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Sarajevo improves air quality following ranking as most polluted city
Sarajevo authorities issued a warning on air quality and imposed a?ban on some cars and trucks after it was ranked 'as 'the?world’s most polluted cities on the previous two evenings by Swiss monitoring firm IQAir. After several days of fog, smog and fog that blanketed Sarajevo's population of 350,000, the cantonal government of Sarajevo took action to improve the quality of air. The city banned trucks over 3.5 tonnes and cars or trucks that did not meet the standards of?the European Union and construction in open areas was prohibited. The city also prohibited public gatherings. Experts say that the major sources of pollution are around 40,000 households who use primarily firewood and coal for winter heating and transportation. Anes Podic, from the?environmental organization Eko Akcija said that only 500 households received gas stoves as a result of international aid. He added that there were 180,000 registered vehicles in Sarajevo. 'TEMPERATURE INVERSION' In a valley surrounded with mountains and hills, the city has suffered for years from a phenomenon called temperature inversion, which pushes pollutants and colder air from cars and fossil fuels nearer to the ground. It can last for days when mixed with fog. According to the World Bank, Bosnia has among the highest levels in Europe of fine particulate (PM2.5) pollutants, which are caused by the burning of solid fuels for home heating, and the transport sector. Enis Krecinic is an expert from the Hydro-Meteorological Institute of Bosnia’s autonomous Bosniak-Croat Federation. He said that over 100 days of the year, PM2.5 levels were exceeded. According to?data from the World Health Organization, Bosnia has the highest mortality rate in the world due to?air pollution. According to the World Bank, PM2.5 air pollution is responsible for 3,300 premature deaths each year and a loss of more than 8% in GDP. Aida Forto is a lung specialist who said that long-term air pollution exposure, especially fine particulates, can cause lung cancer. This is especially dangerous for pregnant women and children as well as the elderly.
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Airbus A320s subject to inspections by regulators following a fuselage defect
The European Safety Authorities issued preliminary instructions to airlines on Wednesday, requiring them to inspect the fuselage panels of dozens of A320 family jets. This was after Airbus slowed deliveries due to a production issue at a Spanish supplier. According to a proposed directive by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, airlines are required to inspect the thicknesses of certain panels at the front of aircraft within six months. This can be done sooner if these panels have already been repaired. The inspection order covers 177 aircraft in service, plus another 451 planes that are still in various stages of production within Airbus. EASA stated that the inspections are designed to address "potentially dangerous conditions" on panels with a combination of the wrong thickness and a history previous repairs. Airbus had prepared its own technical instruction and provided airlines with a timeline for solving the problem. Sources in the industry said that some airlines were still reluctant to accept new deliveries until panels had been replaced. Others have demanded compensation or improved warranty terms. Airbus refused to comment on any commercial discussion. After the panel defect slowed deliveries in November, Airbus lowered its 2025 target for delivery by 4%. This is around 790 aircraft. According to industry sources, deliveries were 'below average' in the first half December but have increased in recent days. Airbus, which has a long history of increasing deliveries in the last days of the calendar year, refused to comment ahead of the full-year report due on January 12. (Reporting and editing by Kirsten Doovan; Tim Hepher)
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UN chief Guterres urges maximum restraint in Yemen after separatist advance
The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged all parties in Yemen on Wednesday to exercise maximum restraint following an advance by southern separatists, which risks rekindling the 10-year-old Civil War?after a long lull. He said that the operating conditions in areas controlled by the Iran-aligned Houthi movements - Yemen's capital Sanaa, and the densely populated north - had also become unsustainable. The separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC), backed by the United Arab Emirates in the past, claims to have taken control of the eastern provinces Hadhramaut?Mahra, and now has a firm grip on all provinces within the former state of?South Yemen. The STC is an important member of the coalition that fights alongside the internationally recognized government against the Houthi movement. Guterres said: "I urge everyone to show maximum restraint and de-escalate tensions. Then, we can resolve our differences through dialogue." "This includes regional stakeholder, whose positive engagement and coordination to support UN mediation efforts is essential for ensuring our collective security interests." Guterres said. Guterres has just returned from Saudi Arabia and Oman and condemned the Houthis for continuing to arbitrarily detain 59 U.N.?staff. He called for their unconditional and immediate release. "In recent weeks, Houthi authorities de facto referred three of my colleagues to a special criminal court. This referral should be revoked. The charges were brought 'in connection with their performance of official duties at the United Nations. He said that these charges should be dropped. The United Nations has consistently rejected Houthi allegations that U.N. personnel or U.N. operations were involved in spying. Guterres stated that "we must be allowed to do our work without interference." "Despite the challenges, we are committed to providing lifesaving support to millions in Yemen." He said that nearly two thirds of Yemen's population, or 19.5 million people, need humanitarian aid.
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Data shows that the largest port in Venezuela is where tankers depart with Venezuelan oil products.
According to internal documents and ship tracking data from PDVSA, at least 'two' tankers containing Venezuelan methanol - and petroleum -coke - left the OPEC nation's largest port on Wednesday. Since the United States first imposed sanctions against Venezuela in 2019, it has not targeted oil byproducts and petrochemicals exports. Since the United States first imposed energy sanctions on Venezuela in 2019, it has not targeted exports of oil byproducts or petrochemicals. After a cyberattack this week that affected PDVSA's central administrative systems, the cargoes are being shipped. (Reporting and editing by Julia Symmes Cobb; Marianna Pararaga)
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Source: Inocea Group, UK, is interested in acquiring GNYK (German warshipbuilder) from Germany
A person familiar with the matter has confirmed that Inocea Group, a British marine, defence and industrial company, is in negotiations to buy German Naval Yards Kiel. This shows the growing demand for military assets fuelled by rising geopolitical tensions. Interest in GNYK suggests a bidding war, as the CEO of Germany’s TKMS announced last week that the world’s largest non-nuclear sub manufacturer was considering a bid to acquire the company headquartered at the same port city – Kiel. Under pressure from governments, a swollen order book, and?increasing military spending?, defence companies and investors in Europe are expanding their industrial capacity. According to its website, Inocea Group's founders Alex Vicefield, James Davies and their family are the sole owners and control of this company. It has offices in London,?Monaco and other locations. Inocea's spokesperson said that the group is constantly evaluating?ways to improve its?strategic positioning in shipbuilding through organic growth and M&A. The spokesperson stated that "This approach is consistent with our recent expansion into Finland and the United States and growth of our Canadian businesses." GNYK CEO Rino brugge said the company is always open to strategic partnerships with international companies, but declined to reveal the identities of "potential suitors". GNYK is a part of the family owned CMN Naval Group, a French shipbuilder that specializes in yacht and naval construction. It employs about 400 people directly. It does not reveal its financial results. The Baltic Sea location of the shipyard places it near?NATO’s eastern flank, and major regional shipping lanes. Access to the Kiel Canal provides a logistical advantage as it links?the Baltic to the North Sea. Oliver Burkhard, TKMS' CEO, said in a statement last week that the group would decide on a GNYK acquisition as part of their?expansion drive. This already included MV Werften being acquired by TKMS in 2022. Inocea's core business is to buy, build, invest and operate companies in the maritime, defence and energy sectors. Davie Shipbuilding is owned by Inocea. (Reporting and editing by Anousha Saoui, Christoph Steitz, Tom Kaeckenhoff and Tomaszjanowski; Additional reporting by Mathieu Rosamain;
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US Postal Service invites bids from shippers and retailers for last-mile delivery
The U.S. The U.S. U.S. postmaster general David Steiner stated in an interview that he hopes Amazon.com, and other companies, will participate in the bid process to open up its 18,000 USPS destination units for "last mile" deliveries, which would allow a wider?range of clients, adding billions of dollars of much needed revenue?to USPS. "We are in a very precarious financial situation." Steiner stated that we will be out of money in 12 to 24 months. Steiner stated that it was "clear" to him that you could not save your way to prosperity. He added that USPS's current free cash, and its spending rates "we are basically out of money in early 2027." Steiner, the new postal chief who was appointed in July by the White House after it ousted 'the previous leader of USPS,' reiterated that USPS needed significant legislative and administrative reforms following a $9 billion loss reported in November. Steiner stated that the Postal Service delivers six days a weeks to over 170 million U.S. addresses. The last-mile delivery, however, is the most costly part of deliveries. Let the market decide what is a fair price, rather than us or our customers. This opens the market up to a variety of players? Steiner said. (Reporting and editing by Franklin Paul in Washington; David Shepardson, Washington)
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F1 announces the new terms of motor racing: Boost, Overtake and Charge
In 2026, Formula One fans can expect to hear a lot more about Boost and Overtake. The Liberty Media owned sport announced a re-evaluation of terminology Wednesday, to coincide with the beginning of a brand new era of engines and the largest ever revision of technical regulations. The cars will have thinner and lighter tyres, a split of 50/50 between internal combustion, sustainable fuel and electric power. In a recent statement, Formula One stated that "in this new generation of drivers the power is more in their hands than before." "Critical decisions over energy deployment, regeneration and conservancy puts them in a position of even greater responsibility. Understanding how they will use and deploy these 'new tactical elements' will be crucial in order to ensure the best appreciation of their?skill and race-craft." Formula?One has said that it wants to avoid 'gimmicks' and jargon and finalised a new list of terms after consulting with the governing FIA and teams, engineers, and fans old and new. OVERTAKE MODE is a replacement for DRS. It's a strategy that gives drivers extra power to overtake cars within a few seconds of the car in front. The mode can be activated in one shot or over several laps. BOOST MODE allows the driver to deploy energy in an attack or defense depending on where you are on the track. The engine and battery will deliver maximum power anywhere on the track at the touch of a button. ACTIVE AERO is a term that refers to movable front- and rear-wing elements, with Corner and Straight modes. Formula One claims it will allow "strategic adaptation and maximizes the full use of the car's?power through greater on track grip." RECHARGE is any chance for drivers to recharge the battery of their vehicle with "recovered power from braking or throttle lifts at the end straights, and even corners when only part-power is applied." (Reporting and editing by Christian Radnedge, Alan Baldwin)
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Sources say Venezuela's state oil company resumed cargo deliveries following cyberattack
According to sources and the state-run PDVSA, Venezuelan oil company resumed oil cargo deliveries on Wednesday at its terminals after a cyberattack affected their centralized administrative system. Sources close to the operations of PDVSA said that the company, which was dealing with the U.S. blockade on Tuesday against all sanctioned oil tankers attempting to enter or leave Venezuelan waters and approaching, had been able to isolate refineries, oilfields, ports, and other facilities to resume working. According to a source at the state-run oil company, the ransomware was detected days earlier and the antivirus software used to try and fix it affected the entire administrative system. A ransomware attack encrypts the victim's files and locks their computer, causing major disruptions. Sources said that workers at terminals now manually record deliveries in order to prevent a longer suspension. In a Wednesday statement, PDVSA stated that its tanker fleet is navigating normally and oil imports and exports are back to normal. According to one source and shipping data, PDVSA's partner in the joint venture Chevron loaded two crude cargoes for the U.S. on Wednesday. It's unclear how U.S. president Donald Trump will enforce his blockade of sanctioned vessels and if he will use the U.S. Coast Guard for interdiction. Last week, the U.S. seized a Supertanker near Venezuela. The Trump administration has sent thousands of troops as well as nearly a dozen ships to the area. Venezuela's response to Trump's "grotesque threats" was made in a later statement on Tuesday evening, claiming that he violated international law, the free trade and the right to free navigation. According to a statement shared by Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez who is also Venezuelan oil minister, the ambassador of Venezuela to the United Nations would?denounce Trump’s threat there. Exports are drying up since the U.S. took over the large crude carrier Skipper, last week. Only tankers chartered by Chevron, and operating under U.S. authorization have sailed without delay. A supertanker that was not sanctioned set sail in "dark mode" or with its signal off this week, after waiting days for it to depart, carrying 1.8 millions barrels of heavy oil, according to an internal PDVSA document and monitoring data. The PDVSA is still stuck with more than 9 million barrels of Venezuelan crude oil in Venezuelan waters. Customers and shippers are demanding price discounts and contract modifications from the company. According to the data available on the TankerTrackers.com website, at least half a dozen oil tankers have turned back since last week in order to avoid approaching the Caribbean Sea which is heavily patrolled and manned by U.S. vessels. In addition, the rising tensions between Venezuela and the United States have affected Venezuela's imports heavy naphtha needed to dilute it extra-heavy crude oil production. The data shows that most tankers delivering Russian naphtha to Venezuela arrived and discharging since last month. However, some have returned. The data showed that most tankers carrying Russian naphtha for Venezuela have arrived and discharged since last month, but others have turned back.
US Postal Service seeks new revenue streams to stave off cash crunch in 2027
The U.S. The U.S.
U.S. Postmaster-General David Steiner said he hoped Amazon.com would participate in the process of seeking bids for 18,000 USPS Delivery Destination Units that will allow "last mile" deliveries to customers from a wider range.
Steiner, in his first interview after taking over the USPS leadership, said that this could add billions in revenue.
The Postal Service delivers more than 170 millions U.S. addresses every week, and the last mile is the most expensive. Steiner added that it is also very expensive for FedEx, UPS, and Amazon.
"We have a precarious cash situation." He said that we would be out of money in 12 to 24 months.
Steiner stated that the USPS free cash and spending rate would leave them "basically out of money" by early 2027.
Steiner, the new USPS leader who was appointed in July by the White House after it ousted the previous postal chief, said that the USPS needed significant legislative and administrative reforms following a $9 billion annual loss reported in November.
Steiner stated that one of the priorities is to convince Congress to remove the $15 billion borrowing cap it imposed many years ago.
Government Accountability Office reported on Wednesday that USPS has suffered net losses of $118 billion in the last seven years, as its first-class mail – its most profitable product – has dropped to its lowest volume ever. Congress approved legislation in 2022 that would provide USPS with financial relief of about $57 billion.
Postal service does not have a 'luxury of time'
Amazon did not comment immediately on Wednesday but said earlier in the month that it was in talks with USPS regarding its future relationship. It is also considering its options prior to its current contract expiring in October. However, Amazon expressed concern about the auction after nearly a full year of negotiation.
We are in the process of negotiating to extend this contract. Steiner told the group that they would be going out on the market to test the market.
There's one thing that I'm absolutely sure of: If we keep doing things the same way, we'll be dead in a year. I've got to test the market to see if this price is fair.
USPS currently sells?about 1,7 billion units from its last mile distribution. However, it has the capacity to deliver 3.5 to 4, billion. It generates $5.5 to $6 billion annually from these deliveries. USPS has received significant interest from many companies.
We had to act quickly and in a dramatic way. Steiner stated that we do not have the luxury of a lot of time.
He said that the fate of USPS and Amazon are linked and added that Americans receive Amazon packages from the Postal Service 1,7 billion times per year.
There is no doubt in my mind that the U.S. Amazon would not be where it is today without the U.S. Steiner stated that they wanted to continue the relationship at a fair cost. (Reporting and editing by Franklin Paul, Alexander Smith and David Shepardson from Washington)
(source: Reuters)