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Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, says US want to take over Nord Stream pipelines
Sergei Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, said that the U.S. was seeking to control the Nord Stream pipelines in 'the Baltic Sea' which were allegedly damaged by a mysterious blast in September 2022. The explosions that destroyed pipelines in Europe more than three year ago have largely halted the transit of Russian gas to Europe. This has squeezed energy supplies across the continent, even though?Russia already stopped most deliveries. Both Russia and Western countries have said that the incident was a sabotage. Investigators have spent years trying to solve the mystery behind the attack. Last year, a Ukrainian was arrested in Italy on suspicion of orchestrating the attacks. Lavrov told France Televisions that the U.S. is trying to dominate the global energy market. He cited Venezuela, where Washington effectively controls the largest oil reserves in the world, and Iran. According to the transcript of an interview published by the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov stated that the United States "also now says it wants?"to takeover?the Nord Stream Pipelines." He ?did not provide details. The Wall Street Journal reported that in 2024, a?American investor, Stephen P. Lynch?, was looking to?buy the two-pronged Nord Stream 2 pipe, of which one line remains intact. (Reporting and editing by Lincoln Feast; reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin.)
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French and Benelux stocks - Factors to watch for on March 27
Here are some company news and stories from France and Benelux that could have an impact on a region's market or individual stocks. EIFFAGE: Eiffage, a French construction and concessions company, increased its stake to 29.40% in Getlink through an investment of 166.7 million euros ($192.37 millions) financed by cash reserves. This investment strengthened its position as Getlink's largest shareholder. SYENSQO N.V. Belgian'specialty chemicals' company Syensqo is redeeming all of its senior bonds of 500 million euro 2.750% fixed rates on March 31, 2026. MEDINCELL S.A. Pan-European market data: European Equities?speed guide................... FTSE Eurotop 300 index.............................. DJ STOXX?index................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ Top 10?STOXX sectors...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................?Eurotop 300 sectors..................................................... Pan-European market data: European Equities ?speed guide................... FTSE Eurotop 300 index.............................. DJ STOXX ?index...................................... Top 10 ?STOXX sectors........................... Top 10 EUROSTOXX sectors...................... Top 10 Eurotop 300 sectors..................... Top 25 ?European pct gainers....................... Top 25 European ?pct losers........................ Main stock markets: Dow Jones............... Wall Street report ..... Nikkei 225............. Tokyo report............ FTSE ?100............... London report........... Xetra DAX............. Frankfurt items......... CAC-40................. Paris ?items............ World Indices..................................... survey ?of world bourse outlook......... European Asset Allocation........................ News at a glance: Top News............. Equities.............. Main oil report........... Main currency report..... ($1 = 0.8666 euros)
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FT reports that UAE is willing to join forces with international force to reopen Strait of Hormuz
The Financial Times reported Friday that the United Arab Emirates has informed the U.S., and other Western allies, that it will participate in a multi-national maritime taskforce aimed at reopening the 'Strait of Hormuz. Reports indicate that the UAE is pushing dozens of countries towards creating a "Hormuz Security Force", which will defend the Strait against Iranian attacks and accompany shipping. The UAE has been the target of more Iranian attacks than any country in the region, including Israel. The U.S. has a number of allies who have stated that they do not have immediate plans to send ships to the Strait of Hormuz to clear the blockage. This is in response to President Trump's request for military assistance to keep the Strait of Hormuz open. France announced on Thursday that it has held discussions with 35 countries to find partners and proposals for a mission aimed at reopening the strait. However, this will only happen after the U.S./Israeli war against?Iran is over. Iran has blocked the Strait of Hormuz which transports about 20% of world oil and natural gas liquefied. This has pushed up energy prices and increased global inflation concerns. Reports indicate that the UAE and Bahrain are also working together on a U.N. Security Council Resolution to give a future taskforce a mandate. However, Russia and China may oppose this move. The U.N. Security Council has begun to negotiate resolutions that will protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz. This includes a Bahraini proposal which would authorize the use of "all necessary measures", as reported earlier this week. A senior Emirati official stated last week that the UAE could join a U.S. led effort to protect shipping on the Strait of?Hormuz, after Iran closed the waterway for ships. The waterway plays a vital role in the economy of 'the UAE', which is a major oil-exporter and trade hub. Iran has repeatedly attacked an Emirati oil port outside the Gulf, which is used to load exports. Could not verify immediately the report.
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FMC: China is detaining Panama flagged ships in a battle over port control
The United States Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) announced on Thursday that it is closely monitoring a'surge' in 'detentions in China of Panama-flagged ships, which appears to be tied to a Panama Court ruling against Hong Kong based CK Hutchison. The Panama Supreme Court invalidated in late January the legal framework that supported the 1997 concession granting CK Hutchison’s Panama Ports Company, the right to operate Balboa & Cristobal Terminals?on both the Pacific & Atlantic sides of Panama Canal. After the ruling, the Panamanian Government appointed U.S. subsidiaries Maersk APM Terminals (MSC) Terminal Investment Limited and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Terminal Investment Limited, as interim operators in 18-month agreements. The cancellation was a result of increasing pressure from the United States to limit Chinese influence in relation to the strategic canal that handles 5% of all maritime trade. Laura DiBella is the chairperson of FMC. She said that China's detention of Panama-registered ships far exceeded historic norms. According to a Lloyd's List Intelligence Report, the number of?ships detained by China since March 8 had reached almost 70. DiBella stated that the "intensified inspections" were conducted under informal instructions and appeared to be intended as a punishment for Panama following the transfer of Hutchison port assets. She said that the FMC was legally empowered to investigate whether foreign government regulations or practices could hurt U.S. commerce. DiBella stated that the Chinese Ministry of Transport summoned Maersk, MSC and other shipping companies to Beijing in a parallel move. CK Hutchison has been operating the?ports in Panama for almost 30 years. They have strongly rejected the court ruling, accused the Panamanian authorities of illegally seizing properties, and filed an international arbitration against Panama seeking damages of over $2 billion. The dispute also 'complicated' CK Hutchison’s planned $23 billion?sale of a majority stake?in its global ports business?to a consortium led?by BlackRock and MSC. The Chinese Ministry of Transport has not responded to an immediate request for comment. (Reporting and editing by Stephen Coates; Lisa Baertlein)
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Esentia energy approves expansion plan worth $205 million
Esentia Energy, a Mexican 'pipeline operator', announced a board decision on Thursday to approve a $205 million expansion. This will add 295 millions cubic feet of daily gas transport capacity. The Phase II project is part of a five year expansion plan aimed at 660 million cubic ft / per day of capacity additions. It's expected to start commercial operations in the first half of 2028. Details of the project * "Phase 2 is a continuation to our expansion plan, focused on meeting the growing demand for industrial development and data center growth in Central Mexico," CEO Daniel Bustos said. * The project involves installing 'two' new turbocompressors at compression stations located in Chihuahua, and aguascalientes where construction has already begun. Esentia reported that Siemens Energy would make 'additional improvements' to the auxiliary services and other compression sites in the entire system. (Reporting and editing by Kyrry Madry)
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US FAA investigates close call between United Jet and Army helicopter in California
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the United States?said Thursday that it was investigating an incident between a United Airlines plane and a Black Hawk Army helicopter in California. The FAA reported that the 'United Boeing 737-8 jet was on final approach at John Wayne Airport, Orange County, California on?Tuesday - 8:40 p.m., when a Black Hawk flew in front of it. Flightradar24 (a flight tracking website) reported that the planes were 525 feet vertically apart. The FAA also investigates whether or not the incident violated their new policy that prohibits visual separation between helicopters and major airports. United stated that Flight 589 had left?from San Francisco and had been told by air traffic control, to keep an eye out for a military chopper flying near the airport. The pilots saw the helicopter and received a cockpit alert. They then leveled the aircraft and landed it safely. There were 162 passengers on board and six crew members. On Thursday, two U.S. House committees passed legislation to address concerns regarding separation between helicopters & airplanes as well as other issues. After the mid-air collision that resulted in 67 deaths near Reagan Washington National Airport on January 20, 2025, FAA regulations and legislation were passed. In issuing new rules, the FAA cited recent incidents including a "near miss" involving an American Airlines plane and a police helicopter near San Antonio Airport. The helicopter and the aircraft were on convergent courses when the 'helicopter' made a left-hand turn to avoid an American Airlines flight. A Beechcraft 99 cleared to land in Burbank Airport, southern California on March?2, as a helicopter flew through the final approach path. The helicopter turned away from the Beechcraft as the aircraft were on convergent courses. The FAA said that when helicopters are crossing airport arrival or departing paths, air traffic control will use radar to maintain specific vertical and lateral distances between the aircraft. The FAA has restricted helicopter traffic at airports such as Baltimore, Las Vegas, and Washington Dulles after the 2025 accident. (Reporting and editing by Mark Porter, David Gregorio and David Shepardson)
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Europeans press US on Russian support for Iran
The European powers accused Russia on Thursday of assisting Iran in targeting U.S. troops in the Middle East War and said that they would bring the matter up with the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a G7 meeting of 'foreign' ministers in France. Rubio will attend the second day gathering of Western Democracies ministers. This is taking place in the midst of wars with Iran and Ukraine, uncertainty over the economy and growing unease about the unpredictable U.S. Foreign Policy under Donald Trump. Two Western security officials and a regional official near Tehran have confirmed that Russia provided satellite imagery to Iran. They also said the country helped Iran upgrade their drones so they could emulate the versions of Russian drones used against Ukraine. Some media outlets have reported that Russia has aided Iran in the conflict between the United States and Israel just as Tehran has aided Moscow in its war against Ukraine. Kaja?Kallas, the European Union's foreign policy chief, told reporters that Russia was helping Iran to use intelligence to target Americans and kill Americans at the G7 summit in Vaux de Cernay Abbey near Paris. "Russia also supports Iran with drones now so they can attack the neighbouring countries as well as the U.S. bases." Playing down concerns Steve Witkoff, U.S. Special Envoy to CNBC earlier this month, said that Russia denied sharing intelligence on U.S. assets with Iran in the Middle East. Witkoff stated that "we can take them at their word." Rubio appeared to downplay the allegations against Moscow before he left for Europe. "I believe Russia is currently focusing on their war. "I don't think I have anything else to say at this time," he added. Two European diplomats, however, said that ministers would be pressing the issue at Friday's meetings. These wars are interconnected. If America wants to end the Middle East war and Iran stop attacking them, then they should also "put pressure on Russia to prevent them from being able to assist them in this", Kallas said. Jean-Noel Barrot, French Minister of Foreign Affairs, echoed these remarks at a press conference. He said: "It's a fact that there has been and continues to be cooperation between Russia and Iran, in both directions. We are well aware of this." "There's a good reason to believe that Russia today is supporting Iran’s efforts, both militarily and otherwise, that appear to be directed in particular against American targets." Washington's partners also hope to gain more clarity about the U.S.-Israeli military operations and whether there is a meaningful diplomatic channel to end the conflict. Since U.S. & Israel attacked Iran on February 28th, Iran has launched attacks against Israel, U.S. base and Gulf States, and effectively blocked Middle East fuel exports through the Strait of Hormuz. In an effort to show Washington that it is serious, France organised a videoconference with 35 militaries around the world on Thursday. It was looking for partners and proposals to launch a mission to open the Strait after the U.S. - Israeli war against Iran. The G7 ministers - Britain Canada France Germany Italy Japan, the U.S. and Britain - are all present at the two-day meeting. (Parisa Hafezi, Humeyra Pauk and Simon Lewis contributed additional reporting from Washington and Dubai; Sudip Kar Gupta edited the story).
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Trump is weighing executive action to ease airport safety snags.
Sources said that if Congress fails to reach a deal to resolve the security staff shortages which have caused airports to be clogged, President Donald Trump may take 'executive action' to pay 50,000 airport'security officers. Homeland Security Department reported that nearly 500 airport security guards have quit since February's partial shutdown. A dispute between Congress and the Transportation Security Administration over funding has forced the Transportation Security Administration to work without pay. Two congressional sources confirmed that Trump was considering various actions to pay airport employees. However, it is unclear for how long he will be able pay TSA payrolls if a deal with Congress cannot be reached. Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary, said in a Thursday statement: "It's true that there are discussions at the White House about a variety of ideas for reducing the impact of the Democrat shutdown crisis. However, no plans or preparations have been made." The easiest and best way to pay TSA Agents would be to fund DHS." Democrats in Congress are holding up funding for DHS and demanding changes to the rules that govern its immigration operations after agents in Minneapolis killed two U.S. Citizens Renee Good, and Alex Pretti. Republicans have rejected Democratic proposals for funding TSA separately, while they negotiate reforms to how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents work. On Wednesday, the TSA said that if staffing problems worsened, it could be forced to shut down smaller airports. On Wednesday, more than 11, or 3,120 TSA agents, failed to show up at work. Absenteeism rates were higher in New York JFK airport, Houston's airports and the airports of Baltimore, New Orleans, and Atlanta. Chris Sununu is the CEO of Airlines for America. He reiterated on Thursday his call for Congress resolve this issue quickly. Even if the U.S. Senate reached a deal on DHS funding before Friday, he warned, "you are still likely to have a tough weekend because it won't be finalized immediately." Trump said that he could send National Guard troops to airports in order to meet security needs. Senate Republicans and Democrats are continuing to debate a plan that would allow funding for TSA, and other Department of Homeland Security agencies to resume while keeping funding for immigration enforcement on hold. TSA is dealing with a?surge in school spring break travel that is about 5 percent higher than last year. In recent days, absences have risen above 10%. This has led to long delays at airport security checkpoints. On Monday, hundreds of U.S. Immigration agents and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officers were deployed to 14 U.S. Airports for security screening. Some of these agents now check IDs using TSA equipment. They also assist with logistics and crowd control, as well as guarding exits and entrances. ICE and law enforcement personnel are paid even during the shutdown. (Reporting and editing by Chizu Nomiyama; Bill Berkrot, Edmund Klamann and Chizu Nomiyama)
United States court orders federal regulators to examine emissions of Louisiana LNG project
A U.S. court on Tuesday purchased federal regulators to reassess the effect of greenhouse gas emissions from Commonwealth LNG's Louisiana liquefied natural gas task, possibly slowing full approvals for the venture. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia did not overturn the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's 2022 approval of the project as it purchased the agency to reevaluate the emissions after ecological groups had taken legal action against saying they were not taken seriously.
We believe it 'reasonably most likely' that on remand, the Commission can redress the defects in its (greenhouse gas). emissions and cumulative-effects analysis and still license. the Project, the court stated in its decision.
5 ecological groups including the Natural Resources. Defense Council took legal action against FERC over the approval, stating it did not. take climate and air contamination dangers seriously when it authorized. the job in November 2022.
Commonwealth has actually not made a last financial investment choice (FID). yet. If established, the job is expected to start delivering 9.5. million tonnes a year of LNG from Cameron, Louisiana, in 2028.
Lyle Hanna, a Commonwealth spokesperson, stated the business. will work with FERC during the reassessment which it expects. a FID in the first half of 2025.
Private equity firm Kimmeridge, through its subsidiary. Kimmeridge Texas Gas, got a 90% stake in Commonwealth LNG,. it said in June.
In the 2022 approval, Democratic members of FERC had actually noted. issues about the effect of emissions linked to warming the. planet and on communities frequently exposed to other types of. pollution, stating the terminal would produce the equivalent of. about 3.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
However they authorized the project, saying federal natural gas. law requires FERC to authorize centers unless they are contrary. to the general public interest.
The NRDC said the ruling will assist ensure an truthful. evaluation by FERC. This judgment underscores what we have said. for many years: FERC continues to violate bedrock national. environmental legal responsibilities to examine the neighborhood and. environment impacts of LNG projects, said Caroline Reiser, a lawyer. at the not-for-profit.
It was unclear whether the choice might postpone any start of. the project, but it might delay another needed approval. ClearView Energy Partners, a nonpartisan research study group, said. the Department of Energy, which has the power to authorize exports. to major global markets from the Commonwealth job, may not. act while FERC is reevaluating the emissions effect.
(source: Reuters)