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☆ Iran's Quandary: How to Stay Out of Israel's War on Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-22 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +9 min

Iran, a longtime backer of Gaza's rulers Hamas, finds itself in a quandary as it tries to manage the spiralling crisis, according to nine Iranian officials with direct knowledge of the thinking within the clerical establishment. "We are in contact with our friends Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah," Vahid Jalalzadeh, the head of parliament's National Security Committee said on Wednesday, according to Iranian state media. Iran's foreign ministry didn't respond to a request for comment about the country's response to the unfolding crisis, while Israeli military authorities declined to comment. Khamenei, the supreme leader, has denied Iran was involved in the attack, though he praised the damage inflicted on Israel. "Iran's nuanced position emphasizes the delicate balance it must maintain between regional interests and internal stability," said the former senior Iranian official.

Persons: Parisa Hafezi, Jonathan Saul, Arshad Mohammed DUBAI, wouldn't, Avi Melamed, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, Israel, Israel didn't, Khamenei, Joe Biden, Biden, John Kirby, Washington, Jon Alterman, Jerusalem, Arshad Mohammed, Laila Bassam, Samia Nakhoul, Michael Georgy, Pravin Char Organizations: Reuters, Islamic, parliament's National Security, Israel, Wednesday, Hezbollah, U.S, Germany's Ramstein Air Base, House, State Department, CSIS, Swiss, Iran, Iranian Locations: Iran, Israel, Gaza, Tehran, U.S, Lebanon, Yemen, United States, Islamic Republic, Iranian, Lebanese, Syria, Iraq, Washington, America, GAZA, LEBANON, China, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Beirut, Paritosh, New York

[1/4] A view shows smoke in the Gaza Strip as seen from Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel October 18, 2023. Israeli officials have said that they don't have a clear idea for what a post-war future might look like, though. Trips to Israel by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin this past week had stressed the need to focus on the post-war plan for Gaza, the source added. Israel's coming offensive is set to be much bigger than past Gaza operations that Israeli officials had previously referred to as "mowing the grass", degrading Hamas's military capabilities but not eliminating it. "Whatever worst-case scenario you have, it will be worse," a second regional source said about the potential for the conflict to spread beyond Gaza.

Persons: Amir Cohen, Bidens, Joe Biden's, Antony Blinken, Lloyd Austin, Israel hasn't, Israel doesn't, Biden, Aaron David Miller, Biden's, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Tzachi Hanegbi, Israel's, They're, Hossein Amir, Abdollahian, Blinken, Washington, Miller, Humeyra Pamuk, Jonathan Saul, Andrew Mills, Crispian Balmer, Pravin Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Carnegie Endowment, International, National Security Council, National Security, Communist, Hamas, Brigades, Hezbollah, Iran, Iranian, Palestinian Authority, U.S . Middle, West Bank, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Israel, DUBAI, WASHINGTON, Washington, Israeli, New York, U.S, Vietnam, Iran, Hamas, Israel's, East Jerusalem, Jerusalem

[1/3] A general view shows Haifa Port, which is to be sold to India's Adani Ports and local partner Gadot in Haifa, Israel July 24, 2022. Ashdod port has imposed restrictions on the transport of hazardous materials which has meant slower transits. Around 13 ships - comprising cargo, container and dry bulk vessels - were currently moored inside Ashdod port, according to MarineTraffic data. "The Suez Canal, a critical waterway for various commercial vessels, including container ships, may face disruptions," Container xChange CEO Christian Roeloffs said. The Marshall Islands registry, one of the world's top shipping flags, last week raised the security level for Israel's ports and its territorial waters to their highest.

Persons: Gadot, Ilan Rosenberg, Christian Roeloffs, Jonathan Saul, Ari Rabinovitch, David Evans, Louise Heavens Organizations: Haifa Port, Adani, REUTERS, Rights, Israel's, Port, MSC, Ministry, Marshall, Thomson Locations: Haifa, Israel, Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Port, Port of Haifa, ”, Israel's, Suez, Hormuz, United States, Arabian, Strait, Gulf of Oman and Red, Jerusalem

☆ How Hamas secretly built a 'mini-army' to fight Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Samia Nakhoul | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

[1/2] Palestinian Hamas militants take part in a rally marking the 31st anniversary of Hamas' founding, in Gaza City December 16, 2018. In the 2008 Gaza war, Hamas rockets had a maximum range of 40 km (25 miles), but that had risen to 230 km by the 2021 conflict, he added. For Iran, Hamas has helped it realise a years-long ambition to encircle Israel with legions of paramilitaries, including other Palestinian factions and Lebanon's Hezbollah, according to Western officials. After Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, Hamas began importing rockets, explosives and other equipment from Iran, Western intelligence sources have said. Iran seized the opportunity to co-opt Hamas in 1992 when Israel deported about 400 Hamas leaders to Lebanon, the source close to Hamas said.

Persons: Abu Mustafa, Ali Baraka, Baraka, Israel, Gazans, Ismail Haniyeh, SHEIKH YASSIN, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, It's, Jonathan Saul, John O'Donnell, William Maclean, Pravin Organizations: REUTERS, Israel, Hamas, Britain's Royal United Services Institute, Jewish Institute for National Security of, European Union, Al Jazeera, U.S . State Department, Front, Liberation of Palestine, General Command, Brotherhood, Hezbollah, U.S, Thomson Locations: Gaza City, DUBAI, Gaza, Iran, Israel, Iranian, Lebanon, Jihad, U.S, United States, Canada, Egypt, Japan, Qatar, Tehran, Syria, Sudan, Iraq, Yemen, Islam, Damascus, Lebanese, Al Aqsa, Britain, London

☆ Growing tanker fleet, cheaper freight challenge Russian oil price cap
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Jonathan Saul | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

It also means that enforcing the price cap will have a limited impact on Russian revenues. Had the oil price been above $60 at the time, sanctions would have severely disrupted Russian exports. However, the price for most Russian oil only rose above $60 in July, which meant traders, shipping companies and Russian exporters had months to prepare. So many vessels are willing to sail loaded with Russian oil that freight rates have fallen - effectively handing Russian producers even more revenues. Freight rates for Russian Urals crude shipments to Asia for October cargoes plunged to the lowest levels since the implementation of the price cap, traders said.

Persons: Shun, Tatiana Meel, Mike Salthouse, Sellers, ” Claire McCleskey, Jonathan Saul, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, United Arab, Intelligence, Reuters, International Energy Agency, Shipping, U.S, Link, Thomson Locations: Nakhodka Bay, Nakhodka, Russia, LONDON, refiners, China, India, U.S, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Moscow, Ukraine, Baltic, Asia, Saudi Arabia, Novorossiysk, East, Africa, Latin America, London, MOSCOW

[1/2] Israeli tanks from an artillery unit are seen near Israel's border with the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel, October 12, 2023. Israeli air strikes in response have killed more than 1,400 people in Gaza so far. In Gaza, a strip of land with 2.3 million people, the risk of a mounting civilian death toll could also complicate Israel's military plans. But Gaza residents have already spotted what they believe to be invasion preparations in the intense Israeli bombardment of the enclave since the initial assault by Hamas. Reuters GraphicsLEARNING LESSONSMore recently than its Gaza incursions, Israeli troops were confronted with the growing capability of militants in a West Bank clash in June.

Persons: Ronen, Israel, Abu Abdallah, Hamas spokespeople, Saleh Al, Arouri, Al Jazeera, Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Shalom Ben Hanan, Jonathan Saul, Jerusalem, Nidal, Edmund Blair, Angus MacSwan Organizations: REUTERS, Hamas, Reuters, Shin, Foreign, West Bank, Palestinian Authority, Bank, Apache, Jenin Brigade, International Institute for, Israel's Reichman University, Thomson Locations: Israel's, Gaza, Israel, GAZA, JERUSALEM, Israeli, Russian, Iran, Jenin

☆ Israel's Ports Feel Strain as Shipping Traffic Slows After Attacks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

Israel's southern coastal city of Ashkelon, which has a small port well in range of Hamas rockets, is not allowing ships to enter, shipping sources said. While the main Israeli ports of Ashdod further up the coast and Haifa in the north, remain open, shipping and maritime security companies are reviewing their operations for Israel, industry sources said. "Israeli ports are deemed to be at heightened risk," said Noah Trowbridge, with British maritime risk advisory and security company Dryad Global. "Since Gaza has a coastline, direct threats to shipping inside Israeli waters cannot be ruled out," BRS said. This compared with a premium of 0.0125% earlier this year, insurance sources said.

Persons: Jonathan Saul, Ari Rabinovitch JERUSALEM, Noah Trowbridge, Hapag Lloyd, Shipbroker BRS, BRS, Moller Maersk, Eli Glickman, INTERTANKO, ” INTERTANKO, Ari Rabinovitch, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Hamas, Dryad, Reuters, Ships, Zim, Ministry of Defense, Facebook Locations: Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Haifa, Israel, London, East Gulf, Gulf of Oman

One Israeli security source told Reuters a ground offensive now looked inevitable. One Israeli security source, who like others declined to be named, said he believed an Israeli ground invasion was "not preventable because of the heavy price that we paid. Smashing up roads has been a typical tactic in the prelude to two previous Israeli ground assaults in Gaza, disrupting communications and the movement of Hamas and other militants. Giora Eiland, a former head of Israel's National Security Council, said airstrikes in Gaza "seemed very similar to previous Israeli operations" but that these tactics had not neutralised Hamas in the past. Hamas has already proved to be a tougher and more capable force than Israel had expected by launching its Oct. 7 attack.

Persons: Yamen Hamad, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Giora, Eiland, Gilad Shalit, Talal Okal, Amir, David Tzur, Nidal al, Jonathan Saul, Edmund Blair Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, Reuters, Israel's National Security Council, Foreign, Israel's Border Police, Thomson Locations: Israel, Israel JERUSALEM, GAZA, Gaza, Beit Hanoun, Gaza's, Iran, Jerusalem

An Israeli security source acknowledged Israel's security services were duped by Hamas. As a consequence, the source close to Hamas said, a crucial part of the plan was to avoid leaks. When the day came, the operation was divided into four parts, the Hamas source said, describing the various elements. The final part involved moving hostages to Gaza, mostly achieved early in the attack, the source close to Hamas said. the Israeli security source said.

Persons: Israel, Nir, Osama Hamdan, wasn't, Mahmoud Abbas, Yahya Al, Yaakov Amidror, Benjamin Netanyahu, Amidror, Samia Nakhoul, Jonathan Saul, William Maclean, Edmund Blair Organizations: Hamas, Reuters, Israeli Defence Forces, RAN, Israel, West Bank, Jihad, Fatah, National Security Council, Jerusalem Institute for Strategy, Security, Thomson Locations: Palestinian, Israel, Egypt, Syria, Gaza, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Re'im, Dubai, London

☆ Turkish cargo ship hits mine in Black Sea, sustains minor damage
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Oct 5 (Reuters) - A Turkish-flagged general cargo ship hit a mine on Thursday in the Black Sea off the coast of Romania and sustained minor damage but the crew was safe, maritime and security sources said. The vessel dropped anchor for a short period to assess the damage," Ambrey said in a note. The Black Sea area has been listed as a high risk zone by insurers and floating mines remain a peril. Since then, Ukraine has set up a temporary "humanitarian corridor" for cargo vessels, and several ships have left Ukrainian Black Sea ports since August. Russia may use sea mines to target civilian shipping in the Black Sea, including by laying them on the approach to Ukrainian ports, the British government said on Wednesday citing intelligence.

Persons: Ambrey, Yoruk Isik, Kafkametler, Jonathan Saul, Pavel Poltityuk, Sandra Maler Organizations: Bosphorus Observer, Reuters, Kafkametler, Thomson Locations: Romania, British, Sulina, Istanbul, Vylkove, Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russian, London, Kyiv

☆ UK says Russia targeted civilian cargo ship in Black Sea port on Aug 24
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Britain on Monday accused Russia of targeting a civilian cargo ship at port in the Black Sea on Aug. 24 in a previously unconfirmed missile attack it said was successfully thwarted by Ukrainian defences. The missiles had targeted a Liberian-flagged cargo ship berthed in port and were successfully shot down, Britain's foreign office said in a statement. The missiles included two "Kalibr" missiles fired from a Black Sea Fleet missile carrier, it added. Since Russia quit a U.N.-brokered deal allowing Ukraine to safely export its grain via the Black Sea in July, Moscow has been accused by Ukraine of threatening civilian vessels in the Black Sea. "In targeting cargo ships and Ukrainian infrastructure, Russia is hurting the rest of the world."

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Sunak, Putin, James, William James, Muvija, Jonathan Saul, Guy Faulconbridge, Hugh Lawson, Chizu Organizations: Monday, UN, Liberian, Fleet, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Britain, Russia, Ukraine, Odesa, New Delhi, Moscow, United States, London

Signage is seen inside the Lloyd's of London building in the City of London financial district in London, Britain, April 16, 2019. The answer to that is yes," Neal told Reuters in an interview. "Absent UN intervention and UN clearance, we would not sanction the insurance," Neal said. The Lloyd's market estimated loss, net of reinsurance, from the Ukraine conflict was 1.6 billion pounds ($2 billion), he added. Lloyd's recorded a first-half pre-tax profit of 3.9 billion pounds ($4.9 billion) versus a loss of 1.8 billion pounds in the first half of 2022, helped in part by higher premium rates.

Persons: Hannah McKay, John Neal, Neal, Beazley, Adrian Cox, Cox, Lloyd's, Beazley's Cox, Sinead Cruise, Jan Harvey Organizations: REUTERS, United Nations, NATO, Moscow, Reuters, UN, Aeroflot, Thomson Locations: London, City, Britain, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, Taiwan, Moscow

☆ Cargill chartered ship sets sail to test wind power at sea
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Jonathan Saul | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Pyxis Ocean retrofitted with WindWings sets sail during its maiden voyage, in this undated handout picture, Mid-Sea, August 2023. Cargill, one of the world’s biggest ship charterers, has been exploring wind assisted propulsion as one cleaner energy option. Pyxis Ocean will sail from Singapore and head to Brazil and is likely to transport a cargo of grain to Denmark, Dieleman said. The vessel is then likely to remain in the north Atlantic area to maximise wind usage, he added. BAR Technologies, which has designed boats for the America's Cup, developed the sails, which were built by Norway's Yara Marine Technologies.

Persons: Jan Dieleman, Dieleman, Cargill, Norway's, Jonathan Saul, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Cargill, Handout, REUTERS Acquire, Reuters, BAR Technologies, Norway's Yara Marine Technologies, Thomson Locations: U.S, Singapore, Brazil, Denmark

☆ Ships backed up in Black Sea lanes as Russia warning shots raise tensions
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-14 | by ( Jonathan Saul | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Merchant ships remained backed up in lanes around the Black Sea on Monday as ports struggled to clear backlogs amid growing unease among insurers and shipping companies a day after a Russian warship fired warning shots at a cargo vessel. After an inspection, the vessel continued its journey towards the Ukrainian port of Izmail along the Danube river, Russia said. Palau-flagged vessel Sukru Okan transits Bosphorus on its way to the Black Sea in Istanbul, Turkey August 13, 2023 this screen grab from a video. Romania on Monday said that it aimed to double the monthly transit capacity of Ukrainian grain to Constanta to 4 million tonnes in the coming months. Sunday's incident cast a pall over plans announced by Ukraine last week for a "humanitarian corridor" in the Black Sea to release cargo ships trapped in Ukraine's ports since the outbreak of war.

Persons: Vasily Bykov, Kviv, Izmail, Gard, Tayyip Erdogan, Vladimir Putin, Joseph Schulte, BSM, Jonathan Saul, Conor Humphries Organizations: Merchant, Insurance, REUTERS, UN, Group, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Russian, Russia, Palau, Izmail, Musura, Romanian, Constanta, Istanbul, Turkey, Romania, Ukraine, Moscow, Ukrainian, Norwegian, Odesa

"We are sons of Jenin," said one of the Islamic Jihad fighters, who identified himself as Abu Salah. Islamic Jihad is a Palestinian faction sworn to destroying Israel and replacing it with an Islamic state. Many of the Palestinian attackers who have killed Israelis in Israel and the West Bank came from the area. Sometimes the transfers involve criminals and sometimes legitimate or semi-legitimate businesses help to move funds to the West Bank, the militant sources said. Much of the weaponry used by the Jenin fighters comes from Israel itself, stolen and sold on through criminal gangs, Israeli officials say.

Persons: Raneen, Tzachi Hanegbi, Abu Salah, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Mahmoud Al, Saadi, Tamir Hayman, Daoud Shehab, Yasser Arafat, Ali Sawafta, James Mackenzie, Suleiman al, Khalidi, Raneen Sawafta, Maayan Lubell, Jonathan Saul, Jerusalem, Nidal, Michelle Nichols, Leila Bassam, David Clarke Organizations: Bank, REUTERS, West Bank, Islamic, Israel's National, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, HIT, Palestinian Authority, Palestinian, Israel's Institute for National Security, United Nations, Palestinian Center, Policy, Survey Research, Jenin Brigade, Gulf, Aqsa Brigades, Fatah, Thomson Locations: Jenin, JENIN, West, Islamic Jihad, Iran, Jihad, Lebanon, Israel, Oslo, Crescent, Tel Aviv, New York, Nablus, Palestinian Territories, China, Jordanian, Al, Aqsa, Amman, Maayan, Gaza, Beirut, Parisa, Dubai

"It is not going to be easy for them (Russia)," said one industry executive with knowledge of grains exports. Last year, Russia exported a record volume of wheat on ships chartered from international companies and traders. "Most of what is coming out is dealt with by Russian traders using (shadow) fleet ships, which international traders would not touch". The Black Sea remains a critical area for Russian exports, with other locations more complicated and costly. Russia's Black Sea terminals handle about 70% of the country's grain exports.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Eduard Zernin, Zernin, Cargill, Louis Dreyfus, Viterra, Dreyfus, Bunge, Denmark's, Mike Salthouse, Rosagroleasing, Victoria Mitchell, Jonathan Saul, Nigel Hunt, Polina Devitt, Gus Trompiz, Frank Jack Daniel Our Organizations: General's, REUTERS, Russia's, Grain, Reuters, International Grains Council, Russian, Control, Thomson Locations: Russian, Odesa, Ukraine, Russia Russia, Moscow, Africa, Novorossiysk, Russia's Union, Russia, Turkey, China, Denmark's NORDEN, Bulgaria, Romania, United States, Europe, Taman, Russia's, ., London, Paris

☆ Romania bids to clear Danube logjam after Ukraine attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Romanian authorities managing the waterway still expect a "peak" in traffic in August, despite the attack, an official said. Before Russia pulled out of the safe passage corridor, the Danube ports accounted for around a quarter of Ukraine's grain exports. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said Russia's attacks on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure on the Danube amounted to war crimes. "We will clear around 30 ships in two days, at least 12 today, if not 14, and the rest tomorrow." Industry sources have told Reuters war risk cover for Ukraine's ports that were part of the previous grain deal had already been suspended.

Persons: Klaus Iohannis, Florin Uzumtoma, Uzumtoma, Izmail, Denys Shmyhal, Shmyhal, Mykola Solsky, Luiza Ilie, Jonathan Saul, Pavel Polityuk, Peter Graff, Conor Humphries Organizations: United, Reuters, underwriters, Industry, Insurance, NATO, Thomson Locations: Romania, Ukraine, BUCHAREST, KYIV, Izmail, Ukrainian, Russia, United Nations, Turkey, Romanian, Constanta, Musura, Bucharest, London, Kyiv

☆ Israel’s spy veterans take on their government over judiciary overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Jonathan Saul | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

But he's a very unusual protester - a former Mossad spy who never before questioned the state for which he once risked his life on foreign missions. Amir, who declined to be fully named due to his sensitive previous secret roles, is among former veterans of Mossad, Israel's foreign intelligence service, who are taking to the streets in protest at their government's judiciary overhaul. Reuters spoke with two other former Mossad officials who are also involved in the protests and more fearful of the impact the legislation will have on Israel's security system. Yossi Cohen, another former Mossad chief, spoke of his concerns for "Israel's immediate national security". "At a time when the Iranian threat looms over us from multiple fronts, we must ensure Israel's security remains unharmed," Cohen wrote in a July 23 commentary in the Yedioth Ahronoth daily.

Persons: Amir Cohen, Netanyahu, Amir, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Efraim Halevy, Iran, Haim Tomer, Tomer, Adolf Eichmann, Gil, Yossi Cohen, Cohen, Michael Georgy, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: REUTERS, HERZLIYA, Reuters, Minister's, Mossad, Thomson Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, Herzliya, Europe

The Suezmax requires a lightering agent to transfer the crude to smaller ships, as its size and weight restrict it from directly entering the port. Shipping companies are worried that lightering the Iranian crude onto their vessels would lead other oil buyers to shun their ships on future voyages, one of those people said. "Our legal team said 'absolutely not,'" he added, saying the ship has yet to find any willing party to transfer the oil. A Western industry expert said the inability to discharge the cargo is partly out of fear of repercussions from Iran. The Middle East oil exporter has threatened retaliation against any oil company unloading Iranian oil from the seized tanker.

Persons: Suez Rajan, Arathy Somasekhar, Jonathan Saul, Timothy Gardner, Parisa, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S, Shipping, U.S . Coast Guard, U.S . Customs, Border Protection, Department of Justice, Thomson Locations: Texas, Suez, Marshall, Galveston, Houston, Iran, U.S, London, Washington, Dubai

If the Black Sea is closed, the Danube is one of the main routes which we will need to use," he told Reuters by phone. Police said Danube grain warehouses had been hit on Monday in a drone attack along with tanks for storing other cargo. Since Monday's air strikes, the Danube channel has seen shipping disruptions, although it was unclear why there was a slowdown of vessel traffic. INSURANCE RATES RISEInsurance sources have said war risk cover for Ukraine's ports that was part of the defunct Black Sea grain deal had been suspended with some insurance providers reviewing provisions for Danube ports. The attack on the Danube infrastructure followed a week of Russian strikes that hit grain-related infrastructure at Odesa's main ports.

Persons: Russia's, Denys Marchuk, Carlos Mera, Mera, Marchuk, Danilov, Olena Harmash, Sybille de La, Tom Balmforth, William Maclean Organizations: Ukrainian Agrarian, Reuters, Police, EU, Romania, Agri Commodities Markets Research, Rabobank, Insurance, Kyiv, Russia, CMA CGM, National Security, Defence Council, Thomson Locations: KYIV, Moscow, Odesa, Reni, NATO, Russia, Izmail, Ukraine, China, Chornomorsk, Ukrainian, Italy, Kyiv, Western, Paris

☆ Nearly 30 ships stop around Ukraine's Izmail gateway after Russian Danube strikes
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Jonathan Saul | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 24 (Reuters) - Almost 30 ships dropped anchor near Ukraine's crucial Izmail port terminal after Russia destroyed grain warehouses on the Danube river on Monday, data showed, although it was unclear exactly what had caused them to stop. Monday's pre-dawn Russian air strikes wounded seven people and hit infrastructure along the Danube, a vital alternative route for Ukrainian grain since the demise last week of a year-old deal allowing safe exports via the Black Sea. Kyiv said the attack was an expansion of an air campaign Russia launched last week after pulling out of the grain deal. Insurance industry sources have said war risk cover for Ukraine's ports that were part of the previous grain deal had been suspended. On Monday, three sources said some providers were also reviewing whether to continue to provide cover for Danube ports.

Persons: Monday's, Odesa, David Smith, Jonathan Saul, Olena, Carolyn Cohn, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Insurance, McGill, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Russia, Kyiv, Izmail, Reni, Ukraine, London

☆ Insurers reviewing Black Sea ship cover after Russia suspension
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Jonathan Saul | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 17 (Reuters) - Insurers are reviewing whether to freeze cover for any ships willing to sail to Ukraine after Russia said on Monday it will suspend participation in a UN-backed deal that allows the export of grain through a Black Sea safe corridor, sources said. "Due to the collapse of the Black Sea corridor deal, most shipowners will now refrain from calling Ukrainian ports," Christian Vinther Christensen, chief operating officer with Danish shipping group NORDEN told Reuters. The (key) question is whether Russia mines the area which would effectively cease any form of cover being offered," one insurance industry source said. The Lloyd's of London insurance market has already placed the Black Sea region on its high-risk list. Additional war risk insurance premiums, which are charged when entering the Black Sea area, need to be renewed every seven days.

Persons: Christian Vinther Christensen, Neil Roberts, shipowners, Jonathan Saul, Sharon Singleton Organizations: NORDEN, Reuters, . Insurance, Lloyd's Market Association, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russia, UN, Turkey, London, Lloyd's

☆ Britain's Orthodox Haredi Jews wary of state intrusion in education
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Jonathan Saul | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

This special faith-based education is profoundly important to Hamilton's strictly Orthodox Haredi Jewish community, which numbers 80,000 in Britain. All children in Britain from the age of five must be in full-time education. "Every child has the right to a safe and suitable education," said a spokesperson for the Department of Education. Underlying the tensions at play between the community and secular state, the government's educational standards office Ofsted, which inspects schools, said in 2021 the school's secular curriculum was too narrow. "Hear our pain and our deep request to leave us alone to allow us to keep our identity," said Rabbi Herschel Gluck, a Haredi community leader.

Persons: Yossi Hamilton, Asher Gratt, Randall Hardy, Flick Drummond, Elyon, Peter Cziborra Hamilton, Hamilton, Shakeel, Rabbi Herschel Gluck, Jonathan Saul, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Jewish, Conservative, Department of Education, REUTERS, Ofsted, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, England, Israel, British, Birmingham

☆ Iran's Revolutionary Guards seize commercial ship in Gulf - U.S. Navy
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 6 (Reuters) - Iran's Revolutionary Guards "forcibly seized" a commercial ship in international waters in the Gulf on Thursday and the vessel was possibly involved in smuggling, a U.S. Navy spokesperson said. The U.S. Navy had monitored the situation and decided not to make any further response, U.S. 5th Fleet spokesperson Commander Tim Hawkins said. Iran said on Thursday it had a court order to seize one of the tankers sailing in Gulf waters on Wednesday after it collided with an Iranian vessel. read moreTehran seized two other tankers in May including the Marshall Islands flagged Advantage Sweet, which had been chartered by Chevron. read moreSince 2021, "Iran has harassed, attacked or seized nearly 20 internationally flagged merchant vessels", the U.S. Navy said this week.

Persons: Tim Hawkins, Ambrey, Hawkins, Jonathan Saul, Hugh Lawson, Andrew Heavens Organizations: Guards, U.S . Navy, . 5th Fleet, Richmond, Marshall, Chevron, Thomson Locations: Gulf, U.S, British, Saudi, Dammam, Iran, Hormuz, Oman, Gulf of Oman, Iranian, Bahamas, Chevron, Tehran

An Iranian navy vessel fired shots during the second seizure attempt, Navy Fifth Fleet spokesperson Timothy Hawkins said. British maritime security company Ambrey said a warship with a multinational navy task group was in the area at the time and had requested the Iranian navy to "cease harassing" one of the merchant ships. Iran seized two oil tankers in a week just over a month ago, the U.S. Navy said. Refinitiv ship-tracking data shows the Richmond Voyager previously docked in Ras Tannoura in eastern Saudi Arabia before Wednesday's incident in the Gulf of Oman. The Richmond Voyager was sailing away from the Gulf with Singapore listed as its destination, Refinitiv ship tracking showed.

Persons: Timothy Hawkins, Hawkins, Ambrey, IRNA, Lisa Barrington, Jonathan Saul, Rami Ayyub, Jason Neely, David Holmes Organizations: U.S . Navy, Chevron, Richmond Voyager, Navy Fifth Fleet, Reuters, Marshall, Suez, Dubai, Thomson Locations: DUBAI, Iran, Gulf of Oman, U.S, Iranian, Oman, United States, Hormuz, Ras Tannoura, Saudi Arabia, Gulf, Singapore, Marshall Islands, Greece, U.S . Gulf, Mexico, Galveston, Washington

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