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Security Council to Discuss Deadly Tanker Attack on Friday

FILE PHOTO: Members of the United Nations Security Council gather during a meeting, in New York, US, February 26, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
FILE PHOTO: Members of the United Nations Security Council gather during a meeting, in New York, US, February 26, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
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Security Council to Discuss Deadly Tanker Attack on Friday

FILE PHOTO: Members of the United Nations Security Council gather during a meeting, in New York, US, February 26, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
FILE PHOTO: Members of the United Nations Security Council gather during a meeting, in New York, US, February 26, 2019. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

Britain will discuss a deadly tanker attack off the coast of Oman during a closed-door United Nations Security Council on Friday, diplomats said, but the 15-member body is not expected to take any action.

Britain told the UN Security Council on Tuesday that it was "highly likely" that Iran used one or more drones to carry out the tanker attack last week, which killed two crew members - a Briton and a Romanian.

Israel's defense minister warned Thursday that his country is prepared to strike Iran after the fatal drone strike on the Mercer Street tanker, which is managed by a firm owned by an Israeli billionaire.

Speaking to the news website Ynet, Benny Gantz responded to whether Israel was prepared to attack Iran with a blunt “yes.”

“We are at a point where we need to take military action against Iran," Gantz said. "The world needs to take action against Iran now.”

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World

Ukraine Seeks Energy Imports Surge Due to Russian Strikes

TOPSHOT - Cars drive along the Independence Square as a big screen on a building displays a temperature of -19 degrees Celsius in Kyiv on January 15, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Sergei GAPON / AFP)
TOPSHOT - Cars drive along the Independence Square as a big screen on a building displays a temperature of -19 degrees Celsius in Kyiv on January 15, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Sergei GAPON / AFP)
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Ukraine Seeks Energy Imports Surge Due to Russian Strikes

TOPSHOT - Cars drive along the Independence Square as a big screen on a building displays a temperature of -19 degrees Celsius in Kyiv on January 15, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Sergei GAPON / AFP)
TOPSHOT - Cars drive along the Independence Square as a big screen on a building displays a temperature of -19 degrees Celsius in Kyiv on January 15, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Sergei GAPON / AFP)

Ukraine's new energy minister on Friday ordered state companies to ratchet up imports from abroad, pointing to the struggles plaguing the grid after a systematic bombing campaign by Russia.

Engineers and rescue crews have been braving sub-zero temperatures to restore operations at power plants and substations battered over recent days by Russian drones and missiles, said AFP.

"State companies, primarily Ukrainian Railways and Naftogaz, must urgently ensure the procurement of imported electric energy during the 2025-26 heating season amounting to at least 50 percent of total consumption," Energy Minister Denys Shmygal said in a statement.

The minister did not give data on how much electricity Ukraine currently generates or imports, information that authorities have withheld due to war-time sensitivities.

Russian drone and missile attacks have recently plunged entire cities into darkness and left millions with sporadic or no heating at all, as temperatures dip to -20C in some areas.

Over recent days, AFP journalists in Kyiv have seen traffic lights powered down, shops and restaurants closed, and residents warming up and charging phones in tents set up by the state.

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced late on Thursday that 400,000 people had been left without electricity after Russian aerial attacks on Kharkiv, the country's second-largest city.

Also late on Thursday, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced that strict curfew rules put in place at the beginning of Russia's invasion in February 2022 would be eased to allow Ukrainians to access emergency hubs providing heating and electricity.

The Kremlin has said the attacks are only targeting military facilities, and in previous years blamed civilians' suffering on Kyiv's refusal to accept Russian peace demands.

World

Australia Warns of Floods, Fires after Cars Washed Away

Brisbane was inundated after the river running through the city burst its banks. Pic: AP
Brisbane was inundated after the river running through the city burst its banks. Pic: AP
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Australia Warns of Floods, Fires after Cars Washed Away

Brisbane was inundated after the river running through the city burst its banks. Pic: AP
Brisbane was inundated after the river running through the city burst its banks. Pic: AP

Australia's emergency services warned people Friday to stay prepared for sudden downpours and dangerous bushfires in the country's east after a flash flood swept cars into the sea.

Heavy rains on Thursday sent a deluge of water flowing through some parts of the eastern state of Victoria, which is still battling 10 major bushfires.

Photo and video images in local media showed one car rolling around in muddy waters as it was carried along the Wye River southwest of Melbourne, AFP reported.

Two cars were still partially submerged under the ocean waves on Friday, a few steps from the sandy coastline.

A local record of 186 millimeters (more than seven inches) fell in the 24 hours to Friday morning in one spot, the state meteorology service said.

Most of that water fell on Thursday.

"We've seen severe-to-extreme heat wave, catastrophic bushfires and now extreme flash flooding in the southwest of the state," Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch told reporters.

"It really is a timely reminder that communities need to be prepared for all types of emergencies."

The flash flood cut off the state's Great Ocean Road and forced up to 300 people to flee, officials said. Many of them were reportedly holidaying at caravan camps. One child was injured and airlifted to hospital.

"It was raining, we were all in the tent playing cards with the gang, then we heard shouting," camper Matthew Stanhope told The Age newspaper, saying he and his friends ran to a nearby hill.

"It was lightning fast and quiet too. There's no noise, just all of a sudden the water is up."

Flood risks have since eased in the state.

Victoria declared a state of disaster on January 10 after days of battling bushfires that have razed homes and killed one person north of Melbourne.

Emergency services said the fires have so far destroyed 289 homes and damaged another 18, as well as hundreds of outbuildings.

World

Washington Enhancing Military Presence in Middle East amid Iran Tensions

The USS Abraham Lincoln and its escort group 
The USS Abraham Lincoln and its escort group 
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Washington Enhancing Military Presence in Middle East amid Iran Tensions

The USS Abraham Lincoln and its escort group 
The USS Abraham Lincoln and its escort group 

The US is enhancing its military presence in the Middle East following US President Donald Trump's threats against Iran, several US media outlets reported on Thursday.

The New York Times reported that the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln and some of its escort warships were steaming toward the Middle East from the South China Sea — about a weeklong journey, according to two US officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss operational matters.

In addition, an array of warplanes, likely to include a combination of fighter jets, attack planes and refueling planes, were expected to start flowing into the region soon, many from Europe, the officials said.

Some of these aircraft had been scheduled to replace units in the Middle East and could have their tours extended depending on the severity of the tensions, the officials added.

Meanwhile, Axios said that as Trump takes time to consider diplomatic options with Iran, the US military is evacuating troops from Middle East bases and sending reinforcements to the region, including the USS Abraham Lincoln and its strike group. There was no official confirmation of such deployment from the Pentagon.

Also, Fox News quoted military sources as saying that at least one US aircraft carrier is being moved toward the Middle East as tensions with Iran continue to build.

It is not yet clear whether the carrier is the USS Abraham Lincoln, currently operating in the South China Sea, or one of two carriers that departed Norfolk and San Diego earlier this week, it wrote.

Since mass protests began against the Iranian government two weeks ago, Trump has openly threatened to intervene in Iran, without giving specifics.

In an interview with CBS News on Tuesday, he vowed “very strong action” if Iran executes protesters. He also urged Iranians to keep protesting and take over institutions, declaring “help is on the way.”

Protests in Iran erupted mainly due to dire economic conditions and widespread resentment form the country’s leaderships.

Iranian security forces have exerted mounting violence against protestors, with reports of hundreds killed and thousands arrested.