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New Zealand's North Island is ravaged by a cyclone, and hundreds of people are evacuated
On Sunday, a cyclone hit New Zealand's North Island, cutting off power to thousands of residents. Officials warned that conditions would continue to worsen throughout the day. MetService, the national weather provider, reported that Cyclone Vaianu had brought destructive winds exceeding 130 kph 81 mph (and heavy rain) even before it expected to land in the afternoon. The authorities have declared several areas to be in an emergency and issued wind warnings of "red" levels, reserved only for the worst weather conditions. Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell stated that the cyclone was "more towards" the fringes of the North Island and would spare Auckland, the most populous city in the country, from the worst conditions. Mark Mitchell, Minister of Emergency Management, said that stronger winds and waves were expected as the cyclone crossed the coast. "It has moved more towards the edges and to the east. This means that we haven’t seen the intensity we had prepared for, or that we expected to be hit with. Mitchell stated that this is "good news". "What we can expect in the next 12 to 24 hours is a little more intensification as the cyclone begins to descend and gets closer." Mitchell warned that the combination of high tide in the afternoon and the large swells caused by the storm could cause coastal flooding. He said that the most dangerous time was from 2 pm this afternoon, when there were high tides and big swells. He said that the cyclone forced hundreds of residents from their homes and knocked off electricity to 5,000 homes. New Zealand Defence Force personnel and heavy equipment has also been deployed in order to assist with the evacuation. MetService reported wind gusts in excess of 130 kph and rainfall totals exceeding?100 mm (3.92 inches) over the course of 24 hours in Whangarei. Vaianu brings to mind 2023's Cyclone Gabrielle. This storm killed 11 people and caused thousands of New Zealanders to be displaced. It was one of the worst natural disasters in this century. (Reporting from Sydney by Christine Chen; Additional reporting in Wellington by Lucy Craymer; Editing by Thomas Derpinghaus).
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In Haiti, a stampede has killed at least 30 people in the historic Laferriere Citadel
Authorities warned that the death toll may rise. Jean Henri Petit is the head of Civil Protection for Haiti’s Nord Department. He said that the stampede happened at the Laferriere Citadel. This was a?fortress from the early 19th century, built soon after Haiti gained independence from France. The fortess, one of 'Haiti’s most popular tourist attractions was packed - with students and visitors - on Saturday, who came to celebrate the yearly celebration of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, 'Petit said. In a statement, Prime Minister Alix Fils-Aime stated that he had "extended his sincere condolences and assured them of his deep solidarity?during this period of mourning and suffering." The prime minister said that "many youths" were present at the Citadel celebrations. However, he did not provide a death toll estimate. Petit stated that the stampede happened at the site's entrance, and that the rain "further exacerbated" the disaster. Reporting by Harold Isaac from Port-au-Prince in Haiti; writing by Laura Gottesdiener from Monterrey in Mexico; editing by Daina Beth Solon)
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Health officials confirm that Israeli strikes have killed seven people in Gaza
Officials in Gaza's Health Ministry said that two?Israeli airstrikes on Gaza Saturday killed?at least 7 people and injured several others. Officials said that an 'airstrike' hit a police checkpoint at Bureij Camp in central Gaza Strip on Saturday morning, killing six people. A second airstrike was also reported to have killed one person in Beit Lahiya. The number of police officers killed in the first attack was not immediately known. Israeli military claimed that the'strike was carried out in Bureij after Hamas militants approached the yellow line delineating the half of Gaza occupied by Israel. It did not comment immediately on the Beit Lahiya strike. Israel has fired at civilians in the area around the yellow lines several times since the ceasefire agreement was reached in October. They often claim that militants are trying to?cross the line or attack troops. According to medical and police sources, a series of Israeli strikes have killed dozens Hamas-led members of the police force since October. Israeli 'airstrikes' have killed 25 people or more in Gaza over the past week. Last October, Israel and Hamas signed a deal that was brokered by the United States. The agreement was meant to stop violence in Palestinian territory. According to health officials in Gaza, Israeli attacks since then have killed at least 700 people. Israel claims that militant attacks in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of four soldiers. Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi and Hatem Maher; editing by Sam Holmes
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Trump claims US forces have cleared the Strait of Hormuz
U.S. President Donald Trump posted on his social media account on Saturday that the U.S. military had'started to clear a strait of Hormuz and that all of Iran’s minelaying vessels have been sunk. Trump said in a post on social media that he was "starting the process of clearing the?Strait of Hormuz". He added that "all 28 of Iran's mine dropper boats" were also at the bottom of sea. Trump has repeatedly claimed that American forces destroyed the?Irani navy and air force, while crippling their ballistic missiles and nuclear programs. Fear of Iranian attacks against shipping in the last few weeks has closed the 'Strait of Hormuz', an important conduit for oil supplies worldwide. The global energy market has been disrupted by the closing of the?strait. The price of gasoline in the United States has risen despite the fact that most oil flowing through the waterway doesn't go to the United States. On?Saturday, representatives from the U.S.A. and Iran began talks in Islamabad hosted by Pakistan amid a fragile truce. (Reporting and editing by Jan Harvey, Sergio Non, and Jason Lange)
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Libya signs its first state budget unified in over a decade
In a Saturday statement, the central bank of Libya said that two rival legislative bodies in Libya had approved 'the first unified budget for the country in more than a decade'. Since a civil war in 2014, which split the oil-producing country into two administrations in west and east, it has been divided. The country's last unified budget was approved in 2013. Abduljalel Shawesh told a reporter by phone, that the two legislative chambers in Tripoli had reached an agreement on the budget of 190 billion Libyan Dinars ($29,5 billion). Central?bank stated that the approval of budgets by both rival legislative chambers would help to strengthen financial stability. This is an important step towards a?ending of years of financial division. The signing ceremony was held at the headquarters of the central bank in Tripoli. The two legislative chambers in Egypt are the House of Representatives in the east (HoR), which was elected in 2014. And the High Council of State in the west (HSC), which was created as part of a political agreement in 2015 and whose members were selected from the 2012 parliament. Essa Aribi - a representative from the Benghazi HoR - and Shawesh – representing HSC – signed the agreement in Tripoli to approve the budget. Osama Hamid, the head of a parallel HoR government in the east, stated in a press release that the agreement was a cornerstone to launch balanced development programmes across the country "ensuring a faire distribution of resources." Shawesh stated that the internationally recognized Government of National Unity in Tripoli would be responsible for salaries, operational expenditures, and subsidies. A committee of all parties will discuss the priorities for the implementation of development project in the budget, under the auspices of central bank. He said that the HoR would be expected to present legislation for budget. He said that there was also an agreement to allocate 12 billion dinars to the state oil company National Oil Corporation. More than 95% the Libyan economy is dependent on oil. Shawesh stated that 40 billion dinars will be allocated to?development projects, 37 billion for subsides, 73 for salaries, 18 billion for family allowances and 10 billions for operational expenditure. Massad Boulos is the U.S. Senior Adviser on Arab and African Affairs. He said in a post on X he congratulated Libya 'on signing this agreement after months of U.S. facilitation as part of a broader road map toward peace and 'national unification. He said that the new budget will support the development of projects across the country and finance the National Oil Corporation to increase its energy production and revenue.
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Pakistani hotel with five-star rating is unlikely to host US-Iran meetings
The five-star Serena Hotel in Pakistan's capital is now the unanticipated venue for peace talks aimed at ending Iran's war. It has also cemented its reputation as Islamabad's fortified building. The city has been under unprecedented security in the lead up to the talks. Shops and offices were closed for two days before the arrival of U.S. vice president JD Vance who is leading an American delegation and senior Iranian officials. The Red Zone, where embassies and government offices are located, is cordoned off by thousands of security personnel, including paramilitary troops and army soldiers. Serena Hotel may seem like an unlikely?location for the high-stakes meetings, especially since Islamabad's most recent militant attack occurred at a Marriott hotel nearby in 2008. However, its beautiful grounds and Moorish-style architecture conceal a security system that is well-oiled. Former police chiefs and others cited its strategic location near the diplomatic zone, and the years it has been maintaining the safety of high profile guests. Tahir Alam, former Islamabad Police Chief said that the security personnel are well-trained because they are mostly retired security officials. The entry and exit points of the compound are located at a distance that is sufficient to enhance security. ?And?the?most significant factor is its easy access from important places such Prime Minister's House and Parliament House." The 15-acre hotel complex, which includes?more that 400 rooms, banquet halls and conference rooms, can accommodate hundreds of guests. This is ideal for the U.S. delegations and the Iranian delegations?who are over 150 in number. Kaleem imam, a former police chief, said: "It has multi-layered and strict security checks... Finally, it has strong coordination between the state's agencies of security."
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Trump: Empty oil tankers headed to U.S. for oil and gas loading
U.S. president Donald 'Trump' said on Saturday that a large number of completely emptied?oil tanks?were headed to the United States for refueling with oil and natural gas. "The best and sweetest oil and gas in the World are being loaded into the United States by a large number of oil tankers that are completely empty. Trump stated in a Truth Social posting that "we have more oil and better quality than the next two largest oil economies combined." The post was made as senior U.S. officials and Iranian officials met on Saturday in Islamabad, Pakistan with Pakistani mediators as Tehran laid out its red lines that it said Washington had to accept before "face-to face talks" could take place. Trump said earlier?this Week that Iran should not?charge a fee to tankers passing through the blocked Strait?of Hormuz which has caused?the biggest disruption?to energy supplies worldwide in history. (Reporting and editing by Alexander Smith, Gareth Jones and Anusha in Bengaluru)
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Fuel prices are rising as the Iran War drives up fuel costs.
Pat Ouedraogo, a Boston resident, has reduced his long-distance travels. Skyler Burke is a law student who drives extra miles in order to avoid the more expensive gasoline stations closer to her home. David Wright, an auto broker in Houston, has converted his gas-guzzling racing car into a purely electric?vehicle. Many motorists in the United States are experiencing similar struggles as the Iran War is driving fuel prices to record levels. Experts in the energy market have referred to the six-week war as the worst disruption of oil supply ever, as major production plants have been damaged and a vital shipping route has been effectively closed. Ouedraogo, who was filling up his Nissan SUV with gasoline at a Shell gas station charging $4.99 per gallon, said: "You feel powerless in this situation." GasBuddy data showed that the average U.S. gasoline price was $4.16 per gallon, and diesel at $5.67. This is the highest amount consumers have paid for fuel ahead of summer peak travel since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 roiled the global energy markets. GasBuddy's Patrick De Haan stated that these prices translated into a $10.4 billion increase in U.S. gas and diesel expenditures this year when compared to the same period March 1-April 10, last year. Eddie Esquivel is a Houston-based trucker. The surge in diesel prices has translated to a near-doubling his weekly expenses from $800-$900 prior to the war. These prices are really high. Diesel was $2.50 a gallon. Esquivel told a group of people at a QuikTrip station in South Houston that the price could reach $6. Esquivel stated, "You have truck payments to make,?you need to buy tires and do oil changes. You also have a family." This is killing us. PUMP PRICES ARE NOW A PART OF POLITICAL DISTURBANCES Across the globe, consumers pay a high price for fuel, due to the blockade of Iran's Strait of Hormuz, which has "starved" Asian and European markets of Middle Eastern Oil. Pump prices are of particular importance to American politics because the United States is by far the largest consumer of fuel in the world. In November 2024, the economic hardships experienced by'motorists because of Russia's continued war in Ukraine?had played a significant role in their decision to vote for Donald Trump. Just months before the midterm elections in the U.S. in November, Americans have sunk to new lows in their approval of Trump. They are unable to reconcile his campaign promises to lower energy costs with the sharpest rise in consumer prices since nearly four years, which occurred in March, due to the record increase in fuel prices. Kari DyLong, who was filling her pickup truck in a service station near Denver, said: "I will not vote for the Republican party or anyone associated with this president at all." According to the U.S. Government, even if Trump decides to end U.S. involvement in?Iran and the gasoline prices remain high, they will likely continue to be so. The United States and Iran will hold talks on Saturday in Pakistan to reach a permanent ceasefire agreement after the fragile two-week truce that was announced earlier this week. Analysts said this week that even if a ceasefire agreement is reached, fuel and oil prices will not return to pre-war levels in a short time. They said that U.S. customers will continue to pay for the most expensive fuel prices or flights in recent years, whether they fill up their cars or fly during the summer. Wei Ren Gagan, an analyst with Rystad, said: "We expect that a persistent?geopolitical-risk premium will remain on the market." Prices are unlikely to return to their pre-war level immediately, but will likely soften over time and remain higher than the pre-war benchmarks. According to Macquarie analysts, the war has caused damage to Middle Eastern refinery capacity that is equivalent to 2 million barrels of oil per day. DEMAND DESTRUCTION The U.S. government's data has begun to show signs of demand destruction caused by high gas prices. In the week leading up to Easter, gasoline demand in the United States was just 8,6 million barrels per day. This is 9% less than last year. Tim 'Jugmans is the financial chief of EZCORP, a pawn lender. He said that pawn loans have increased by 9% since gas prices surpassed $4 per gallon. DyLong is a Denver resident who has cut back on her personal weekend excursions due to the decline in demand. She has a 40 minute commute to work as a craft brewer's sales manager. She said, "I do things more at home now and don't venture out as I have to spend more of my pay on gas to get to work."
Minister: South Korea is close to securing oil from Kazakhstan
South Korea has a good chance of obtaining crude oil from Kazakhstan, said the Industry Minister on Sunday. The?country is looking for alternative energy sources amid the Middle East war.
Kim Jung-kwan, Industry Minister at KBS, said: "There have been (some) significant progresses. We should be able announce specific amounts and detail?early the next week."
Kang Hoon Sik, the presidential chief of staff, travelled to Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Kazakhstan with Kim earlier this month to secure supplies of crude oil and naphtha due to disruptions in shipping through Strait of Hormuz.
Kim explained that the visit to Kazakhstan was part of a long-term strategy to diversify oil supplies.
South Korea is almost completely dependent on importing oil, with 70% of its purchases coming from Middle East. Last month, the United Arab Emirates also pledged to provide 24 million barrels. (Reporting and editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan; Jihoon Lee)
(source: Reuters)