Large fire tears through Jakarta leaving hundreds displaced
Hundreds of people were left homeless after a massive fire in Indonesia's capital Jakarta affected more than 300 houses, according to state-run media ...
Two Indian-flagged tankers, Shivalik and Nanda Devi, carrying 92,700 metric tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), are en route to India despite disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz caused by the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, the Indian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday (14 March).
Spokesman Randhir Jaiswal did not specify the ships’ ports of departure.
The state-run Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) owns both vessels.
The strait, a key chokepoint for global energy shipments, has been effectively closed since the bombing campaign on Iran began. Tehran has largely halted traffic for the United States and its allies, though India has sought exemptions to secure the transit of goods and energy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that he had discussed the issue with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
On Friday, Iran’s ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, described the two countries as “friends” with shared interests and a common fate, signalling Tehran’s willingness to allow safe passage for some Indian vessels through the Strait of Hormuz amid the ongoing conflict.
Tracking data shows that Shivalik was last reported on March 12 near the UAE’s exclusive economic zone, while Nanda Devi was last seen on Friday in Iranian waters near the strait’s entrance.
Separately, a Saudi crude tanker is also expected to arrive in India on Saturday, carrying up to 1 million barrels for Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL).
India is facing its worst cooking gas shortage in decades, with imports supplying around 60% of domestic demand and nearly 90% of those coming from the Middle East.
India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas announced on Saturday that consumers with piped natural gas (PNG) connections are now barred from retaining, obtaining, or refilling domestic LPG cylinders under an amended supply order.
The ministry said the amendment also prevents government oil companies from providing LPG connections or refills to households that already have PNG, as part of efforts to curb black marketing of cooking gas through raids and surprise inspections.
The government has also cut industrial gas allocations to prioritise households.
With at least 24 Indian-flagged vessels reportedly stuck in Gulf waters, the safe passage of these shipments is critical to easing energy shortages at home and maintaining stability in the country’s LPG supply chain.
U.S. rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye, performed to a crowd of 118,000 people in Istanbul on Saturday night, marking his first concert in Europe in more than a decade, despite being barred from performing in several countries over past antisemitic remarks.
Okinawa lost transport links and suffered widespread power outages on Monday (1 June) as Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi brought destructive winds and heavy rain to Japan's south-western islands.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has held talks with Lebanese President and Israeli Prime Minister on efforts to ease tensions between Israel and Lebanon. According to a U.S. official, Washington has proposed a plan aimed at achieving a gradual de-escalation of hostilities.
Unsealed records from the U.S. Department of Justice have renewed scrutiny of lawyer Robert Amsterdam after documents revealed communications between his law firm and Jeffrey Epstein's office. The disclosures have drawn attention because of Amsterdam's prominent role in Armenia.
The United States has moved to close a regulatory gap that may have allowed advanced AI chips to reach Chinese-linked firms overseas despite export restrictions.
When Armenians vote on 7 June, they will be voting in an election shaped by months of political change and a rapidly deepening relationship with the European Union. The result may not only determine who governs Armenia but also the future direction of the country's geopolitical alignment.
The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway is resuming operations on 2 June after extensive modernisation works. Officials from Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye are set to gather in Akhalkalaki for a launch event marking the reopening of one of the Middle Corridor's most important transport links.
Kazakhstan is open to expanding its oil export routes through Azerbaijan and advancing joint energy infrastructure projects across the Caspian region, Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov told AnewZ in an exclusive interview in Baku.
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova praised Georgia for resisting Western pressure (30 May), defending its national interests and pursuing a "multi-vector foreign policy" - language that closely mirrors the rhetoric of the ruling Georgian Dream party.
As Armenia approaches parliamentary elections, Russia appears to be increasing political and economic pressure on Yerevan, signalling that closer integration with the EU could lead to significant changes in labour, transport and energy arrangements between the two countries.
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