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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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Swiss Ski‑Resort Bar Skipped Six Years of Fire Checks Before Deadly Blaze

                    Forty people were killed in the fire at the bar in Switzerland's Crans-Montana.

A bar in the Swiss Alpine resort of Crans‑Montana had gone six years without mandatory fire‑safety inspections before a New Year’s Eve blaze killed 40 people. Local officials acknowledged that required annual checks had not been carried out since 2019, an oversight only uncovered after investigators began reviewing the venue’s compliance history.

The fire is believed to have started when sparkling candles attached to champagne bottles ignited sound‑proofing foam on the ceiling, causing flames to spread rapidly through the crowded basement bar. Many of the victims were teenagers celebrating the holiday.

The town’s mayor described the lapse in inspections as a serious failure and expressed deep regret. Prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into the bar’s operators, who face potential charges including involuntary homicide and negligent fire‑setting.

The tragedy has intensified scrutiny of fire‑safety enforcement across Switzerland and renewed debate over whether indoor venues should be allowed to use decorative pyrotechnics.


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