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UPS grounds its MD-11 fleet after Louisville crash
UPS announced on Friday that it had grounded its fleet McDonnell Douglas MD-11s. This is the type of aircraft involved in the crash of Tuesday in Louisville, Kentucky which resulted in at least 13 deaths. UPS spokesperson stated in an email that "out of an abundance caution and for the sake of safety, we've made the decision to ground temporarily our MD-11 fleet". The spokesperson said that MD-11s make up about 9% the fleet of the company. The grounding takes effect immediately. NBC News was the first to report on this news. On Tuesday evening, a UPS cargo flight bound for Honolulu took off. crashed just after takeoff at Louisville International Airport. U.S. safety inspectors reported that three UPS pilots tried to control the cargo plane as the bell rang in the cockpit on Friday. Todd Inman, National Transportation Safety Board Member, says that UPS flight 2976 began without incident, but a repeated bell could be heard in the cockpit voice recorder 37 seconds after the crew had called for the takeoff thrust. Tell reporters. FedEx and Boeing, who own the MD-11 program following their 1997 merger, both operate MD-11 cargo planes, but did not respond immediately to comments. Reporting by Rishabh J. Jaiswal in Bengaluru and Dheeraj K. Kumar; Editing by William Mallard, Thomas Derpinghaus
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Amazon expands its low-cost service to the world
Amazon.com announced on Friday that it has expanded its low cost e-commerce services Amazon Bazaar (known as Haul in America) to 14 more markets. This will increase competition with Chinese competitors like Shein, PDD Holdings Temu, and Shein's Shein in the race to sell ultra cheap goods such as $10 dresses and $5 accessory. The impact of the massive import tariffs that President Donald Trump imposed on U.S. consumers, particularly those with lower incomes, has been felt, as they often look for cheaper deals. Amazon Bazaar, a standalone app, offers merchandise similar to Amazon Haul, a budget-friendly section of the Amazon app launched last year. Amazon Bazaar will be delivering a large number of products under $10, and even some for as little as $2, to its new markets. These include everything from fashion to home goods. Hong Kong, Nigeria, Taiwan and the Philippines are among the newest markets for this low-cost online service, according to the company. Bazaar has expanded from Mexico to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates since its launch. D.A. Gil Luria, analyst at Davidson & Co. "Amazon only entered a new market when it thought it could scale up to the point where it would delight consumers and build a profitable business." Luria stated that Amazon takes many years to reach profitability when entering new markets and countries. The company reported a third-quarter revenue of $40.9billion, an increase of 10% over the previous period. Luria stated that if the company can develop a business of selling low-cost products with a high level of service, they could expand to almost every country around the globe. Amazon Bazaar products are delivered directly to customers via the network of its service partners. They come from Amazon's global fulfillment center. Shein and Temu are also expanding outside of the United States. According to Shein's website, the company now has operations in over 160 countries, including the U.S.A., Brazil and Ireland. Temu ships at least to 70 countries. Both companies' U.S. operations were hit by the Trump administration's ban on de minimis. This trade exemption allowed packages worth less than $800 into the country duty free. Amazon launched Haul as an in-app service in the U.S. back in 2024. Since then, the company has expanded it to Britain, Germany France, Italy, Spain and Australia. Reporting by Arriana Mclymore in New York, and Anuja Bharata Mistry in Bengaluru. Editing by Anil d'Silva and Matthew Lewis.
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NTSB: Crew of UPS cargo flight that crashed tried to control the aircraft before crash
The National Transportation Safety Board reported on Friday that three UPS pilots were trying to control the cargo plane when a bell went off in the cockpit. This week, a cargo plane crashed in Louisville, Kentucky killing at least thirteen people. Todd Inman, NTSB member, told reporters that UPS flight 2976 began without incident. However, the flight's cockpit voice recorder recorded a bell that repeated 37 seconds after the crew had called for the takeoff thrust. Inman believes that the bell continued to ring until 25 seconds after the recording ended, signaling the crash of the aircraft. Inman stated that the crew was trying to control the plane before it crashed. A spokesperson stated that the NTSB expects to release a preliminary report within 30 days. Crash destroys two businesses Independent U.S. safety agency leads the investigation into the crash at Louisville airport of the MD-11 freighter, a 34-year old aircraft. The plane soared to about 100 feet (30 meters) before bursting into flames and destroying the two businesses. As the plane rolled down the Louisville Airport runway, one of its three engines separated from the left wing. Inman stated that the bulk of the left pylon (a structural component linking the aircraft engine with the wing or fuselage) was still attached to it when the left motor separated from the left wing. He said, "Now, there may have been damage caused by its impact on the terrain." On the runway, investigators found debris from the engine. Investigators are also looking into the maintenance history of the aircraft, including six weeks this fall during which it was heavily maintained at a San Antonio repair facility in Texas. Inman stated that a transcript of the cockpit's voice recorder, which contains two hours and four good quality digitally-recorded audio, would be made public within several months. Multiple factors are usually involved in air crashes.
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NTSB: Crew of UPS cargo flight that crashed tried to control the aircraft before crash
The National Transportation Safety Board reported on Friday that three UPS pilots were trying to control the cargo plane when a bell went off in the cockpit. This week, a cargo plane crashed in Louisville, Kentucky killing at least thirteen people. Todd Inman, NTSB member, told reporters that UPS flight 2976 began without incident. However, the flight's cockpit voice recorder recorded a bell ringing 37 seconds after the crew had called for the takeoff thrust. Inman believes that the bell continued to ring until 25 seconds after the recording ended, signaling the crash of the aircraft. Inman stated that the crew was trying to control the plane before it crashed. Crash destroys two businesses Independent U.S. safety agency leads the investigation into the crash at Louisville airport of the MD-11 freighter, a 34-year old aircraft. The plane reached a height of about 100 feet (30 meters) before it crashed in flames and destroyed two businesses. As the plane rolled down the Louisville Airport runway, one of its three engines separated from the left wing. Inman stated that the bulk of the left pylon (a structural component linking the aircraft engine with the wing or fuselage) was still attached to it when the left motor separated from the wing. He said, "Now, subsequently there could have been damage caused by its impact on the terrain." On the runway, investigators found debris from the engine. Investigators are also looking into the maintenance history of the aircraft, including six weeks this fall during which it was heavily maintained at a San Antonio repair facility in Texas. Inman stated that a transcript of the cockpit's voice recorder, which contains two hours and four good quality digitally-recorded audio, would be made public within several months. A crash in the air is usually caused by a number of factors. The preliminary report should be expected within 30 days.
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Urals differentials stable in quiet trade
The differentials between Russian Urals and other oil products remained stable on Friday despite low trading activity. Sellers and buyers were not rushing to begin December trading due to the uncertain political climate. The Suez Canal has seen two tankers with around 1.5 million barrels each of Russian Urals crude drop anchor in the sea. This is an indication of the difficulties Moscow faces selling oil following the tightening of Western sanctions last month. The supply problems are expected to worsen next week, as the deadline of November 21 for Rosneft's and Lukoil's transactions is fast approaching. The schedule shows that Azeri BTC exports to Turkey from the Ceyhan port are expected to increase by 8% compared to November. PLATTS WINDOW On Friday, there were no offers or bids for Urals CPC Blend Azeri BTC. Lukoil’s international operations were disrupted on Friday, as the U.S. deadline to stop doing business with the Russian company approaches and a planned sale to Swiss trader Gunvor fell through. (Reporting and editing by Diane Craft).
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NY approves permit to Williams NESE natgas pipeline, Constitution Pipe withdraws its application
New York's environmental regulators approved on Friday a water permit to the controversial and long-delayed Northeast Supply Enhancement Natural Gas Pipeline Project of U.S. Energy Company Williams Cos in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. The company also retracted its permit application for the Constitution gas pipeline project, which runs from Pennsylvania to New York. Williams had canceled both projects in the past, but they were controversial because environmental regulators in New York had rejected them. After the DEC issued three Notices of incomplete application due to insufficient information, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation said that Constitution Pipeline retracted its permit applications on Friday. This included the Clean Water Act Section 401 Water Quality Certification. The DEC also said that Constitution failed to act at the federal level, at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (the lead agency for interstate pipes). DEC's notices of July 2, August 26 and September 30 2025 detailed the requirements to meet New York thresholds to determine an application complete for public comment and review. Constitution Pipeline allegedly "didn't fulfill these repeated requests for information" and on Nov. 7 withdrew its application. (Reporting and editing by Mark Porter, Deepa Babington, and Scott DiSavino)
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US delays flights in 8 airports because of a shortage of air traffic controllers
U.S. Federal Aviation Administration announced on Friday that it is delaying flights in eight airports, including Atlanta, San Francisco and Houston. The agency cited widespread staffing problems as controllers were not paid during the shutdown. Staffing shortages are reported at 10 different locations in the United States, and could lead to delays at other airports. Separately, the agency required airlines to cancel more than 700 flights or 4% of their flights at 40 airports with high traffic to deal with air traffic control staffing. According to FAA ground delays programs, flights at Reagan Washington National are delayed on average by 83 minutes, while those at San Francisco, Newark, Austin, and Houston Bush are delayed an average of 52 minutes. Flightwire, an online flight tracking service, reported that more than 2,300 flights were delayed by 12:45 pm EST. Some airlines are concerned that the flight reductions could encourage controllers who were not paid during the shutdown to not show up at work. The 38-day US government shutdown is the longest ever. It has forced 13,000 airtraffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents to work for free. In an interview with the Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Friday, he said that he asked the controllers' union to contact controllers and ask them to report to work. Duffy stated, "I need them come to work." "This is not about you now having a 'get-out-of-jail-free' to not come to work." The FAA reported this week that between 20% and 40% of controllers do not show up to work every day. The FAA reported that on October 31, nearly half of America's 30 busiest airports were experiencing a shortage of air traffic control personnel. This led to 6,200 flight delays and 500 cancellations in one of the worst days since the shutdown began. In New York, 80% of the air traffic controllers weren't present. David Shepardson, David Gregorio (Editing and Reporting)
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Spirit Airlines reaches tentative cost-saving labor deals amid bankruptcy proceedings
Spirit Airlines announced on Friday that it had reached tentative agreements with the unions representing both its pilots as well as its flight attendants. The tentative agreements would include some contract concessions as Spirit Airlines tries to reduce costs in its ongoing Chapter 11 restructuring. Once a tentative contract is ratified, the airline's senior leadership team will also accept salary reductions of a certain percentage. Earlier this year, the ultra-low-cost-carrier filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the second time as it grappled with dwindling cash reserves and mounting losses. Spirit, as part of its cost-cutting program, has reduced the number of employees, trimmed routes, and scaled back operations to stabilize finances and avoid bankruptcy. The company announced on Wednesday that it would be discontinuing its service at five airports including Milwaukee and Phoenix. "Following extensive negotiations in response to the company's demand for pilot cost savings, Spirit pilots have reached an Agreement-in-Principle with Spirit Airlines on modifications to their collective bargaining agreement," the Air Line Pilots Association said on Friday. Both agreements are subject to pilots' and flight attendants' ratification and court approval. Spirit said the agreements in principal are expected to generate savings annually sufficient to meet its financial targets for the next draw under the debtor-in possession financing.
Philippines warns against deadly storm surges when Typhoon Fung Wong approaches super-typhoon strength
The Philippines' weather bureau has warned of potentially life-threatening storm waves of up to 5 metres, and of destructive winds. Typhoon Fung Wong is expected to make landfall in the eastern part of the country on Sunday evening.
Benison Estareja, PAGASA's weather forecaster, said that the typhoon has already pounded parts of eastern Philippines, with its massive circulation spanning 1,500 km (932 miles).
Estareja stated that "it can cover nearly the entire country."
Fung-wong (locally called Uwan) is packing winds up to 170 km/h with gusts as high as 140 kph. As it approaches land, Estareja says, the wind speed could increase to 185 kph. This powerful wind can destroy houses, toppling trees and other structures.
As much as 200 mm is expected to fall in eastern Philippine provinces. This includes the Bicol region and parts of Samar. The risk of flooding and landslides are increased.
PAGASA warned residents of low-lying coastal and low-lying areas to move to higher ground, stop all marine activities and evacuate. They also warned about violent winds and storm surges which could flood coastal communities.
A number of local governments have cancelled classes on Monday and the Philippine flag carrier has canceled some flights ahead of Fung Wong's anticipated landfall.
The warning comes only days after the Typhoon Kalmaegi wreaked havoc across the region by tearing through coastal communities and destroying roofs, windows, and trees.
Kalmaegi caused the deaths of 204 Filipinos and five Vietnamese, displace hundreds of thousands and knock out power in large areas.
Vietnam's disaster agency said that nearly 2,800 houses were damaged and about 500,000 people are still without electricity. In the Philippines, violent floods have destroyed homes and blocked streets with debris.
Due to their location along the Pacific typhoon Belt, Vietnam and the Philippines regularly experience damage and fatalities during peak storm season.
In Thailand, Kalmaegi’s impact lasted for a long time and caused heavy rainfall and flooding in the northeast and central areas.
Scientists warn that global warming is increasing the power of storms like Kalmaegi. (Reporting and editing by Himani Sarkar; Additional reporting in Vietnam by Phuong nguyen, and Chayut setboonsarng from Bangkok.
(source: Reuters)