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Syria signs an agreement worth $800 Million with DP World for port infrastructure
SANA, the Syrian state news agency, reported that Syria's General Authority for Land and Sea Ports signed a $800-million agreement on Sunday with UAE's DP World in order to improve port infrastructure and logistical support for Syria. The agreement is a follow-up to a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two parties in May. The agreement with DP World (a subsidiary of United Arab Emirates' investment company Dubai World) focuses on the development of a multipurpose terminal in Tartous, on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, and on cooperation for setting up industrial zones and free trade areas. At the signing ceremony, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa was present. Last month, U.S. president Donald Trump signed an Executive Order terminating the U.S. Sanctions Programme on Syria. This executive order paved the way to end the country's financial isolation and allow it to rebuild its economy, which was ravaged by the civil conflict. As the country begins to rebuild, the removal of U.S. Sanctions will allow humanitarian organizations in Syria to engage more actively. This will ease foreign investment and trade.
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Boeing settles with Canadian who lost family members in 737 MAX crash
Boeing has reached a settlement agreement with a Canadian whose family was killed in the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX on March 2019, the lawyer for the man said. Terms of the settlement reached with Paul Njoroge, a Toronto resident, were not disclosed. The crash killed the 41-year-old's wife Carolyne, and his three children, Ryan, Kellie, and Rubi, as well as Carolyne. The crash also killed his mother-in law, who was travelling with them. The trial, scheduled to begin on Monday at the U.S. District Court of Chicago, would have been the U.S. aircraft manufacturer's first in response to two fatal 737 MAX accidents in 2018 and 2019, which killed 346 people. Boeing avoided a trial as well in April when it reached a settlement with the families two other victims of the Ethiopian Airlines crash. The aircraft manufacturer declined to comment about the latest settlement. Boeing lost more than $20 billion in the wake of these two accidents. Boeing's best-selling aircraft was grounded for 20 months. Robert Clifford, Njoroge’s attorney, will represent the families of six additional victims in a second trial scheduled to start on November 3. Boeing says it has settled over 90% of civil lawsuits relating to these two accidents. The company paid out billions in compensation via lawsuits, deferred prosecution agreements and other payments. Boeing and the U.S. Justice Department requested a judge approve an agreement earlier this month that would allow the company to avoid prosecution over the objections of relatives of some victims of the two accidents. Boeing would be able to escape being labeled a felon for three years and avoid oversight by an independent monitor. The agreement was part of the plea bargain struck in 2024 for a criminal fraud allegation that Boeing misled U.S. regulatory authorities about a critical flight 737 MAX system which contributed crashes. (Reporting from Seattle by Dan Catchpole; Editing by Tom Hogue.)
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What were the names of the two pilots that flew the Air India jet which crashed?
In a preliminary report, investigators investigating a fatal Air India crash stated that the aircraft's fuel switches had been briefly flipped into the off position. This caused confusion in the cockpit which focused attention on the Boeing 787 pilots. Here is a short profile of both pilots, based on media reports and the preliminary investigation report: CAPTAIN SUMEET SABHARWAL The 56-year old pilot had a valid airline transport pilot's license until May 14, 2026. He was cleared to fly in the role of pilot-in command on a number of aircraft, including the Boeing 787, 777 and Airbus A310. He has a total of 15,638 flying hours. Of these, 8,596 were spent on a Boeing 7. According to a report in the Times of India, Sabharwal called his family at the airport and assured them that he would call again once he landed in London. He was described as a gentleman by a pilot who briefly spoke with him. FIRST OFFICER CLIVE KUNDER The 32-year old had a commercial license that was issued in 2020, and it was valid until 26 September 2025. He was cleared to fly the Cessna 172, Piper PA-34 Seneca and Airbus A320 as well as Boeing 787 as a co-pilot. His total flying time was 3,403 hrs. One-hundred and twenty eight hours were spent as a copilot on a 787. Indian media, citing his family, reported that Kunder has been a passionate flyer since his school days. In 2012, he began working as a pilot. He joined Air India as a pilot in 2017. Reporting by Abhijith and Adityakalra, editing by Jamie Freed
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Air India's Boeing Dreamliner crash: Inside the cockpit
The preliminary report on the Air India crash, which killed 260 people in the last month, showed that the fuel cutoff switches for the engines were almost simultaneously switched from run to shutoff. This deprived the engines of fuel. The sequence of events on June 12 is detailed in the preliminary report by Indian investigators, released on Saturday. Air India Dreamliner VTANB landed at Ahmedabad as AI423 at 05:47 GMT. 07:48 GMT - An aircraft was seen departing Bay 34 of the airport. The aircraft asked for taxi clearance which was granted to it by the air traffic control. A minute later, the aircraft taxied backwards and lined up in preparation for takeoff. 08:02 GMT - The aircraft has been transferred from tower to ground control. Take-off clearance has been issued at 08:07 GMT. The aircraft began rolling at 08:07 GMT. Aircraft lifted off at 08:08 GMT. The report stated that "the aircraft air/ground sensor switched to air mode in accordance with liftoff." Aircraft reached maximum airspeed of 180 knots at 08:08 GMT. "Immediately after, the Engine 1 fuel cutoff switch and Engine 2 fuel shutoff switch transitioned one by one from RUN to CUTOFF with a gap of 1 sec." The Engine N1 and N2 started to degrade from their takeoff values when the fuel supply was cut off. In the cockpit recording, one pilot is heard asking another why he cut off. The other pilot replied that he didn't do it The airport's CCTV footage shows Ram Air Turbines (RAT) being deployed immediately after take-off. The aircraft began to lose height before crossing the perimeter wall of the airport. The RAT hydraulic pump started supplying power at 08:08 GMT. Both engines "passed the minimum idle speed". The fuel cutoff switch for Engine 1 has been changed from CUTOFF (stop) to RUN (run). The fuel cutoff switch for Engine 2 also changes from CUTOFF (stop) to RUN at 08:08 PM GMT. When fuel control switches from CUTOFF are changed to RUN during flight, the full authority dual engine controls (FADECs) of each engine automatically manage a relighting and thrust recovery sequence. Engine 1's core speed deceleration halted, reversed, and began to recover. Engine 2 could relight, but it was unable to stop core speed deceleration. Fuel was repeatedly added to the engine to increase core acceleration and recovery. The pilot who sent "MAYDAY Mayday Mayday" at 08:09 GMT. 08:09 GMT - Data recording has stopped. (Reporting by Aditya Kalra; Editing by Jamie Freed) 08:14.44 GMT - Crash Fire tender leaves the airport premises to rescue and fight fires. (Reporting and editing by Jamie Freed; Aditya Klra)
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What is the fuel switch at the heart of the Air India crash investigation?
Investigators' preliminary report on the Air India crash, which killed 260 people, revealed that the Boeing 787 aircraft's fuel control switches had been briefly turned off seconds after takeoff. This deprived the engines of fuel. Here are some facts about switches, their function in the aircraft, and their movement on an Air India flight. What are fuel switches? These switches regulate the fuel flow to a plane's engine. Pilots use them to shut down or start engines manually on the ground, or to shut down or restart an engine if it fails during flight. Experts in aviation say that a pilot could not accidentally move fuel switches feeding the engines. If moved, however, it would immediately cut off the engine's power. According to John Cox, an aviation safety expert from the United States, there are separate power systems and wirings for the fuel shutoff switches and fuel valves that they control. Where are the fuel switches located? The fuel control switches are located under the thrust levers on a 787. In Air India's example, they were equipped with two GE engine. The switches have a spring loaded mechanism that keeps them in place. The pilot must first lift the switch and then change it from cutoff to run. There are two different modes: 'CUTOFF" and "RUN". What happened on the fatal AIR INDIA flight? According to the flight recording, after takeoff switches for both engines were switched from "RUN" to "CUTOFF", one after the other, with a gap of one sec. The engines started to lose power as a result. On the cockpit voice recording, one pilot is heard asking the other pilot why he has cut off the fuel. The report stated that "the other pilot replied that he had not done so." The flight's first officer and captain did not make any specific remarks. The preliminary report states that the switches were flipped back into 'RUN" seconds later. The report said that both fuel control switches had been found in the "RUN" position on the crash site. The report stated that when fuel control switches from 'CUTOFF to RUN' are changed while an aircraft is flying, the control system of each engine automatically manages the relighting and thrust recovery sequences for ignition and fuel injection. John Nance, an aviation safety expert from the United States, said that "no sane person would turn off those switches in flight," particularly as the plane was just beginning to climb. (Reporting from Abhijith Gaapavaram, New Delhi; Dan Catchpole, Seattle; editing by Jamie Freed).
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Air India's Boeing Dreamliner crash: Inside the cockpit
The preliminary report on the Air India crash, which killed 260 people in the last month, showed that the fuel cutoff switches for the plane's engine were almost simultaneously switched from run to shutoff. This deprived the engines of fuel. The sequence of events on June 12 is detailed in the preliminary report by Indian investigators, released on Saturday. Air India Dreamliner VTANB landed at Ahmedabad as AI423 at 05:47 GMT. 07:48 GMT - An aircraft was seen departing Bay 34 of the airport. 07:55 GMT - Air traffic control granted the taxi clearance to the aircraft. A minute later, the aircraft took Taxiway R4 from the bay and proceeded on the Runway 23. 08:02 GMT - The aircraft has been transferred from tower to ground control. Take-off clearance has been issued at 08:07 GMT. The aircraft began rolling at 08:07 GMT. Aircraft lifted off at 08:08 GMT. The report stated that "the aircraft air/ground sensor switched to air mode in accordance with liftoff." Aircraft reached maximum airspeed of 180 knots at 08:08 GMT. "Immediately thereafter, Engine 1 and Engine 2 Fuel Cutoff Switches transitioned one by one from RUN to the CUTOFF position with a time interval of 1 sec." The Engine N1 and N2 started to degrade from their takeoff values when the fuel supply was cut off. In the cockpit recording, a pilot is heard asking another why he cut off. The other pilot replied that he didn't do it The airport's CCTV footage shows Ram Air Turbines (RAT) being deployed immediately after take-off. The aircraft began to lose height before crossing the perimeter wall of the airport. The RAT hydraulic pump started supplying power at 08:08 GMT. Both engines "passed the minimum idle speed". The fuel cutoff switch for Engine 1 has been changed from CUTOFF (stop) to RUN (run). The fuel cutoff switch for Engine 2 also changes from CUTOFF (stop) to RUN at 08:08 PM GMT. When fuel control switches from CUTOFF are changed to RUN during flight, the full authority dual engine controls (FADECs) of each engine automatically manage a relighting and thrust recovery sequence. Engine 1's core speed deceleration stopped and reversed. It then started to recover. Engine 2 could relight, but it was unable to stop core speed deceleration. Fuel was repeatedly added to the engine to increase core acceleration and recovery. The pilot who sent "MAYDAY Mayday Mayday" at 08:09 GMT. 08:09 GMT - Data recording has stopped. (Reporting by Aditya Kalra; Editing by Jamie Freed) 08:14.44 GMT - Crash Fire tender leaves the airport premises to rescue and fight fires. (Reporting and editing by Jamie Freed; Aditya Klra)
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Firefly, a space and defense company, filed its US IPO in 2024. Revenue growth is projected to be at least 20%.
Firefly Aerospace, a space and defense technology firm backed by AE Industrial Partners, disclosed on Friday a 10% increase in revenue for 2024 in its filing to go public in the United States. Firefly reported a revenue of $60,8 million in 2024 compared to $55.2 millions the previous year. Investors are returning to the U.S. IPO Market after months of sluggishness earlier this year, triggered by policy changes and tariff uncertainty under Donald Trump. "There's a window of opportunities' in space-related IPOs", said IPOX CEO Josef Schuster. He added that there is a strong appetite from investors for space-related offerings. This is due to the enthusiasm for the growth prospects in the space sector. When Voyager Technologies, a space firm, and Karman Holdings debuted their listings in the first quarter of this year, they received warm welcomes. Firefly, based in Texas, designs and manufactures small- and medium-lift launch vehicles as well as lunar landers and orbital transfer vehicle. First Moon landing In March, the Blue Ghost spacecraft will join a few private companies in the global race to the moon. Firefly Secured a Value of $2 Billion In a funding round in November 2024. It plans to list on Nasdaq with the symbol "FLY". Goldman Sachs is the lead underwriter for this offering. JPMorgan, Jefferies, and Wells Fargo will also be involved. (Reporting and editing by Pooja Deai in Bengaluru, with Prakhar Srivastava from Bengaluru)
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The key events of the Air India crash investigation
The preliminary report on the Air India crash, which killed 260 people, revealed that the fuel cutoff switches for the engines were switched from run to off almost simultaneously seconds after takeoff. This deprived the engines of fuel. The timeline below shows the key events of the investigation so far: JUNE 12 Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner headed for London crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad, killing all 242 passengers on board except one. JUNE 13 India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau launches an investigation in the deadliest aircraft crash of the past decade. The team includes a representative from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board, a flight traffic controller, and an aviation medicine specialist. Boeing 787 jets are equipped with two GE recorders. One is installed in the front of the jet and the other at the back. Both aircraft have a cockpit data recorder as well as a voice recorder. A black box is recovered on the roof of a nearby building. JUNE 16 The second blackbox unit was recovered from the debris on the crash site. JUNE 24 Indian Air Force aircraft transported the two black boxes separately from Ahmedabad, India to a lab at AAIB in Delhi. The team, led by the AAIB Director General and technical members of AAIB as well as the NTSB, began the data extraction in the evening. JUNE 25 The data from the memory module of the black box unit at the front end of the aircraft was successfully downloaded. In a report from 2014, the NTSB stated that the forward recorder has an independent power supply which provides backup power for the device for approximately 10 minutes in the event of a plane's loss of power. JULY 12 The preliminary report indicated that no action was recommended to Boeing or GE, indicating that a fault with the aircraft or engine is unlikely. The report said that one pilot could be heard asking the other pilot on the cockpit recording why he had cut off the gas. The report stated that "the other pilot replied that he had not done so." The crash report did not specify which flight captain made the remarks and which first officer. Nor did it identify which pilot sent out "Mayday Mayday Mayday" before the crash. The final report should be ready within one year after the accident. Reporting by Abhijith Gaapavaram, New Delhi. Editing by Jamie Freed
Retailers scramble to save the US summer shopping season
After Washington and Beijing agreed on a temporary tariff cut, U.S. retailers such as Walmart and several clothing companies are racing to get China-made products for the busy summer season that begins in late May. According to Portless, the logistics company that helps U.S. brands import goods via air from China, orders for sundresses as well as bathing suits, clogs, and sunscreens have increased since Monday's agreement between Washington and Beijing to temporarily lower tariffs.
Izzy Rosenzweig is the CEO of Portless. Portless counts Hapari swimwear and bug repellent manufacturer NatPat as clients. "They said, 'let's resume production and shipping.'
John Harmon, managing Director of Technology Research at Coresight Research said that U.S. companies rely heavily on ocean shipping. However, it can take up to 60 days to get goods from China to the United States, depending on their destination and the size of the ship. Orders for summer can be placed in the late winter or the early spring, to allow time for new designs to be manufactured.
Typically, U.S. retailers begin importing merchandise from China two to three months prior to Memorial Day this year. After U.S. President Donald Trump slapped Beijing with retaliatory fentanyl and tariffs totaling 155% on April 9, many U.S. firms paused orders. According to Vizion, data from brokerage TD Cowen on container bookings to the U.S. from China in the final week of April fell by nearly 50%.
Harmon says that it could take a while to restart supply chains following the April pause.
"It's been super busy the last two days," said Liu. A toy maker from Dongguan, an export hub in Southern China who declined to reveal her full name out of respect for her privacy.
"We're booking containers, and some of our products are already on their way to Shenzhen Port." "In recent months, there were fewer trucks on the road, but today, there's a traffic jam heading to the port," Liu said. Liu serves Walmart, which is the largest importer of container goods in the United States.
CONTAINER COSTS WORRIES
Freight rates are not rising despite the rush to get goods to the U.S. Freightos data shows that the spot rate for a 40-foot (12-meter) container to be sent from China to U.S. West Coast increased 3% on a week-to-week basis to $2,395 Monday. This indicates that businesses are not flooding shippers with orders.
The price is now half what it was in February when large companies were stocking up to avoid the tariffs that Trump had promised.
Companies like Bogg Bag, however, are beginning to worry about container costs going through the roof. Kim Vaccarella said that the CEO of a tote bag maker sold by retailers such as Target has accelerated production for her China-made bags to ensure they arrive in New Jersey as soon as possible. She has chosen to focus on a few products that are popular instead of launching many new items at once. This allows them to move quickly. Walmart, who reported earnings on Thursday, as well as Costco and Target, rival retailers, front-loaded their orders at the beginning of the year. CFRA research analyst Arun Sunderam wrote on May 13 in a note.
Sundaram reported that Walmart's inventory rose by about 3% during the quarter ending January 31. This was the first increase in almost two years.
In the three-month period ending in February, Costco's inventories rose by nearly 10%. Zumiez, a retailer of surf and skateboard clothing, saw their inventories rise about 14%. Target's inventory rose by 7% in the same time period.
Sundaram, a freight expert who anticipates an increase in freight prices, says that while the tariff reprieve on Monday is likely to be a boon for U.S. companies eager to stockpile summer merchandise, it may also create supply-chain congestion, although this will probably be less severe than the pandemic year of 2021-2022. On Wednesday, some Halloween decor manufacturers said they'd have to rush to make and ship hanging skeletons as well as costume props into the United States before the 90-day deadline.
Gene Seroka said that businesses might not be able prepare fully for the summer as well as back-to school in July, which is another major retail season.
Right now, we are looking at the final orders that will be sent in for back to school and perhaps some orders for summer fashion. Seroka explained that the situation was very tight.
Stephen Lamar of the American Apparel & Footwear Association (of which Adidas America is a member) warned of congestion in ports if companies rushed to import goods.
The tariff war has caused a delay of a month in the shipping back to school. Lamar said that school districts cannot delay the start of school for a whole month. (Reporting from Siddharth Cavale in New York, and Casey Hall and Jessica DiNapoli at New York; Additional reporting from Lisa Baertlein and Matthew Lewis in Los Angeles. Editing by Lisa Jucca & Matthew Lewis.
(source: Reuters)