Latest News
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United Airlines introduces tiered fares for premium cabins
United Airlines announced on Friday its plans to "introduce" a new tier-based fare structure in premium cabins this year. United announced that it would offer base, standard, and flexible fare options in the premium cabins of its long-haul international flights, transcontinental U.S. flights, and selected Hawaii flights. These fares will join United's existing basic, flexible, and standard fares for economy cabins. According to the new tier fare structure, customers can choose from a range of benefits, including free seating and extra checked baggage, in the standard category. Tickets in the flexible category, however, are fully refundable, and include all the same benefits as standard tickets. United Airlines announced last month a "broad aircraft and interior overhaul" centered on premium seating. The airline is pushing forward with its long-term plan, despite warnings that oil prices could remain above $100 per barrel until 2027. It also revealed plans to reduce some flights. Since the COVID outbreak, big U.S. airlines have built their business around corporate accounts, loyalty-program participants, and premium travelers. They bet that these customers will be slower to pull back on fares when they rise. United Airlines said that it would launch the new categories this month in certain markets and expand them to include additional long-haul flights, transcontinental U.S. flights and longer Hawaii routes later this year. Andrew Nocella said that the new tiered options would give customers greater choice, and allow them to find a fare with the benefits they desire - whether it's great value, extra perks or maximum flexibility. (Reporting and editing by Alison Williams in Bengaluru, Sneha S. K. in Bengaluru)
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Canadian Finance Minister discusses supply chain integrity at meeting in China
The Canadian finance minister stated on Friday that he had discussed supply chain integrity with his counterparts in China during a meeting aimed at boosting trade. Ottawa is under scrutiny from the United States over its labour laws. The Finance Minister Francois Philippe Champagne told reporters the meeting was primarily focused on the financial sector, but also included trade in energy and pork. Canada is working to increase its overall exports to China by 50% by 2030. Champagne stated that "Canada places a high priority on the 'integrity of supply chains' and that our trade should be conducted according to 'international standards. The U.S. Trade Representative's Office announced in March that it had launched a second round of Section 301 unfair trading practice investigations of 60 economies including Canada. This was due to the failure to act on what they called forced labor. China is Canada's second-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade worth C$120 billion (US$86.1 billion). According to the official Chinese summary of Champagne's Friday meeting with Vice Premier He Lifeng, the two have agreed to hold a high-level financial and economic dialogue in the second part of this year. Champagne said that Stellantis had not been in contact with the automotive sector, despite reports that they were discussing building 'electric vehicles' in Canada with Zhejiang?Leapmotor Technology. ($1 = 1.3934 Canadian dollars)
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Japanese LNG tanker crosses Strait of Hormuz
Mitsui O.S.K., the co-owner of the tanker, confirmed that a liquefied gas tanker owned by Japan had crossed?the Strait of Hormuz. Lines announced?that a Japanese-owned LNG tanker had crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Friday. Mitsui O.S.K. confirmed that the crew members of the Panama flagged ship "SOHAR LNG" are safe. Lines spokesperson refused to reveal when the ship crossed the Strait or whether any negotiations were required. Asahi reported earlier on the crossing. Until the U.S. and Israel?attacks against Iran began in February, leading to an effective closure of the Strait?, the Strait was the route used by about a fifth?of global oil and liquefied _natural_ gas supplies. Japan was especially dependent, as 90% of its oil imports and 6% of its LNG imports passed through the Strait. DOZENS JAPANESE VEHICLES ARE STANDARDIZED According to the Japanese transport ministry, as of Friday morning, 45 Japanese-owned or operated ships were stranded in the Strait because they couldn't cross it. TBS reported that among the?tankers were 12 crude oil tanks, 12 tankers with chemical or refined products, 9 car carriers, and 6?LNG tanks. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines said last month that one vessel it owns and operates suffered a minor damage in the area. No one was injured and the cause of the incident was not known. The vessel tracking data showed that a container ship belonging to the French shipping group CMA CGM also passed through the Strait on Thursday. Since the beginning of the Iran War, Chinese ships and Indian-flagged tankers have passed through the Strait. (Reporting and editing by Tomasz Januaryowski and Barbara Lewis; Additional reporting and reporting by Katya Glubkova)
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Zelenskiy accuses Russia 'of Easter escalation,' after massive attack kills 2
Officials said that a large-scale daytime Russian strike on Ukraine killed at least two people, as part of a "Easter escalation" as Moscow changes tactics to avoid Ukrainian air defenses. Since the start of the war, more than four-years ago, Russia has carried out most major drone and missile attacks at night. It has sent drones and missiles in the daytime on several occasions over the past few weeks. One strike, which took place on March 24, set a new record for 'the number of weapons that were used. Telegram said that drones killed one person each in the central Zhytomyr region and Kyiv on Friday. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, President of X, said: "Essentially, Russians have only intensified their strikes. They have turned what should have been a silence in the sky into an Easter escalation." Zelenskiy had proposed earlier this week that strikes be halted for the Easter holidays. He also said Ukraine would reciprocate, if Russia stopped its attacks on energy sector. Moscow rejected the idea. The purpose of these strikes during the day is obvious. "Russia is deliberately trying increase the number civilian casualties, disrupt life, cause fear and damage Ukraine's Infrastructure," said Prime Minister Yulia Shvyrydenko on X. VETERINARY CLINIC HIT BY STRIKE Ukraine's Air Force announced on Telegram that it has destroyed 515 of the 542 drones, and 26 of the 37 missiles fired by Russia. Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat told state television on Friday that "we can see the enemy using new routes, drones they are continually modernising and new tactics." The strike in Kyiv's region damaged a veterinary hospital, along with private homes, residential buildings, and administrative buildings. Mykola Kalashnyk, the governor of Kyiv region, said that around 20 animals had been killed. Authorities reported that 18 buildings, including houses, were destroyed in Zhytomyr and more than 100 others were damaged. Poland's military has said that it scrambled its fighter jets despite the fact that there is no evidence of any violation of Polish airspace. According to Oleh syniehubov, the governor of Kharkiv's northeastern region, over two dozen people have been injured in missile, drone and bomb attacks during the past 24 hours. Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov stated that "the current series of strike has been the most intense and heavy since the start the war, if not since the beginning the year."
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Trump: US can control Strait of Hormuz in more time
On Friday, President Donald 'Trump said that the United States. The Strait of Hormuz can be opened 'with a little more time,' as pressure mounts on his administration to resolve a war with Iran quickly. Trump stated in a Truth Social post that "With just a little bit more time we could easily OPEN THE HORMUS STRAIT,?TAKE THE OIL& MAKE A FAVORITE." Nearly five weeks since it began with a U.S. and Israeli aerial assault, war in Iran continues to?spread chaos throughout the region,?roiling financial markets, thereby increasing the pressure on Trump for a swift resolution of the conflict. Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that carries a 'fifth of all oil consumed in the world, as retaliation to U.S. and Israeli strikes that began in late February. As energy prices rise, governments all over the world have made reopening the Strait of Hormuz a priority. In his speech on Wednesday night, Trump reiterated 'his threats against Iran’s civilian power plants, and gave no timeline for ending hostilities. This prompted Iran to 'vow retaliation,' which subsequently lowered share prices. (Reporting from Ryan Patrick Jones and Nate Raymond, Boston; editing by Michelle Nichols).
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Moscow shoppers and travelers hit by payment system problems
The 'payment system' problem caused chaos for Russian shoppers on Friday, forcing the turnstiles of?the Moscow Metro?to let people enter without paying and even forcing visitors to a regional Zoo to pay in cash. It was not clear what caused the payment system problems, but shoppers and retailers reported that they had issues with Sberbank - the largest bank in the country - and payments using QR codes. The central bank did not respond to a comment request. Sberbank stated that the problems were resolved, but did not provide any details as to what caused them. Reporters said that shops and petrol stations asked customers to pay cash for an hour or so on Friday due to a 'problem with the payment system. ?TASS reported that the?Moscow Metro turnstiles allowed people to enter for free once. The card payment system at a zoo in Belgorod was down. Visitors were asked to pay cash. Moscow and the surrounding area has a total population of 22,000,000 people.
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Data shows that a container ship owned by CMA CGM and French-owned has passed the Strait of Hormuz.
MarineTraffic vessel tracker data indicates that a container ship owned by French shipping group CMA CGM has 'crossed the Strait of Hormuz. This is a sign Iran may not view France as a hostile country. The Malta-flagged Kribi owned by CMA CGM crossed the Strait of Hormuz on April 2, and is the 'first French-owned ship to make it through since the?U.S. - Israeli attacks in Iran began at the end February. The Strait was the route of about a fifth global oil and gas supplies before the war effectively closed it. The data did not reveal how the vessel that was sailing south along the coast of Oman had secured safe passage. LSEG shipping information showed that the vessel changed its destination on 'Thursday' to 'Owner France', signaling to 'Iranian authorities' the 'nationality' of its owner. The ship was originally bound for Pointe-Noire, in the Republic of the Congo. CMA CGM didn't immediately?respond? to a?request for comment. The French foreign ministry declined to comment. (Reporting from Dominique Vidalon in Paris, John Irish in Oslo and Nerijus Adomiaitis in Paris; editing by Inti Lauro).
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Sweden seizes sanctioned Oil Tanker Suspect of Being Source of Spill
The Swedish Coast Guard announced on Friday that it had seized a?tanker of oil in the Baltic Sea. It is believed to be part of the 'Russian shadow fleet' and the suspected source of an oil spill of 12 km off the island Gotland. In recent months, the Swedish Coast Guard increased its efforts to stop vessels that are?connected with Russia. It said that the tanker Flora 1 was seized just off Sweden's south coast. MarineTraffic's data shows that Flora 1 departed from Primorsk in Russia with a destination unknown. Coast Guard officials?said that the oil spill will not reach the shore. It stated that it had begun an investigation into a possible environmental crime. It stated that it believed the vessel was listed on the EU sanctions, but added that the status of its flag was unclear. The Swedish Minister of Civil Defence, Carl-Oskar Bohlin, said on X that the Russian shadow fleet, which consists of older, badly insured tankers, evades sanctions and poses a serious security and 'environmental threat. He specifically mentioned the Flora 1 as part his remarks. The government takes the incident seriously even though it is not a major spill. The European nations are intensifying their efforts to disrupt the shadow fleet of tankers that Moscow uses to finance its four-year-long war against Ukraine. Russia has called such actions hostile.
Data shows that Russia's LNG imports increased by 7% in January.
Preliminary LSEG figures released on Monday showed that Russia's exports grew 7.3% year-on-year in January to 2.94?million metric tonnes from 2.74??million tons.
The U.S. sanctions against Ukraine have slowed down Russia's LNG imports, particularly the Arctic LNG 2 plant. This project has been hindered by the inability to find buyers for the LNG it produces.
The launch of the?plant's supplies boosted exports by a year. Three?LNG shipments from the plant were?recorded last month, and Russia's total LNG exports increased 7.7% from December according to LSEG.
In January, Russian LNG exports to Europe rose by 15.5% on an annual basis to 1.64 million tons.
Novatek's Yamal plant reduced total?exports by 3.5% on an annual basis to 1.64 millions tons in January, though this figure was higher than December exports.
Data showed that Asia-oriented Sakhalin-2 controlled by Gazprom increased its exports in January by 4% on an annual basis to 1.0 millions tons. Reporting and Editing by Andrew Osborn, Louise Heavens
(source: Reuters)