BP to cover Gulf oil spill costs
after selling stake in TNK-BP to Rosneft - Fitch
BP’s
agreement to sell its 50 percent stake in TNK-BP to Russia’s Rosneft means the
company should be able to cover any further legal costs arising from the 2010
Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Fitch Ratings agency says. The company’s oil and gas
production (excluding TNK-BP and other equity affiliates) “dropped by more than
20% between 2009 and 2011 due to asset disposals and the Macondo spill,” Fitch
said. After the Rosneft deal, British energy giant BP was set to return money
to shareholders, AFP reported. BP, seeking to reposition itself after the 2010
disaster, could also re-launch plans to unearth Arctic oil, analysts predict.
Tehran could host inter-Syrian
dialogue – Iran foreign ministry
Iran
could soon host a “dialogue” between the parties involved in the Syrian
conflict, a senior Iranian diplomat said on Tuesday. Representatives of the
Syrian government and all political and opposition groups “will soon begin a
national dialogue in a regional country, and possibly in Tehran,” IRNA quoted Hossein
Amir Abdollahian, deputy foreign minister for Arab affairs, as saying. He did
not name specific members of the Syrian opposition who had agreed to
participate. The diplomat acknowledged that some Syrian opposition groups have
rejected calls for dialogue.
More than 100,000 Syrian refugees
in Lebanon – UN
Over
100,000 Syrians have fled the conflict in their country for neighboring
Lebanon, the UN High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR) said Tuesday. Lebanon is
the third country in the region after Turkey and Jordan “to see its population
of registered Syrian refugees and people waiting for registration [exceed] the
100,000 mark,” the UNHCR said in a statement. There are now more than 358,000
Syrians registered as refugees in neighboring countries.
Russia to sell 1 million tons of
grain on domestic market
The
Russian government will intervene in the country’s domestic grain market to
curb rising prices and control exports. The intervention will take place in the
Siberia, Urals and Far Eastern regions, the Agriculture Ministry said on
Tuesday. Russian state grain stocks now total around 4.75 million tons. The
ministry plans to sell one million tons of grain, about 110,000 tons per week,
at up to 15 percent below market rates until the end of 2012. Russia has
harvested 70 million tons of grain this year.
Gazprom launches Bovanenkovo gas
field on Russia’s Yamal Peninsula
Russian
energy giant Gazprom officially launched a project to develop the Bovanenkovo
gas condensate field on the Yamal Peninsula in northwest Siberia on Tuesday.
The field’s reserves are estimated at almost five trillion cubic meters, and
its projected output is 140 bcm per year. President Vladimir Putin inaugurated
the operation via a video conference. The Bovanenkovo field, discovered in
1971, was named after geologist Vadim Bovanenko.
Karzai says NATO raid kills four
Afghan children
Afghan
President Hamid Karzai condemned a NATO raid on Sunday in Logar province that
he claimed killed four children. Coalition troops carried out the operation in
the Baraki Barak district in an effort to apprehend two armed militants,
Karzai’s statement said, adding that the mission resulted in the deaths of four
children tending their animals in the same area. The victims were between 10
and 13 years old, according to Din Mohammad Darwesh, spokesperson for the
provincial governor. NATO said on Sunday it had conducted a “precision air
strike” in Baraki Barak that killed three insurgents. “No other individuals
were reported nearby at the time of the strike,” the coalition said.
More than 70 killed by Syrian
army in Aleppo, Damascus clashes – rebels
As many
as 71 people were killed by the Syrian army on Tuesday, mostly in the suburbs
of Aleppo and Damascus, Al Arabiya quoted rebel sources as saying. One of the
day’s heaviest battles raged in Maaret al-Numan, a town straddling the main
highway between Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, and the capital Damascus. Syrian
warplanes bombed the town on Tuesday in an attempt to reopen a key supply
route, the AP reported. Syrian Observatory of Human Rights director Rami Abdel
Rahman told AFP that “neither the rebels nor the regime appear to want a
ceasefire.”
Somali militants threaten UK
attack over Abu Hamza extradition
The
Islamist Somalian militia Al-Shabaab warned the UK it would “pay the heftiest
price” for its “war against Islam” and the extradition of radical cleric Abu
Hamza to the US. Al-Shabaab’s press office published eleven threatening posts
on its Twitter page, AFP reported. Radical preacher Hamza and four other terror
suspects were extradited to the US earlier this month. Shabaab recently
retreated from a string of former strongholds in Somalia, including Kismayo,
after a joint offensive by the African Union and Somali government forces.
US, Turkey discuss military
cooperation in fight against Kurdish rebels
US
Admiral James Winnefeld, vice chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was in Turkey
on Tuesday as Washington and Ankara move to strengthen military cooperation
amid mounting tensions on the Turkish-Syrian border. The fight against the
outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) will top the agenda of the talks, while
the Syrian crisis will also be discussed, Hurriyet Daily News quoted Turkish officials
as saying. Francis Ricciardone, the US ambassador to Turkey, reportedly pushed
back last week against rumors that Washington was unwilling to further assist
in the fight against the PKK.
Jamaica issues warning ahead of
Tropical Storm Sandy
A
tropical storm warning has been issued for Jamaica as Tropical Storm Sandy
approaches the island nation, and may strengthen. The US National Hurricane
Center said Sandy is forecast to achieve hurricane-force as it nears Jamaica on
Wednesday. The storm is centered about 555 kilometers south-southwest of
Kingston, Jamaica, and is moving north at around 6 kph, the AP said. Meanwhile,
a tropical depression in the Atlantic Ocean is expected to become a tropical
storm later in the day.
Taliban kill 10 Afghan security
personnel in Herat
Ten
Afghan security personnel were killed in a battle with Taliban insurgents in
the western province of Herat, officials said on Tuesday. Five police officers
and five soldiers were killed, including the police chief of Obe district,
where the battle took place on Monday afternoon, AFP reported. The shootout,
which erupted when the Taliban attacked a police convoy, lasted several hours.
Three Taliban insurgents, including a commander, were also killed.
Emir of Qatar visits Hamas-ruled
Gaza Strip
Emir of
Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani entered the Gaza Strip on Tuesday,
becoming the first head of state to visit the Palestinian territory since Hamas
took control of Gaza five years ago following an election. An honor guard
awaited him at Gaza's southern border crossing, where he entered from Egypt,
the AP said. Al Thani is expected to pledge more than $250 million in aid to
the territory, easing Hamas’ international isolation.
UK foreign secretary speaks
against centralizing decision-making by EU
The UK
foreign secretary has urged eurozone member-states to overcome the debt crisis
without centralizing more decision-making within the EU’s governing bodies. At
a conference in Berlin Tuesday, William Hague warned against imposing a model
that excludes EU members who do not use the euro, the AP said. Hague also
dismissed the idea of strengthening the bloc’s foreign policy and military
cooperation. Issues of war and peace can never be decided by a majority of the
27 members, he said.
European Court says trial of
ex-Yukos security chief Pichugin ‘unfair’
The
European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) announced on Tuesday that the trial of
Aleksey Pichugin, former head of security at the Yukos oil company, was
“unfair.” Pichugin had been sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of
organizing several murders; he denied the accusations. The court said in a
statement that the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms was violated “on account of the excessive length of the
proceedings,” by the “failure to examine the applicant’s appeal against the
detention order,” and by the “lack of a public hearing in the criminal
proceedings.” The ECHR ordered the Russian government to pay the plaintiff
9,500 euros.
S. Korean activists launch
leaflets at North despite ban from Pyongyang
Activists
in South Korea have launched balloons bearing tens of thousands of propaganda
leaflets at their northern neighbor, despite Pyongyang’s threats to respond to
the act with a military strike. South Korean activists have previously
performed similar propaganda stunts across the countries’ shared border,
prompting similar threats by the North that never materialized.
Assad declares general amnesty in
Syria, excluding 'terrorists'
Syrian
President Bashar al-Assad has issued blanket amnesty for all crimes committed
“up until today,” with the exception of “terrorist crimes,” state television
said on Tuesday. The Syrian president signed a decree for crimes committed
before October 23, AFP reported. Damascus often uses the term ‘terrorists’ to
describe rebels in the country’s ongoing conflict. The amnesty is considered
the most extensive yet, compared to those the government announced in the past.
“This is not a real amnesty,” Rami Abdul-Rahman, the head of the opposition
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told dpa, adding that Assad “releases 100
prisoners and detains 500 others.”
Israeli soldier wounded in blast
along Gaza fence ahead of Qatar ruler visit
An
explosion along the Gaza security fence wounded an IDF soldier, the Israeli
military said. The blast came ahead of a scheduled Tuesday visit to the
Palestinian territory by the ruler of Qatar, the AP said. Sheik Hamad bin
Khalifa Al Thani will be the first head of state to visit Gaza since the
Islamic group Hamas took power five years ago after winning an election. The
emir is expected to promise more than $250 million in aid. Israel considers the
visit a sign of the rising influence of Hamas’ parent movement, the Muslim
Brotherhood.
At least 7 killed in attacks on
Baghdad Shiite neighborhoods
At least
seven people were killed after a car bomb explosion and mortar attacks in
predominantly Shiite neighborhoods in north Baghdad on Tuesday. Multiple
mortars struck the Chikouk area, while a car bomb exploded in Shuala. An
interior ministry official put the toll at nine dead and 12 wounded, AFP said.
A medical official said seven people died and 22 were wounded.
12 patients killed in Taiwan
nursing home fire
A
midnight fire at a hospital and nursing home in southern Taiwan killed 12
elderly patients and injured 70 others, officials said. The patients died of
smoke inhalation early on Tuesday at the nursing home, located on the second
floor of Hsinying hospital. Rescuers evacuated 115 patients, and many of them
were later treated at nearby hospitals for burns or smoke inhalation, the AP
said. The fire was put out in 40 minutes.
UK to double its drone fleet in
Afghanistan
The UK
military will double the size of its armed drone fleet in Afghanistan to 10,
the Ministry of Defense said. Five recently purchased unmanned aerial vehicles
known as ‘Reapers’ would be remotely operated from the Royal Air Force base at
Waddington in central England, the AP reported. Until now, Royal Air Force
crews had operated the drones from the United States’ Creech Air Force Base in
Nevada.
Three Israelis accused of
breaking Gaza blockade released on bail
Three
Israeli activists detained for trying to break the Gaza blockade onboard the Estelle
aid ship, have been released on bail and placed under house arrest. Under the terms of release, the Israeli judge
has banned the trio from approaching within 500 meters of Gaza’s border. They,
along with 27 others, were detained on Saturday after refusing naval orders to
halt their vessel, set on a course towards Gaza. The ship, sailing under a
Finish flag, was allegedly carrying humanitarian supplies to the area.
Paris sends drones to Mali’s
border- reports
Paris
is sending surveillance drones to the coast of West Africa, ahead of military
action in Northern Mali, AP reports. Al
Qaida linked rebels have established a stronghold in the country, where an
embattled government is struggling to hold onto power. France is also reported
to be holding secret talks with U.S. officials in Paris, as its seeks to
generate a coalition to help Mali’s central government. Six French hostages are currently being held
in the rebel region of the country. France and the United Nations insist any
invasion of Mali's north must be led by African troops. A top-level
Franco-American delegation have also began to discuss details of
intelligence-gathering and security in the Sahel region, including Mali, as
both governments fear Sahel region could become the new Afghanistan. The
meeting in Paris follows a U.N. Security Council resolution that gives the
green light to military action in the region.
At least one dead and several
injured in roadside blast in Russia’s N.Ossetia
At
least one person has been killed and several injured in a suicide attack on a
road patrol post in the Russian republic of North Ossetia, Interfax reports.
According to sources the incident occurred when local law enforcement officers
pulled over a vehicle for inspection. As the officer approached the car, an
explosive device was reportedly detonated. Authorities are at the scene, three
people have so far been taken to a nearby hospital. More people are feared to
be beneath the rubble.
UN Security Council to discuss
Russian backed drafts - reports
The UN
Security Council is set to consider three draft statements suggested by Russia,
a source at the UN told Itar-Tass. The first draft is supporting the truce in
Syria proposed by the UN and Arab League’s special representative, Lakhdar
Brahim. The second draft statement to be discussed on Tuesday would condemn the
terrorist acts in Damascus and urge the Syrian government and the opposition
for an armistice during the feast of Id al Adha. The third will touch upon the
situation in the Libyan city of Bani Walid.
Eleven dead, scores injured in
bus accident in Brazil
Eleven
people have been killed and up to eight others injured in Brazil after a bus
plunged into a ravine in a mountainous area of
Rio de Janeiro state. According
to one version of the events, the incident occurred when the bus, with 30
people onboard, collided with a car running off the motorway. The accident took
place near the town of Guapimirim on the highway linking Rio de Janeiro city
with Teresopolis.
UN plans to deploy peacekeepers
in Syria
The
United Nations is considering sending troops to Syria pending the Security
Council resolution, the UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said on Monday. He
stressed that it is still premature to point to the exact number of
peacekeepers that might be sent to the country. "I would confirm that, of
course, we are giving a lot of thought to what would happen if and when a
political solution or at least a ceasefire would emerge," Ladsous told the
media. On Sunday, Syria's state media
said that President Assad supports the truce proposal brokered by UN and Arab
League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, but would not halt fire until Western countries
and their Gulf allies stop supporting the opposition. The deployment of any UN
peacekeeping force would have to be based on a 15-member Security Council
mandate, which so far has been in a stalemate over the Syrian crisis.
Pussy Riot members taken out of
Moscow to respective prisons
Two
members of Pussy Riot, a Russian punk group, have been transported out of the
capital to serve their prison terms, despite their requests to stay in Moscow.
Maria Alyokhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were convicted of "hooliganism
motivated by religious hatred" in August and sentenced to two years in
jail after bursting into the country’s main Cathedral, wearing masks and
singing. A third member of Pussy Riot, Yekaterina Samutsevich, was released
after a judge suspended her sentence after her lawyer argued that she had been
pulled away from the cathedral's altar before the protest song began.
Five dead and 14 injured in S.
Africa prison escape attempt
At
least five prisoners have been killed and 14 injured in a bomb blast during an
attempted escape from a prison in Johannesburg, according to local police and
rescue services. The failed attempt occured as 36 prisoners were being
transported from a Johannesbourg court back to jail, where they are awaiting
trial. Two prisoners escaped but were later recaptured. Those hurt in the
incident were taken to a nearby hospital. Police are carrying out an
investigation into what kind of bomb was used in the operation as well as
persueing charges of murder, possession of explosives and escape from lawful
custody.
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