Latest News
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Bloomberg News reports that Brookfield and GIC are close to a binding offer for National Storage.
Bloomberg News, citing sources familiar with the situation, reported Sunday that Brookfield Asset Management (BAM) and Singapore's GIC were close to making a binding bid for National Storage REIT. The deal could value the Sydney listed company at around 4 billion Australian Dollars ($2.65 billion). The report stated that the parties were finalizing the details of the deal, which could be announced as early as Monday. Brookfield and GIC had also made good progress in their due diligence process on National Storage. The report states that the price for the binding offer will likely be the same in November as the conditional offer. Could not verify immediately the report. National Storage REIT announced last month that it received an A$4.02 Billion buyout offer by a consortium consisting of Brookfield, Singapore's GIC and other companies. This would have been the largest real estate privatisation in Australia. ($1 = 1,5067 Australian Dollars) (Reporting and editing by Andrea Ricci in Bengaluru)
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Canada's Air Transat suspends flights after pilots union strikes notice
Transat AT, a Canada-listed tour operator, announced on Sunday that Air Transat, Canada, will suspend its flights from December 8 to 9 after receiving a 72-hour notice of strike by ALPA, the union which represents the 700 pilots at the company. Air Transat's pilots may begin their strike as early at 3:00 am. Air Line Pilots Association said that the strike would begin at 3:00 AM ET on December 10. The Canadian leisure carrier deemed the strike announcement "premature", given the progress made at the bargaining tables. It said that it had offered compromises including a salary increase of 59% over five years, and improved working conditions. Bradley Small, Chair of the Air Transat Master Executive Council, said: "There's still time to avoid striking, but unless there are significant improvements at the bargaining tables, we may strike to get a modern contract." Transat AT reported that Air Transat was working with the union in order to avoid a strike, but it will stop all operations on December 9th to ensure passengers and crews are not left stranded. Transat AT Inc. offers Air Transat as a brand. Reporting by Abu Sultan in Bengaluru and Shivani Tana; editing by Andrea Ricci
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American Airlines asks for notices regarding the bankruptcy of Spirit Airlines
According to a court document, American Airlines has filed an appearance notice in the bankruptcy proceedings of Spirit Aviation and requested that all notices and documents be served going forward. Spirit filed for bankruptcy a second-time in August as it struggled to deal with its dwindling reserves of cash and increasing losses. The airline stated that it was looking at all possible options in its restructuring, including a merger and sale of the business. American Airlines filed a request in the Southern District Court of New York on December 5, requesting to receive all notices, including operating reports and plans of reorganization, as well as liquidation statements. Spirit and American didn't immediately respond to a comment request. Spirit Airlines has previously stated that they are considering all options to ensure the future of their airline. Spirit actively explores all possible opportunities. The merger or sale of Spirit could maximize value. Spirit stated in a SEC filing in October that the company was actively involved in discussions with several interested counterparties. The U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year rejected a request from American Airlines to overturn a judicial ruling that found the company's scrapped U.S. Northeast Partnership with JetBlue Airways in violation of federal antitrust laws. JetBlue and United Airlines have partnered in a partnership since then. You can also Both airlines' websites allow travelers to book flights. Spirit Airlines urged the U.S. Transportation Department in June to reject the collaboration of United and JetBlue. Spirit Airlines said it was anti-competitive and that other large airlines would pursue similar deals. Reporting by Doyinsola Oladipo in New York, editing by Andrea Ricci
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American Airlines asks for notices regarding the bankruptcy of Spirit Airlines
According to a court document, American Airlines has filed an appearance notice in the bankruptcy proceedings of Spirit Aviation and requested that all notices and documents be served going forward. Spirit filed for bankruptcy a second-time in August as it struggled to deal with its dwindling reserves of cash and increasing losses. The airline stated that it was looking at all possible options, including a merger and sale of the business. American Airlines filed a request in the Southern District Court of New York on December 5, requesting to receive all notices, including operating reports and plans of reorganization, as well as liquidation statements. Spirit and American didn't immediately respond to a comment request. Spirit Airlines has previously stated that they are considering all options to ensure the future of their airline. Spirit actively explores all possible opportunities. The merger or sale of Spirit could maximize value. Spirit stated in a SEC filing in October that it was actively in talks with several interested counterparties. (Reporting from Doyinsola Oladipo in New York, editing by Andrea Ricci.)
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Southwest Airlines fined $11 million by the US for holiday meltdown in 2022
The Trump Administration announced Saturday that it would waive a $11 million fine on Southwest Airlines, as part of the $140 million settlement for the airline's meltdown during a busy travel season in December 2022. Southwest Airlines in December 2023 will pay $35 million in cash and $90 million worth of travel vouchers for passengers who are delayed by at least 3 hours in reaching their final destination due to an airline issue or cancellation. This is because the airline handled the meltdown which stranded over 2 million passengers. In a written order, the U.S. Transportation Department cited Southwest Airlines' decision to invest more than $1 billion into its operations since the 2022 crash to improve performance and reliability as the reason for its decision to waive the remaining $11 millions of the fine due by January 31. Reporting by David Shepardson, Editing by Chizu nomiyama
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Merz and Macron to discuss fate FCAS fighter jet in the week of December 15, says industry source
A source in the industry said that the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and the French President Emmanuel Macron plan to discuss the fate the troubled Franco German fighter jet project FCAS – or SCAF – during the week of December 15. The Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a 100 billion-euro ($116-billion) project that was floated over eight years ago, is mired in disputes among the companies concerned about workshare and prized technologies. A source with knowledge of the project said earlier this week that the defence ministers from the participating countries, Germany, France, and Spain, will meet on the 11th to discuss it. The German government spokesperson refused to comment on the exact date but only said that the appointments made by the chancellor will be made public at the appropriate time. The French government did not respond to a request for comment. The French government was not immediately available for comment.
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Bloomberg News reports that Indian and US investigators will meet next week to discuss the Air India crash.
Bloomberg News reported that India would send investigators next week to the United States to review data collected on the fatal Air India crash in June, with the National Transportation Safety Board. The report cited people with knowledge of the situation as saying that Indian investigators planned to share their findings, which included any information they gleaned from cockpit voice and flight recorders. Could not verify immediately the report. The report stated that the meeting would take place at the NTSB headquarters in Washington D.C. Other parties, including Boeing representatives, will also be present. Boeing referred all comments to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. NTSB, India’s civil aviation ministry, and the AAIB didn't immediately respond to requests for comments. Shortly after takeoff, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner departing from Ahmedabad in India and heading to London began to lose thrust. The 242 passengers and 19 people on the ground were all killed, except for one. (Reporting and editing by Aidan Lewis, Aurora Ellis and Yazhini MV from Bengaluru)
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IAEA: Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant temporarily lost electricity overnight
The International Atomic Energy Agency reported on Saturday that Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant temporarily lost all of its off-site electricity overnight. It cited Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. Since March 2022 when Russian forces seized much of the southeast Ukraine, this nuclear plant - Europe's biggest - has been under Russian authority. The plant is currently not producing electricity, but it relies on external power in order to keep the material cool and prevent a meltdown. IAEA reported that the plant had been reconnected after a 30-minute outage to a power line of 330 kilovolts (kV). The Russian-installed plant management said that the 750 kV power line, which was also previously disconnected, was now back in operation. Stable power supply was restored, they added. The management stated that radiation levels were normal. IAEA said that widespread military activities over night affected Ukraine's power grid, and caused operating nuclear power plants to reduce their output. Reporting by Gnaneshwarrajan and Yazhini MV in Bengaluru, Editing by Aidan Lewis & Bernadettebaum
What nations are doing to get their nationals out of Lebanon
Countries worldwide have actually prepared contingency strategies to evacuate residents from Lebanon after a dramatic escalation in the dispute between Israel and the Lebanese armed motion Hezbollah and Iran's rocket attack on Israel on Tuesday.
No country has actually introduced a large-scale military evacuation yet, though some are chartering airplane as Beirut airport stays open.
Here are details on contingency preparation:
AUSTRALIA
It has organised hundreds of airline seats for its people to leave Lebanon, and has actually flown military aircraft to Cyprus as part of a contingency strategy. Its contingency strategies might consist of evacuation by sea, though authorities have actually prompted an estimated 15,000 residents in Lebanon to leave while Beirut airport stays open.
BELGIUM
Belgium's foreign ministry has actually recommended people to leave as quickly as possible, the Belga news firm said.
CHINA
More than 200 Chinese citizens have been safely evacuated by the federal government, China's main Xinhua news agency said.
CANADA
Report from Canada recommend it will co-operate with Australia in evacuating nationals by sea. The plan includes contracting a commercial vessel to shuttle out 1,000 individuals a day, the Toronto Star paper stated.
CYPRUS
Cyprus evacuated 38 Cypriot nationals from Beirut on Thursday on an airplane offered by Greece. There are an estimated 1,000-1,500 Cypriots in Lebanon.
DENMARK
Denmark's foreign ministry urged Danish citizens to leave Lebanon as soon as possible however said it had actually not initiated an evacuation as there were still business flights out of Lebanon.
The Lebanese airline company Middle East Airlines will release additional flights from Beirut to locations in Europe to meet the need for business travel out of the nation, the Danish foreign ministry said in a statement.
FRANCE
France has actually not released an evacuation order, regardless of having had plans for numerous months. Present contingency strategies centre on Cyprus and Beirut airport, while it is likewise talking about evacuations via Turkey. France has a warship in the region, while a French helicopter carrier will arrive in the eastern Mediterranean in the coming days and take up position in case a. decision is taken to leave foreign nationals from Lebanon.
GERMANY
Germany has left non-essential personnel, families of. embassy employees and German nationals who are medically. susceptible from Lebanon and will support others trying to leave,. the foreign and defence ministries said in a joint declaration on. Monday.
GREECE
Greece left 22 of its nationals on Thursday, together with. some Cypriot residents. The Greek foreign ministry has prompted its. citizens to leave Lebanon and prevent any travel there, with a. frigate on standby in case assistance is required.
ITALY
Italy has actually cut diplomatic personnel and intensified security. personnel at its Beirut embassy. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani. has repeatedly urged nationals to leave the nation and looked for. guarantees from Israel over the security of Italian peacekeepers. in the location.
THE NETHERLANDS
The Netherlands will send a military aircraft to repatriate. nationals from Lebanon with 2 flights on Oct 4 and 5, the. Dutch Ministry of Defence stated on Wednesday. The flights to the. military airbase in Eindhoven will also be available for people. from other countries if there is enough space to accommodate. them, it stated.
POLAND
Poland will restrict staff numbers at its Beirut embassy, a. foreign ministry representative said on Tuesday, including that. Warsaw would organise transportation for residents wishing to leave. Lebanon.
PORTUGAL
Prime Minister Luis Montenegro has actually encouraged versus travel to. Lebanon, which helped in the evacuation of a little number of. Portuguese residents living there.
RUSSIA
Russia has
began evacuating
citizens from Lebanon and an unique flight left Beirut on. Thursday with the member of the family of Russian diplomats, its. emergency situations minister said. About 3,000 Russians and residents of. the Commonweath of Independent States (CIS) wish to leave, TASS. news company reported.
SPAIN
Spain prepares to send two military airplane to leave as. numerous as 350 people from Lebanon as early as Thursday.
TURKEY
Turkey is ready for a possible evacuation of Turks from. Lebanon through air and sea, and is dealing with about 20 countries. for a possible evacuation of foreign nationals through Turkey. About. 14,000 Turkish people were registered at the consulate in. Lebanon, but the number was not definitive.
UNITED KINGDOM
The British federal government has actually chartered a restricted number of. flights to assist its people to leave Lebanon, it said on. Thursday, repeating its advice for them to evacuate instantly. More than 150 British nationals and dependents left Beirut on a. government-chartered flight on Wednesday.
Britain has actually moved about 700 troops to Cyprus, bolstering its. military assets, including two Royal Navy ships.
UNITED STATES
The United States has bought dozens of troops deployed to. Cyprus to help get ready for circumstances such as an evacuation of. Americans from Lebanon. It is working with airline companies to add. flights out of Lebanon, with more seats for Americans, the State. Department said on Tuesday.
(source: Reuters)