2024-04-13 12:02

MOSCOW, April 13 (Reuters) - The level of the Ural river in the Russian city of Orenburg has reached 11.83 metres, or around 39 feet, local authorities said on Saturday, after major rivers burst their banks due to a historic deluge of melting snow. Authorities in the city called on thousands of residents to evacuate immediately on Friday due to rapidly rising floodwaters. "The situation remains challenging. In some areas the flood peak is still ahead," Orenburg Governor Denis Pasler said on the Telegram messenger app. Water was also rising sharply in another Russian region, Kurgan. Floodwaters were approaching the settlement of Baraba, located near the regional centre Kurgan, governor Vadim Shumkov said on his Telegram channel, calling on residents to evacuate. Shumkov said a deluge could reach Kurgan in the coming days. The level of the Tobol river, which flows through the city, may reach 9-11 metres, he added. The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/level-ural-river-russias-orenburg-reaches-1183-metres-say-local-authorities-2024-04-13/

2024-04-13 11:39

JERUSALEM, April 13 (Reuters) - Iran launched dozens of drones at Israel on Saturday but they will take hours to reach their targets, Israel's military said, an attack that may trigger a major escalation between the regional archenemies, with the U.S. pledging to back Israel. Two security sources in Iraq said dozens of drones had been spotted flying from Iran toward Israel over Iraqi airspace in what Iranian Press TV called "extensive drone strikes" by the Revolutionary Guards. Iran has vowed retaliation for what it called an Israeli strike on its Damascus consulate on April 1 that killed seven Revolutionary Guards officers including two senior commanders. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the attack. U.S. President Joe Biden, who on Friday warned Iran against attacking Israel after saying such a scenario appeared imminent, has pledged to stand with Israel against Iran, the White House said. A retired Israeli general, Amos Yadlin, told the country's Channel 12 news that the Iranian drones were equipped with 20 kg (44 pounds) of explosives each. Israel's military said sirens would sound in any threatened areas and that its defences were poised to deal with them. Israel and neighbouring Jordan, which lies between Iraq and Israel, said they were closing their airspace on Saturday night. The Gaza war between Israel and Hamas, now in its seventh month, has driven up tensions in the region, spreading to fronts with Lebanon and Syria and drawing long-range fire at Israeli targets from as far away as Yemen and Iraq. Earlier on Saturday, Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported that a Guards helicopter had boarded and taken into Iranian waters the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries. MSC, which operates the Aries, confirmed that Iran had seized the ship and said it was working "with the relevant authorities" for its safe return and the wellbeing of its 25 crew. MSC leases the Aries from Gortal Shipping, an affiliate of Zodiac Maritime, Zodiac said in a statement, adding that MSC is responsible for all the vessel's activities. Zodiac is partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Iran of piracy. The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/ukmto-receives-report-incident-50nm-northeast-uaes-fujairah-2024-04-13/

2024-04-13 10:49

April 13 (Reuters) - Iran's state news agency IRNA said on Saturday that its Revolutionary Guards had seized the MSC Aries vessel it said was "linked to Israel" and it was being transferred to Iran's territorial waters. A Guards navy special forces helicopter boarded the Portuguese flagged vessel and seized it, IRNA added. The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/irans-state-news-agency-says-guards-have-seized-msc-aries-vessel-linked-israel-2024-04-13/

2024-04-13 05:14

BEIJING, April 13 (Reuters) - Floods, droughts, an earthquake and freezing conditions in China caused direct economic losses of 23.76 billion yuan ($3.28 billion) in the first quarter, the government said on Saturday. The emergency management ministry cited damage from several cold spells, a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in the northwestern region of Xinjiang, landslides in Yunnan province in the southwest and flooding on the Yellow River. The disasters killed 79 people while 110,000 needed emergency relocation and resettlement and 10.4 million people across 26 regions and provinces were affected in the period, the ministry said in a report. Other natural disasters included a drought in the southwest affecting 424,000 hectares (10,500 acres) of crops, sandstorms in the northwest and forest fires in the southwest and south. Last year natural disasters in China caused 345.45 billion yuan ($47.7 billion) of direct economic losses, with 691 people dead or missing, the ministry reported in January. In January the ministry said it plans a three-year campaign to tackle problems hampering response times during disasters and accidents, including production safety lapses in sectors like mining. ($1 = 7.2371 Chinese yuan renminbi) The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-natural-disasters-cost-33-billion-first-quarter-government-says-2024-04-13/

2024-04-13 05:08

NEW DELHI, April 13 (Reuters) - India has asked companies to operate underutilised gas-based power plants in May and June, and extend operations of imported coal-based plants until Oct. 15 to meet anticipated high demand for electricity, according to two government orders. The South Asian nation registered an 8% rise in electricity consumption in the financial year that ended last month, and demand is expected to rise in the hot summer months. In an order dated Friday, the government for the first time invoked an emergency clause mandating companies to operate underutilised gas-based power plants by importing the fuel. India has about 24 gigawatts of gas-based power plants that have been idling or underused for decades due to lack of fuel. Power stations will be informed two weeks in advance about the requirements so they can import gas, the order says. "Gas-based power plants are required to meet the anticipated surge in power consumption in summer months," the order says. Torrent (TORR.BO) New Tab, opens new tab and NTPC (NTPC.NS) New Tab, opens new tab are among the big gas-based power station companies. In another order, seen by Reuters on Saturday, the government invoked an emergency clause directing companies such as Tata Power (TTPW.NS) New Tab, opens new tab and Adani Power (ADAN.NS) New Tab, opens new tab - which are operating imported coal-fired plants with a capacity of nearly 16 gigawatts - to continue operations. The plants were initially allowed to operate until June 30. The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-extends-operation-imported-coal-based-power-plants-until-oct-15-2024-04-13/

2024-04-13 01:16

WASHINGTON, April 12 (Reuters) - Coinbase asked two courts for permission on Friday to appeal part of its ongoing lawsuit with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in an effort to more quickly obtain a ruling on whether digital assets resemble investment contracts. Jumpstart your morning with the latest legal news delivered straight to your inbox from The Daily Docket newsletter. Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/legal/coinbase-asks-appeal-part-case-against-us-sec-2024-04-13/