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U.S. Seizure of Russian-Flagged Tanker Heightens Global Tensions

The ship, currently between Iceland and the British Isles, has been accused of breaking US sanctions and shipping Iranian oil. It has historically transported Venezuelan crude oil. The United States has seized a Russian‑flagged oil tanker linked to Venezuela after a prolonged pursuit across the Atlantic, marking one of the most assertive enforcement actions under Washington’s sanctions program. The vessel, previously known as Bella‑1 and later renamed Marinera , was intercepted after evading an earlier boarding attempt near Venezuelan waters. U.S. military aircraft and naval units tracked the ship for weeks as it traveled across the Atlantic, at times shadowed by Russian naval vessels. Officials say the tanker was part of a network used to transport sanctioned Venezuelan and Russian oil. Its capture underscores Washington’s efforts to disrupt what it describes as illicit energy shipments that help sustain both governments. The operation comes at a delicate geopolitical moment, wit...

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Major Media and Sports Entities Exit X Over Toxic Content and Hate Speech


In a significant move, Spain’s prominent newspaper La Vanguardia and German Bundesliga club St. Pauli have both announced their departure from the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, citing concerns over toxic content and hate speech.

La Vanguardia, Spain’s fourth most-read newspaper, declared its decision to stop posting on X, criticizing the platform for becoming an “echo chamber” of disinformation and conspiracy theories. The newspaper’s editor, Jordi Juan, highlighted the proliferation of bots and the lack of effective moderation as key reasons for their exit. This decision follows a similar move by the British newspaper, The Guardian, which also left the platform earlier this week due to disturbing content, including racism and conspiracy theories.

Similarly, St. Pauli, known for its alternative fan scene and left-wing supporter base, announced its withdrawal from X, labeling the platform as an “amplifier of hate” that could influence German politics. The club criticized Elon Musk’s management of the platform, accusing it of allowing unchecked spread of racism and conspiracy theories. St. Pauli will now communicate through the BlueSky platform, leaving its historical content on X but ceasing further updates.

These departures underscore growing concerns about the impact of social media platforms on public discourse and the spread of harmful content.


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