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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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Starship's Fiery Setback: SpaceX Faces Another Explosion

SpaceX's ambitious Starship program encountered another hurdle as its massive spacecraft exploded during its eighth test flight. The incident occurred shortly after liftoff from the Boca Chica launch site in Texas. The upper stage of the rocket spun uncontrollably before breaking apart, scattering fiery debris over the Caribbean.

This marks the second consecutive failure for the Starship program this year, following a similar mishap during its seventh test flight. Despite these setbacks, SpaceX remains committed to refining the rocket, which is central to Elon Musk's vision of future crewed missions to the Moon and Mars.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the incident, temporarily halting air traffic in parts of Florida due to concerns over space debris. SpaceX has described the explosion as a "learning opportunity" and plans to implement safety improvements for future launches.

While the Super Heavy booster successfully returned to the launch pad, the failure of the upper stage highlights the challenges of developing cutting-edge space exploration technology. SpaceX continues to push the boundaries, undeterred by these fiery setbacks.

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