Latest news with #Windward
Newsweek
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
China Research Ship 'Loitering' Near Undersea Cables: Report
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The irregular movements of a Chinese fishery survey ship in April have raised suspicions that it was collecting data on undersea cables critical to global communications. The Song Hang "exhibited deliberate loitering patterns directly over critical infrastructure, the kind of movement associated with mapping or surveillance activity, not fishing," maritime analytics firm Windward wrote in a new report. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Philippine military with written requests for comment. Why It Matters The Chinese Communist Party is known to leverage both military and civilian sectors to advance political and economic objectives. This strategy extends to the maritime domain, where Chinese vessels have been accused of collecting intelligence and of conducting oceanographic research in other countries' maritime zones without permission—an act that violates international law. The Song Hang's apparent focus on submarine cables is particularly sensitive as these cables carry about 99 percent of intercontinental data traffic. Over the past two years, there have been multiple incidents of Chinese vessels damaging or severing these cables—including one case in February where Taiwanese authorities detained the crew on suspicion of sabotage. What To K now Windward, which tracks global vessel behavior using artificial intelligence, on Monday published an analysis of ship-tracking data highlighting an "unmistakable" difference between the Song Hang's movements and the "natural, erratic" ones of known fishing vessels. The Song Hang's grid-like paths last month, consistent with survey activity, were concentrated directly over and adjacent to Pacific undersea cables east of Japan and east of the Philippines. Windward also cited other "red flags" linked to the vessel, including "discrepancies between its transmitted and registered IMO, an unclear ownership trail, and a moderate illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing risk score." Chinese fisheries research ship the Song Hang operating in the Sulu Sea on April 2. Chinese fisheries research ship the Song Hang operating in the Sulu Sea on April 2. Philippine Coast Guard The Song Hang's activities detailed by Windward aren't the only ones to have come under scrutiny in recent weeks. In early April, the ship attracted the attention of the Philippine Coast Guard as it entered the Sulu Sea, within the country's archipelagic waters. Responding to radio hails, the crew said it was headed to the Indian Ocean to "catch fish," Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela told reporters. However, observers said the Song Hang was taking a highly indirect route. A National Security Council official said Manila would continue to monitor the vessel "to ensure that it keeps to its track and it does not conduct maritime survey inside our waters." While innocent passage is permitted through a country's archipelagic waters, conducting survey activity is not, according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Song Hang was launched in 2017 as China's first oceangoing fishery survey ship. Operated by Shanghai Ocean University, it is equipped with laboratories and capable of biological, meteorological and hydrological research. "It has great significance in tapping into China's ocean fishery resources, protecting ocean ecology and transforming China into a maritime power," said Chen Xinjun, the president of the university's College of Marine Sciences, as quoted by China Daily. What People Have Said Ray Powell, the director of the Stanford University-affiliated maritime analysis group SeaLight, wrote on X, formerly Twitter: "Remember China's Song Hang research ship? ... The ship told the Philippine Coast Guard it was on its way to go 'fishing' in the Indian Ocean. Seriously. Now Windward has analyzed its patterns to show how its favorite 'catch' is intelligence on undersea cables." What Happens Next Despite complaints from its neighbors, China is likely to continue deploying research ships, including the Song Hang, on intelligence-gathering missions in the region.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tariffs on imports raise cost of cut flowers in Hawaii
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Flower season is underway with major floral events and celebrations coming up. Easter was later than usual this year, and Merrie Monarch is right on its heels. Bottles4College hands out scholarships during Windward recycling event 'You blink and then it's May Day, Mother's Day and Graduation, so the next six to seven weeks for the floral industry is going to be a whirlwind,' said Watanabe Floral General Manager Monty Pereira. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. imports over 80% of cut flowers from other countries, and despite having plenty of tropical flowers, Hawaii imports a lot of those too. 'Mostly from South America, Colombia, Ecuador and a lot of orchid lei that you see or orchid base lei all come from Asia,' Pereira some of those countries have been hit with tariffs, or have another 60-day pause until tariffs take effect. Pereira said all the carnations come from Colombia and have been impacted by tariffs. 'For us, it was 10 to 15% on cut flowers from Colombia and Ecuador and it's 16 to 17% coming in from Thailand which is the major source of orchid lei. Roses, carnations, chrysanthemums are popular for Mother's Day and they'll be a little more expensive but still manageable,' Pereira continued. 'And we worked hard down the supply chain to make sure the consumer doesn't feel the burden of it.' Tropical flowers from home won't be impacted by tariffs, and Pereira said they are looking at importing from California as well. However, florists here at home warn that there are never enough fresh flower lei by the time graduation comes around. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news 'We've always tried to source as locally as possible,' said Honolulu Flower Lady President Cindy Dabbous. 'So when we do source locally, we're not going to be impacted by tariffs as much.' She guesstimates about 30% of her flowers are imported, but does specialize in lei and tropicals. 'This was around the week I was thinking, you know I think I'm going to increase my local tropical supply and start ordering less classic flowers, but people love their roses and they're never going to stop ordering them,' she added. Hit-and-run in Kāneʻohe claims life of male pedestrian She said there is a lot of uncertainty of what's going to happen with prices. Pereira says one big impact is vases from China, with a 145% tariff, as a $35 vase will now cost $50.75. And while inventory isn't a concern this year, there will still be enough gifts for all budgets. 'We have fake lei, candy lei, gummy lei, gift baskets and food partnerships, budget won't be a reason why you can't bless someone these next six to seven weeks full of holidays,' Pereira added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Los Angeles Times
11-03-2025
- Sport
- Los Angeles Times
Sage Hill girls' basketball returns to regional finals
Sage Hill's sensational run in the state playoffs has so far lacked the drama of close games, the Lightning instead providing plenty of shock value in quickly jumping on opponents at home. The formula resulted in another convincing win for the hosts, as Sage Hill topped Los Angeles Brentwood 59-39 in a CIF State Southern California Regional Division I semifinal on Saturday night inside Peter V. Ueberroth Gymnasium. In under five minutes, the Lightning had a 12-0 lead, sophomore shooting guard Kamdyn Klamberg providing seven of those points to begin a performance that saw her finish with game-high totals of 21 points and nine rebounds. The backcourt duo of junior point guard Amalia Holguin and Klamberg combined for the Lightning's initial 15 points. Sage Hill exploded offensively to take a 23-9 lead after the first quarter, then limited Brentwood to just three points in the second quarter to take a commanding 37-12 advantage into halftime. Second-seeded Sage Hill (22-11) remains home to face Los Angeles Windward (21-10) in the regional final on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Windward earned a 79-55 win at top-seeded Fairmont Prep in the other semifinal. It will be the second regional final in four years for the program, but when reminded that it would be her first title-game appearance as a member of the Lightning, the even-keeled Klamberg volunteered that she was 'excited' to play in the game. Sage Hill played Windward twice within the first month of the season. The Lightning beat the Wildcats 69-58 in the Harvard-Westlake Invitational, then again by a score of 70-55 in the Battle at the Beach at Redondo Union High. 'When you play teams multiple times in a season, they're going to figure out your quirks, and the little things that you do, and try to take those things away,' Sage Hill coach Kerwin Walters said. 'We are ecstatic to have the opportunity to play them. I'm sure they're ecstatic about playing us because nothing's sweeter than revenge.' Holguin scored a dozen points to go with five assists, four steals and four rebounds. Freshman center Eve Fowler had eight points, seven rebounds and two assists. Freshman small forward Addison Uphoff also scored eight points, and senior forward Isabella Rose had five points and three rebounds off the bench. Asked why she thought her team have had fast starts during the playoffs, Fowler attributed it to the Lightnings' high sense of energy. 'I think part of the reason why is just like getting back on our feet and coming out with that energy, like, 'Let's go do this. Let's go make a run in this thing,'' Fowler said. 'Knowing that Brentwood [had] shooters, we had that expectation where we had to get out on the shooters, and we had to force them certain ways, based on our film study.' Fowler and Uphoff, both of whom missed time leading up to the regional playoffs, visited the athletic trainers after the game. 'I want to shout out my athletic trainers for getting us both back on our feet,' Fowler said. 'I feel like that was a big role in getting us back on the court and making us [part of] this run.' All Open Division teams in the Southern Section playoffs got a bid into state playoffs, providing not only an opportunity for recovery but something to look forward to. 'We are an Open [Division] team, and I think when we're at full strength, we can be really good,' Uphoff said. 'It was bad timing with both injuries, and people were sick and stuff, but I definitely think it's helping our confidence. We're just getting better and better each practice.' The Lightning won the battle of the boards, outrebounding the Eagles 32-23. Klamberg had three offensive rebounds leading directly to points, and she also had a traditional three-point play with a physical finish in the lane in the second half. 'It was a very fast-paced game today, so grabbing those rebounds, getting up there and grabbing them super strong was amazing,' Klamberg said. 'I am really grateful for my team because everybody else was boxing out.' Senior guard Lev Feiman had nine points, five rebounds, three blocked shots and three steals to lead Brentwood (27-9). Senior guard Payton Sugar had eight points and five rebounds. Sophomore guard Reena White added seven points, five rebounds and five steals. Sophomore guard Kelsey Sugar contributed seven points, three assists and three steals. 'All these teams are really good,' Walters added. 'Any given night, they can go off, and our job is to make sure that doesn't happen. So far, we've been playing really outstanding defense. Our communication on the defensive end has been really, really good, really solid, just recognizing players and what their comforts are and what they're trying to get to. 'That being the case, I couldn't ask for anything more on the defense, but as you know, we're all going to ask for more.' CIF State Southern California Regional Division I semifinals Sage Hill 59, Brentwood 39 SCORE BY QUARTERS Brentwood 9 - 3 - 11 - 16 — 39 Sage Hill 23 - 14 - 13 - 9 — 59 B — Feiman 9, P. Sugar 8, K. Sugar 7, White 7, Scott 4, Liu 2, Tomatsu 2. 3-pt. goals — P. Sugar 2, K. Sugar 1, Feiman 1. Fouled out — Feiman. Technicals — None. SH — Klamberg 21, Holguin 12, Fowler 8, Uphoff 8, Rose 5, Bori 2, O'Toner 2, Reynolds 1. 3-pt. goals — Klamberg 1, Rose 1, Uphoff 1. Fouled out — Holguin. Technicals — None.
Miami Herald
15-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Roads are closed for boat show and arts fest in Miami. How to get around the shutdowns
With every major event in South Florida comes road detours. And it's no different with this weekend's Miami Boat Show and Coconut Grove Art Festival. The 2025 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show runs through Sunday, Feb. 16, at six locations spread around Miami and Miami Beach. The Coconut Grove Arts Festival runs through the Monday, Feb. 17, a federal holiday. Here's a guide on what roads are shut down: Miami International Boat Show ▪ Miami International Boat Show hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. ▪ Six official locations for the 2025 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show: — Miami Beach Convention Center (1901 Convention Center Dr.) offers powerboats up to 49 feet, engine manufacturers, marine accessories, electronics, retail pavilions. — Herald Plaza (One Herald Plaza, downtown Miami between the MacArthur and Venetian Causeways on Biscayne Bay) features larger powerboats, motor yachts ranging from 50 feet to 125 feet, yacht tenders, engines, marine accessories, retail pavilions. — Venetian Marina & Yacht Club (1635 N. Bayshore Dr.) offers vessel test-drives, and boat and engine manufacturers. — Museum Park Marina (801 Biscayne Blvd.) View the latest sailboats, catamarans, sailing accessories. — SuperYacht Miami at Yacht Haven Grande Miami (838 MacArthur Cswy. at Watson Island Park) showcases SuperYacht Miami, billed as 'the largest and most luxurious yachts' at the boat show. Access requires a SuperYacht Miami ticket or Windward VIP pass. — Pride Park (just outside the Miami Beach Convention Center). Progressive Boat Show Experience event. Access is included with general admission to the show. ▪ Traffic: Roads in downtown Miami at Herald Plaza on 14th Street from Bayshore Drive east to One Herald Plaza on Biscayne Bay will be closed. Miami Beach near Miami Beach Convention Center on Convention Center Drive from 18th Street to Dade Boulevard and the eastern portion of 19th Street between Meridian Avenue and Convention Center Drive also are closed for the event. Coconut Grove Arts Festival The Coconut Grove Arts Festival runs on Presidents Day Weekend from Saturday, Feb. 15, through the holiday on Monday, Feb. 17. The festival runs along McFarlane Road, South Bayshore Drive and Pan American Drive. ▪ Festival hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday. ▪ Traffic: Street closures through 11:55 p.m. Monday. No cars will be allowed on these closed streets: — The right lane on Grand Avenue and a fully closed McFarlane Road. — Southwest 27th Avenue and Tigertail Avenue. — Left lane closure on Aviation Avenue and fully closed Bayshore Drive up to McFarlane Road. — South Bayshore Drive from Aviation Avenue to McFarlane Road and from McFarlane to Grand Avenue during the festival. Alternate routes to get to the festival include 22nd or 32nd avenues from South Dixie Highway.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Russia prepares to cut oil production due to sanctions and drone attacks, Reuters reports
Russia is facing the threat of a reduction in oil production due to US sanctions and Ukrainian drone attacks. Source: Reuters Details: Reuters noted that the US sanctions have complicated access to tankers supplying oil to Asia, while drone strikes have damaged refineries, reducing domestic refining. Washington imposed restrictions on 180 Russian tankers in January. During the same period, Kyiv has stepped up drone attacks on oil refineries in an attempt to strengthen its negotiating position. "Russia will have no choice but to slow oil production," said the heads of Russian oil companies. They believe that the country is accumulating a surplus of oil and storage capacity is limited. Some of the tanks have been destroyed in the Ukrainian attacks. Exports through the ports of Primorsk, Ust-Luga and Novorossiysk fell by 17% in January compared to the same period in 2024. Russia has stopped publishing official data on shipments, although traders and analysts have reported a decline in exports. Reuters reported that the cost of transporting cargo from the Russian Pacific port of Kozmino to China rose fivefold in January. According to maritime analyst Windward, downtime and drifting of ships carrying Russian fuel in certain areas increased by 300%. Background: The US sanctions against the Russian oil fleet pose serious problems for the country's exports. In January, oil revenues to the Russian state budget were close to their annual minimum due to cheaper oil and higher payments to state-owned oil refineries. Support UP or become our patron!
