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News from November 11, 2025

619 articles found

Local immigrant advocates share tips to fact-check social posts on immigration enforcement
Technology

Local immigrant advocates share tips to fact-check social posts on immigration enforcement

When federal immigration raids began in September in Chicago, social media feeds were quickly flooded with posts from concerned neighbors alerting others to increased immigration enforcement in the city. While many posts about immigration were accurate, some posts did not contain accurate information, according to Laura Rodriguez Presa, senior reporter at the Chicago Tribune. “Everything is happening really quickly,” Rodriguez Presa said. “By the time community members or rapid response teams or elected officials get to the potential location, maybe ICE had already left that area … It’s a fluid situation.”   Though there have been some sightings of federal immigration agents in courthouses and neighboring cities, Milwaukee has yet to see a large-scale immigration operation like those seen in Chicago or Memphis. Rodriguez Presa said she recommends that, when people read information online about immigration agents in their city or neighborhood, they should learn how to verify the information and think about the best way to share the most accurate information before posting or reposting about immigration enforcement on social media. Here's what several Wisconsin-based immigrants' rights organizations, like United Migrant Opportunity Services (UMOS), Forward Latino and Voces de la Frontera, recommend doing before resharing or posting about immigration enforcement activity to avoid spreading false information and stoking fear in the community. Who is sharing the information in the post? Is it a first-hand account? When scrolling on social media, if you come across a video of a potential Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrest or other immigration enforcement activities, it's recommended that you verify where the original post is from and who shared it. It's important to verify if the post was shared by a trusted immigrants' rights organization or a fake account, said Luis Velasquez, statewide organizing director at Voces de la Frontera. Additionally, if videos or photos in a post are not taken by someone who witnessed the event in real time, it can be difficult to verify the incident, as you may not have all the necessary information to do so, Velasquez said. Is the content current or outdated? If the post does not include the date, time and location of the sighting, it’s best not to share it, as that can lead to confusion if the post is outdated, said Darryl Morin, president and CEO of Forward Latino. Has the sighting been verified by a trusted organization? If a social media post that claims to show immigration enforcement agents has not been verified by a trusted local immigrants' rights organization, it's best to refrain from reposting it. If you still feel the need to repost, include a disclaimer that the post is unverified to ensure you're not contributing to the possible spread of misinformation, Velasquez said. According to Morin, organizations such as Forward Latino, UMOS and Voces de la Frontera can verify social media posts by using their own teams of verifiers, contacting local police departments, cross-referencing reports and using geo-location technology to verify the location of any photos or videos shared online. Contacting a local immigrant rights organization allows for quick, safe and accurate verification of immigration enforcement sightings, Morin said, adding that Forward Latino often receives calls with reports of ICE or Border Patrol activity from across Wisconsin. “The overwhelming majority are false, and we’ve been able to trace back a number of them to fake accounts from individuals that are intentionally trying to stoke fear in our communities,” Morin said. What to do if you want to share an immigration sighting Both Morin, with Forward Latino, and Marjorie Rivera Torres, interim vice president of social services at UMOS, recommend calling Voces de la Frontera’s rapid response hotline to verify social media posts about immigration enforcement before posting any information on your own. "When there’s a report of ICE activity, Rapid Response volunteers are the first line of community defense," Velasquez said. "They help make sure families stay safe, rumors are verified, and people’s rights are protected." Voces de la Frontera's rapid response emergency hotline number is 1-800-427-0213. Hotline operators are trained to calmly collect important details and connect the caller with the appropriate support, including legal defense resources or mutual aid, Velasquez said. Velasquez said he recommends those who wish to alert the community about an immigration enforcement sighting to share the following information with a rapid response hotline: The time and location of the potential arrest or raid.The number of agents seen and descriptions of their uniforms and vehicles.The number of people detained, if any. If you witness a potential immigration detention that you want to record and post about, first call a hotline and then record the activity, Velasquez said. If you witness a potential detention and you are with a group, have one person call a hotline while others record and photograph the incident. Rivera Torres said, if it’s safe for neighbors to do so, they have the right to ask the individual being arrested to shout out their name and the contact information of a family member so someone can help notify their family of their detention. After contacting the hotline, Voces de la Frontera can send their own team of rapid response verifiers to the location to confirm if a report is really an ICE operation or something else, Velasquez said. If anyone is detained, Voces can follow up with family members or legal counsel, and they can canvas the area while distributing "know your rights" information to neighbors, Velasquez said. If you are a U.S. citizen and you feel safe enough to approach the agents, you have the right to ask them to confirm which agency they work for and if they have a warrant, Velasquez said. If the agents say they are with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), they are likely conducting immigration enforcement, Velasquez said. If they say they are with a local police department or the Sheriff's office, for example, they may not be participating in an immigration enforcement operation. Alyssa N. Salcedo covers Layton Boulevard West for the Journal Sentinel's Neighborhood Dispatch. Reach her at asalcedo@gannett.com. As part of the newsroom, all Alyssa’s work and coverage decisions are overseen solely by Journal Sentinel editors. Support for this effort comes from the Zilber Family Foundation, Journal Foundation, Bader Philanthropies, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, Greater Milwaukee Foundation and individual contributions to the Journal Sentinel Community-Funded Journalism Project. The project is administered by Local Media Foundation, tax ID #36‐4427750, a Section 501(c)(3) charitable trust affiliated with Local Media Association.  Learn more about our community-funded journalism and how to make a tax-deductible gift at jsonline.com/support. Checks can be addressed to Local Media Foundation with “JS Community Journalism” in the memo, then mailed to: Local Media Foundation, P.O. Box 85015, Chicago, IL 60689.

Journal Sentinel
'You can see that thing from everywhere': Port Washington lighthouse now 'glossy and bright'
Technology

'You can see that thing from everywhere': Port Washington lighthouse now 'glossy and bright'

A $2.6 million restoration project to revitalize Port Washington's iconic 90-year-old Breakwater Lighthouse is complete. The black shroud and scaffolding that has surrounded the lighthouse during the restoration has been removed, leaving a fresh coat of bright white paint in place of the previous lead paint layer, as well as a more robust structure ensuring the landmark remains stable for future generations. The project was primarily paid for with a $2.2 million Wisconsin Department of Transportation grant for historic building preservation. The rest of the project's cost was fundraised. On Nov. 5, around 35 people attended a ribbon cutting ceremony held right under the lighthouse at the end of a half-mile-long breakwater. "It was a perfect Port Washington day — warm sun and freezing breeze," Mayor Ted Neitzke said. "It was just amazing. The sun was gently setting to the west and the lighthouse was literally gleaming, which it has not done for my whole life." "It's always been painted flat white, but now it's glossy and bright. You can see that thing from everywhere," Neitzke said. The lighthouse had fallen into disrepair since the city acquired it from the federal government in 2018. It's one of the reasons Neitzke ran for mayor in 2021, he said. The event was attended by city and state government staff who'd worked to leverage the grant funding, along with historical groups. In 2018, the landmark was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. "That lighthouse has beared witness to nearly a century of our city's growth and evolution, and to have it restored ... is something we're very proud of," Neitzke said. "It's a symbol of the city's direction, because we're now becoming very strategic with significant infrastructure and development taking place in our city." Contact Claudia Levens at clevens@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @levensc13.

Journal Sentinel
Advocates try again to change Wisconsin's outlier status on Veterans Day
Politics

Advocates try again to change Wisconsin's outlier status on Veterans Day

Wisconsin state statutes classify Veterans Day as a legal holiday. The governor routinely issues proclamations recognizing Nov. 11 as Veterans Day. And public schools in the state are legally required to observe it. So why doesn't Wisconsin treat Veterans Day as a day off for state employees, schools and government buildings — a practice followed by every other state and the federal government? In recent years, and even as far back as 1963, lawmakers in the state Capitol have tried to change that. But it's never become law, much to the confusion and disappointment of veterans' organizations. First-year state Rep. Maureen McCarville, who served as a medic and records specialist in the Wisconsin Army National Guard, is bringing the effort back to the forefront. "There's so many (service members) who don't make it back," said McCarville, a Democrat from DeForest. "To come home and not have your own state where you live recognize that, it's just disgraceful." Bill Ridgely, a Vietnam War veteran and Judge Advocate of DeForest American Legion Post 348, first discovered Wisconsin's outlier status while writing a column for the DeForest Times-Tribune 10 years ago. He's been pushing for the law ever since. "I'm somewhat embarrassed that my state is the only state in the nation that has not seen (it) fit to make it an official state holiday," Ridgely said. "I'm 80 years old, and if it doesn't happen pretty soon, who knows if I'll ever see it?" Wisconsin provides floating holiday for Veterans Day, but not paid day off The legislation would close state offices and move Nov. 11 to paid holiday status for state government employees. It wouldn't require private employers to provide a day off. State employees get nine paid holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve. State law provides 3½ days of floating holidays, "plus one additional paid personal holiday each calendar year in recognition of Veterans Day." That floating holiday would go away under the bill. The same bill was introduced in 2023 with bipartisan support but never advanced. A 2017 version passed the state Senate but never got a vote in the Assembly. Lawmakers have thought about making the change as far back as 1963, according to the Legislative Reference Bureau. Why it hasn't passed isn't clear, though Ridgely said a state representative once told him veterans service organizations didn't come out strongly enough in support of it. "Some of it's by training, but the type of people that the military can attract, they're not going to get up on a podium and go, 'Give me my day,'" McCarville said. "They're always quietly hopeful." In a fiscal estimate last year, the state Department of Administration projected no overall impact on workload — since one floating holiday would be eliminated — and time-and-a-half costs for essential employees would total less than $1 million. If the bill advances this time around, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers would likely make it law. Evers recommended making Veterans Day and Juneteenth paid holidays in the state budget, but those were among the hundreds of items Republican lawmakers removed when they began rewriting the two-year spending plan. McCarville said Democrats and Republicans have signed up to cosponsor the bill, and she hopes to get a public hearing by Veterans Day. But the big challenge will be getting it to the Senate and Assembly floor for votes. Veterans Day off could mean schools close, events easier to attend Tim Wendt recently posed a question to fellow veterans he knows: Is Wisconsin actually doing it right by not making Nov. 11 a state holiday? Wendt, who has leadership roles in AMVETS and the southeastern Wisconsin chapter of the Military Officers Association of America, recalled speaking at his former high school on Veterans Day and worries that won't happen if schools close for the day. "I think we're going to lose a great opportunity to share at least one day with the kids that may or may not ever know anything about veterans," he said. The bill wouldn't mandate school districts close for the day. Similar to other states, school districts make their own schedules but usually follow state-recognized holidays as days off, McCarville's office said. While some state employees may attend events on Veterans Day to pause and reflect, Wendt thinks others take paid holidays for granted without thinking about what they're for. If people have a day off, it might encourage visits to parks and venues like the War Memorial Center, said Co Nguyen, the center's president and CEO. The War Memorial Center, which hosts Veterans Day events like a 5K and annual dinner, is about halfway to its $18 million fundraising goal to secure its future along Lake Michigan as county funding fades out. More: Milwaukee's War Memorial Center faces a financial crossroads. What's their path forward? "From my perspective — I'm a veteran — I would feel honored that the state is recognizing, finally, the sacrifices that are made," Nguyen said. "Why not, is my question for the state." With a day off, families could acknowledge loved ones who served, McCarville said. Two uncles in her large military family were killed — one in World War II and the other in the Korean War. "In this country, we wake up every day, and there's a lot of things we take for granted," she said. "So, it's a small thing to return that respect back." Hope Karnopp can be reached at HKarnopp@gannett.com.

Journal Sentinel
Technology

Ukraine reports 0.9% inflation in Oct 2025 - statistics

11 Nov 2025 11:02 Ukraine reports 0.9% inflation in Oct 2025 - statistics MOSCOW. Nov 11 (Interfax) - Consumer prices in Ukraine rose 0.9% in October after growing 0.3% in September, Ukrainian media reported, citing a statement on the State Statistics Service's website. Consumer price growth was 1.8% in October 2024, so in annual terms, inflation by the end of October 2026 had decreased to 10.9% from 11.9%, in September, 13.2% in August, 14.1% in July and 14.3% at in June after reaching a local peak of 15.9% in May, the statement said. Core inflation declined to 0.6% in October 2025 from 1.3% in September versus 0.5% in August and 0.3% in July. It was 1.3% in October 2024, so in annual terms, core inflation slowed to 10.2% last month from 11% in September, 11.4% in August, 11.7% in July, and 12.1% in June.

Unknown
Metrobus failure triggers long lines, crowds in Istanbul
Technology

Metrobus failure triggers long lines, crowds in Istanbul

A metrobus malfunction in Istanbul’s Avcılar district on Tuesday caused service disruptions and heavy passenger congestion, adding to public frustration over recurring problems on the city’s main rapid transit line. The metrobus, which was traveling toward Söğütlüçeşme, broke down at the Şükrübey station, leading to delays and long vehicle lines along the dedicated busway. Crowds formed at stops in both directions as service temporarily came to a halt. Service gradually returned to normal after the malfunctioning vehicle was towed away. The breakdown is the latest in a string of technical failures that have sparked complaints from Istanbul commuters, who rely heavily on the metrobus line for daily travel across the city. Many have voiced concern on social media about the aging fleet and increasing frequency of service disruptions.

Daily Sabah
Rare color-changing weasel spotted in eastern Türkiye
Technology

Rare color-changing weasel spotted in eastern Türkiye

A weasel, known for its rare ability to change color with the seasons, was spotted roaming in the wild in Türkiye's eastern province of Van. The small carnivore, brown in summer and white in winter, is rarely seen because it usually hunts at night. Weasels are among the protected species in Türkiye, admired for their distinctive beauty and ecological importance. With their sharp senses of sight, hearing and smell, weasels play a key role in maintaining ecological balance by controlling rodent populations that can harm agriculture and natural habitats. The elusive animal was seen in the Bahçesaray district, briefly wandering among rocks as if posing for the camera before disappearing from sight. Lokman Aslan, head of the Wildlife Protection and Rehabilitation Center at Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, told Anadolu Agency (AA) that weasels face the threat of extinction due to the destruction of their natural habitats and wildlife conditions in the region. Known in some areas as “sable” or “snow mouse,” weasels are often killed with traps because they occasionally prey on poultry, Aslan said. He added that the animals stay hidden in their dens during the day and come out at night to hunt. “The weasel is one of the smallest carnivorous mammals, highly alert and extremely difficult to observe,” Aslan said. “They don’t migrate or hibernate. They adapt their metabolism to the season and stay within their habitat. As graceful hunters, they contribute significantly to the ecosystem by keeping rodent populations in check, protecting both agriculture and nature.” He added that owls often hunt weasels since both are nocturnal species. “Their fur turns brown in summer and white in winter. They are usually found in rocky, mountainous or forested areas and can live in almost every region of Türkiye,” he said. Aslan called for greater public awareness to help ensure the survival of weasels and their continued role in the natural balance.

Daily Sabah With Aa
The Specter of New Conflict Haunts Memorials Around World War I’s End
World

The Specter of New Conflict Haunts Memorials Around World War I’s End

YPRES, Belgium (AP) — Tens of thousands of soldiers were killed in World War I and left without graves. On Tuesday, authorities are unveiling a renovated memorial for them in Ypres, the Belgian town that earned the grim honor of being synonymous with the brutality of conflict. Tuesday is known as Armistice Day — or Veterans Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in Britain — marking the end of World War I. From 1914-1918, the armies of France, the British empire, Russia and the U.S. fought against a German-led coalition that included the Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman empires. The war killed almost 10 million soldiers, sometimes tens of thousands on a single day. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers died during those four years in Ypres alone. The blood-soaked fields of the Flanders region saw the development of more modern ways to kill. Horses galloped next to tanks. Poison gas was introduced. Aerial surveillance provided precision to artillery. In the wake of “the war to end all wars” and then World War II, the modern geopolitical system was forged with an aim to avert future conflicts. The United Nations and the Europe Union were created. But now, war feels close again. Across once-devastated Europe, nations are again rearming, plowing investments into the defense industry in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The 27-nation EU has been worried by a series of airspace violations, some of them close to its borders with Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Western officials have accused Russia and its proxies of staging dozens of incidents of sabotage. Aside from Europe, wars in places as distant as Gaza and Sudan have had impact well beyond their borders. And tensions in Asia have led Japan and others to increase military spending. And around the world, ascendant political movements challenge the democratic order, with authoritarianism on the rise. By SAM McNEIL Associated Press

Achilleas Kouremenos
World

Inflation in Belarus at 6.1% in Jan-Oct, annual inflation slows to 6.9% in Oct

11 Nov 2025 10:40 Inflation in Belarus at 6.1% in Jan-Oct, annual inflation slows to 6.9% in Oct MINSK. Nov 11 (Interfax) - Consumer prices in Belarus increased 0.3% in October 2025 after a 0.5% rise in September and a seasonal decrease of 0.3% in August, according to materials from the country's National Statistical Committee. Inflation in January-October amounted to 6.1%. Annual inflation in October slowed to 6.9% from 7.1% in September, 7.2% in August and 7.4% in July. Core inflation in October (excluding regulated and seasonal prices) amounted to 6.6% compared to December and 0.2% compared to September. Prices for food products in January-October compared to December increased 7.7% (in October - 0.8%), for non-food products - 2.8% (down 0.1%), while services became 7.5% more expensive (a fall of 0.05%). Belarus maintains state regulation of prices for almost all goods in the consumer basket, as well as for essential services. The head of the National Bank of Belarus, Roman Golovchenko, said in September that the regulator will continue to adhere to the inflation target of no more than 5%, but consumer price growth may exceed the target forecast this year and next year. In 2024, inflation in the country slowed to 5.2% from 5.8% in 2023 and 12.8% in 2022. In 2026, the authorities intend to keep inflation within 7%.

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Iran wants peaceful nuclear deal but won't compromise on security
Politics

Iran wants peaceful nuclear deal but won't compromise on security

Iran seeks a "peaceful" nuclear agreement with the U.S. to resolve a longstanding dispute, but will not compromise on national security, Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said Tuesday. The United States, its European allies and Israel accuse Tehran of using its nuclear program as a veil for efforts to try to develop the capability to produce weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. In October, President Donald Trump said the United States was prepared to make a deal with Iran when Tehran was ready to do so, adding, "The hand of friendship and cooperation (with Iran) is open." Speaking at the 12th Abu Dhabi Strategic Debate, Khatibzadeh said Washington was sending Tehran contradictory messages about nuclear talks through third countries. The two nations held five rounds of nuclear talks before a 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June, which Washington joined by striking key Iranian nuclear sites. Repeating Tehran's view, Khatibzadeh accused Washington of "betraying diplomacy," and the nuclear talks have stopped since the June war. Major gaps remain between the two sides, such as the issue of uranium enrichment on Iranian soil, which the U.S. wants to cut to zero to minimize any risk of weaponization, a plan Tehran has rejected. Last week, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the last say on key state matters, such as foreign policy and Iran's nuclear program, ruled out negotiations with the United States under threat. "Tehran is not seeking nuclear bombs and ... is prepared to assure the world about it. We are very proud of our home-grown nuclear programme," Khatibzadeh said.

Reuters
Turkish automotive sector hits record $34B in exports in 10 months
Business

Turkish automotive sector hits record $34B in exports in 10 months

Türkiye’s automotive industry achieved a new best January-October export performance as sales reached $34 billion, according to a report on Tuesday. With a steady momentum in shipments, the domestic automotive industry, a longtime leader in exports, marked its highest 10-month performance of all time despite global uncertainties and rising protectionism. While global markets closely follow whether the U.S. will reach agreements with other countries on trade policies, Türkiye’s automotive sector stood out with its strong performance during the first 10 months of the year. U.S. protectionist customs tariffs continue to pose challenges for global trade by weakening countries’ positions in commerce. Amid growing economic concerns and reevaluation of international relations, Türkiye has succeeded in maintaining a prominent global position both in finished vehicle production and automotive supply manufacturing. The automotive industry, which achieved $34 billion in exports in the first 10 months of the year, broke records for the third consecutive year, further strengthening its leadership in exports, a report by Anadolu Agency (AA) said. Looking at export data, automotive exports stood at $30.5 billion in 2024, $28.7 billion in 2023 and $25 billion in 2022, covering the same period. In 2021 and 2020, when the global economy was still affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, automotive exports stood at $23.9 billion and $20.1 billion, respectively, for the January-October period. The industry’s exports amounted to $25.4 billion in 2019 and $26.3 billion in 2018. Automotive accounts for 17.5% of total exports Türkiye’s overall exports rose 3.9% year-over-year to reach $224.6 billion in the first 10 months of the year, according to data from the Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM). In October alone, exports surged 2.2%, reaching $24 billion. At the same time, the automotive exports rose 11.6% year-over-year to $34 billion, accounting for 17.5% of Türkiye’s total exports. Germany remains top destination During the first 10 months of the year, Germany was Türkiye’s largest automotive export market with $5.6 billion, followed by France ($3.9 billion), the United Kingdom ($3.4 billion), Spain ($2.9 billion) and Italy ($2.7 billion). In terms of export growth by value, Germany again ranked first. Automotive exports to Germany increased by $1.5 billion, followed by Spain ($843.2 million), Slovenia ($470.5 million), France ($449.4 million) and Romania ($315.9 million). Kocaeli leads in provincial exports By province, northwestern Kocaeli province ranked first in automotive exports with $10.1 billion during the January-October period. It was followed by Bursa ($7.4 billion), Istanbul ($7.2 billion), Sakarya ($4 billion) and Ankara ($1.4 billion).

Daily Sabah With Aa
Have YOU won $4.8million? Winning lotto jackpot still unclaimed one year on
Sports

Have YOU won $4.8million? Winning lotto jackpot still unclaimed one year on

Have YOU won $4.8million? Winning lotto jackpot still unclaimed one year on A Set for Life winner hasn't claimed their prize They won almost a whole year ago READ MORE: Aussies warned not to make these crucial Lotto mistakes By ASHLEY NICKEL, NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA Published: 10:13 GMT, 11 November 2025 | Updated: 10:15 GMT, 11 November 2025 Almost a whole year has passed since one lucky Set for Life ticket buyer won the jackpot, yet their prize remains unclaimed. The mystery winner held the only Division One winning entry in Set for Life draw 3404, drawn on Saturday November 30, 2024. They scored an incredible $4.8million, to paid in instalments of $20,000 every month for the next 20 years. As the ticketholder was unregistered, The Lott has had no way to get in contact with them and inform them of their win. Instead, officials are stuck waiting for the ticketholder to check their ticket and come forward, with the slip of paper literally worth nearly $5million. If the holder had turned in the winning ticket, they would have already received $240,000 in monthly instalments over the past 12 months. The winning entry was purchased at Nextra Kiama at 143 Terralong Street in Kiama, on the NSW South Coast. 'It's incredible to think someone has been walking around for 12 months, potentially unaware they're a multi-millionaire,' The Lott spokesperson Khat McIntyre said. The Lott officials are looking for the only division one winner for entry in Set for Life draw 3404 The winner bought their ticket from Nextra Kiama (pictured) last November 'Imagine how different their year could have been and how different the next 20 years still could be, with $20,000 landing in their bank account every month. 'We're urging anyone who bought a Set for Life ticket from Nextra Kiama around November last year to check it immediately.' She added The Lott was eagerly waiting for the winner to call in. 'We'd love nothing more than this mystery winner to come forward, so be sure to check in all the weird and wonderful spots this ticket may be hiding,' Ms McIntyre said. 'If you discover you're holding the winning ticket, contact The Lott on 131 868 to begin the prize claim process. 'And remember, winners can choose to remain completely anonymous.' The winning numbers in Set for Life draw 3404 were 33, 19, 40, 29, 28, 3 and 5, while the supplementary numbers were 38 and 9. In the 2025 financial year there were 28 Set for Life Division One winners across Australia who will receive $20million during the next 20 years. By 30 June 2025, more than $166million in monthly payments had been paid to the 158 Set for Life Division One winners across Australia. Share or comment on this article: Have YOU won $4.8million? Winning lotto jackpot still unclaimed one year on Add comment

Ashley Nickel,Editor
Lukoil declares force majeure at Iraqi field amid sanctions strain
World

Lukoil declares force majeure at Iraqi field amid sanctions strain

Russian oil giant Lukoil declared force majeure at its giant field in Iraq, sources told Reuters on Monday, and Bulgaria was poised to seize its Burgas refinery, as the company's international operations buckled under the strain of U.S. sanctions. The force majeure at the West Qurna-2 field in Iraq marks the biggest fallout yet from the sanctions imposed on Russian oil majors Lukoil and Rosneft last month as part of U.S. President Donald Trump's push to end the war in Ukraine. Four sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters that Lukoil sent a letter to Iraq's oil ministry last Tuesday saying force majeure conditions prevented it from continuing normal operations at West Qurna-2. Lukoil did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment on Monday. Lukoil is the Russian company with the most exposure to international markets. Its attempt to sell its foreign assets to Swiss commodity trader Gunvor failed last week after the U.S. Treasury signalled Washington opposed the deal. Most prized foreign asset Located 65 kilometres (40 miles) northwest of the port of Basra, West Qurna-2 is one of the world's largest oil fields and Lukoil's most prized foreign asset. It accounts for around 9% of Iraq's total oil output and is currently producing around 480,000 barrels per day (bpd), two oil field officials said. If the reasons behind the force majeure are not resolved within six months, Lukoil will shut production and exit the project entirely, a senior Iraqi oil industry official said. Reuters had reported last week that Iraq's state oil firm SOMO canceled loadings of three crude oil cargoes from Lukoil's equity production at the oil field over the sanctions. And three of the sources on Monday said Iraq had halted all cash and crude payments to the company due to the sanctions. Payments to Lukoil will remain frozen until there is a contractual adjustment securing a mechanism for developing the oil field and a way of making payments to non-sanctioned entities, said one of the sources, an oil ministry official. About 4 million barrels of crude oil allocated for in-kind payments to Lukoil for November have, meanwhile, been canceled, the official said. SOMO will not be able to continue its crude oil supply contract with Lukoil until the issues behind these sanctions are resolved, the source added. Bulgaria prepares to seize refinery By declaring force majeure as permitted under its contract, Lukoil is seeking legal protection against penalties for failing to meet contractual obligations with the oil ministry, another Iraqi official said. Lukoil, in an email sent on Friday, terminated the services of all non-Russian foreign staff, a manager at West Qurna-2 said, meaning only Russian and Iraqi Lukoil staff remain. Separately on Monday, Bulgaria's Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said authorities were conducting inspections and implementing security measures at Lukoil's Burgas oil refinery. The government is looking to sustain its operation while preparing to seize control of the site. Last week, Bulgaria adopted legal changes allowing it to take over the refinery and sell it to a new owner.

Reuters
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