InfoAnda - Saudi super-tanker taken to Somali pirate lair

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Suicide attacker at CIA base was Jordanian: report | 6 January 2010
No more talks with Cambodia: Thai army spokesman | 7 February 2011
Saudi Arabia orders men out of women’s clothing | 13 June 2011

Paris takes fashion flight to tropics | 6 October 2010

">Forum Views () ">Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Saudi super-tanker taken to Somali pirate lair

Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Search Search: Saudi super-tanker taken to Somali pirate lair AFP - Wednesday, November 19 MOGADISHU (AFP) - - A hijacked Saudi super-tanker, carrying 100 million dollars of oil, anchored Tuesday off a notorious Somali pirate port as sea gangs struck again and seized a Hong Kong cargo ship. The biggest act of piracy yet by the marauding Somali bandits has stunned the international community. The Saudi Arabian foreign minister called piracy a growing "disease" and experts said few ships are now safe in the Indian Ocean. Bile Mohamoud Qabowsade, an advisor to the president of Somalia's breakaway state of Puntland, said the Sirius Star was now at the pirate lair of Harardhere, some 300 kilometres (180 miles) north of Mogadishu. "We have been receiving some information and we now know that the ship is anchored near Harardhere," Qabowsade told AFP. The super-tanker with its crew of 25 -- 19 from the Philippines, two from Britain, two from Poland, one Croatian and one Saudi -- and loaded to capacity with two million barrels of oil was seized on Saturday, according to the US Navy. "All 25 crew members on board are believed to be safe," said Vela International, a subsidiary of Saudi oil giant Saudi Aramco and operators of the ship. "At this time, Vela is awaiting further contact from the pirates in control of the vessel," the company said in a statement. But international security fears were heightened when a Hong Kong cargo ship was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden near the Yemen coast. The China Maritime Search and Rescue Centre said the freighter, The Delight, with 25 crew, was carrying 36,000 tonnes of wheat to Bandar Abbas in Iran when attacked, China's Xinhua state news agency reported. The Chinese government had earlier condemned the hijacking of a Chinese fishing boat off the Somalia coast and said it is working to rescue the 24 crew -- 15 Chinese, four Vietnamese, three Filipinos, one Japanese and one from Taiwan. The Sirius Star, the size of three soccer fields and three times the weight of a US aircraft carrier, is the largest ship ever seized by pirates and the hijacking was the farthest out to sea that Somali bandits struck. Its cargo has been estimated to be worth 100 million dollars at current crude prices. Maritime security experts said the pirates had approached the tanker from the stern in speedboats and thrown grapnel hooks tied to rope ladders, most likely boarding unopposed as the ship cruised on auto-pilot with nobody keeping watch on the bridge. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal slammed the attack. "Obviously this is a very dangerous thing ... Piracy, like terrorism, is a disease," the prince said in Athens. Admiral Michael Mullen, head of the US military as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he was "stunned" by the reach of the Somali pirates. "They're very well armed. Tactically, they are very good," he said. The majority of attacks have taken place in the Gulf of Aden over the past year, around the tip of Somalia which juts into the Indian Ocean and commands access to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. The group which seized the Sirius Star operates further south -- out of Hobyo and Harardhere -- and has been more aggressive. It made another spectacular catch in September with a Ukrainian cargo laden with combat tanks for southern Sudan, which is still held. Experts expect the attack on the Sirius Star to spur shipping companies to strengthen security or change routes to sail around the Cape of Good Hope. The pirates have taken security experts by surprise with their latest strike. "It puts a huge ring around Somalia where it isn't safe for international shipping," said Roger Middleton, consultant researcher for London-based think-tank Chatham House. Bahrain-based US Navy Fifth fleet spokesman Nathan Christensen underscored the difficulty of patrolling the vast areas of the Indian Ocean. "We patrol an area of 2.5 million square miles, from Pakistan to Kenya ... We can't be everywhere at once," Christensen said. NATO is considering extending its anti-piracy operation off Somalia beyond next month, alliance spokesman James Appathurai told reporters in Brussels. Four ships from Britain, Greece, Italy and Turkey form a NATO patrol in the waters, with two protecting UN food aid convoys to the strife-torn Horn of Africa country. NATO's operation ends in mid-December when a bigger European Union mission is set to take over but NATO is considering "complementary" action to the EU mission, Appathurai said. The International Maritime Bureau has reported that 90 vessels have been attacked since January. Of those, 38 were hijacked while pirates still hold 16 vessels with more than 250 crew as hostages. Somalia, a largely lawless state, has not had an effective government since the 1991 ouster of President Mohamed Siad Barre. Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Recommend this article Average (0 votes) Sign in to recommend this article » Most Recommended Stories » Most Popular – Top Stories Viewed Citigroup to slash 50,000 jobs, expenses worldwide Exercise, sleep cuts cancer risk: study Obama and McCain pledge 'new era of reform' Acinetobacter is emerging hospital superbug: study Earth would be heading to a freeze without CO2 emissions View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular

Other News on Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Ten killed in Pakistani Taliban and tribal clashes: official
Israel renews blockade of Gaza crossings | International |
Barclays' proposed Gulf investors amend injection plan
Japan opposition seeks to force early election | International |
Afghans expect more talks soon with ex-Taliban | International |
Congo replaces army chief after defeats by rebels | International |
Russia, China to resume $25 billion loan talks
China denies attempting to get U.S. space data | International |
Experts: Half world faces water shortage by 2080
Iran speaker urges Iraq to resist U.S. pact: report | International |
Taiwan's Hua Nan Fin to write off more bad debts
More Iraqis travel abroad despite airport chaos | International |
Taiwan c.bnk to adjust rates to suitable levels
Hijacked Saudi tanker off Somali coast: US
Iran MPs approve Ahmadinejad's interior minister | International |
Taiwan stocks fall
China oil demand weakens due to global crisis
Sci Fi's Sanctuary a true Web-to-TV pioneer | Technology |
Hong Kong index falls 4.5 pct as bank shares hit
China picks up 3G pace, Mobile completes gear deals | Technology |
ADB says Asia economically dynamic despite crisis
China stocks tumble on profit-taking
Mazda: Ford to cut stake to 13 from 33.4 percent
Nicole Kidman says she's unsure about future acting | Entertainment |
Unhappy people watch more TV: study | Entertainment |
Reunited Kate and Leo lost on Revolutionary Road | Entertainment |
Rock stars tuning up for guitar documentary | Entertainment |
Australia makers vow to protect Aboriginal boy star | Entertainment |
Bon Jovi writing new songs for hits set | Entertainment |
Forest Whitaker and Sundance trying to save Newark | Entertainment |
Sci Fi's Sanctuary a true Web-to-TV pioneer | Entertainment |
Iraq PM tries to rally support for security pact
Archeologists say they found witch doctor skeleton
Hijacked Saudi tanker reaches Somalia | International |
Web 2.0 gives new tools to hate groups: experts
UN resumes food distribution in Gaza
Landmark windpipe transplant uses patient stemcells
Iraq PM says pact's critics want U.S. troops to stay | International |
Iranian parliament chooses new interior minister
Iraq announces date for long-delayed elections
Astronauts begin first spacewalk of Endeavour mission
Iran aims for 2009 launch of nuclear plant | International |
Saudi super-tanker taken to Somali pirate lair
UN to hear Croatia genocide claim against Serbia:
US financial rescue package 'not a panacea': Paulson
Brewer InBev completes takeover of Anheuser-Busch
Accused Syrian arms dealer not a Spanish spy: U.S. | International |
Russia coma reporter had received death threats | International |
Seoul shares open higher but quickly lose gains
Obama's rise forces Brazil to look at racial divide | International |
Obama vows to engage world on climate change
South Korean won rises early, firmer stocks help
Obama vows to engage world on climate change
NATO chief calls for more non-US troops in Afghanistan
Israel renews blockade of Gaza crossings | International |
Schwarzenegger opens climate change summit
Top US military officer: Taliban gains upper hand
Japan's Mitsubishi UFJ posts 64 percent profit drop
World frets about piracy, ignores Somalis' plight: group | International |
Crisis could mean bargains for China
US, Iraq differ on Iranian meddling in military pact
India sees growth accelerating to 9 pct next year
Tech firms turn to social media to reach consumers | Technology |
China calls for US economic talks to continue under Obama
Gulf War syndrome is real: US panel
Taiwan to hand out shopping coupons to boost economy: PM
Cuban responds to SEC, says no secrecy deal | Technology |
Europe stocks hit day high, helped by Wall St, oils
China approves US-Belgian beer merger
DoCoMo, KT Freetel to develop smart phone: report | Technology |
Bakrie squirms as crisis slams Indonesia
IBM says plans to acquire Transitive Corp | Technology |
Stars walk red carpet for Australia premiere | Entertainment |
Cool cat Travolta is a dog in latest role | Entertainment |
Jackson may be too unwell to travel to UK court | Entertainment |
Bond film piles on the millions in Britain | Entertainment |
For Wall-E director, art mixes well with commerce | Entertainment |
New U.N. art work raises controversy | Entertainment |
Opera may be coming to a movie theatre near you | Entertainment |
US commander hopes Obama moves quickly on Afghanistan
US arrests suspected Iranian agent in Iraq
Somali pirates seize Greek carrier | International |
Afghans pushing for a return to public execution
NASA tests "deep space Internet"
Suspected U.S. drone attack kills four in Pakistan | International |
Five killed in US missile strike in northwest Pakistan: officials
Malkin takes ice hockey puck to the face, sees scoring streak end
Strong earthquake strikes Panama | International |
Britain resumes high-level intelligence links with Syria: report
Obama girls visit their future White House home
Iraq PM says pact's critics want U.S. troops to stay | International |
Party politics undermine German economic defences
U.S. commander in Afghanistan has reconciliation plan | International |
China seeks to curb unrest amid finance crisis | International |
China's Hu puts off Cuba debt payments | International |
Texas jury indicts Cheney, Gonzalez in prison abuse case
Seoul shares halve losses; bashed techs bounce
North and South Koreans find cause for unity: Japan | International |
US forsees resususcitation of Doha round at APEC
Socialism and consumerism rub shoulders in Tripoli | International |
Sands blames Beijing and Macau for halt on casino project: report
Obama picks first African-American attorney general: media
S.Korea bond futures jump on BOK liquidity pledge
US museum head says Mexico should get Mayan jade
Microsoft to offer free security software | Technology |
Seoul shares drop but off low; LG Elec up
South Korea won edges up, ends 6-day losing streak
Mazda buys back chunk of own shares from Ford
Wynn backs government's travel curbs in Macau
Hollywood's Wizard of Oz lauded for stunning, sexy epic | Entertainment |
ADB lends 300 mln dlrs to China for railway line
Transporter 3 a new low for the action series | Entertainment |
China to build new oil, gas pipeline across Myanmar: state media
Nissan expects 'zero' second-half profits: CEO
Big changes in store for low-rated Daytime Emmys | Entertainment |
Stars walk red carpet for Australia premiere | Entertainment |
Italy fetes half century of Fellini's Dolce Vita | Entertainment |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph	VPN on MacOSX	BlogMeter 1.01