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Amazon suspends its operations with 21 Air following the Miami cargo plane crash
Amazon announced on Sunday that it was suspending operations with Miami's 21 Air, the cargo airline that operated the Amazon branded plane that crashed in Miami and killed?five people. Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel stated in a statement to customers that "after the tragic 'incident' last weekend, we have spent time supporting and reviewing the investigation, and we've made the decision to pause operations with 21 Air as the operator of Flight. We'll continue to work with everyone involved in the investigation. Last week, an Amazon Prime Air cargo plane crashed after it overran the runway at Miami International Airport. Prime Air Flight 7598 reportedly overran the diagonal runway of the airport shortly before 2 pm?EDT (1800 GMT) and hit multiple vehicles on the surface, according to officials. Flightradar24's flight tracking service said that the plane was a 32-year-old Boeing 767-3000 freighter, which had been used as a passenger jet by various airlines between 1994 and 2015. According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is investigating this crash, the pilots of an Amazon Prime?Air cargo aircraft considered abandoning the landing once the plane touched down. This was based on evidence found in a flight recorder. The 'NTSB' also reported that one pilot warned that they were "flying too fast" just over a minute prior to touching down on runway they overran. As the investigation continues, we remain committed to'supporting families and loved ones impacted by the accident. We also continue to work closely with NTSB, and our partners, such as Amazon. 21 Air stated that they were confident in their safety policies, training and procedures.
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Indonesian rescuers are still searching for 129 missing people after a passenger ship capsized.
An official said on Monday that more than 600 Indonesian rescuers are searching for 129 people still missing, after a passenger vessel capsized in the Java Sea at the weekend. The death toll remains the same, at six. Rescue agency reported that the Virgo transport 8 ship, which was carrying 243 passengers, went missing early Sunday morning due to bad weather. The authorities have rescued 108 passengers from the ship that was traveling from Surabaya, East Java, to Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan. We have been searching for the missing ever since early morning. "We are deploying around 12 ships and 622 personnel," I Putu?Sudayana told reporters. As of Monday, the six-person death toll had not increased. A large ship painted red and black lies partially submerged, capsized, in rough blue water. The red underside of the ship is visible. In rough waters, two small boats carrying people were seen floating close to the capsized vessel. Edy Prakoso said that the ship leaning heavily to the starboard side was caused by strong waves hitting the starboard'side. Transport Minister Dudy Purwagandhi stated that the cause of the capsize is still under investigation. Indonesia uses ferries to travel between its 17,000 islands. Sea travel is more affordable and accessible than flying, but there have been many accidents. Two ferries, each carrying hundreds of passengers, caught fire in the water last month. Five people were killed when a boat caught fire near Madura Island, and one person was killed in an accident on a ferry leaving Bali.
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The oil markets have survived the Iran War sprint. Bousso: Now the marathon.
The expansion of the Mideast conflict to Yemen and the drone attacks on a Saudi oil pipeline are a painful reminder that the Iran War is not a temporary energy shock but rather a long-term, unpredictable test of economic endurance. The markets are now adjusting to a new, more volatile phase in the conflict. Many of the safeguards which cushioned the initial blow seven months ago, have vanished. Last week, Donald Trump, the president of the United States, predicted that the conflict will end only when the midterm elections in the U.S. are held on November 3. Midterm elections are scheduled for November 3. The tone has changed dramatically from the initial suggestion by the administration that war would only last a few weeks and not even months. It is impossible to tell if this new forecast will prove correct, but recent events at two of the most important energy routes in the world suggest that it could be very optimistic. The Gate of Tears Houthis, who are allied with Iran in Yemen, have made rapid progress over the last week. They now hold the Bab el-Mandeb Strait near the southern entrance of the Red Sea. The group, which announced a blockade on the shipping route last July, has stated that all ships except those owned by Saudi Arabia are safe to transit. Saudi authorities reported that a series of attacks by drones launched from Iraq temporarily closed Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipe, the kingdom's primary alternative to the Strait of Hormuz. Since the Strait of Hormuz was disrupted by the conflict in February, the 1,200-kilometre (745 mile) pipeline has become critical to the kingdom. Saudi Arabia offset some of its losses by increasing west coast oil exports to between 4 and 5 million barrels a day (bpd) during the first five month of the conflict. This is equivalent to about 4% to 5% global oil supply. Kpler?data reports that shipments in August fell to 2 million bpd, the lowest level since January. This was largely due to the Houthi Blockade. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that the output of what was once the largest oil exporter in the world fell to 6,000,000 bpd, the lowest in over 30 years, in August. Satellite images suggest that at least one pumping stations was damaged, but the extent of damage and timeline for repairs are still unclear. Saudi Arabia can also draw from stored crude oil to compensate for any disruption in pipeline flow. This could take several days. This escalation is occurring at a very dangerous time. Running Dry The disruption of Middle East oil exports, which made up around a fifth (or more) of the global supply before the war, has dramatically eroded world stocks. According to the IEA, inventories have dropped by 507,000,000 barrels or roughly 2.8million bpd since the war began. The fact that more crude oil has left Hormuz recently than in the beginning of the war is largely due to more vessels using the route along Oman’s coast, under U.S. Navy surveillance. Kpler estimates that around 5 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil and refinery products have been shipped through the Strait since June. This is a quarter less than pre-war levels. However, the actual figure could be higher, as many ships turn off their navigational systems while transiting. Last week, Iranian attacks on more than a dozen oil tankers trying to transit the Gulf or cross Hormuz were a reminder of how dangerous transits can be. This status quo cannot continue. Middle East is the largest energy producing region in the entire world. It may be possible to reduce crude oil exports from the Gulf for a couple of months, but not forever. According to IEA estimations, refineries like diesel, jet fuel, and gasoline have suffered far more than crude oil, with exports remaining 60% below their pre-war level. Diesel in particular has been severely affected, with prices reaching record highs. Saudi Arabian Red Sea exports are also under pressure, which would increase global inventory levels. The latest flare-up may also lead to a reduction in the ship traffic through Hormuz. The fear of entering conflict zones is still a factor for tanker operators. Insurance and freight costs are at an all-time high, and naval escorts only mitigate the risks to a certain extent. Different tones How long can these market dynamics last? Iran's leadership sees the conflict as an existential threat and is therefore motivated to exert maximum economic pressure both on the U.S. economy and on the global economy before any negotiations. Washington's "increasingly strict" blockade on Iranian oil exports has caused severe economic damage to the Islamic Republic, increasing the cost of continuing the conflict indefinitely. Temporarily, the Houthi attacks and advances on Saudi infrastructure could temporarily shift momentum back to Tehran. These competing pressures may eventually bring both parties to the table for negotiations. They could also encourage both sides to continue fighting, hoping that their bargaining positions will be strengthened by economic or military gains. Markets assumed that Trump would find a way out of the gridlock once rising gas prices and political costs became too painful. This outcome was dependent on Tehran's?willingness to cooperate. It has so far shown little willingness to do so. U.S. policymakers, traders and investors may have adapted to a conflict which appears manageable. If the war continues for several more months as Trump has suggested, there is a risk that the market will be left with fewer shock-absorbing devices. You like this column? Check out Open Interest, your new essential source for global financial commentary. Follow ROI on LinkedIn and X. Listen to the Morning Bid podcast daily on Apple, Spotify or the app. Subscribe to the Morning Bid podcast and hear journalists discussing the latest news in finance and markets seven days a weeks.
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Trump will review requests to release additional 9/11 records
On 'Sunday, U.S. president Donald Trump said that he would consider the request of relatives of those who died in the 9/11 attacks for more information about the attack and whether the perpetrators were linked to Saudi Arabia. He told reporters before boarding the plane to return to the U.S. that he would "look at it" when he returned. Families of 9/11 victims have been calling for the declassification of other?records relating to?the events. New York legislators from both parties have asked the Trump administration to release some phone records. This is one of our best chances to get this information out," U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis told ABC News in a recent interview. "I think that hopefully, we'll be seeing this level of transparency from the current administration." New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani released to the public 170,000 pages of documents related to air quality, health concerns, and the city's response to recent attacks.
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Trump says US can stay in Iran to keep oil like Venezuela deal
Donald Trump suggested on Sunday that the United States might "keep" oil in Iran, drawing a parallel with the U.S. effort to seize a fifth Venezuela's vast reserves of oil. He said that on a trip to Ireland to attend meetings and watch golf he still "expected" the Iran War to end this coming year. This could be just before the midterm elections in the United States due in November. Trump said that gasoline prices would drop "like a rock" when the Iran War ended. Oil traders expect prices to increase again on Monday following an attack on Saudi oil pipeline. Trump stated that he will only do the "right deal", and not one that is "no good". He also said that Iran "constantly" calls for peace talks, a claim that Tehran has rejected in the past. The president did introduce another option, however: "stay engaged with Iran." He made a comparison with the August deal announced by the United States in Venezuela. Trump added that "we'll eventually get out" of Iran unless we decide to stay in the country and keep the oil, like Venezuela. The revenue from Venezuela "paid for the war many times."
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Saudi shares drop after drone attacks target key oil pipeline
Saudi Arabian stocks fell in the early trading on Sunday as a result of 'the market's reaction to drone attacks' on the Kingdom's East-West crude oil pipeline. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index fell?1.0%. This was due to a 0.8% decline in Al Rajhi Bank, and a 2.4% drop in Saudi Arabian Mining Company. Saudi Aramco, the oil giant, fell 1.1%. Rabigh Refining and Petrochemical Company plummeted 7.3% and was the worst performer of this session. The sale 'followed an emergency shutdown of the East West pipeline on Thursday after aerial strikes 'hit installations in the Riyadh region and Medina, causing multiple injuries. Riyadh as well as?Baghdad both traced the attack back to Iraqi territory where Iran-backed militias are active, leading the Iraqi Government to dismiss a senior military leader on Saturday. Saudi Arabia did not immediately retaliate militarily after an appeal from Iraq's Prime Minister, but Riyadh defended its right to protect its sovereignty and vital infrastructure. The U.S. president Donald Trump blamed Iran on Saturday for the attacks on the conduit. This is the primary alternative that the Kingdom uses to avoid the Strait of Hormuz. According to the International Energy Agency, previous attacks on Saudi energy facilities had reduced crude production by 2.3 million barrels per day to a low of 6 millions bpd for three decades. Qatar's benchmark Index, which is a measure of the petrochemical industry, rose 0.2%, bucking the regional trend. The Financial Times reported that Gulf foreign ministers will meet with their Iranian counterparts in an effort to reach an interim agreement on traffic management through the Strait of Hormuz.
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Authorities say it could take several months to identify the victims of the Philippine ferry fire.
On Sunday, authorities in the Philippines warned that it may take several weeks or months to identify victims of a ferry fire in which 76 people died. As forensic experts collect and compare DNA samples taken from the charred remains, investigators are determining what caused the worst maritime disaster in recent history in the Philippines. Richard Allan Mangalip, a forensic expert with the Philippine National Police said that some remains were clustered in certain areas of the vessel. Others were spread out across the ship. The vessel was carrying over 130 people, and it was nearing its destination at the time of the fire. The ferry headed southwest from Manila, to Coron in the province of Palawan, a journey that usually takes around 20 hours. Mangalip, at a recent press conference, said that "most of them are already charred." He added that authorities could not give a timeline for identification due to the large number of specimens which must be examined. It could take a few weeks or even longer. This assessment was made a day after the rescuers found 41 more remains on the ferry. The death toll now stands at 76, and 13 people are still missing. Officials stated that more remains may still be discovered because investigators haven't yet thoroughly searched the flooded sections of vessel. On Friday, firefighters entered the ferry after putting out the blaze a day and a half after it started. The Coast Guard released images showing the extent of the damage inside the ship, including rows of bed frames that were twisted and covered with ash by intense heat. Investigators have not yet determined where the fire began and are still working to gain access to key areas of the vessel including the flooded lower decks, the engine room and other sections where evidence may help determine the cause. According to a statement by the Maritime Industry Authority based on survivor 'accounts', two explosions could be heard within the vessel just before the fire started. A representative from shipowner Atienza inter-Island ferry said at the same press conference that the 'company is cooperating fully with the investigators and will continue to assist affected families. The fire is just the latest in a series of maritime accidents that have killed people in the Philippines. This archipelago has more than 7,600 island, and millions of people rely on small boats and ferries to travel.
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The PM's Office says that one person has died and more than 30 people are missing after a Vanuatu Ferry sinks.
In a statement, the office of Prime Minister Jotham napat said that at least one person had been confirmed dead on Sunday and that more than 30 others were still missing after a boat sank off Vanuatu. The statement on Facebook stated that search and rescue operations are continuing in the Pacific Island Nation located approximately 1,750 km (1.090 miles east of Australia) after the MV Matui, with its crew and passengers, went down. It added that 15 of them were alive. RNZ, the New Zealand public broadcaster, reported that search efforts had begun since Friday's inter-island boat sank due to bad weather between the islands of Ambae & Santo. The Napat office stated that the search in open waters was being lowered, while efforts were shifted?towards a search of?the south east coast where currents could have carried survivors. The statement stated that "this loss appears to have been caused by strong winds, failure to heed marine warnings and possible negligence such as overloading the vessel." We pray for the?strength of those who survived and their recovery. Please know that we are with the families of the missing and the ones who have died in this time. Matai Seremaiah is the representative for the Luganville region in Vanuatu’s parliament. He said that rescue efforts began after a crew member of the MV Matui swam to shore and raised the alarm. Seremaiah told RNZ that he alerted them to the fact that the ship had capsized. They went on a search. Vanuatu 'police, Vanuatu Maritime Safety Authority, and the ferry operator, Tui Shipping Agency did not respond immediately to requests for comments.
Everyone wants energy security after the Iran War, but how? Russell
The Iran war is likely to be the catalyst for nations that import energy to reduce their dependency on fossil fuels. These countries must find a way to do this that is both cost-effective and politically acceptable, while not creating new vulnerabilities. It is not an easy task. This debate is usually framed along 'left- and rightwing political faultlines. Progressives say that the conflict highlights the need for a faster transition to electric vehicles and renewable energy sources, while conservatives claim it highlights the need for more fossil fuel production outside of the Middle East. The U.S. and Israel launched the Iran war on February 28. This has effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz was once used to transport close to 20% of global crude oil, refined products and LNG. The markets still price in a reopening, but risks surrounding the movement of fuel and crude from the Gulf are shifting. Iran will likely end up having some control over vessel movements. The Iran war is now the second major crisis for fuel-importing countries in the last four years. The 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia caused crude oil, fuel, LNG, and thermal coal prices to spike worldwide amid fears that Russian exports would be restricted. It is clear that the status quo cannot continue. The question now is, how can energy security be achieved? Australia, the world's largest diesel importer, is a prime case study of the dilemma fuel importers face. The country should either reopen its oil refinery, decades after closing most of its plants? Or accelerate its electrification in order to reduce its dependence on imported fuels. The answer to this question is complex, and it offers some important lessons.
REFINERY IDEA Australia imports about 80% its liquid fuel. The eight refineries that operated at the beginning of the millennium have now been reduced to two, each with a processing capacity of less than 100,000 barrels per days (bpd). According to Kpler, the country will import 861,000 barrels per day (bpd) of light and medium distillates by 2025. Diesel is expected to account for 60% of this, according data. Australia's government announced a pre-feasibility report for a new refinery, citing the threat of continued supply disruptions. It would be the first refinery built in 60 years if it were to be constructed. The plan is to build an oil refinery in Western Australia that will supply the mining and agriculture sectors. According to Kpler, the state is five times larger than France, but only has 3 million people. It imports 200,000 bpd light and middle distillates.
Perdaman is a fertilizer and urea manufacturer that has proposed the new refinery. The company describes it as "a game changer for Australian fuel safety." It may be true, but who would pay for it? A modern and economically viable refinery must have a capacity of at least 300,000. The refinery would have to be sufficiently complex to convert crude oil into light and middle distillates as residual fuels are not in high demand. The cost of a similar plant in Ghana, estimated at $12 billion, would be higher in Australia due to the higher costs for labour and land.
A new refinery would also require crude offloading, product export capabilities and storage tanks that could hold 90 days worth of crude imports for strategic reserves. It is possible to build a refinery of this size, but the question is if the cost is worth the return, since the refinery does not provide fuel security. The refinery would shift the reliance away from imported products and towards imported crude.
Would it be better instead to encourage mining companies to electrify? Fortescue Metals Group has done just that. According to Australia's third largest iron ore mining company, the move is already paying off. Renew Economy, a clean energy website, shows that Fortescue has benefited from its adoption of electric mining vehicles and renewable power generation by A$1.2 billion (840 million dollars) per year. Electricity is not only beneficial to farmers and miners. Australian consumers have also shifted to electric and hybrid cars. According to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries, sales of EVs and plug-in hybrids, as well as so-called "mild", which are equipped with a small electric motor and battery, but cannot run solely on electricity, accounted for nearly half of all'sales in July. The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries reported that sales of EVs increased by more than three times in July compared to the same period a year ago. Plug-in hybrids also grew 157%, and'mild' hybrids jumped up 206%. This suggests consumers are reacting to concerns about fuel security. The Australian government may benefit in some way from both hybrid and conventional fuels. A new refinery would be a good investment, even though it is expensive. It will protect Australia from the current refined fuel crisis. A hybrid plan would reduce the political costs of the transition and give the country more time to speed up electrification in areas where it is economically feasible.
This strategy acknowledges that fossil fuels will likely be part of the mix for energy for at least another two decades while working to reduce dependence on them.
There are already signs that the process of learning this lesson is underway.
Vietnam, for example, is adopting policies that will boost domestic production and sales, as well as electric scooters. This is a significant shift, given that motorbikes remain the most popular mode of personal transport in this Southeast Asian nation with 102 million residents.
Thailand, meanwhile, is offering a subsidy up to 100,000 Baht ($3,020), as the country is building a rapid public charging infrastructure. Energy security is a national issue, but there are some common themes. Diversification of energy sources and consumption will be key.
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(source: Reuters)