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The US Supreme Court has granted DOGE access to Social Security Data
The U.S. Supreme Court granted the Department of Government Efficiency (DGE), a key player behind President Donald Trump's plan to reduce the federal workforce by slashing the number of federal employees, access to millions of Americans' personal data in the Social Security Administration database while the legal case is being litigated. The Justice Department requested that the Justices suspend the order of U.S. District Court Judge Ellen Hollander, based in Maryland, which had blocked DOGE from accessing "personally identifiable data" such as financial and medical records. This is while the litigation in the lower court proceeds. Hollander determined that giving DOGE full access to data would likely violate federal privacy laws. The court's unsigned, brief order didn't provide any rationale to support DOGE. The court is conservatively majority 6-3. Three of the court's liberal justices were dissidents. DOGE was sweeping through federal agencies in the Republican President's effort spearheaded by Elon Musk to eliminate federal positions, downsize, reshape and reform the U.S. Government and root out wasteful spending. Musk officially ended his government job on May 30. Two labor unions, an advocacy group and the Social Security Administration (SSA) sued DOGE to prevent it from accessing sensitive information at the SSA. This includes Social Security numbers of Americans, bank data, tax data, earnings histories and immigration records. The agency provides government benefits to over 70 million people, including retired Americans and Americans with disabilities. The plaintiffs in their lawsuit alleged that the Social Security Administration was "ransacked", that DOGE members were installed without proper training or vetting, and demanded that they be given access to the most sensitive data systems of the agency. Hollander, in a ruling dated April 17, found that DOGE failed to explain its stated mission which required "unprecedented and unfettered access" to virtually the entire SSA data systems. Hollander wrote: "For about 90 years, SSA was guided by a foundational principle that an expectation of privacy in relation to its records." This case exposes an extensive crack in the foundation. Hollander issued an injunction prohibiting DOGE staffers, and anyone who worked with them, from accessing personal data. There were only a few exceptions. In the judge's decision, DOGE affiliates can access data stripped of personal information as long they have undergone training and cleared background checks. Hollander also ordered DOGE affiliated companies to "disgorge" and "erase" any personal data they already possess. Richmond, Virginia's 4th U.S. The Circuit Court of Appeals, in a vote of 9-6 on April 30, declined to pause Hollander’s block on DOGE’s unlimited access to Social Security Administration Records. In a filing to the Supreme Court, lawyers for Justice Department characterized Hollander’s order as judicial excess. The court ordered the executive branch not to allow employees who are responsible for modernizing government systems of information access the data stored in these systems, because in its opinion, the employees in question do not "need" such access. The six dissenting judge wrote that this case should have treated the same way as the 4th Circuit panel ruling 2-1 to allow DOGE access to data at the U.S. Treasury Department, Education Department and Office of Personnel Management. Seven judges who ruled against DOGE in a concurring decision wrote that the case regarding Social Security data had "vastly higher stakes" and "detailed Social Security records", such as school and family records for children, mental health records, and credit card details. (Reporting and editing by Diane Craft, Alistair Bell and John Kruzel)
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Abrego Garcia, a man mistakenly deported to the US and facing charges, returns to the US
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man who was mistakenly sent from Maryland to El Salvador under the Trump administration has returned to the United States and will face criminal charges. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced this on Friday. Abrego Garcia has been charged with conspiracy to transport illegal immigrants in the United States in a federal court indictment in Tennessee. Court records show that the indictment was filed more than two months following Abrego Garcia’s deportation on March 15, according to court records. Andrew Rossman, Abrego Garcia’s lawyer, stated in a press release that it was now up to the U.S. judiciary system to ensure that he received a fair trial. "Today's actions prove what we knew all along -- the administration had the capability to bring him home and simply refused to do so," Rossman, a lawyer at Quinn Emanuel said. Court records reveal that Abrego Garcia was deported from El Salvador despite a 2019 order by an immigration judge granting him protection against deportation after finding that he would be persecuted if he returned to El Salvador. The erroneous removal was cited by critics of President Donald Trump as an example that the Republican president is overly aggressive in his approach to increasing deportations. The officials countered that Abrego was a MS-13 member. His lawyers denied that Abrego was a gang member and stated that he hadn't been charged or convicted for any crime. The case of Abrego Garcia has become a flashpoint for tensions between Trump's executive branch and judiciary. Both have ruled against some of Trump’s policies. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration must facilitate Abrego's Garcia's return. Liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor said the government did not have a basis for his "warrantless detention." U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis opened a probe to determine what the Trump administration did, if any, to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return after his attorneys accused officials of stonewalling them in their request for information. In addition, Abrego Garca and two other unidentified conspirators are charged with illegally transporting firearms purchased in Texas to Maryland for resale. According to the indictment, Abrego Garcia also transported illegal drugs purchased in Texas and resold in Maryland. He was sometimes accompanied by MS-13 members and associates on these trips. (Reporting from Ryan Patrick Jones, Sarah N. Lynch and Luc Cohen in Washington; additional reporting by Nate Raymond and Tom Hals in Wilmington; editing by Sandra Maler.)
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Gol plans to expand its fleet and add new routes after exiting Chapter 11.
Celso Ferrer, the Chief executive officer of Brazilian airline Gol, said that the company had officially exited bankruptcy proceedings in the United States, paving the way for new routes and flights within Brazil as well as to other countries. Gol, the Brazilian airline after Latam, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States in 2024. The sector was struggling with heavy debts, a sharp decline in passenger numbers due to the COVID-19 Pandemic and delays in aircraft deliveries. Azul, Gol's competitor, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the United States last month. Ferrer stated that despite Azul's financial troubles, discussions over a possible partnership between the airline and Gol continue. A final deal will only be made if the partnership adds value, either through new routes or increased growth. "If it's better," he said. Abra Group is managing the discussions regarding the business merger, which was formalized by a memorandum last January. Abra Group is the majority shareholder in Colombia's Avianca and Gol. Luciana Magnalhaes, Luciana Andreoni and Manuela Andreoni contributed to this report.
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Boeing is preparing to resume plane deliveries in China as the tariff war eases
FlightRadar24 reports that a new Boeing 737 MAX painted in Xiamen Airlines' livery, and on its first leg of the route to shuttle jets to Xiamen Airlines' delivery center in China. The Boeing jet was headed for Kailua-Kona in Hawaii, which is one of many refueling stations Boeing jets stop at on their way to China across the Pacific. The Chinese customers received their deliveries. The abrupt halt Early April, as the U.S. & China were edging towards a trade conflict. Boeing's spokesperson refused to comment on where the jetliner will end up. Neither Xiamen Airlines nor the Chinese government responded to requests for comment. In April, the United States and China agreed to roll back tariffs for 90 days in response to President Donald Trump's tariffs. On May 12, however, the U.S. & China agreed to reduce the tariffs by 90 days. Trump announced on Friday that U.S. representatives and Chinese representatives will meet in London, England, June 9, to discuss a possible trade agreement. On May 29, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg said that Chinese airlines will resume receiving Boeing aircraft deliveries in June. Boeing brought back at least three 737 MAX jets to the United States from its Zhoushan completion centre near Shanghai in April. These jets had been taken there for final preparations before being delivered to Chinese carriers. The plane that flew to Hawaii on Friday was the first one to return from China. Boeing had previously stated that customers in China wouldn't take delivery of new aircraft due to tariffs. It was also looking to resell dozens of planes. Beijing has not stated why Boeing deliveries have stopped but claimed that Chinese airlines and Boeing were severely affected by U.S. tariffs. China is a growing and important aviation market, representing about 10% of Boeing’s commercial backlog. Boeing announced in April that it planned to deliver 50 jets to Chinese carriers in the remainder of the year. Of these, 41 were in production or had been pre-built. Boeing has said that other airlines would be interested in purchasing the rejected Chinese planes. However, the planemaker did not send the planes anywhere else despite its goal to reduce the inventory.
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Trump signs an order to boost US drone defenses and boost supersonic flights
The White House announced that President Donald Trump signed executive orders on Friday to strengthen U.S. defences against drone threats and to boost supersonic commercial planes and electric air taxis. Trump's three executive orders sought to allow drones to be used beyond the sight of the operator - an important step in enabling commercial drone delivery - as well as reduce U.S. dependence on Chinese drone companies, and to begin testing electric vertical lift-off and landing aircraft (eVTOL). Trump has established a federal taskforce to ensure U.S. sovereignty over the skies of America, to expand restrictions on sensitive sites, to expand federal technology to detect drones instantly, and to provide assistance to local and state law enforcement. Michael Kratsios is the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. He said that Trump wants to deal with the "growing threats of criminal terrorists and the foreign misuse of drones" in U.S. Airspace. We are protecting our borders against national security threats in the air and with major public events like the Olympics and World Cup coming up. Sebastian Gorka is the senior director for counterterrorism in the National Security Council. He cited threats against major U.S. sports events and the use of drones by Russia in its war in Ukraine. Gorka stated that "we will increase our counter-drone capability and capacity." We will enforce current laws more aggressively to deter both evildoers, and idiots. Last year, the issue of suspicious drones gained significant attention after a spate of sightings of drones in New Jersey. Each month, the FAA receives over 100 reports of drone sightings near airports. Drone sightings can disrupt flights and sporting events. Trump has also ordered the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to lift an old ban from 1973 that prohibited supersonic flights over land. Kratsios stated that "the reality is Americans should be able fly from New York City to Los Angeles in less than four hours." The advancements in material science, aerospace engineering and noise reduction have made supersonic overland flight possible. It is also safe, sustainable, and commercially viable. Officials confirmed that the Trump orders did not ban any Chinese drone companies. Former President Joe Biden had signed legislation last year that would have banned DJI and Autel Robotics, both based in China, from selling drones to the U.S. DJI is the largest drone manufacturer in the United States, selling more than half of commercial drones. Reporting by David Shepardson, Washington Editing by Matthew Lewis
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India pledges to continue development in Kashmir following tourist attack
Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister, said that India was committed to developing its restive Jammu-and-Kashmir territory. He accused Pakistan of trying to destroy livelihoods in the region with a deadly attack on tourists last April. He spoke on his first trip to the Himalayan region after islamists attacked Hindu tourists in Pahalgam, killing 26 of them. This sparked hostilities that led to a ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed neighbors last month. The attack will not hinder the atmosphere of development in Jammu & Kashmir. Modi made the following remarks after launching infrastructure projects: "I will not allow development to stop here." The $5 billion rail link connecting the Kashmir Valley with the rest of India has taken more than 40-years to build and includes the highest railway arch in the world. Other projects include city roads, highways and a new medical school. India accused Pakistan of supporting the April attack. Islamabad denied this claim. They engaged in fierce fighting for four days last month, before reaching a ceasefire. Modi claimed that Pakistan was trying to undermine the livelihoods and tourism of the poor people in Kashmir. He added that he would overcome any obstacles to regional development. The Pakistani foreign ministry didn't immediately reply to a comment request on Modi remarks. Islamabad stated last month that a peaceful and just resolution to the Kashmir dispute is essential for a lasting peace in this region known for its picturesque lakes, lush meadows and tulip garden. This region, which attracted more than three million tourists last year, is the source of hostility between two old enemies who claim it both in full but only rule it partially and have fought over it twice in their three wars. India accuses Pakistan as well of supporting Islamist militants who are fighting security forces in Jammu & Kashmir, but Islamabad rejects the accusation. The Kashmir Valley has trains, but this is the first time that they are connected to the Indian Railway network. It is also expected to boost the region's economy and revive tourism which fell after the April attacks. $1 = 85,7500 Indian Rupees (Reporting and editing by YPrajesh, Clarence Fernandez and Sakshi Dayal)
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Asian spot prices fall on weak demand and strong stocks
The price of Asian spot LNG (liquefied natural gases) fell for the first week in five as weak demand in Asia weighed on the prices. Average LNG price for July deliveries into North-east Asia Industry sources estimate that the price per million British Thermal Units (mmBtu) was $12.30, down from $12.40/mmBtu a week ago. "LNG demand has been weak in Asia." "There have not been any signs of strong demand from major consumers such as China and India", said Siamak Adibi. Director for gas and LNG Supply Analytics at FGE. The demand for Southeast Asia is also muted, despite some organic growth on newer markets. Adibi said that scheduled maintenance at Sabine Pass, in the U.S.A. and Australian Projects in the next few weeks will however constrain supply. Martin Senior, Argus' head of LNG pricing said that while temperatures in South Korea and Japan are expected to be above average for the season in the next few weeks, buyers in both countries already have large stocks and do not need to buy more spot volume. Indian demand is also weak because of the monsoon. GAIL is dealing with tank-top problems, which has led to two mid-voyage diversion away from India in this week. Other Indian buyers have been largely excluded from the market, as prices are now above $12.00/mmBtu. This has affected their price-sensitive demand. Data from the Industry Ministry showed that the LNG stocks held by the major Japanese electric utilities at the end of June were 2.26 million tonnes, compared to 2.07 million tonnes the same period last year and 2.18 millions tons on average over the past five years. In Europe, S&P Global Commodity Insights estimated its daily North West Europe Gas Marker price benchmark on a ship-to-ship basis for cargoes that were delivered in July at $11.774/mmBtu. This was a $0.465/mmBtu reduction from the gas price for July at the Dutch TTF Hub. Spark Commodities set the price at $11.750/mmBtu for July, while Argus put it at $11.79/mmBtu. Hans Van Cleef is the chief energy economist of PZ-Energy. He said that natural gas inventories have begun to grow in Europe. The price difference between winter and summer is still small, so the level of filling remains similar to previous years. Since energy companies must deliver gas during the winter season, they are buying it as usual. According to Spark Commodities analyst Max Glen Doepel, the U.S. Arbitrage to Northeast Asia via the Cape of Good Hope has decreased and still points towards Europe. However, the arbitrage through Panama is slightly pointing toward Asia. He added that the rates for LNG freight in Atlantic and Pacific have been slightly lowered to $29,000/day, and $20,000/day, respectively. (Reporting and editing by Emily Chow)
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Russian Urals oil sold to India at the lowest discount since 2022, traders claim
Four traders who are active in the market stated on Friday that spot supply has tightened and reduced discounts for Russian Urals crude oil to be delivered to Indian ports by July. This is the lowest discount since 2022. Indian refiners are being pushed by tight supplies and narrowing discounts to look for alternative products through purchasing tenders. Sources said that spot discounts for Urals crude for cargoes arriving to India in July decreased to an average of $2.25 per barrel, compared to $2.70 to $3.10 a barrel for dated Brent delivered ex-ship basis the previous month. This is the smallest discount on Urals oil sold to India since 2022, when the Ukraine War broke out. India has become the biggest buyer of Russian crude oil after Moscow diverted energy away from the European Union, which had imposed a block. Sources claim that some Indian refiners who do not have long term supply agreements with Russian oil firms are not receiving enough Urals oil this July. Reliance Industries, India's largest refiner, signed a contract for a long-term supply with Rosneft, the Russian oil giant, last year. This reduced the availability of Urals on the spot market. Russian oil traders pointed to a recent increase in demand from Turkish refiners, who have increased their purchases, increasing the competition between Indian refiners and Russian refiners. Tupras, Turkey's largest refiner of oil, has resumed purchasing Urals after earlier this year stopping due to tougher U.S. Sanctions against Moscow. Two traders said that improving margins in the refining industry globally has also helped to boost Russian oil demand, as refiners are keen to increase crude production. India is the largest buyer of Russian Urals by sea. Imports reached a 10-month-high in May. (Reporting from Nidhi in NEW DELHI, and reporters in MOSCOW. Editing by Clarence Fernandez.)
Russia's Yamal LNG gets new tanker for ship-to-ship transfers, LSEG data shows
Ship-tracking LSEG information showed that Yamal LNG in Russia, which is led by Novatek and produces liquefied gas, acquired a new carrier to conduct ship-to ship operations near the Arctic Port of Murmansk.
This would be the fifth new tanker used to transport the supercooled gas from Yamal near Murmansk since the beginning of the winter season in the northern hemisphere.
According to LSEG, the North Light tanker is located in the Barents Sea near the island Kildin, where LNG from Yamal is reloaded onto Arc7 ice-class tankers.
Ship-to ship transfers typically involve LNG being transferred from ice class tankers to conventional ones. However, they can also be used as a way to complicate the cargo tracking process amid increased Western sanctions on Russia's fleet and economy due to its involvement in the Ukraine war.
Yamal LNG resumed its operations in Murmansk last November.
North Light was built in 2024. It is owned by Arctic Diamond no.2 LNG Shipping of Singapore, which is operated by the Japanese company Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL). (Reporting and Editing by Emelia Matarise Sithole)
(source: Reuters)