2024, which is 250,000 barrels per day. It produced a total of 2?million tonnes of gasoline, 5.3 million tons of 'diesel', 700,000 tones of coke, and 200,000 tones of fuel oil.
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IEA: Russia's crude oil production down by 460,000 bpd y/y during April.
The International Energy Agency reported that Russia's crude production fell by 460,000 barrels a day in April compared to the same month last year. This is despite Ukraine increasing drone attacks against energy targets. Since March, Ukraine has launched waves of drone strikes?on Russia’s largest Western oil ports. These attacks have caused massive?fires and also attacked refineries to drain the war economy in Russia. The IEA said that?Russian oil product -exports decreased in April by 340,000 bpd compared to March, reaching 2.2 million bpd. This is the lowest level recorded in the Paris-based organization's archives. The report said that Russia’s crude exports rose by 250,000 barrels per day (bpd) to 4.9million bpd last month from March. It said that "Russian exports recovered a bit in the second half April but they never reached the three-week average before the attacks on Baltic ports, which covered the period between the beginning of the Middle East conflict and the disruptions to the Baltic Sea. This peaked at 7,7 million bpd." Guy Faulconbridge, Guy Faulconbridge (Reporting)
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Zelenskiy warns Ukraine of Russian drone attacks in daylight
The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned against possible Russian drone attacks on Wednesday. He said that over 100 drones were in Ukraine's airspace. Moscow has shifted its tactics and is now attacking more during daylight hours. Zelenskiy wrote in a post to X that "Russia is continuing its strikes, and doing so brazenly – deliberately targeting our rail infrastructure and civil sites in our cities." Since the start of the war, more than four years ago now, Russia has carried out most major drone and missile attacks at night. During the daytime, Russia has sent hundreds of missiles and drones in recent weeks. On March 24, it set a record for the number weapons used. The civilians are most affected by attacks during the day. "It's important to resist every attack with resilience." Zelenskiy said that it is crucial to support Ukraine, and not be silent about Russia's conflict. Ukraine's air force has reported that Russia had attacked the country with 139 drones between 6 pm (1500 GMT) and 1 am (03:00 GMT) on February 14. Of these, 111 were either downed or neutralised. Moscow has denied intentionally targeting civilians, but it admits that thousands of civilians have been killed during the war. It also says that strikes on civil infrastructure are justified if they 'degrade Ukraine’s warfighting capabilities. Kyiv recently intensified its long-range attacks against Russia's energy sector, albeit on a smaller level. (Reporting and editing by Peter Graff. Anna Pruchnicka)
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Helsinki's expensive cycling campaign draws crowds and criticism
Helsinki, the capital of Finland, has spent billions on bicycle lanes and public transport -- and is planning to spend more -- despite mixed reactions from its residents. Around 50,000 people attended the April opening of Finland's longest 1.2 km (0.75 miles) pedestrian, bicycle and tram bridge. Others, however, are not impressed by the lack car lanes or the price of 326 million Euros ($383 millions), which included two adjacent bridges, tramway investments and billions of dollars already spent on transport infrastructure and cycling infrastructure over the last decade. Helsinki's cycling traffic team leader Oskari Kaipinmaki said that the biggest reason for opposition to this bridge was its high price. Helsinki's cycleways are around 1,300 km long, with 100 km of them being a "superhighway network". The city is planning to add another 80 km by 2029. The investments, so far, have not increased cycling in the Nordic capital, located on the Baltic Coast, where the winters can be harsh and the winds are often biting. The share of cycling in transport has been flat between 9%-11%, Kaupinmaki reported. He said, "We haven't finished the network yet." The major tram network is also being expanded. A plan was approved last week to close one of central streets, in front of the main railway station, to cars, giving priority for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport. Marcus Rantala is a city councillor who was a major opponent of the bridge. He said that he "criticised the price tag of the project and the realistic budget" which "kept increasing over the years." But he conceded he's pleased with the "impressive result". Johanna Jarvinen is a musician and a cyclist who lives in the city's inner suburbs, now connected by the new bridges. She said that in the summer when there is less wind, she will save 10 minutes on her commute.
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E.ON announces slight increase in core earnings for the first quarter, but keeps outlook
E.ON, Europe's largest network operator, reported a 2% increase in 'core profit' in the first quarter. This was partly due to its industrial customers in Germany, its home market. The shares of the Frankfurt-listed company rose 1.5% at the start of trading. Jefferies analysts attributed the rise to the higher retail energy prices that began the year. The company reported that the adjusted core profit for the period of January to March was $3.87 billion. It also confirmed its outlook?for the year. The company said that investments in the period fell to 1.4 billion euros, down from 1.5 billion euros last year. It cited the cold weather in Germany, which caused delays in network infrastructure upgrades. Finance chief Nadia Jakobi stated that "we are building the infrastructure Europe's electrified energy systems needs in economically and geopolitically difficult times -- high-performing digital and future-proof." E.ON has announced plans to purchase a British energy retailer, Ovo Energy. The company still expects an adjusted core profit this year of 9.4 to 9.6 billion euro. According to a survey conducted by the company, analysts expect adjusted core profit of 9.6 billion euros and adjusted net profits of 2.9 billion euro. ($1 = 0.8522 euro) (Reporting and editing by Kirstiknolle, with Christoph Steitz)
Mexico's Pemex chief, a close ally of Sheinbaum is under threat as the woes increase
According to four sources with knowledge of the situation, the future of Pemex CEO Victor Rodriguez is becoming increasingly uncertain. The longtime ally to President Claudia Sheinbaum is struggling to turn around Mexico’s troubled state oil company. The first 18-months of Victor Rodriguez's tenure at Pemex were marked by worsening divisions within the company, a major oil spill and a fatal refinery accident. The company's production is only 1.6 million barrels per day, short of its 1.8 million barrels per day?target.
Sheinbaum has meanwhile pushed Rodriguez to the sidelines, and has become increasingly involved in the operations that are aimed at putting the oil giant back on a firmer foundation, according to sources who spoke under condition of anonymity. Two sources claim that the 69-year old former academic resigned twice last year. Sheinbaum convinced him to stay on each occasion. Sheinbaum's increasing involvement, including her intervention in key appointments that are normally reserved for the chief executive, has created rival centers of loyalty within Pemex. This makes it even harder for Rodriguez to turn things around, sources say.
One person said, "Claudia is aware that she can control Pemex by keeping Victor." "She's driven by fear of losing control, but what she doesn’t see is that everyone is pulling in their own directions."
Pemex and the Presidency did not respond to requests for comments. Pemex struggles under $79 billion of debt, and $20.8 billion is owed to contractors and suppliers. It lost $2.6 billion in the first quarter, despite oil prices reaching more than $100 per barrel.
RODRIGUEZ IS STILL THE MAN FOR NOW
Sources said that speculation about Rodriguez's successor has been circulating in the government and business circles. Lazaro Batel is a name that has been floated. He was Sheinbaum's "chief of staff" and the grandson of the Mexican president who nationalized Mexico's oil industry back in 1938. He declined the position when offered to him at the start of Sheinbaum’s term, according to sources.
Sources claim that key decisions and senior appointments, such as top positions in the exploration division, trading department, and legal department, are increasingly made outside of Rodriguez's control.
Diana Martinez, a close associate of Secretary of Energy Luz Gonzalez, replaced Rosa Bello as interim director of the Legal Department. Sheinbaum and Secretary of Security Omar Garcia Harfuch appointed Israel Benitez as the logistics director. They also replaced Marcela Villegas, director of administration.
No one from the offices of Garcia Harfuch or Gonzalez responded to my question.
The sources stated that it is not unusual for the president or key ministers of the government to have some say in the appointment of senior Pemex officials, but they said the extent to which the decisions were made without Rodriguez's involvement was very uncommon. They said that some'senior executives' are reporting to the energy or finance ministries, instead of Rodriguez.
Miriam Grunstein is a well-known consultant and analyst who works in the Mexican energy industry. She said that the CEO of Pemex has been "unable to improve or change the course" because he's caught between a number of political forces. "He's a CEO who I would describe as defenseless."
EFFORTS ?TO ATTRACT FOREIGN CAPITAL
Sheinbaum is caught between wanting to attract foreign investment and satisfying energy nationalists who want Pemex's tight control over Mexico's oil sector, according to the sources. Sheinbaum owes part of her 2024 victory to Andres Lopez Obrador, her nationalist mentor and predecessor.
Three sources claim that Sheinbaum, Rodriguez and others have attempted to increase private investment and partnerships, but the interest has been low, partly because of Pemex's "debt burden" and the unsatisfactory conditions pushed by certain government officials. Rodriguez, according to a source, warned that Pemex's economic and tax conditions?wouldn't be attractive to private investment. Pemex had announced that it would sign 11 contracts of this type, but has only signed nine so far due to a lower than expected interest from smaller companies. According to sources, demand is low due to smaller oilfields as well as uncertainty about Pemex's ability pay suppliers.
Sheinbaum also has to deal with the ongoing problems at the Olmeca Refinery, which is a favorite of Lopez Obrador. It began operations in 2024's second half after delays that pushed its price to more than twice its original budget of $21 billion. Five people were killed in a fire that broke out near the refinery on March 9th. Another fire at a storage facility for coke was started ten days later.
Sheinbaum, according to three sources, is personally reviewing Pemex's media coverage nearly daily.
One person said, "She's upset and frustrated by everything." (Reporting and editing by Stephen Eisenhammer, David Gaffen and Adriana Barrera in Mexico City).
(source: Reuters)