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The National Times - News around the clock from Sydney, Australia and around the world

Ukraine destroys Russian terror-oil exports

Ukraine’s campaign against Russian oil infrastructure has developed into a direct assault on one of Moscow’s most important economic arteries. The focus is not on symbolic targets but on the nodes through which a large share of Russian crude exports is loaded and shipped. Pressure on the Baltic outlets of Primorsk and Ust-Luga is especially significant because they handle a major part of seaborne exports. Add the after-effects of the disruption around Novorossiysk, interruptions in the Druzhba corridor on Ukrainian territory, and growing pressure on tankers linked to Russia’s shadow fleet, and the picture becomes larger than a handful of dramatic fires. What is under attack is the export chain itself: storage, loading, routing, maritime dispatch and ultimately cash flow.Current estimates indicate that roughly 40 percent of Russia’s oil export capacity has at times been disrupted or temporarily knocked offline. That amounts to around 2 million barrels per day that failed to reach the market as planned or had to be rerouted with delay and higher cost. For the Kremlin, this matters because oil is not merely a commodity; it remains one of the pillars of federal revenue. When terminals go down, ships queue, cargoes must be reassigned and transport risks rise, the economic impact widens even if part of the volume is later recovered. The strikes therefore hit the area where Russia, despite sanctions, price caps and alternative shipping arrangements, has tried hardest to preserve hard-currency income.What makes the Ukrainian approach notable is that it is designed less for one-off spectacle than for repeated operational disruption. Every hit on port infrastructure, pumping systems, storage tanks or loading chains can create bottlenecks far beyond the point of impact. A delay of only a few days can alter tanker rotations, export schedules, settlement timing and production planning. The fact that one facility may resume operations relatively quickly does not remove the vulnerability exposed by the pattern. Moscow is being forced to reshuffle volumes, test alternative routes and absorb added risk at nearly every step of the process. That is a structural problem for an export model that depends heavily on a limited set of maritime hubs.

Noosha Aubel: Scandal in Potsdam over severely disabled child

As little Heidrun celebrates her second birthday today, she is still waiting for something that should be a matter of course in a constitutional state: a place in an inclusive daycare centre with individual assistance. Her parents have been fighting for this right for over a year and have now filed disciplinary complaints, criminal charges and petitions. What they are experiencing in Potsdam (Federal state of Brandenburg) is, according to citizens, ‘the pitiful face of an administration that ignores laws and cold-heartedly abandons the weakest members of society, children with severe disabilities’.Back in January 2025, representatives of the Children, Youth and Family Department of the state capital Potsdam (Germany) acknowledged in writing that Heidrun needs special support due to her severe disability – since birth, the toddler has suffered from a KBG gene defect (100 per cent severe disability with care level 4 and, among other things, the designation ‘H’ = ‘helpless’ and ‘aG’ = ‘exceptionally mobility impaired’).

The National Times - News around the clock from Sydney, Australia and around the world

Sabalenka, Sinner keep 'Sunshine Double' in sight with Miami Open wins

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Ukraine destroys Russian terror-oil exports

Uruguay becomes first country to ratify EU-South America trade deal

Uruguay on Thursday became the first country to ratify a mammoth trade deal with the European Union, which also includes Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.

Stocks diverge as investors digest Nvidia earnings

Stock markets diverged on Thursday as investors digested company earnings, including better-than-forecast but not stellar results from chip titan Nvidia.

Tudor says turning round Tottenham his hardest job

Tottenham Hotspur interim head coach Igor Tudor says ensuring the club avoid relegation from the Premier League represents the hardest challenge of his career.

EU says member states can use bloc's funds for 'safe' abortion access

The European Commission affirmed Thursday that member states can tap EU funds to pay for safe abortions in answer to a million-strong petition, but stopped short of steps to actively facilitate access across the bloc.

Hillary Clinton faces 'a lot of questions' in US House panel's Epstein probe

Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton will face "a lot of questions" Thursday from a congressional committee investigating the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, its Republican chair said.

More rain lashes southeast Brazil as death toll hits 54

Fresh downpours have brought more flooding, landslides and fear to southeastern Brazil where rescuers were still looking for 14 missing people Thursday after a rainstorm that left 54 people dead.

Carney on route to Asia to promote Canada trade as US ties falter

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was flying to Asia on Thursday for a three-country tour with a first stop in India, where he hopes to double trade to offset the damage of his country's fracturing relations with the United States.

Abhishek, Pandya fire India to 256-4 against Zimbabwe

Opener Abhishek Sharma and Hardik Pandya hit blistering fifties as India reached 256-4 against Zimbabwe in the T20 World Cup Super Eights on Thursday, the second highest total in the history of the tournament.

Irish wing Lowe ruled out of rest of Six Nations

Livewire Irish wing James Lowe will play no further part in the Six Nations it was announced on Thursday owing to the groin injury he suffered early on in last weekend's 42-21 thrashing of England.

Cuba vows to counter 'terrorist' attacks after clashing with US-based boat

Cuba vowed Thursday to defend against "terrorist and mercenary" attacks after reporting it had killed four gunmen on a US-registered boat -- a bloody incident that added to deepening tensions between Havana and Washington.

Swastikas tagged at former Nazi transit camp near Paris

Two swastikas have been found spray-painted on buildings in a Paris suburb that served as a World War II transit camp for some 63,000 Jews deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau.

Calls for heads to roll after feeble Sri Lanka T20 World Cup exit

Pressure is mounting on Sri Lanka's captain, coach and the selection panel to step down after the co-hosts' feeble exit from the T20 World Cup with a match to spare.

Stocks mixed as investors digest Nvidia earnings

Stock markets traded mixed on Thursday as investors digested company earnings, including better-than-forecast results from chip titan Nvidia.

Noosha Aubel: Scandal in Potsdam over severely disabled child

Chaos as jihadist relatives left Syrian camp, witnesses say

There were scenes of "utter chaos" when thousands of women and children related to suspected Islamic State jihadists escaped a camp in Syria last month following the sudden withdrawal of Kurdish forces, witnesses have told AFP.

Mother of Greek train tragedy victim takes on politicians in bid for 'justice'

Three years after Greece's deadliest-ever train crash, the mother of one of the tragedy's 57 victims told AFP she hopes her new political party will force the country's governing elite to accept responsibility.

No proven link between Duterte speeches and drug deaths, defence tells ICC

There is no proven link between the "uniquely colourful and crusty" speeches of former Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte and the murders he is accused of, his defence lawyer told the International Criminal Court on Thursday.

Athens court convicts four over Greece spyware saga

A Greek court convicted four people Thursday over a long-running wiretapping scandal that rocked the government in 2022, prompting resignations and a vote of no confidence in parliament.

Iranian in possible France prisoner swap jailed for a year

A French court on Thursday sentenced Iranian national Mahdieh Esfandiari to one year in prison for justifying terrorism in a case linked to a possible prisoner swap with two French citizens held in Iran.

US, Ukraine hold talks in Geneva as Russia says 'no deadlines' to end war

US and Ukrainian officials were meeting in Geneva on Thursday to discuss advancing efforts to end Russia's four-year invasion of Ukraine, just as Moscow signalled it was in no hurry to sign a deal.

English giants dominate line-up for Champions League last-16 draw

The draw for the latter stages of this season's Champions League takes place on Friday with Newcastle United's midweek victory against Qarabag meaning an unprecedented six English sides will feature in the last 16.

Iran, US hold talks in push to avert war

Iran and the United States held talks in Switzerland on Thursday, in a last-ditch bid to avert war under the shadow of the biggest American military build-up in the Middle East in decades.

South Africa thrash West Indies in T20 World Cup statement win

South Africa captain Aiden Markram led from the front with an unbeaten 82 as South Africa all but secured a T20 World Cup semi-final berth with a brutal nine-wicket thrashing of the West Indies in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

ECB books third straight annual loss

The European Central Bank said Thursday it booked its third straight loss in 2025 due to the lingering impact of a record run of interest rate hikes.

Injury forces Marquez to adapt for MotoGP opener

Defending MotoGP champion Marc Marquez said Thursday that a lingering shoulder injury has forced him to change his riding style as he prepares to open the new season in Thailand.

Booming markets propel Hong Kong exchange's profits to record high

Hong Kong's stock exchange reported record profits for the second consecutive year on Thursday, after the finance hub topped the global rankings for initial public offerings in 2025.

West Indies recover from 83-7 to post to 176-8 against South Africa

A record eighth-wicket partnership by Romario Shepherd and Jason Holder enabled the West Indies to overcome an early collapse and post 176-8 against South Africa on Thursday in the T20 World Cup Super Eights in Ahmedabad.

Stocks mostly rise as markets digest Nvidia earnings

Stock markets mostly extended gains on Thursday as investors digested company earnings, including forecast-beating results from chip titan Nvidia.

Filmmakers defend Berlin festival chief in Gaza row

Actors and filmmakers rushed to defend the head of the Berlin film festival Thursday following a media report that her job was on the line over a director's anti-Israel speech at the event.

Hong Kong mogul Jimmy Lai wins appeal in fraud case

Hong Kong pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai won an appeal on Thursday over a 2022 fraud conviction, days after a court jailed him on separate national security charges.

Iranian in possible prisoner exchange faces 'terrorism' verdict in France

A French court was to rule Thursday in the trial of an Iranian accused of "promoting and inciting terrorism", a case linked to a possible prisoner swap with two French citizens held in Iran.

'Street-smart' New Zealand can topple England to make T20 semis: coach

New Zealand's "street-smart" cricketers can find a way to beat England and guarantee their semi-final place at the T20 World Cup, coach Rob Walters said on Thursday.

Iran-US talks begin in push to avert war

Iran and the United States began indirect talks in Switzerland on Thursday, a last-ditch bid to avert war following the biggest American military build-up in the Middle East in decades.

Merz says Germany, China must overcome trade gaps 'together'

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz ended his two-day visit to China on Thursday in the tech hub of Hangzhou, identifying "challenges that we must overcome together" after meeting President Xi Jinping and announcing an Airbus deal.

Automaker Stellantis posts massive loss, pivots from EV

Troubled automaker Stellantis, behind brands like Jeep and Fiat, announced Thursday a net loss of 22.3 billion euros ($26.3 billion) for last year, blaming a lack of demand for electric vehicles.

US, Ukraine to meet in Geneva after overnight Russian strikes

US and Ukrainian officials were set to meet in Geneva on Thursday for fresh talks, hours after Russia launched a fresh barrage of missiles and drones at its neighbour overnight.

Seoul hits fresh record on mixed day for stock markets

Seoul's Kospi index hit another record high Thursday on a mixed day for equities following a strong lead from Wall Street but with traders giving a tepid response to forecast-beating earnings from chip titan Nvidia.