Ukraine accepts EU offer to help restore Druzhba pipeline carrying Russian oil
The Straits Times
Hungary was blocking a loan to Ukraine over the pipeline outage, which was caused by a Russian attack. Read more at straitstimes.com.
BRUSSELS - Ukraine has accepted a European Union offer of technical support and funding to restore oil flows to Hungary and Slovakia through the damaged Druzhba pipeline, EU Council president Antonio Costa said on March 17.
In a letter to the EU, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said repair work on the pipeline was nearing completion and that the pumping station was expected to be restored in one and a half months, “in the absence of any further attacks by Russia.”
Hungary on March 16 said it would continue blocking a €90 billion (S$130 billion) loan for Ukraine and new sanctions on Russia as long as oil flows via the Druzhba pipeline remained suspended.
Russian oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia have been suspended since late January.
Kyiv says a Russian strike hit Druzhba pipeline equipment in western Ukraine.
Slovakia and Hungary have blamed Ukraine for the prolonged the outage.
Mr Kent said in a statement on X that Iran posed no imminent threat to the US. Read more at straitstimes.com.
BRUSSELS, March 17 - A Brussels court on Tuesday ordered a former high-profile Belgian diplomat to stand trial over the assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of Congo, in a final attempt to shed light on the still murky circumstances surrounding his murder. Read more at straitstimes.com.
AMSTERDAM, March 17 - The Netherlands is investigating whether Iran was involved in the attack on a Rotterdam synagogue on Friday, Justice Minister David van Weel has said, adding that the suspects apprehended for the attack had most likely been recruited. Read more at straitstimes.com.
MOSCOW, March 17 - Russia said it had unwavering solidarity with Cuba on Tuesday, after U.S. President Donald Trump said he expected to have the honour of \"taking Cuba\" and that \"I can do anything I want\" with the Communist-run island republic. Read more at straitstimes.com.
WASHINGTON, March 17 - The head of the National Counterterrorism Center resigned on Tuesday, becoming the first and most senior member of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to resign over the war in Iran, saying Tehran posed no imminent threat to the United States. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Meningitis is an infection affecting the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Read more at straitstimes.com.
The US-Israeli war against Iran cut off critical nitrogen fertiliser supplies to the world's farmers. Read more at straitstimes.com.
BRUSSELS, March 17 - European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas pushed back on Tuesday against a call by Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever to normalise relations with Moscow and regain access to cheap Russian energy. Read more at straitstimes.com.
ROME, March 17 - Celebrated Russian ballerina Svetlana Zakharova has been excluded from a dance gala beginning in Rome this month, organisers said, in the latest political dispute over the participation of Russian artists in cultural events in Italy. Read more at straitstimes.com.
MADRID, March 17 - The upcoming report by Spain's antitrust and energy watchdog CNMC on the massive blackout that hit the Iberian Peninsula last year will not assign blame for the outage, the watchdog's chief said on Tuesday. Read more at straitstimes.com.
GENEVA, March 17 - Israeli airstrikes on residential buildings, displaced people and healthcare workers in Lebanon raise concerns under international law and may amount to war crimes, the United Nations human rights office said on Tuesday. Read more at straitstimes.com.
GENEVA, March 17 - Medical supplies to clinics dealing with the humanitarian crisis in Sudan could run out within two weeks unless shipments are rapidly rerouted after disruptions due to the conflict in the Middle East, the charity Save the Children said. Read more at straitstimes.com.
The scam involves suspects posing as customers placing bulk orders for Hari Raya treats. Read more at straitstimes.com.