Putin Ally's Yacht Sails Through Blockaded Strait

0:00It's April 28th. This is Global News Today, AI-powered story shaping the world. I'm Cory with the story. A Russian superior tied to one of Vladimir Putin's top allies just slipped through the straight of Hormuz, even with the blockade in place. The Nord, a 142 meter luxury beast worth over $500 million, cruised from Dubai to Muscat in Oman over the weekend. It's owned through a company linked to billionaire Alexey Mordeshov, whose dodge seizures so far. Maritime traffic in the strait is way down from normal levels, since private boats have mostly stayed clear amid the tensions. This waterway handles about one-fifth of the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas, making any snag a big deal. Global oil prices spiked hard because of it, with Brent Crude hitting $109 a barrel on Monday. After watching closely as Iran locks horns with the U.S. over reopening the channel, Iran and Russia ramped up talks this week with Putin's team hosting their delegation in St. Petersburg.

1:02They called it a deep strategic partnership, especially as peace talks between Iran and the West drag on. The Yapak speeches like a pool, submarine bay, and helipad, but it's unclear if Mordeshov was a board. With sanctions biting him since Russia's Ukraine push, this move highlights shifting alliances in the Gulf.