2024-04-07 09:40

KYIV, April 7 (Reuters) - The Ukrainian energy system that was severely damaged by Russian missile attacks in recent weeks is now almost completely stabilised, and the energy ministry on Sunday said no major imports were expected. Ukraine's electricity imports reached a record high at the end of March after a string of Russian missile strikes on critical infrastructure caused blackouts in many parts of the country. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Sunday said he had discussed a wave of attacks and bombings on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, with the heads of the Security Service, Defence Intelligence and the Interior minister. Later, in his nightly video address, the president said the world must "finally hear" the pain inflicted on Kharkiv and other cities by Russian attacks and renewed a call for "political will" to ensure that Ukraine secures proper air defences. "It is quite obvious that our existing air defence capabilities in Ukraine are not sufficient and it is obvious to our partners," Zelenskiy said. "And the world must finally hear the pain that Russian terrorists are causing to Kharkiv." Zelenskiy has for months called on Ukraine's Western partners to provide the systems and munitions he says his country needs to oust Russian troops. In an interview broadcast on Saturday, he said he still believes that a major U.S. aid package would be approved by Congress, where it has faced Republican opposition for months. Ukraine has been hit for weeks by a long series of missile attacks on critical infrastructure throughout the country, triggering a record high in electricity imports. Since March 22, Russian forces have been attacking Ukrainian thermal and hydropower stations as well as main networks on an almost daily basis, which has led to the blackouts. Grid company Ukrenergo said Russian drones had damaged the high-voltage network facility in the Kharkiv region overnight and the system operator had to introduce some power cuts. "Today, Ukrenergo's dispatch centre has been forced to increase the volume of emergency power outages in Kharkiv and the region," the company said on Telegram. However, the country's power system remains "stable and balanced," the energy ministry said in a statement. It said power exports were expected at 115 megawatt hours (MWh) on Sunday while imports could total 1,179 Mwh. Ukraine imported a record 18,649 MWh on March 26. National grid company chief Volodymyr Kudrytskyi told Reuters last week that Russian attacks had caused significant damage to the power system, but a total collapse was unlikely. The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-energy-system-stable-no-major-power-imports-expected-ministry-says-2024-04-07/

2024-04-07 08:32

BEIJING, April 7 (Reuters) - China's foreign exchange reserves rose in March, official data showed on Sunday, even as the U.S. dollar climbed against other major currencies. The country's foreign exchange reserves - the world's largest - rose by $19.8 billion to $3.246 trillion last month, compared with $3.21 trillion tipped by a Reuters poll of analysts and $3.226 trillion in February. The yuan fell 0.47% against the dollar in March, while the dollar last month rose 0.31% against a basket of other major currencies . China held 72.74 million fine troy ounces of gold at the end of March, up from 72.58 million ounces at the end of February. The value of China's gold reserves rose to $161.07 billion at the end of March from $148.64 billion at the end of February. Keep up with the latest medical breakthroughs and healthcare trends with the Reuters Health Rounds newsletter. Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/china-forex-reserves-rise-3246-trln-march-2024-04-07/

2024-04-07 08:04

CAIRO, April 7 (Reuters) - Houthi forces in Yemen said on Sunday they had launched rockets and drones at British, U.S. and Israeli ships, the latest in a campaign of attacks on shipping in support of Palestinians in the Gaza war. The Iran-aligned group said it had targeted a British ship and a number of U.S. frigates in the Red Sea, while in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean it had attacked two Israeli vessels heading to Israeli ports. The operations took place during the last 72 hours, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a televised statement, without providing further details of the attacks. Britain and the United States have also been launching retaliatory strikes against the Houthis. U.S. forces destroyed a mobile surface-to-air missile system in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen Saturday, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said. U.S. forces also shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle over the Red Sea, its statement said, adding that a coalition vessel also detected, engaged and destroyed one inbound anti-ship missile. No injuries or damage were reported. Earlier, British security firm Ambrey said it had received information indicating that a vessel was attacked on Sunday in the Gulf of Aden about 102 nautical miles southwest of Mukalla in Yemen. "Vessels in the vicinity were advised to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity," the firm said. It did not say who was responsible for the attack or give further details. Separately, a missile landed near a vessel in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday but there was no damage to the ship or injuries to crew in the incident, 59 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni port of Aden, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said. "The Master of the vessel reports a missile impacted the water in close proximity to the vessel's port quarter," UKMTO said in an advisory note. "No damage to the vessel reported and crew reported safe," it added. It did not say who fired the missile or give further details. It was not immediately clear if the attacks reported by the British agencies were the same as the latest incidents claimed by the Houthis. Houthi attacks have disrupted global shipping through the Suez Canal, forcing firms to re-route to longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa. The United States and Britain have launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. 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/missile-lands-near-vessel-southwest-yemens-aden-no-damage-ukmto-says-2024-04-07/

2024-04-07 02:07

MEXICO CITY, April 6 (Reuters) - Mexico's state energy company Pemex said on Saturday that a fire broke out at one of its platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, adding that it had activated emergency protocols and contained it but that nine workers were injured in the accident. Pemex said in a statement that two of the workers were its own employees and seven were from other companies, adding that none were severely injured. The fire broke out late afternoon in a part of the Akal B platform where gas pipelines are located. Videos and photographs apparently taken from a boat near the platform and shared on social media showed huge plumes of black smoke rising from oil and gas infrastructure. Reuters was not able to independently verify the content. The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexicos-pemex-reports-fire-offshore-platform-two-employees-injured-2024-04-07/

2024-04-06 20:39

LONDON, April 6 (Reuters) - Airline passengers in parts of the United Kingdom and Ireland faced travel disruption at airports on Saturday due to flight cancellations as a storm swept across both countries and left thousands of Irish homes with power outages. The disruption caused by Storm Kathleen, named by the Irish Meteorological Service and the 11th named storm of the 2023-24 season, has affected flights at airports across Ireland and the UK, including Manchester Airport and Belfast City Airport. Dublin Airport said travellers due to fly were being advised to check with their airline for travel updates after weather conditions at other airports led to some cancellations and flight diversions. EasyJet said that due to the impact of the storm some flights to and from the "Isle of Man and Belfast International had been unable to operate" on Saturday. "We are doing all possible to minimise the impact of the weather disruption," the airline said in a statement to Reuters. EasyJet said it was providing customers whose flights were cancelled with the option to transfer to an alternative flight or receive a refund, hotel accommodation and meals. In Scotland, rail and ferry services were also affected and faced disruption due to Storm Kathleen with Scottish rail services implementing temporary speed restrictions earlier in the day. Strong winds associated with the storm also had led to a number of power outages across the country, with approximately 34,000 homes, farms and businesses impacted, Irish power supplier ESB Networks said. "ESB Networks crews are mobilised in impacted areas and responding to power outages where safe to do so," the company said in a lunchtime update on Saturday. The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/flights-cancelled-parts-uk-power-outages-ireland-due-storm-2024-04-06/

2024-04-06 19:38

CAIRO, April 6 (Reuters) - British maritime security firm Ambrey said on Saturday it had received information that a vessel had been targeted around 61 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah in Yemen. Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said it had received a report of an incident at almost the same point where the captain of a vessel reported two missiles in the vicinity of the ship that did not cause damage. It was unclear whether Ambrey and UKMTO were reporting the same incident as they did not name any vessels in their updates. Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have staged attacks on shipping in the Red Sea region for months in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza war. One of the missile's mentioned in UKMTO's advisory note was intercepted by coalition forces defending commercial shipping in the region, it said. The second hit the water a distance from the vessel, it added. There was no damage to the vessel and the crew were reported safe, UKMTO said. Months of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to re-route to longer and more expensive journeys around Southern Africa, and stoked fears that the Israel-Hamas war could spread to destabilise the wider Middle East. The United States and Britain have carried out strikes against Houthi targets in response to the attacks on shipping. 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/uk-security-firm-says-vessel-targeted-near-yemens-hodeidah-2024-04-06/