15 MAR 2022 In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the seven other member states of the Arctic Council have hit a “pause” button on cooperation. Gas from the Russian Arctic, however, is continuing to flow into Europe uninterrupted. The political theater of halting Arctic Council diplomacy will have little effect …

14 MAR 2022 The UN’s shipping agency will seek to create a safe maritime corridor to enable merchant ships and their crews stuck in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to sail away without the risk of being hit, it said on Friday. Russia’s military took control of waterways when it …

13 MAR 2022 The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 40-Member Council met virtually for an extraordinary session this week to address the impacts on shipping and seafarers in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov in light of Russia’s continuing invasion of Ukraine. The IMO Council serves as agency’s “executive …

14 MAR 2022 While most of the world is concerned with keeping Russian fighter jets out of NATO airspace, Russian warships have already incurred on NATO territorial waters. So why can’t the US Navy can’t send an Aircraft Carrier into the Black Sea to protect Romania and NATO merchant ships or …

13 MAR 2022 A new class of immunotherapy drugs – used to treat arthritis, psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease – might also work for those with severe asthma. The pharmaceuticals are known as ‘jakinibs‘ because they inhibit the protein JAK1. This protein plays an essential role in the body’s immune …

12 MAR 2022  French authorities are increasing their enforcement efforts under the European sanctions against Russia both detaining commercial merchant ships and in a high-profile action announced they had seized a superyacht linked to one of Russia’s wealthiest oligarchs.  France’s minister of the economy, Bruno Le Maire thanked customs officials …

11 MAR 2022  An Estonian-owned small cargo ship sunk in the Black Sea earlier today with conflicting reports that the vessel may have been struck by a mine or that Russian forces had commandeered the ship as they prepare for an amphibious assault on Odesa. Earlier reports of missing crew …

12 MAR 2022  Chinese refiners are paying for Russian crude oil using cash transfers to maintain imports from Russia’s Fast East, as banks shy away from financing the oil because of sanctions, sources with knowledge of the matter said. Global oil prices LCOc1 have soared to their highest in a decade as …

11 MAR 2022  Over 15 countries have called for a special meeting with the UN’s shipping agency to discuss the safety of ships and their crews sailing through the Black Sea and Sea of Azov after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and growing dangers to vessels. Many shipping firms have suspended sailings to affected Black Sea ports …

10 MAR 2022  The Philippines is stepping up a rescue mission for seafarers stranded in Ukraine, and has so far managed to evacuate 21 of its mariners from the country amidst the ongoing Russian invasion. The 21 made up the all-Filipino crew of bulk carrier S-Breeze, and their evacuation was facilitated by the assistance …