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Iraq tries to increase exports through Turkey by transporting crude oil from the south of Iraq north.
The trial began on September 13 and lasted two days In 209 trucks, 38,000 barrels of oil were transported. Iran War disrupts Iraqi exports to the south By Aref Mohamed and Ahmed Rasheed BASRA (Iraq), Sept. 16: Iraq has launched a pilot project to transport crude oil from its southern oilfields by road to a Kirkuk oil storage facility. The goal is to increase supplies for the northern export system, and possibly to increase shipments via Turkey's Ceyhan Port. The initiative is part of Iraqi efforts to increase exports through the northern route, after the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran disrupted Iraqi shipments via the Strait of Hormuz. A spokesperson for the oil ministry confirmed that Iraq's Oil Ministry has contracted local company,?KAR Group, to transport crude oil using its fleet tanker trucks. A statement from the state-run Basra Oil Company confirmed that the arrangement had been made. BOC reported that the trial operation began on September 13 and lasted for two days. During this time, a little over 6 million litres crude oil, which is equivalent to 38,000 barrels was transported by 209 tanker truck each with a capacity of 30,000-litres. Saleem al-Rikabi said that the contract with KAR Group was based on the total volume delivered by tanker truck. He added that daily volumes transported depended on a number of factors, including road conditions, security clearances, and loading capacity. KAR Group didn't?respond instantly?to an inquiry for comment. Oil ministry figures indicate that current flows from northern Iraq into Turkey's Ceyhan Port are estimated to be around 200,000 barrels per day (bpd). This is down from 250,000 bpd prior to the Iran War. BOC sources say that the project faces logistical difficulties, including limited truck supply and limited loading infrastructure at southern oilfields. Initial volumes are too small to materially increase exports from the north without an expansion in transport and loading capacities.
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US Farm Agency prepares to reopen New Mexico Port to Livestock Trade next week
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced on Wednesday that the Department of Agriculture is preparing to reopen an New Mexico port for livestock trade after it had been closed due to New World screwworm. Rollins stated during her remarks at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture conference in Portland, Maine that she intends to travel to New Mexico Wednesday night. Rollins stated, "We are getting ready to reopen that New Mexico port in the next week." After months of port closures because of concerns about the screwworm parasite, the USDA resumed the cross-border trade of livestock with Mexico in late August. According to the agency there are currently two active screwworm infections, both in Texas, one in a horse, and another in a canine. Rollins stated, "What you have all 'proven for the past?20 days in Douglas, is that this situation is manageable and doable. And if we think there is another threat we will shut it down."
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Sources say that two pumping stations on the Saudi East-West Pipeline were damaged by a recent attack.
According to three oil and security sources, two pumping stations that serve the vital 'East-West Pipeline' in Saudi Arabia have been damaged by an attack last week. Saudi Aramco did not reply to a comment request. The company operates the 1,200 km (745 mile) pipeline that runs across the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi Arabia's media office did not respond immediately to a comment request. Saudi officials said that the?pipeline which had helped to relieve the blockage in the Strait of Hormuz was temporarily shut down after an?attack by a drone coming from Iraq. Sources claim that the strike has damaged pumping stations 8 and 9. According to industry estimates, the pipeline is serviced with 11 pumping and two pressure relief stations. Since?six months, the facility has been the main way to export Middle East oil globally. The Strait of Hormuz is largely closed due to war. Saudi Arabia has been able to avoid the disruptions that have crippled the other Gulf oil and natural gas exporters.
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Muto scores as Kobe win the Asian Champions League with a win
Vissel Kobe won 2-1 over Port FC on Wednesday thanks to a deftly executed goal by?Yoshinori muto. The Japanese team?made a perfect start in the league phase of?Asian Champion League Elite?in Thailand. Ren Komatsu, a former 'Japan - international', had given Michael Skibbe and his team the lead at the 10th minute. Issei Tahashi flicked Diego's throw-in into the Port penalty area and Komatsu pounced. In the fourth minute of stoppage time in the first half, he was able to redirect Issam al-Sabhi’s header past his own goal-line. Muto scored the winning goal after being played?on-goal by fellow substitute Yuya Osako. He then lifted a calm finish above Port goalkeeper Michael Falksgaard, as last season's semifinalists picked up all three of their points. Former champions Jeonbuk Motors came back from a goal behind to beat Kashiwa 2-1 in Jeonju. Kenshin Yuba scored an individual goal in the 30th-minute to put Japan ahead. However, Tiago Orobo equalized the score three minutes into second half by scoring a header. Italo scored the winning goal for Jeonbuk at the 69th-minute mark. The Brazilian slid his shot in the bottom right corner of Ryosuke's Kojima. The eight top teams in east and west Asia, who finished first or second respectively in the league phase of the competition (which has increased from 24 to 32 teams) will move on to the knockout round. The 'last 16 matches' will be played on a 'home-and-away basis' in March, while the quarter-finals (quarter-finals), semi-finals (semi-finals) and final in Saudi Arabia will be held centrally in April and may.
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Meloni, the Italian leader in the election campaign, has scrapped road tax on most cars.
Giorgia meloni, the Italian Prime Minister, announced on Wednesday that Italy will 'abolish road tax' for 14,5 million cars and motorbikes. This move is estimated to cost more than EUR2billion ($2.31billion) in state funds. The government is looking for ways to increase support in advance of the national elections next year. Meloni’s?conservative alliance is trailing in the polls the centre-left and is under pressure from National Future - a new far-right political party led by Roberto Vannacci that is steadily gaining supporters. Meloni stated in a press release released by her office that "today the government eliminates one of the taxes most disliked by Italians". The benefit is available for 'all motorbikes' and'more than 70% of small and medium-sized vehicles, according to the Cabinet Office. However, each citizen will only be able to use it once. The draft decree that was seen by us before the cabinet meeting indicated that the exemption would only be for one year, between January 1, 2027 and December 31, 2027. It will cost EUR 2,36 billion. Meloni did not reveal where the money would come from to fund the initiative. Italy's public debt is expected to reach 139% of its gross domestic product (GDP) in this year under its latest budget plan. This will replace Greece as the most indebted nation in the Eurozone. The coalition parties welcomed this measure as part the government's agenda to cut taxes, while critics dismissed it for a ploy to divert the attention away from the soaring fuel prices. Rossano Sasso is a senior assistant to Vannacci. Fuel prices have risen in Italy for several months due to the U.S. War against Iran, which has disrupted supplies around the globe. The government had to spend EUR2.8 to date to reduce excise duties.
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Italy eliminates road tax on most cars in the run-up to elections
Giorgia meloni, the Italian prime minister, announced on Wednesday that the government would abolish road tax for 14.5 million cars and motorbikes. The government is looking for ways to increase support in advance of the national elections next year. Meloni stated in a press release issued by her office that "today the government will eliminate one of 'the taxes most disliked by Italians. The benefit will apply to all motorbikes, and to more than 70% small-sized cars. However, citizens are only allowed to use it on one vehicle. The election next year is shaping up to be a close race between Meloni’s rightist coalition and centre-left opposition. The government has not said how much the abolition?of road tax will cost?public finances. Italy's public debt is expected to reach 139% of its gross domestic product this year under its latest budget plan. This will replace Greece as the most indebted nation in the Eurozone.
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Flydubai CEO: We expect to return to full capacity before the end of this year.
Flydubai, the airline of Dubai, expects to return to full capacity before the end of the year. This is as airlines 'across the region' recover from the impact of the Iran War. Ghaith al Ghaith, CEO of Arabian Travel Market, said to the media that by the end of the year, "we will go back to 100 percent, and maybe even more, because we'll be getting more planes." Ghaith said that Flydubai, Emirates sister airline, operates at 85% of its current network capacity. Its load factor (which measures how well a?airline fills available seats) is "good". Flights in the Middle East, and even beyond, were disrupted for weeks by the Iran War, which began at the end February. However, Gulf carriers - some of the largest in the world - have slowly resumed their activities. The EU Aviation Safety Agency issued an advisory this year to avoid the Gulf Airspace due to potential 'risks associated with the war. He added, "Our biggest problem, particularly in Europe, are all the (travel) advisory messages that continue to be issued." The CEO's comments come after the airline announced on Tuesday that it would take a further 11 aircraft this year. This includes seven?Boeing 737-9 MAXs and four Boeing 737-8 MAXs, bringing its fleet to over 100 aircraft.
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Equinor plans LNG growth in early 2030s for European and Asian demands
Senior executives at Equinor said that they hoped to increase their liquefied gas supply portfolio between 10 and 15 million metric tons (tpy) per year in the early part of the next decade to meet demand from Europe and Asia. Ingvar Egeland is Equinor's Vice President for LNG. He said that the Norwegian producer will announce a second LNG deal with an Asian client this week. In May, Equinor signed a 15-year LNG deal with India’s Deepak Fertilizers &?Petrochemicals Corp. Egeland stated that Equinor has been in contact with many counterparts, particularly in India and other places in Southeast Asia. They are interested in finding new sources. The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran has?prevented Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, from exporting the majority of their LNG via the Strait of?Hormuz. A fifth of global LNG supplies used to pass through this Strait, forcing Asian buyers into seeking other sources. Equinor expects to double its portfolio of supplies to 7 million tonnes per year in 2030, when U.S. supplies reach full capacity. The Norwegian LNG plant Hammerfest is responsible for half of the total supply. Egeland stated that Equinor intends to increase its supply to between 10 and 15 million tonnes per year (tpy) by the early 2030s. This will include cargoes with a Brent price to diversify their exposure to prices. He added that the volume does not include Tanzania where Equinor has a project in progress which is being 'delayed' by government negotiations. Tanzania's deputy minister of energy said this week that a new law on LNG investments could be passed by the end the year. Egeland said that the East Coast of the U.S.A., West Coast of Canada, South America and other African countries, besides Tanzania, could be potential new sources of supply.
Chinese workers in BYD Brazil factory signed contracts with violent clauses, private investigators say
The employees who taken a trip from China to northeast Brazil to build a brand-new factory for electric car maker BYD made approximately $70 per 10hour shift, over two times the Chinese per hour base pay in many areas. For numerous, that made signing up a simple decision but going out would be much harder.
The Chinese employees worked with by BYD specialist Jinjiang in Brazil needed to hand over their passports to their new company, let most of their incomes be sent out directly to China, and shell out an almost $900 deposit that they might only get back after 6 months' work, according to a labor contract seen .
The three-page file, signed by among 163 workers who labor inspectors said were freed from slavery-like. conditions last month, consists of clauses that violate labor laws. in both Brazil and China, according to Brazilian investigators. and 3 Chinese labor law professionals.
Other formerly unreported clauses gave the firm the power. to unilaterally extend the labor agreement for six months and. problem 200 yuan fines for conduct such as swearing, quarreling or. walking shirtless at the site or in their living. quarters.
Many of the stipulations are book 'warnings' of required. labor, said Aaron Halegua, an attorney and fellow at New York. University Law School, who won settlement for Chinese employees. who sued their companies for forced labor in the Northern. Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory.
He included that keeping workers' passports or needing. any type of efficiency bond or security payment would not be. allowed under Chinese laws and policies.
Jinjiang, which deals with BYD factory construction throughout. China in cities such as Changzhou, Yangzhou and Hefei, has. contested the claims, saying the findings by Brazilian labor. inspectors are irregular with the realities and the outcome of. baffled translations.
The claim that Jinjiang's workers were 'shackled' and. ' saved' is totally off base, said Jinjiang in a declaration. last month.
Alexandre Baldy, senior vice president for BYD Brasil, informed. Reuters the carmaker had no understanding of any violations until. the very first reports by Brazilian media in late November, when BYD. called Jinjiang about the claims.
Baldy and BYD Brasil President Tyler Li then met on Dec. 2. with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. They informed. Lula at the time that BYD was dealing with the problem, according to. 2 people knowledgeable about the conversation.
Lula's workplace did not instantly respond to a request for. remark.
Two weeks later, a raid by labor inspectors found the. workers living packed in accommodations without bed mattress. Thirty-one employees were packed in a single house with only one. restroom and food piled up on the ground along with personal. valuables, in what inspectors said were degrading. conditions.
Baldy rejected discussing the matter with Lula in their. meeting and stated the business had no understanding of the Jinjiang. labor agreement. BYD is taking action to make sure this. scenario never ever takes place again, he informed Reuters.
Inspectors have supplied no evidence that BYD understood of the. infractions, but BYD is straight accountable, stated Matheus. Viana, acting chief of Brazil's Department of Examination for the. Elimination of Slave Labor, due to the fact that the carmaker is accountable. for the actions of a third-party specialist on its website.
REPLACING FORD
The formerly unreported contract uses fresh details of. how a plant held up as a beacon of closer Brazil-China relations. ended up being the website of scandal for BYD in its most significant market outside. of China.
BYD concurred in late 2023 to take control of and invest greatly in. electric automobile production in an industrial park in Camaçari,. near the capital of Bahia state, the website of a Ford Motor Co. plant for two decades.
Ford abandoned the plant in 2021, firing some 5,000 employees. as it ended manufacturing in the country.
For President Lula, former head of a metalworkers union in. Sao Paulo, the BYD offer promised to deliver 21st-century. making jobs in a fortress of his Employee Celebration.
News of the big investment stirred hopes the Chinese company. would revive two times as many tasks as Ford had removed, in a. state where practically 10% of people are jobless.
However when BYD generated the Chinese professional to develop the. factory, Antonio Ubirajara Santos Souza, planner of the. regional union of building and construction employees (Sindticcc), stated it was a. sign the business didn't play reasonable.
In a declaration to Reuters, BYD stated the firm is devoted to. creating local tasks which when the factory complex is fully. functional, it will have 20,000 employees, consisting of Brazilians.
During the December raid, inspectors found copies of 10. contracts with similar provisions to those seen , they. said. Some employees informed inspectors they did not have contracts,. and others stated they just signed theirs after months in Brazil.
BYD and Jinjiang will be charged with obstructing the probe. since they did not provide inspectors with the address for the. workers' accommodations when asked for, stated Daniel Santana, a labor. inspector investigating the case, exposing the two companies to. a potential fine.
PROBE STIRS REGIONAL RESIDENTS
Numerous Chinese employees are still working at the. building website along with Brazilians, union leaders told. Reuters. Union authorities say the Brazilian employees grumbled. this month of irregularities at the website, consisting of a lack of. drinking water.
BYD shared images with Reuters of new accommodations and. snack bars it provided to staff members. Still, the regional. building and construction employees union, Sindticcc, has decided to sue both. BYD and Jinjiang over past offenses.
Local political leaders likewise raised issues about other projects. in Bahia slated for construction by Chinese firms, such as a. bridge in the state capital Salvador budgeted at 7.6 billion. reais ($ 1.28 billion), which some regional residents fear might be. the most recent in a series of tasks leaning on imported labor.
We can never bring advancement to our state at the expense of. servant labor, said Alan Sanches, a state congressman.
Bahia Governor Jeronimo Rodrigues told Reuters BYD is still. anticipated to create 10,000 local tasks and that the state can not. lose that opportunity. Still, he said, BYD needs to offer work. in good conditions.
Julio Bonfim, head of the metalworkers union of Camaçari,. stated he currently alerted BYD officials that his office will not. accept Brazilians losing out on job opportunities to workers. brought from China.
If that happens, he said, the factory will face its very first. strike under BYD before production even begins..
(source: Reuters)