Latest News
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All bodies found in Washington State chemical accident: 11 confirmed dead
The death toll in the United States from a ruptured?chemical tank has risen to 11. The death toll from a?chemical tank rupture in the United States has risen to 11 as crews have recovered all nine bodies, according authorities. The tank that contained "white liquor", a chemical mixture of sodium hydroxide and sulfide, used to make 'paper pulp, imploded on Tuesday at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging plant. Kurt Stitch, Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue deputy chief, stated that the search for missing persons continued throughout the week as crews cleared debris from indoor?areas, and drones were flown over the perimeter. Officials have confirmed that the ruptured tank held about 900,000.000 gallons of white liquor. Tests also showed contamination of the nearby Columbia River. However, no negative health effects were detected in the air or drinking water of the city of Longview. Nippon Dynawave Packaging, Japan's wholly-owned subsidiary, was established in 2016 by Nippon Paper Industries, Japan's second largest paper manufacturer. The company acquired the Longview plant from Seattle-based Weyerhaeuser Timber for $225m. (Reporting and editing by William Mallard in Bengaluru)
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PSG wins the Champions League with a shoot-out victory over Arsenal
Paris St Germain reclaimed their Champions League 'title' with a penalty-shootout victory? over Arsenal, after a 1-1 stalemate in a tense final at the Puskas arena on Saturday. Gabriel, of Arsenal, blasted his penalty over the?crossbar to give PSG a?4-3 victory? on spot-kicks. The French champions had the worst start possible after Kai Havertz scored an Arsenal goal?in just the sixth minute. He whipped a?rising shot?past PSG's goalkeeper Matvey Safonov. The PSG defence looked to be the most formidable in Europe, but Ousmane dembele equalized from the spot after a foul was committed by Cristhian Moquera against Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the 65th minutes. PSG won the Champions League trophy for the second consecutive year after a scrappy extra-time period that could not separate both sides. (Reporting and editing by Christian Radnedge.)
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Russia's Rosatom says Ukrainian drone struck Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
Rosatom, the Russian state-owned nuclear energy company, said that a Ukrainian drone 'hit' the Zaporizhzhia nuclear 'plant', Europe's biggest, on Saturday. The drone did not damage any key equipment but left a hole in a wall of the turbine hall. The building housing the turbine hall of Power Unit No. 6 was struck by a Ukrainian combat drone kamikaze this afternoon. The explosion was caused by the subsequent detonation of 6. The explosion did not cause any damage to the primary equipment, but it tore through a wall in the turbine hall. Ukraine has not yet commented. Likhachev described the incident as "deliberate". The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant was captured by Russia on March 20, 2022. It remains close to the frontline of the Zaporizhzhia area in the south-east Ukrainian region. It has?come in for some fire at times during the four-year war, raising?fears about a nuclear incident. Likhachev stated, "We are a step closer to an incident which?will affect those who live beyond the borders of 'Russia and Ukraine but still think they are totally safe." (Reporting by Anastasia Lyrchikova. Felix Light wrote the article. Mark Potter (editing by Felix Light)
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Authorities claim that Ukrainian drones have struck a port and oil depot in southern Russia.
Authorities in the southern regions Rostov-Krasnodar reported that Ukrainian drones had struck a tanker overnight at Taganrog, a Russian port. They also reportedly hit an oil depot?in?Armavir. Yury Slyusar, Governor of the Rostov Region, said via Telegram that the fires in Taganrog's port and on the tanker had been put out. No oil spillage was reported. He said that two people were injured. Svetlana kambulova, the mayor of the?city, announced that a local emergency state, which was introduced on May 27th, had been prolonged. The Russian Defence Ministry announced that its forces?had?downed 127 drones over night. Authorities in Armavir in Krasnodar, which has 185,000 residents, reported that the fire in an oil depot located in the industrial zone of the city had been put out and there were no injuries. Slyusar, governor of Rostov, said that nearly 50 drones had been brought down in the region. Attacks were reported "across" the province, which borders Ukraine’s Donbas and is the focal point of the fighting between Russia & Ukraine. He said that only minor damage had been reported outside Taganrog. The commander of Ukraine’s drone forces claimed that they had hit Taganrog as well as an oil depot in Feodosiya, in Russian-controlled Crimea. He did not mention a strike against Armavir. Reporting by Felix Light, Writing by Ros Russell, and Kevin Liffey.
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Authorities claim that Ukrainian drones have struck a port and oil depot in southern Russia.
Authorities in the southern regions Rostov and Krasnodar reported on Saturday that Ukrainian drones had struck a tanker overnight at the port of Taganrog in Russia and also hit an oil depot in Armavir. Yury Slyusar, Governor of Rostov Region, said via Telegram that the fires in Taganrog (a city with a population of 240,000) and on the tanker had been put out. No oil spillage was reported. He said that two people were injured. Svetlana kambulova, the mayor of the?city, confirmed that a local state of emergency introduced on May 27 had been extended. Authorities in Armavir in Krasnodar, a city with a population 185,000 people, reported that a fire at an oil depot located in the industrial zone of the city had been brought under control. Slyusar, Rostov's governor, said that nearly 50 drones were downed by the region. Attacks have been reported in the entire province which borders Ukraine’s Donbass, the focal point of the fighting between Russia and Ukraine. Only minor damage had been reported outside Taganrog. Reporting by Felix Light, Writing by Ros Russell; Editing by Ros Russel
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Concerns about consumer demand lower LIVESTOCK CME cattle futures
Chicago Mercantile Exchange?cattle futures and feeder cattle?ticked down on Friday due to a technical setback.?As a result, 'Americans' concerns about their ability to afford beef grew. Gas prices are high and consumer sentiment is gloomy, raising fears that Americans will reduce their beef purchases. Beef is the most expensive protein in grocery stores. Dan Basse is the president of 'AgResource' Company. He said that they are 'looking at consumers' disposable income and wondering if they will 'pay higher beef prices'. Oil futures dropped more than 2% Friday, marking their steepest weekly decline since early April. Traders awaited news that the U.S.?Israel and Iran reached an agreement on a truce. Live cattle for August fell by 1.95 cents, to 239,05 cents a pound. August feeder cattle futures dropped 4.60 cents at 348.425 per pound. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported on Friday that the value of 'boxed beef' had dropped by 26 cents, to $392.06 a hundredweight. Select?cuts, however, fell by $2.26, to $382.32 a hundredweight. According to HedgersEdge.com, the Packers lost about $266.90 per head of cattle they slaughtered last Thursday. This is an improvement from the previous week. CME's lean-hog market saw a drop of 2.625 cents to 99.50 cents for each pound. According to USDA, the wholesale price of pork cutout has risen 91 cents per cwt to $100.02. Reporting by Heather Schlitz, Editing by Daniel Wallis
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IMF, World Bank and others warn that Middle East war strains energy supplies
The heads of the International Energy Agency, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization warned on Friday that the war in the Middle East is straining the global energy supply and affecting vulnerable economies the most. The U.S. and Israel war against Iran has disrupted the trade, rattled the financial markets, and raised 'concerns about global energy supply, especially through Strait of Hormuz. This is a major route for oil and natural gas shipments. Global?institutions stated that the world's economy was resilient. However, the conflict disproportionately affected poorer countries by increasing fuel and fertilizer prices, increasing uncertainty, and creating job risks. In a joint press release, the heads of these groups met Thursday to discuss the economic impact of war. U.S. president Donald Trump said that he will decide on Friday whether to extend the ceasefire with Iran. This would include?opening up the waterway? and dismantling Tehran’s nuclear weapons capability. The institutions warned that if shipping 'flows' do not return to normal, the rapid depletion in global oil stocks ahead of the peak summer 'oil demand - in the Northern Hemisphere - would pose a heightened risk for fuel security and market conditions.
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USITC says Russian palladium does not harm America cos, ends probe
The?U.S. has stated that Russian unwrought Palladium, which is used to reduce emissions from gasoline vehicles, doesn't?harm American companies. The International Trade Commission announced a decision?on Friday to end Washington's antidumping investigation. Last week, the U.S. Department of Commerce decided on a separate countervailing duty of 109.1%. Sibanye Stillwater, which produces in South Africa as well as the United States, and the United Steelworkers Union had asked Washington to consider imposing duties so that they could 'protect the long-term sustainability of U.S. supplies. The USITC has now concluded the investigation with its negative determination. USITC stated in a press release that its full report would be released on July 8th. "The U.S. industry is not materially harmed or threatened with a material injury by reason of the?imports from Russia of unwrought Palladium, which Commerce determined were sold at subsidized prices and below fair value in the United States," it said. Russian palladium exports to the U.S. increased from 23.8 tons a year ago - and 20.4 tons a year earlier - to 27.6 tonnes in 2024. Nornickel of Russia, the largest palladium producer in the world with a market share of about 40%, refused to comment on USITC's decision. As of Friday, palladium spot prices had fallen by?17% from the beginning of the year. They were currently at $1,355 an ounce. Reporting by Susan Heavey and Anastasia Lyrchikova, with additional reporting from Katharine Jackson and Ismail Shakil. Editing by Ismail Shakil & Chizu Nomiyama.
In restive New Caledonia, Macron sees Pacific power and influence
In 2018, a year after becoming France's president, Emmanuel Macron flew to the remote Frenchruled Pacific island of New Caledonia to describe his latest diplomacy strategy.
With China's local aspirations growing, a new Indo-Pacific method was needed to avoid it from ending up being hegemonic, he stated. New Caledonia would be a crucial French anchor of that plan.
I believe in the future of this area, and I think in the place that this area occupies in a wider method, he said. The Indo-Pacific is at the heart of the French project.
Six years later, Macron's Indo-Pacific aspirations are facing their hardest test yet after days of fatal unrest on New Caledonia. A minimum of seven people have actually died in demonstrations against a constitutional amendment that would broaden New Caledonia's electorate to consist of current French arrivals. Some native Kanaks think the modification will dilute their vote.
Macron responded with a firm hand, dispatching 3,000 gatekeeper to stop discontent that he called an. unprecedented insurrection. Although he postponed ratifying the. voting reform to reach a settlement, he stated the step has. democratic authenticity. He also appeared to extinguish some. islanders' hopes of independence, saying the results of a. disputed 2021 referendum, in which a frustrating majority on. New Caledonia voted to stay French, stood.
Aides and experts stated Macron's difficult stance highlights his. commitment to a doctrine that provides France a grip in a. geopolitically essential area where the United States and. China are scrambling for power.
New Caledonia sustains France's function as a great power in. the world, said Denise Fisher, Australia's previous. consul-general on the island. It is among 5 French island. areas across the Indo-Pacific, a string of pearls that. boosts Paris' claim to have the world's second biggest. special financial zone, largely thanks to its maritime control. of waters around those islands, Fisher said.
Set in the warm waters of the southwest Pacific, some. 1,500 km (930 miles) east of Australia, New Caledonia is home to. 270,000 people, including 41% Melanesian Kanak and 24% of. European origin, primarily French.
The demonstrations are the current flashpoint in a decades-long. tussle over France's function in the island. Called by British. explorer Captain James Cook in 1774, New Caledonia was colonised. by France in 1853 and ended up being an abroad territory in 1946.
Stress between the native Kanaks and Paris appeared. into violent disputes in the 1970s, and rumbled along until. they were lastly settled in the 1998 Noumea Accord, which. described a course to gradual autonomy through 3 referendums.
In all three, self-reliance was declined. Nevertheless, lots of. Kanaks declined to take part in the 2021 vote due to health. issues throughout the COVID pandemic, leaving sticking around resentment. over the outcome.
This month's demonstrations, which came as legislators in Paris. passed the ballot reform, have left a path of burned buildings,. barricaded roadways and looted companies.
Brenda Wanabo, a spokesperson for the Field Action. Coordination Cell (CCAT) which assisted organize the demonstrations,. said Paris was especially thinking about New Caledonia's. nickel. The island is the world's No. 3 miner of a metal used in. electric vehicle batteries, but the sector has actually been having a hard time. for several years and needed bailouts from the French federal government.
She implicated Macron of ramming through the 2021 referendum. and criticized the organized modification to voting eligibility as. having been formulated in between Paris and regional legislators.
We see that the state has become biased considering that Macron came. to power, she stated.
Macron's office did not respond to an ask for remark.
FRANCE'S GLOBAL REACH
France's Indo-Pacific territories offer it bragging rights. over its European Union peers. It is the only EU nation to have. areas in the Indo-Pacific, which are home to over 1.6. million French people and 7,000 soldiers.
This is something that others do not have, stated a Macron. assistant.
The significance of these territories rose after the 2021. collapse of a multi-billion-dollar submarine offer between France. and Australia, specialists said. Australia scrapped its French order. in favour of a U.S.-UK deal, enraging Paris and activating an. extraordinary diplomatic crisis.
The submarine deal, a cornerstone of Macron's 2018. Indo-Pacific method, would have deepened French armed force. influence in the area. After its collapse, Paris sought to. build much deeper ties with Pacific countries. France and Japan concurred. this month to begin official talks on a mutual troop gain access to. offer, which would create frameworks to assist in military. cooperation.
Rene Dosiere, a former socialist lawmaker who was among the. designers of 1998 Noumea Accord, stated that despite its. geopolitical interest, Paris showed little daily issue. for the island.
I don't see the interest, apart from the reality that it's a. former colony, he said. Macron's interest in New Caledonia, he. stated, stemmed from a desire to have a territory that enables you. to say, 'The sun never ever sets on the French empire.'.
(source: Reuters)