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Greece warns of the risks to shipping fleet after Black Sea drone attack
According to the shipping ministry, Greece has advised its shipping fleet to review security measures before sailing to Russian Black Sea ports after drone attacks this week on two Greek-operated tanks. Drones attacked two oil "tankers" on Tuesday, including one chartered U.S. oil giant Chevron as they sailed towards a Black Sea Terminal on Russia's Black Sea Coast. Greek-operated tankers are among the largest in the world and play a pivotal role for trade throughout?the Black Sea Region, which includes Bulgaria, Georgia and Romania, as well as Russia and Ukraine. In one of the documents that we saw that were released after the attacks, the shipping ministry stated that it was recommended that security managers of shipping companies and masters as well as security officers on Greek ships conduct an updated threat assessment for commercial ships in the Black Sea area and maritime areas near to it. This week, the cost of war insurance for ships heading to the Black Sea has risen. The increase is a reflection of the riskier environment. Two drones targeted the Matilda tanker, managed by Thenamaris in Greece. Thenamaris officials said that there were no serious injuries or damage to the vessel. They also advised the crew to be more vigilant and to avoid any unnecessary exposure. This included moving around on the deck. The ministry pointed shipping companies towards an older document, published in April 20,22, which recommended that?additional protective security measures should be maintained for a period of time as a result increased risk for Russian Black Sea Ports of Novorossiysk, Taman, Tuapse, and Kavkaz. Reporting by Renee Maltezou and Yannis Souliotis; editing by Mark Heinrich
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European airlines avoid Iran and Iraq even after the airspace was reopened
According to flight tracking websites such as Flight Tracker, Wizz Air, Lufthansa and British Airways avoided the airspace of Iraq and Iran on Thursday in order to reduce the risks associated with geopolitical unrest in Iran and the Middle East. Iran closed its airspace for nearly five hours, and then reopened it after that, amid fears of a possible military conflict between the U.S. FlightRadar24 reports that despite the airspace reopening many airlines continued to use alternate routes. This included Singapore Airlines, TUI, and others. Many Western airlines changed their routes in the Middle East in the past two years. Some even flew over Afghanistan more frequently despite continued 'Taliban' rule. On Wednesday morning, Germany issued a directive warning its airlines not to enter Iranian airspace. This came shortly after Lufthansa revised its flight operations in the Middle East due to the escalating tensions. Wizz Air's spokesperson stated on Thursday that some flights departing from Dubai or Abu Dhabi airports (for refueling and crew changes) will be required to stop in Larnaca, Cyprus, or Thessaloniki Greece. British Airways owner IAG spokesperson said that all flights from Bahrain to the UK were cancelled until and including January 16. "KLM avoids Iranian airspace at the moment as a precaution. This is a route that we use very rarely." The closure of Iranian airspace last night 'had no impact on our operations,' a KLM spokesperson said. Finnair told the local media on Thursday that it has ceased flying over Iraqi airspace and is instead travelling to Doha, Dubai, and other destinations in Saudi Arabia. Finnair had been avoiding Iranian airspace, Syrian airspace and Israeli space for security purposes. Air France and other airlines, including Ryanair, have avoided Iranian airspace for years. Anne Kauranen, Helsinki (additional reporting), Ed Osmond (editing)
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Airliners continue to avoid Iran & Iraq despite reopening of airspace
According to flight tracking sites, European airlines such as Wizz Air, Lufthansa and British Airways avoided the airspace of Iraq and Iran on Thursday. Instead, they chose routes through Afghanistan and Central Asia to reduce the risks associated with ongoing geopolitical instability in the Middle East and?Iran. Iran closed its airspace for nearly five hours, and then reopened it after that, on Wednesday, amid fears of a possible military conflict between the U.S.A. and 'Iran, which forced airlines to cancel or reroute flights. FlightRadar24 reports that despite the airspace being reopened, many airlines continued to use alternate routes, including Singapore Airlines and TUI. Many Western airlines changed their Middle East routings in the last two years. They flew more frequently over Afghanistan despite the Taliban's rule. On Wednesday, Germany issued "a new directive" warning its airlines not to enter Iranian airspace. This came shortly after Lufthansa revised its flight operations in the Middle East due to escalating regional tensions. Wizz Air's spokesperson stated on Thursday that some flights departing from Dubai or Abu Dhabi will be required to stop in Larnaca (Cyprus) or Thessaloniki (Greece) for refueling and crew changes. In recent months, carriers like Ryanair have shifted some of their routes away from the Middle East to avoid the turmoil around Israel, Iran and many other countries. Air France, for example, has avoided Iranian airspace for years. (Reporting and editing by Ed Osmond, Joanna Plucinska)
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Air India warns about possible disruptions on A350 routes following engine damage to jet
Air India has warned that possible disruptions to its A350 routes could occur due to engine damage sustained by one of their long-haul aircraft after it encountered "a foreign object" Thursday. Air India has six Airbus A350s that fly lucrative routes between India's New Delhi, London, New York, and Newark. This makes the airline susceptible to disruptions if an aircraft is suddenly grounded. The airline said that the damage occurred while the plane was taxiing through dense fog at New Delhi. The carrier did not provide any further information on the 'foreign object' or possible routes affected. Air India stated that the aircraft was currently grounded to allow for an investigation and repairs. This could cause disruptions on certain A350 routes. The plane was originally scheduled to fly to New York, but it was forced to return to its origin due to the temporary closure of Iran's airspace. After landing in New Delhi, the incident happened. Iran has reopened its airspace following a five-hour-long closure due to concerns about possible military action between the U.S.
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Maguire: Key trends in US energy and power at home and abroad
The U.S. Energy System has begun 2026 with more momentum and buzz than it's had in decades, despite all the policy whiplash. Electricity production in the U.S. is increasing faster than most other western countries, which allows utilities to provide more power to data centres, AI applications, and other fast-growing, energy-intensive technologies that are driving the U.S. economic growth. Overseas the U.S. will?cement its position as the world's largest and most influential crude oil and gas exporter. These commodities continue to support a vast majority?of global energy systems, and generate massive profits for the U.S. Treasury. The strong state of the U.S. Energy Sector is a testament to President Donald Trump’s "energy dominance", which will gain even more momentum in 2018 as new energy policies are implemented. Here are some key metrics for electricity production, fossil fuel exports and imports that will help you track the U.S. Energy Sector through 2026. GROWTH ELECTRIC Data from Ember shows that the total electricity generated by U.S. utilities in 2025 increased by 3% from the previous year. This is the second consecutive year where wholesale electricity output has shown a rise of 3% or more. This electricity growth rate is compared to an average annual rate of 0.3% over the last five years. It shows that utilities have increased their generation efforts. The increase in utility production was due to a 5% increase in the output of electricity from clean energy sources and a 1 % rise in outputs from fossil fuel power stations. The United States has a 3% growth rate in the total supply of?utility, compared to just a 0.2% increase in the total utility electricity generated in Europe last year. Europe is still gripped by sluggish economic growth due in part because of stubbornly high energy prices. The U.S. is on par with the global average for 2025 but falls short of China's 5% increase in utility electricity output. The U.S. utility industry is expected to increase electricity production in 2026. This will be due to the addition of solar and battery networks, as well as a planned restart of Palisades Nuclear Plant in Michigan. The federal government's decision to stop funding renewable energy projects could slow down the rate of growth in solar and wind power and, over time, affect the amount of electricity produced. OIL, GAS & COAL According to the Energy Institute, while clean power sources have gained a record-breaking share of U.S. electricity in 2025 fossil fuels will remain the mainstay of the U.S. system of energy and account for 83% of all U.S. total energy supplies. The fossil fuels will continue to dominate the energy mix with their record production in 2025, both of crude oil and of natural gas. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, crude oil production in the United States will average 13.6 million barrels a day by 2025. Dry natural gas production will average 107.4 trillion cubic feet a day. In 2025, coal output increased by around 5% compared to the previous year. However, the total U.S. production of coal remains below levels from a decade earlier due to the reduced use of domestic power generation. Natural gas is the main power fuel for the U.S. It accounts for about 40% of the electricity produced and is a major source of power and heat for the industry. In 2026, rising natural gas prices will be a result of increasing power consumption and record LNG export demand. This is expected to increase the extraction rate from gas wells. FOSSIL EXPORTS According to Kpler, the commodities intelligence firm, LNG was the U.S.'s energy export star in 2025. It shipped a record-breaking 252 million cubic metres. The total LNG exports for 2025 are expected to increase by 25 percent from the previous year, with further growth anticipated in 2026 due to the addition of new liquefaction capacities along the Texas coast and the Louisiana coast. The EIA estimates that U.S. total LNG exports will increase by 9% to 1.3 billion cubic foot per day (Bcf/d), and then reach 1.7 Bcf/d by 2027. It is not clear what will happen to U.S. crude exports by 2026. Exporters should have plenty of supplies, on the one hand. On the other, the robust production combined with a relatively flat domestic crude demand suggests that they will be able to meet their needs. Kpler says it is still unclear whether exporters can?ship more than the 1,38 billion barrels that they exported in 2025. They will also have to deal with increased supplies from Venezuela after the U.S. ousted Venezuelan President Maduro this month. The U.S. coal exports are also being pressured by the declining demand for coal globally and increased competition from Indonesian, Australia, Colombian, Russia, and South Africa. All of these countries have shorter trade routes with major importers. Even if coal exports are flat in the long run, output and consumption of coal in the power sector will likely increase in 2026. The U.S. Energy Sector is expected to have a strong year in 2020, with continued growth in LNG, record crude oil exports and near-record production. These are the opinions of the columnist, an author for. You like this article? Check it out Open Interest The new global financial commentary source (ROI) is your go-to for all the latest news and information. ROI provides data-driven, thought-provoking analysis on everything from soybeans to swap rates. The markets are changing faster than ever. ROI can help you keep up. Follow ROI on You can find us on LinkedIn.
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Mumbai Airport, Adani and Ambani's billionaire Ambani fight over mobile networks
According to a letter obtained by, Mukesh Ambani’s telecom company has urged the government to take action?over what it calls monopolistic practices in Gautam Adani’s new Mumbai airport, which they claim is blocking mobile operators from providing connectivity. Adani's Navi Mumbai International Airport has denied the allegations. However, the dispute highlights India's growing rivalry among the two richest men in the country, whose conglomerates are increasingly competing across sectors, from green energy centres to data centers. The airport on the outskirts of Mumbai began operating in December, after it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Adani has eight airports in his portfolio, and plans to add more. After spotting the billboards offering free Wi-Fi at airports, passengers raised concerns about privacy and poor mobile coverage. TELECOM OPERATORS REQUIRE ACCESS TO INFRASTRUCTURE AT AIRPORTS In a letter dated January 13, Cellular Operators Association of India sent to the Indian government, it stated that Adani's Airport'must grant access' to install equipment, as required by Indian regulations, including airports. Navi Mumbai International Airport stated that it has deployed "state-of the-art solutions", and that operators can partner with a company managing the airport's network infrastructure within buildings. COAI, the company that represents Ambani Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, as well as Vodafone Idea, has said it will not comment on anything beyond its letter, which is private. Both the companies and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India did not reply to our queries. PASSENGER DISTRESS : "WE CAN'T CALLS?PEOPLES" Jio is India's largest telecom company with more than 500 million subscribers. Airtel comes in second place at 314 millions, and Vodafone is third at almost 128 million. Passengers have complained online that they cannot access the airport's Wi-Fi without mobile coverage, because a one-time WhatsApp password is required to log in. You'll be grateful to see free Wi-Fi ads, thinking that you can now at least book taxis. When you go to the WiFI network to log in and you are asked for an OTP, adarsxh_baab posted on January 13. Adani's statement?added that individual operators often provide "suboptimal coverage" when left to their own devices in sensitive areas like baggage handling zones. COAI?also claimed that the airport charges around $102,000 per month for each operator - or nearly $5 million annually if four carriers are involved - in order to use its network. Adani denied this claim. "We cannot call anyone, pay for taxis, or book anything." Srihita Vanguri, a X user on Sunday, wrote that solo travellers would be in hell. Aditya K. Kalra, Munsif V. Vengattil and Louise Heavens (Reporting)
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Maersk resumes Suez Canal service for MECL
Maersk, the shipping group, will resume its MECL service via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal to connect?the Middle East with India as well as the United States. The Danish company announced on Thursday that it will resume sailings via the Red Sea and Suez Canal for its MECL service, connecting?the Middle East and India with the?U.S. Maersk announced in a press release that it had decided to return all MECL service sailings to the trans Suez route. The company added that this was part of its step-by-step approach to fleet management. Shipping companies are considering a return to Asia-Europe's critical trade corridor after rerouting their vessels around Africa for more than two years following Yemeni Houthi Rebels' attacks against ships in the Red Sea, which they claimed was "a show of solidarity" with the Palestinians in Gaza. Maersk said Monday that one of its ships had tested the route, as a Gaza ceasefire raised hopes for normal shipping. Changes to the MECL service will be implemented with a sailing leaving Oman's Salalah port on January 26. Clarksons Research states that the Suez Canal was the fastest way to connect?Europe with Asia. Prior to the Houthi attack, the Suez Canal accounted for about 10% of the global seaborne trade. The Red Sea traffic has been re-energised by the ceasefire that has existed in Gaza since October of last year. Both sides accuse each other of violations. Over 440 Palestinians, three Israeli soldiers and more than 440 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip during the past three months. Have you been killed? Since the truce came into effect. (Reporting and editing by Gwladys Faouche, Terje Solsvik)
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China's investment in power grids will reach a record of $574 billion by 2026-2030
State-run Xinhua reported on Thursday that China's State Grid would spend $4 trillion yuan (about $574 billion) to upgrade the country's electricity grid between 2026 and 2030. According to a report by Xinhua (China's official news agency), fixed asset investments have increased by 40% in the last five years. This is because China has been increasing its wind and solar -capacity as it strives to reach its goal of reducing carbon -emissions to zero by 2030. The average investment is 800 billion yuan per year, which is more than the 650 billion yuan record that was set by the main national grid operator in 2025. The funding will be used to improve China's power transmission system from west to east, Xinhua?said. High-voltage powerlines are being used to transmit electricity over thousands of kilometres between China's western, less densely populated regions, and its eastern metropolises. State Grid plans to increase power transmission across provinces and regions?by 30 percent from the levels of end-2025, according to a report. Outlays will be used to explore microgrids and off-grid models of power generation, as well as expand distribution networks both in urbanised and rural areas.
EQT CEO sees gas costs staying below $3/mmBtu.
The CEO of U.S. gas manufacturer EQT Corp on Wednesday said U.S. costs for the fuel will stay below $3 per million British thermal units in the short term.
As rates fell to multi-year lows previously this year, EQT reduced 1 billion cubic feet each day (bcfd) of its gas output. Several competing U.S. shale gas producers also cut drilling to stem over production.
Toby Rice, CEO of the biggest U.S. gas manufacturer, said at the Gastech energy conference that he anticipates production curtailments to reduce by next year as need for U.S. melted natural gas exports increase.
U.S. gas futures fell 4 cents on Wednesday to settle at $2.284 per million Btus.
Rice, whose business has agreements with LNG developers Texas LNG and Commonwealth LNG, stated demand for natural gas to feed LNG exports and fuel power plants has never been more essential.
He said the U.S. needs to allow market forces to dictate the fuel mix, slamming what he called political forces obstructing gas advancement.
We need to get back to a location where one of the most budget-friendly, many dependable, cleanest energy discovers its method to the marketplace, said Rice. The political forces requires to take a. backseat.
(source: Reuters)