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Italy protests and recalls its ambassador to Switzerland following the release of a New Year's barfire suspect
Italy protested formally on Saturday against the bail release of the owner a Swiss bar that was engulfed by a deadly fire New Year's Day and it recalled its ambassador in Switzerland. The court's ruling had been criticized in both countries. Jacques Moretti, his wife Jessica and the owners of Le Constellation in Crans-Montana are being investigated for negligent homicide, as well as other crimes, linked to a fire that claimed 40 lives and injured over 100 others, including many teenagers. Jacques Moretti, who was arrested on 9 January but released on bail last Friday, has been detained since then. PM MELONI?CALLS THE DECISION "AN INSULT" TO VICTIMS FAMILIES Giorgia Melons, the Italian prime minister, called Moretti’s release “an insult to the families of those victims and an insult to their memory”. Six of the six dead and 10 injured in the bar fire were Italian. In a statement released on Saturday, Meloni and Antonio Tajani, Italy's Foreign Minister, instructed the ambassador to contact Beatrice Pilloud in Switzerland's Valais Canton, Chief Prosecutor, to express Italy's "strong anger" at Moretti's freedom. The court added that it had made the decision despite seriousness of alleged crime and the possibility of evidence being compromised. The statement read: "The entire country of Italy is demanding truth and justice and respectful measures in the wake this disaster that take into account the suffering and the expectations of the families." Meloni & Tajani also ordered Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado to return Rome to determine the next steps to be taken, it stated. Swiss prosecutor Pilloud confirmed that she was contacted by the Italian Ambassador but explained that another court had ordered Moretti’s release. "I don't want to be held responsible for any diplomatic incident that may occur between our countries." "I will not be influenced by any pressure from the Italian authorities. That is why I told the ambassador to speak to the Swiss political authorities," said she. The spokesperson for the Swiss Foreign Affairs Ministry was not available to comment immediately. "ANOTHER SLAP", SAYS THE FATHER OF A TEEN VICTIM AFTER RELEASE Moretti was released on bail, which included a payment of 200,000 Swiss Francs ($256.377) and an instruction to report to the police station daily. Lawyers representing the families of victims and lawyers for those who were injured in the fire said that they could not understand the court order. They also expressed concern about the disappearance of evidence. Andrea Costanzo's comments in Italian newspapers published on Saturday said, "It's another slap to a wound that will never heal." Both the Morettis and their children have expressed their sorrow over this tragedy, and they both said that they will cooperate with the prosecutors. Their lawyers stated that they will "continue to obey all requests" from the authorities following Jacques Moretti’s release.
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Delta cancels more Atlanta-East Coast flights due to winter storm
Delta Air Lines announced on Saturday that it had made "additional cancellations" for Atlanta, along the U.S. East Coast, and at its "hubs" in Boston and New York as it continues to adjust schedules because of winter storm Fern. The airline stated that significant snowfall will begin in the Northeast on Sunday afternoon, as well as ice accumulation. A major winter storm that threatens to disrupt operations, as well as force widespread cancellations, is disrupting air travel in the United States. Airlines are cancelling flights, warning of delays and issuing 'travel waivers' as ice and snow sweeps across major hubs, regional airports, and the central, eastern, and southern parts of the U.S. Customers should expect cancellations in the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys including Nashville and Raleigh-Durham as the storm threatens weekend travel. Delta cancelled flights at several airports across five states, citing the possibility of more cancellations and delays due to slow operations. The National Weather Service warned that a mixture of freezing rain and sleet could cause power outages, tree damage and make travel hazardous in the Southeast. As the storm moves north, heavier snowfall is expected. (Reporting and editing by Tomasz janowski in Bengaluru)
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Dutch airline KLM avoids Middle East because of rising tensions
Air France KLM, the Dutch airline arm of Air France Group, said that KLM would avoid flying over a large part of the Middle East until further notice because of the 'increasing tensions. KLM didn't specify what prompted?the decision. The fear of a war between the United States and Iran is growing after U.S. president Donald Trump ordered the deployment?of an aircraft carrier strike group?and other military assets to the Middle East. On Friday, a senior Iranian official stated that Iran would consider any attack as "an all-out war" against the United States. KLM's spokesperson stated that, as a precaution due to the geopolitical climate, the airline will not fly through the airspaces of Iran, Iraq, and Israel, nor will it fly over several countries in the Gulf region. The spokesperson said that "KLM will not fly to Dubai, Riyadh Dammam, Tel Aviv and Tel Aviv" until further notice. (Reporting and editing by Bart Meijer)
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US Judge rules that Trump administration illegally suspended EV charging infrastructure program
A federal judge ruled on Friday that President Donald Trump's administration illegally suspended funding to support the expansion?electric vehicle charger infrastructure. This was a win for the 20 Democratic-led state who sued the Trump administration over this action. U.S. District Court Judge Tana Lin ruled in Seattle in favor of the District of Columbia and 20 states that had filed their suit after the U.S. Department of Transportation suspended in February an EV charging infrastructure program enacted in 2021 by Congress under a Democrat President Joe Biden. Lin, a Biden-appointed official, stated that the DOT and Federal Highway Administration had "yanked out the NEVI Formula Program?cord from the outlet" without following the statutory requirements of administrative law. Environmental groups such as the Sierra Club praised the ruling. They said it allowed states to move forward in building infrastructure that is funded by law. Lin's order prevents the Transportation Department permanently from taking away funds from the states or cancelling their approved implementation plans. In a press release, Mike Faulk said that the order of Judge Lin was a "resounding victory for rule of law and smart investments in our future clean energy." The Transportation Department didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. The DOT suspended the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program in February, shortly after Sean Duffy became Transportation Secretary. This program was part of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs act?that Biden signed in law in 2021. The Trump administration has implemented a number policies that aim to increase the sale of gasoline-powered cars and reduce EV incentives, both for automakers as well as consumers. California, Colorado, and Washington, along with other states, sued the Trump administration in May alleging that it wrongfully withheld billions of dollars they were previously awarded. The administration claimed it was only a temporary pause. It ended later after the judge issued a preliminary order and the agency issued a new guideline. Lin, however, said that the 2021 law did not contemplate?even temporary breaks in funding for EV infrastructure. She wrote: "In summary, defendants defied Congress' will by withholding funds a way not contemplated in the IIJA." Next week, the U.S. Senate will consider legislation that was already approved by the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would redirect $879 millions in funds that were approved under Biden to build an EV charging infrastructure to other priorities. Nate Raymond, reporting from Boston; David Shepardson, editing in Washington.
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US Safety Board opens investigation into Waymo robotaxis that pass stopped school buses
The?U.S. The National Transportation Safety Board announced on Friday that it will 'open an investigation' into the self-driving company Waymo after a robotaxi passed stopped school busses in Austin, Texas at least 19 different times since the beginning of the school term. Alphabet recalled over 3,000 vehicles in December to update software that caused the vehicles to 'drive past stopped school busses that were loading or removing students, increasing the risk of a collision. In October, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began an investigation into Waymo's vehicles when they were near school buses. Waymo stated that there were no accidents in the incidents. It said its self-driving technology, the Waymo driver, "safely navigates thousands of school bus encounters across the United States each week and is constantly improving." Waymo said it was "confident" that its safety performance around busses is superior to humans. The NHTSA posted a letter on November 20 from the Austin Independent Schools District stating that five incidents occurred in November following software updates by Waymo to fix the problem. The school district asked the company not to operate around schools at pick-up or drop-off hours until they could be sure the vehicles would not break the law. The school district reported to Waymo in December that the company refused 'to stop operations around schools. A lawyer for the district wrote, "We cannot let Waymo continue to endanger our students as it attempts to fix the problem." The lawyer said that a Waymo had been "recorded" driving past a school bus moments after the student had crossed in front and was still on the road. (Reporting and editing by Lisa Shumaker in Washington, David Shepardson from Washington)
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US energy sector prepares for winter storm, as crude and natural-gas output falls
As a winter storm accompanied by?cold temperatures' began to sweep the United States on Friday, U.S. crude oil and natural gas production dropped and spot electricity prices soared. According to the National Weather Service, the storm system named Fern will bring heavy snow and?sleet to large parts of the U.S., from the southern Rockies up to New England, through Monday. Travel disruptions are expected, as well as downed powerlines and extended electricity outages. According to analysts and state regulators, the U.S. crude production is expected to fall as cold weather and stormy conditions force operators to stop production in certain basins. Energy Aspects said that this could result in a loss of up to 300,000 barrels a day. Energy Aspects reported that the storm could reduce natural gas production by 86 billion cubic foot over the next two week, and noted that the Appalachia area could lose up to 35 bcf. According to Energy Aspects, freezing temperatures will reach the Permian Basin this weekend. This could cause a decline of 200,000 barrels per day in that oilfield. According to the Energy Information Administration, this area - which straddles Texas & New Mexico - is expected to produce 6.63m bpd in January. The state regulator reported on Friday that North Dakota crude production is down between 80,000 and 110,000 barrels per day, or 5 to 10%. This is because operators have shut down their operations due to the cold weather. The latest data from the Industrial Commission of North Dakota showed that North Dakota was the third largest oil producing state. Its output increased by 12,000 bpd, to 1.189 millions bpd, in November. The associated gas production of the state is currently down 0.24 billion cubic foot per day, to 0.33 BCFD. Prepare for the POWER GRID Operators Chris Wright, the U.S. Secretary for Energy, asked power grid operators on Thursday to have backup generators available at data centers – which are sensitive even to minor disruptions – and other major facilities as needed. According to the Department of Energy, there are still 35 GW of backup generators that have not been used in the United States. This could reduce blackouts, and potentially save hundreds of millions of dollars for Americans in the event of a winter storm. Southwest Power Pool (SWPP), a regional grid operator spanning 14 states from North Dakota to Louisiana reported that spot wholesale prices in real time were above $200 per megawatt hour due to congestion on high voltage power lines that brought electricity from the South to the upper Midwest. A surplus of wind power generated as the storm tore through New Mexico and Oklahoma caused wholesale prices to fall. Wind generators were forced to pay for the grid to accept their excess electricity to avoid having to shut down their own production. PJM, the largest U.S. grid, has warned that temperatures could cause it to set a 'new all-time peak winter load on Tuesday, 27th January. It is taking extra precautions in preparation with its transmission and generation owners. CenterPoint Energy, Duke Energy and other U.S. utilities issued a joint statement on Friday informing consumers that they are preparing to reduce the impact on power supply. Fuel Markets Brace for Cold Blast Diesel prices are rising because it is used for heating and electricity generation. Tom Kloza is a veteran oil analyst. He said that there is a potential for soaring demand for distillate fuels, as trucks are loaded with fuel?that must be used because natural gas is not available. The possibility of refining disruptions also pushed U.S. ultra low-sulfur Diesel futures up to their highest level since November on Friday. ULSD futures rose 3% last to $2.44 a gallon. TACenergy, a U.S. distributor of fuel, said that major fuel delivery hubs along the Colonial Pipeline - the largest fuel conduit in the U.S. - are expected to remain covered with ice and snow over the next few days. This has caused the price of shipping gasoline along Colonial's Line 1 to fall, and demand for these delivery hubs is expected to be affected. TACenergy stated that the worst of this storm is expected to pass over most of the refinery origins. Reporting by Georgina Mcartney in Houston and Arathy Sommesekhar in New York; Tim McLaughlin and Nicole Jao, in Boston, and Tim Gardner, in Washington. Editing and rewriting by Nathan Crooks, Rosalba o'Brien, and Nathan Crooks.
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Politico reports that the Trump administration is considering a naval blockade against Cuba to stop its oil imports.
Politico reported that the Trump administration was considering imposing an 'all-out blockade' on oil imports into Cuba, as a possible new tactic to bring about a 'change of leadership in Cuba, according to three sources familiar with the plans. Politico reported that while no decision had been made, a similar move was sought by some critics of Cuban government within the Trump administration, and supported by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The White House did not respond immediately to a comment request on the report. If the reported plan is implemented, it will be a further step in Trump's efforts to bring regional powers into line with the United States. It would also underscore the seriousness of Trump's administration's desire to dominate the Western Hemisphere. Trump had earlier in January promised to prevent oil and money - from Venezuela, the country's longtime ally - from reaching Cuba following the January 3rd operation that captured Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. Analysts say this could have catastrophic effects on Cuba's already failing?fuel supply and electrical grid, and its economy. Trump, whose eviction of Maduro and securing?control over that country's oil has given him a sense of confidence, has spoken of taking action against Cuba and Colombia. He suggested that Cuba should "strike a bargain" with Washington to increase pressure on this long-time U.S. enemy and provoke defiant statements from the Communist-run Island's leadership.
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Delta Air Lines encourages passengers to rebook flights as Winter Storm Fern threatens the weekend flights
Delta Air Lines advised passengers to reschedule flights this weekend as Winter Storm Fern could disrupt operations and force cancellations. Winter Storm Fern disrupts air travel in the United States. Airlines cancel flights, issue delays, and offer travel waivers. As the storm threatens to disrupt travel over the weekend, the?airline operator warned customers that they should expect cancellations of flights across the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys. This includes Nashville and Raleigh-Durham. Delta Air Lines cancelled flights in several airports across five states, warning that slower operations could lead to more cancellations and delays, complicating rebookings during the most busy winter travel period. Cirium, a firm that provides aviation analytics, reports that two-thirds (or 815) of the 815 flights scheduled to leave Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport this Friday have been cancelled. Airlines have urged passengers to monitor their flight status closely and to use airline websites or mobile apps for quick rebooking as the storm progresses. Travelers are already adjusting their plans to prepare for the storm.
Italy protests and recalls its ambassador to Switzerland following the release of a New Year's barfire suspect
Italy protested formally on Saturday against the bail release of the owner of an?Italian?bar that was engulfed by a deadly fire on New Year's Day and it recalled its?ambassador?to Switzerland as the court's ruling had been criticized in both countries.
Jacques Moretti, his wife Jessica and the owners of Le Constellation in Crans-Montana are being investigated for negligent homicide, as well as other crimes, linked to a fire that claimed 40 lives and injured over 100 others, including many teenagers.
Jacques Moretti, who was arrested on 9 January, was released on bail this Friday.
Release is a 'punishment' to the families of victims, says PM Meloni
Giorgia?Meloni, the Italian Prime Minister, called Meloni's release overnight "an insult to the families of those who died in the New Year's Eve tragedy" and "a affront to their memory".
Ten of the injured and six of the dead were Italian.
In a statement released on Saturday, Meloni and Foreign Ministry Antonio Tajani instructed Italy’s?ambassador immediately to contact the chief prosecutor in Switzerland’s Valais Canton to express Italy's "strong anger" over Moretti’s release.
The court added that it had made the decision despite seriousness of the crime, flight risk and possible compromise of evidence.
The statement stated that "the whole of Italy is demanding truth and justice and calling for respect measures to be taken as a result of this tragedy, which fully account for the suffering and the expectations of the families."
Meloni & Tajani also ordered ambassador Gian Lorenzo to Cornado to return to Rome and determine what action to take next, according to the statement.
The spokesperson for the Swiss Foreign Affairs Ministry was not available to comment immediately.
Moretti was released on bail, which included a payment of 200,000 Swiss Francs ($256.377) and an order to report to the police station daily.
Lawyers representing the families of the victims and lawyers for those who were injured in the fire said that they had difficulty understanding the court order. They also expressed concern about the disappearance of evidence.
Both the Morettis and their children have expressed their sorrow over this tragedy, and they both said that they will cooperate with prosecutors.
Their lawyers stated that they both would "continue complying with all requests" from the authorities following Jacques Moretti’s release.
(source: Reuters)