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Reactions to the death of Liverpool player Jota
Here are some quotes and reactions to the death on Thursday of Diogo, a 28-year-old Liverpool and Portugal striker who died in a car accident near Zamora (northwestern Spain): LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB Diogo Jota's tragic death has devastated the Liverpool Football Club. The club has been informed that the 28-year old died in a traffic accident with his brother Andre, while they were both on holiday in Spain. Liverpool FC has no further comments to make at this time. They ask that the privacy of Diogo's and Andre’s family, their friends, teammates, and club staff be respected while they attempt to cope with such a tragic loss. We will continue to offer them our full support. PORTUGAL PRIME MINISTER LUIS MONTENEGRO The news of Diogo's death, a Portuguese athlete who had done much to honour Portugal, and that of his brother was unexpected and tragic. My deepest condolences go out to their families. "It is a sad and tragic day for football, and for national and global sports." PORTUGUESE FOOTBALL FEDERATION The Portuguese Football Federation, and the entire Portuguese Football Community are devastated by Diogo Jota's and Andre Silva's deaths in Spain today. "Diogo Jota, not only was a great player who had almost 50 caps in the national team but was also an exceptional person respected by his teammates and rivals. He was contagious and a point of reference in his community. We have lost two champions. They are irreparable losses to Portuguese football. We will do all we can to honor their memory. Former Liverpool player JAMIE CARRAGHER Diogo Jota and his brother Andre received devastating news this morning. "Our thoughts are with his family and friends, particularly his wife Rute and their three beautiful kids." PORTUGAL AND AL-HILAL MIDFIELDER RUBEN NEVES They say we only lose people if we forget them. "I will never forget you." FC PORTO "FC Porto has been in mourning." "It's with deep sorrow and shock that we express our condolences to Diogo Jota's family and friends, as well as his brother Andre Silva who was also a member of our youth team. Rest in peace. SPORTING CP "The world football is poorer." Sporting CP is saddened by the deaths of Portuguese international Diogojota and Andre Silva. "Our deepest sympathies go out to all the family during this difficult time." Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru Editing and Alexandra Hudson by Christian Radnedge
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The French air traffic controllers walkout disrupts travel in the early summer season
French air traffic controllers started a two-day walkout on Thursday in protest of staff shortages, and outdated equipment. This led to hundreds cancellations as summer is just getting underway. France's civil Aviation Agency DGAC has told airlines to re-evaluate their schedules. This includes at Paris' Roissy de Gaulle Airport - one Europe's most busy hubs – forcing carriers to cancel flights. Air France, France’s largest airline, announced that it had adjusted its flight schedule without providing details. However, it maintained its entire long-haul schedule. British Airways, owned by IAG, was using larger aircraft in order to minimize disruption. Ryanair announced that it was forced to cancel over 30,000 flights on Thursday and Friday. Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair, said: "Once more European families are being held hostage by French air traffic controllers on strike." It is unfair to EU families and passengers on holiday. Easyjet has announced that it will cancel 274 flights on Thursday and Friday. The strike coincided the beginning of summer vacations in Europe, which is one of the busiest periods for travel. UNSA-ICNA is France's second largest union of air traffic controllers. Its members are striking because they feel understaffed, have outdated equipment, and suffer from a toxic management environment. USAC-CGT said that the DGAC failed to understand the frustration of controllers. UNSA-ICNA stated in a press release that "the DGAC fails to modernise tools that are vital to air traffic control, even though they continue to promise that the necessary resources will be made available." The agency added that "the systems are on the verge of failure, and it is asking for more staff to compensate its problems." The DGAC didn't immediately respond to a comment request on the concerns of the unions. The complaints are similar to those of air traffic controllers from the United States who have complained about outdated infrastructure, staffing shortages and obsolete technology. The French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot deemed the union's demands unacceptable. On Friday, the DGAC requested that airlines reduce one out of four flights into and out of Paris and nearly half of all flights leaving the capital. The south was particularly hard-hit. The agency warned that "despite these preventative measures", disruptions and significant delays can be expected in all French airports. It urged passengers to switch flights if possible. Luxair Luxembourg Airlines has warned that additional delays and schedules changes may occur across other destinations due to air traffic rerouting. O'Leary, Ryanair's CEO, urged the European Commission (the executive arm of the European Union) to reform EU air-traffic control services in order to provide adequate staffing during peak times and to protect overflights, those flights that fly over a region or country without landing, when there are national strikes. Reporting by Makini Brrice, Richard Lough, and Sudip Kar Gupta from Paris, Sarah Young from London, Mark Potter for editing.
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Diogo Jota, the Portuguese footballer of Liverpool, dies in a car accident in Spain
The Portuguese Football Federation announced on Thursday that Diogo Jota of Liverpool, a 28-year-old forward, died with his brother in a car accident near Zamora, in northwest Spain. On its website, the regional fire department in Castile and Leon (where Zamora is situated) reported that a car had crashed on Thursday morning, just after midnight. It burst into flames and two men aged 28 and 26 were found dead. "We've lost two champions." The deaths of these two players are irreparable for Portuguese football. We will do all we can to honor their legacy each day. The Spanish police said they couldn't confirm names yet, but all signs pointed towards Jota and brother. A spokesperson for the police said that the Lamborghini in which they were traveling veered off of the road. They said that the bodies had been transported to a nearby forensics facility in Zamora, where autopsies would be performed. Jota, who married on June 28th, helped Liverpool win Premier League and FA Cup last season. The Merseyside team also won League Cup and FA Cup. Jota joined Anfield in 2020 from Wolverhampton Wanderers and scored 65 goals across 182 matches in all competitions. He played 49 times for Portugal and won the UEFA Nations League twice. (Reporting and editing by Alexandra Hudson, Charlie Devereux; writing by Inti Pinedo and Emma Pinedo)
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Reactions to the death of Liverpool player Jota
Here are some quotes and reactions to the death on Thursday of Diogo, a 28-year-old Liverpool and Portugal striker who died in a car accident near Zamora (northwestern Spain): PORTUGAL PRIME MINISTER LUIS MONTENEGRO The news of Diogo's death, an athlete who has done much to honour Portugal, and that of his brother, is tragic and unexpected. My deepest condolences go out to their families. "It is a sad and tragic day for football, and for national and global sports." PORTUGUESE FOOTBALL FEDERATION The Portuguese Football Federation, and the entire Portuguese Football Community are devastated by Diogo's death and Andre Silva's death in Spain today. "Diogo Jota, not only was a great player who had almost 50 caps in the national team but was also an exceptional person respected by his teammates and rivals. He was contagious and a point of reference in his community. We have lost two champions. They are irreparable losses to Portuguese football. We will do all we can every day to honor their legacy. FC PORTO "FC Porto has been in mourning." "It's with deep sadness and shock that we express our condolences to Diogo Jota's family and friends, as well as his brother Andre Silva who was a member of our youth team. Rest in peace. Reporting by Aadi Nai in Bengaluru, Editing by Christian Radnedge
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The PMIs show growth in the Gulf's major bourses
Investors awaited the U.S. jobs report to get clues as to how soon the Federal Reserve will lower borrowing rates. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index of stocks rose by 0.4%. Most sectors, including finance, materials, and energy, were in the black. Saudi Aramco, the oil giant and Saudi National Bank's largest lender, added 0.6%. Saudi Basic Industries, which is the best performing company in the index, increased by 1.3% and Fawaz Abdulaziz Al Hokair & Company climbed 7%. A survey released on Thursday showed that the expansion of Saudi Arabia's private non-oil sector activity increased in June due to a strong client demand as well as a spike in hiring. The Riyad Bank Saudi Arabia Purchasing Managers' Index, which is adjusted for season, rose from 55.8 in May to 57.2 this month. This puts it above the 50 point line that indicates growth. The Abu Dhabi benchmark Index rose by 0.2%. This was boosted by the 4% gain of Presight AI, and a 3.2% increase in Space42. Dubai's benchmark index rose 0.6% on the back of gains in the real estate, utilities, and industrial sectors. Emaar Properties rose by 1.5%, while tolls operator Salik grew by 1.7%. A survey on Thursday showed that the UAE's private non-oil sector grew steadily during June, even though regional tensions affected demand and firms increased output to clear backlogs. Qatar Gas Transport added 0.5% to the benchmark index while Qatar Islamic Bank lost 0.7%. Market attention will now turn to an important U.S. employment report that is due later today. This could justify imminent Federal Reserve rate cuts. Futures indicate a 25% chance of a Fed rate cut in this month. The decisions of the U.S. central bank have an impact on the monetary policies in the Gulf region, since most currencies are pegged to U.S. dollars. (Reporting and editing by Md. Manzer Hussain)
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As the US eases restrictions on China exports, chip design software companies are growing.
Stocks of Synopsys, Cadence Design Systems and Cadence Design Systems soared Thursday in premarket trading after the United States Export restrictions lifted On chip design software to China. This signals a thawing of trade tensions between two of the world's largest economies. Both companies, as well as Siemens of Germany, announced that they would resume access to their EDA tools for Chinese clients. Siemens gained 1.3% on Frankfurt's stock exchange, while Synopsys rose 5.9% in the U.S. and Cadence gained 5.4%. According to a report published by the state-run Xinhua News Agency in April, these three companies control more than 70% China's EDA Market. EDA software is essential for designing semiconductors in smartphones, cars and other computing devices. The U.S. Commerce Department has also withdrawn a requirement for licensing on ethane exported to China that was imposed in the beginning of this year. These two measures were part a series tit for tat of trade restrictions that President Donald Trump's Administration initiated following China's suspension in April of rare earth exports.
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The French air traffic controllers strike disrupts travel in the early summer season
French air traffic control began a strike of two days on Thursday, demanding better working conditions. This will disrupt air travel during the start of summer. The French civil aviation agency DGAC asked airlines to reduce flights into and out of France, including at Paris Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport, one of Europe’s busiest airports, due to the industrial action. Air France, France’s largest airline, said that, while it did not provide any details, it had adjusted its flight schedule. However, it maintained long-haul routes. Ryanair announced that it was forced to cancel over 30,000 flights on Thursday and Friday. The Irish airline stated that the strike would also affect French overflights. UNSA-ICNA is France's second biggest union of air traffic controllers. Its members are striking because they feel understaffed, have outdated equipment, and have a toxic culture. The union stated that "the DGAC fails to modernise tools that are vital to air traffic control, despite its continued promises that it will provide all resources necessary." The agency added that "the systems are on the verge of failure, and it is asking for more staff to compensate its problems." Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot deemed the unions' demands as unacceptable. On Friday, the DGAC requested that airlines reduce one out of four flights into and out of Paris and nearly half of all flights leaving the capital. The south was particularly hard-hit. The agency warned that "despite these preventative measures", disruptions and significant delays can be expected in all French airports. It urged passengers to switch flights if possible. Luxair Luxembourg Airlines has warned that additional delays and schedules changes could occur across other destinations as rerouting of air traffic and capacity constraints can have knock-on effects on the entire network. Reporting by Makini Lough and Richard Lough. Mark Potter edited the article.
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AirAsia is in talks with Airbus to convert some Airbus aircraft orders into long-range jets, according to sources
AirAsia, a budget airline in Asia, is negotiating with Airbus about converting some narrow-body orders into the long-range A321XLR as it seeks to exit its restructuring process. Tony Fernandes is the CEO of AirAsia's owner Capital A Group. He said last month that he had been in discussions to purchase 50 to 70 Airbus models within the next one to three months. However, he indicated the first priority of the group was to complete its financial reorganisation. Sources said that a deal could be reached as soon as this week, when Malaysian Premier Anwar Ibrahim travels to Paris. Separately, a source stated that a deal wasn't guaranteed. AirAsia, based in Malaysia, is Asia's biggest low-cost carrier and Airbus's largest customer. It has more than 350 aircraft on order. After a financial slump following COVID-19, it has steadily restructured its order book. They said that such a deal wouldn't necessarily increase AirAsia’s total outstanding orders with Airbus, but it would support the longest-range narrow body jet model in the industry. The talks for a possible large order of smaller A220 aircraft have been put on hold for the time being, they said. Fernandes has stated that Airbus's long-range aircraft are a key part of his vision to expand AirAsia globally. Fernandes stated this week that he is looking for a hub within the Gulf region. AirAsia has been in contact with four potential locations, including Saudi Arabia and Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates. Bloomberg News reported on Thursday that AirAsia may place orders for narrow body jets during Prime Minister's visit, but that the deal is not guaranteed. Airbus and AirAsia didn't immediately respond to comments. (Reporting and editing by Kim Coghill, Jacqueline Wong, Lisa Barrington)
Boeing and Justice Department ask judge to approve deal opposed by families of crash victims
Boeing and the Justice Department asked a U.S. Judge on Wednesday to approve an agreement allowing the company to avoid prosecution, despite objections by some of the relatives of 346 people who died in two 737 MAX crash in 2018 and 2019.
Boeing can avoid being branded a convicted criminal and escape from oversight by an independent monitor for a period of three years. This was part a deal reached in 2024, which included a plea agreement to a criminal charge of fraud that it had misled U.S. regulatory authorities about a critical flight control system installed on its most popular jet the 737 MAX.
Boeing claimed that the executive branch alone has the authority to decide whether or not to prosecute.
Boeing stated that an agreement to not prosecute does not need court approval because it is at the discretion of the government to do so. Boeing asked a judge not to accept objections from the families, but to grant the government’s motion to dismiss charges.
"Disputing government's calculated assessment of litigation risks, the calculation for the maximum fine or the appropriate mechanism to oversee compliance, does not demonstrate, even remotely, that the government had clear considerations against the public interest."
In a court filing, the Justice Department stated that it acted in good conscience and in accordance to the law. It agreed to dismiss the case in exchange for an agreement which "secures a significant penalty, compliance improvements and a substantial compensation fund for victims."
The families cited Judge Reed O'Connor's 2023 statement that "Boeing's crimes may be properly considered as the deadliest corporate crimes in U.S. history."
They claim that the dismissal of Boeing is not in its best interest, and that any obligations Boeing has been given are not legally enforceable.
Families said that if O'Connor did not appoint a Special Prosecutor if the government refused to proceed with the prosecution, even if the court rejected it, then the prosecution would be dropped.
Boeing and Justice Department asked O'Connor both to reject the appointment of a special prosecutor.
Boeing agreed to pay $444.5 millions into a fund for crash victims, which will be distributed evenly amongst each crash victim. This is in addition to a $243.6-million fine.
Boeing will plead guilty in July 2024 to a criminal conspiracy charge of fraud after the two fatal 737 MAX crash in Indonesia and Ethiopia.
Boeing has agreed to pay a total of $1.1 billion, which includes the fine, compensation for families, and $455 million in order to improve the company's safety, compliance and quality programs.
The Justice Department reported that the vast majority of families had settled their civil cases with Boeing, and they have collectively been "paid several hundred million dollars." (Reporting and editing by David Shepardson)
(source: Reuters)