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U.S. Seizure of Russian-Flagged Tanker Heightens Global Tensions

The ship, currently between Iceland and the British Isles, has been accused of breaking US sanctions and shipping Iranian oil. It has historically transported Venezuelan crude oil. The United States has seized a Russian‑flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela after a prolonged pursuit across the Atlantic, marking one of the most assertive enforcement actions under Washington’s sanctions program. The vessel, previously known as Bella‑1 and later renamed Marinera , was intercepted after evading an earlier boarding attempt near Venezuelan waters. U.S. military aircraft and naval units tracked the ship for weeks as it traveled across the Atlantic, at times shadowed by Russian naval vessels. Officials say the tanker was part of a network used to transport sanctioned Venezuelan and Russian oil. Its capture underscores Washington’s efforts to disrupt what it describes as illicit energy shipments that help sustain both governments. The operation comes at a delicate geopolitical moment, wit...

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COP28 reaches landmark agreement to transition from fossil fuels

 



In a historic breakthrough, the COP28 climate summit in Dubai concluded on Wednesday with a deal that commits nearly 200 countries to start reducing their reliance on fossil fuels and shift to renewable energy sources.

The agreement, which was reached after two weeks of intense negotiations and a day of overtime, marks the first time that the world has explicitly recognized the need to transition away from oil, gas and coal, the main drivers of global warming.

The deal also sets ambitious targets for increasing renewable energy capacity, cutting coal use, and deploying technologies that can capture and store carbon emissions. It aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, in line with the latest scientific findings.

The deal was hailed as a historic moment by many countries, especially the small island states that are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. They had pushed hard for strong language on phasing out fossil fuels, despite facing resistance from the OPEC group of oil producers, led by Saudi Arabia.

The COP28 president, Sultan Al Jaber, who is also the UAE minister of industry and advanced technology, said the deal was a “clear signal” to investors and policy-makers that the world is united in its desire to break with fossil fuels and embrace a clean-energy future.

However, he also stressed that the success of the agreement would depend on its implementation, and urged countries to take concrete actions to fulfill their commitments.

The deal was welcomed by environmental groups, who praised it as a significant step forward in the global fight against climate change. However, they also warned that more work is needed to ensure that the transition is fair and equitable, and that the most vulnerable communities are supported and protected.

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