Latest News
-
US airline CEOs call on Congress to resolve the standoff and pay airport security personnel
Chief executive officers from major U.S. Airlines urged Congress to act quickly on Sunday to end the?29-day partial shutdown of the government that has forced 50,000 airport?security?officers to work without being paid, warning this could further disrupt U.S. airline travel. Travel at major airports has been disrupted by the absence of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers in the past week. This is alarming as spring break travel continues. In an open letter sent to Congress, the CEOs of American Airlines and United Airlines, as well as those from Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Alaska Air, Delta Air Lines and other airlines, wrote that "too many travelers have to wait in painfully long lines at checkpoints." First, the leaders must immediately reach an agreement on funding for Homeland Security. They added that they needed to take action so the problem would never happen again. A 43-day shutdown of the government in fall 2017 caused widespread flight disruptions. The FAA then ordered 10% flight cuts at major airports. "Once again, air travel is the political ball amid another government shut down," wrote the CEOs. The group of airline executives, which includes senior executives from cargo carriers such as FedEx, UPS, and Atlas Air, called for legislation that would ensure critical government aviation staff are paid during future shutdowns. Both parties of the Senate failed to reach an agreement on funding the TSA last Thursday, despite the fact that the TSA reported last week the resignation of more than 300 officers since the shutdown began. Homeland Security Department funding expired on February 13, after Congress failed in its efforts to reach an agreement on immigration enforcement reforms requested by Democrats. "We're going to make it through this." Sean Duffy, U.S. Transport Secretary, said on Fox News Channel "Sunday Morning Futures" that he believes Democrats will come to their senses. Duffy hopes that Democrats will not wait for Americans to be hurt or killed before putting your security before those who have entered the country illegally. The airlines are anticipating a record spring travel period. 171 million passengers will fly during this period, an increase of 4% over the same two-month period in last year. Some airports, like Houston Hobby, New Orleans, and Newark, reported security lines that exceeded two hours last week as TSA absences increased. On Saturday, Newark announced it was experiencing longer than normal delays. The CEOs wrote: "Americans in your districts and home states are tired of the long lines, travel delays and cancellations that result from a'shutdown after shutdown. Airports are closing security checkpoints, and raising money to pay TSA employees for food and other necessities while they work without pay. Reporting by David Shepardson, Additional reporting in New York by Gertrude Chavez Dreyfuss; Editing and Jamie Freed by Diane Craft and Jamie Freed
-
Iraq claims Kurdish authorities refuse to allow it to send oil through their pipeline
The Iraqi 'oil ministry' said that the Kurdistan Regional Government?refused it to use a pipeline for an alternative route for crude shipments disrupted by?the Iran _conflict. It accused authorities in Kurdistan of placing irrelevant conditions. Senior Kurdish officials told authorities that they would welcome the Iraqi government using the pipeline. However, Baghdad must first lift its "dollar embargo", which he called on the region. "We want to make a deal." "We want to help Iraq, and bring relief? to the markets. But this embargo has got to end first," said the official. Sources told The Daily Mail on 8 March that oil production in Iraq's southern oilfields has fallen 70%, to just 1.3 million barrels per day, as the Iran conflict has effectively closed off the Strait of Hormuz. Iraq's Oil Ministry sent a letter to the Kurdistan Regional Government in early March asking for permission to pump 100,000 barrels of crude oil per day from the Kirkuk oilfields to Turkey's Ceyhan Energy Hub through the Kurdistan Pipeline Network, according to two oil officials last week. The Kurdish official stated that they were pressing to end what he said was a ban on the region’s banks being able to access dollars for importing goods through its borders and airports. Kurdish officials claim that tensions have increased with Baghdad after the federal government implemented a new electronic system to monitor imports and revenue. The KRG views this as a move undermining their autonomy and control over trade. Iraq's Oil Ministry said that the?Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Natural Resources had "set up a number conditions unrelated to crude oil exports." Reporting by Muhammad Al Gebaly; Editing by Andrew Heavens
-
After a terminal attack, an Indian vessel leaves Fujairah in the UAE
India's Government said that an Indian flagged vessel, loaded with 80.800 metric tonnes of Murban oil from the United Arab Emirates, left Fujairah on Sunday. This was a day after sources reported that'some loading operations were suspended' at the UAE port. Sources said that oil loading operations in the UAE's Fujairah, a major hub for bunkering and crude export, have resumed following a Saturday drone attack and fire. However, it is unclear whether the operations are back to normal. India's Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas stated that the vessel, Jag Laadki was loading oil at Single Point Mooring when Fujairah Terminal was attacked. The statement stated that the vessel and all Indians on board were safe. Fujairah is outside the Strait of Hormuz and the "outlet" for UAE Murban crude oil. This volume is equal to 1% of global demand. Since the United States, Israel and other countries began a bombing on Iran in February, Tehran has stopped traffic through the Strait. The strait runs past its coast. Around 20% of the world's oil and seaborne natural gas are supplied through it. A spokesperson for the Indian foreign ministry said that India has sought safe passage to 22 of its vessels, which are stranded in the Strait of Hormuz west of Iran. This comes after Iran granted a few Indian ships a rare exception to their blockade. Two Indian flagged LPG carriers carrying 92,712 tons of LPG each, Shivalik Nanda De, and headed to India, both crossed the Strait of Hormuz Saturday. The ships are expected to arrive in Mundra, India on March 16, and Kandla, India on March 17. (Reporting and editing by Aide Lewis in Mumbai, Vibhuti sharma)
-
US airline CEOs call on Congress to resolve the standoff and pay airport security personnel
The CEOs from major U.S. Airlines urged Congress to act quickly on Sunday to end the 29-day partial shutdown of the government that has forced 50,000 security officers at airports to work without being paid, warning it could disrupt U.S. air travel. Travel disruptions at major airports due to the absence of Transportation Security Administration? officers have been occurring for the past week. This is alarming, as spring break travel continues. In an open letter addressed to Congress, the CEOs of American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airlines, Alaska Air, and other airlines wrote: "Too many travellers are waiting in extremely long and painfully slow lines at checkpoints." First, they should come together to agree on funding the Department of Homeland Security. They added that they needed to take action so this problem would never happen again. A 43-day shutdown of the government caused widespread flight disruptions last fall. The FAA then ordered a 10% cut in flights at major airports. "Once more, air travel is the political football amid another government shut down," wrote CEOs. The group of airline executives, which includes senior executives from FedEx, UPS, and Atlas Air, called for legislation that would ensure critical government aviation staff are paid during future shutdowns. Both parties of senators failed to succeed in their competing attempts on Thursday to fund the TSA. The TSA reported last week that over 300 officers had quit since the shutdown started. Homeland Security Department funding expired on February 13, after Congress failed in its efforts to reach an agreement on the immigration enforcement reforms that Democrats demanded. The airlines are anticipating a record spring travel period. 171 million passengers will fly during this period, an increase of 4% over the same period last year. Some airports, like Houston Hobby,?New Orleans, and Newark, reported that security lines were longer than two hours last week as TSA absences increased. On Saturday, Newark also said it experienced higher-than-normal delay. The CEOs wrote: "Americans in your districts and states are tired of the?long queues at airports?, travel delays?and flight cancellations? caused by shutdowns after shutdowns? Some airports have closed security checkpoints, while others are raising money to pay TSA workers for food and other necessities. (Reporting and editing by Jamie Freed; David Shepardson)
-
Trump asks allies to secure Strait of Hormuz, as Iran promises to increase retaliation
Iran has threatened to escalate tensions across the Middle East in retaliation for American airstrikes against its energy hub and the?U.S. Donald Trump called on friendly nations to send warships into the Strait of Hormuz to secure it, as there was no sign of a 'war' ending Sunday. The U.S. and its allies are facing high energy prices due to the fact that Iran can stop shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which is a major channel for shipping oil and gas. "Countries that receive oil through the Hormuz Strait are responsible for that passage and we will assist a lot!" Trump posted a message on social media Saturday. "The U.S. also will coordinate with these Countries to ensure that everything runs smoothly and quickly." Both sides seemed to be preparing for a prolonged conflict as the conflict entered its third week. Three sources with knowledge of the situation said that Trump's administration has rebuffed Middle Eastern allies who wanted to begin diplomatic negotiations aimed towards ending the conflict. Iran has also shown a?defiance', refusing to accept any possible ceasefire until U.S. airstrikes and Israeli strikes are over. Iranian forces continue to strike. The U.S. urged U.S. citizens to leave Iraq following a missile strike on the U.S. embassy in Baghdad on Friday night. According to reports by governments and state-run media, since Israel and the United States started air attacks against Iran on February 28, more than 2,000 have died, mainly in Iran. The semi-official Fars News Agency reported on Saturday that at least 15 people were killed in an airstrike against a factory producing refrigerators and heaters in Isfahan. Iran called for civilians to evacuate UAE ports, docks and "American hiding places", saying that U.S. forces were targeting Iran from these areas. The UAE has denied that the attacks on Iran's Kharg Island overnight Friday came from its territory. Iran's Islamic?Revolutionary Guard Corps called any facility associated with the United States as a "legitimate" target and urged all U.S. companies to leave the region. The oil market disruptions are unlikely to stop anytime soon. Sources in industry and commerce said that some oil-loading activities were suspended after a drone strike in Fujairah, the UAE's emirate of Fujairah, which is a global ship-refueling center. Civil defence forces were still battling a fire that was caused by falling debris as late Saturday night. 'BOMBING the HELL OUT of the SHORELINE' Trump spent his weekend in Florida at his Mar-a-Lago Resort, where he maintained a low-profile on Saturday while posting to his Truth Social account. In one of his posts, Trump expressed the hope that China, France and Japan would send warships to the Strait of Hormuz. No one from these countries has indicated that they will do so. French officials announced on Friday that their government is pushing forward with efforts to form a coalition for the Strait of Hormuz after the security situation has stabilized. British Ministry of Defence spokesperson stated on Saturday that "we are currently discussing a range of possible options with our partners and allies to ensure the safety of shipping in the area." The Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khmenei who succeeded his father has stated that the Strait of Hormuz must remain closed. Separately Abbas Araqchi, the Iranian Foreign Minister, dismissed the speculation of U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth claiming Khamenei had been wounded and was likely disfigured. "There is nothing wrong with the new Supreme Leader. Araqchi said to?MS Now that he sent his message yesterday and will fulfill his duties. Khamenei did not appear in public on Thursday, but instead issued a statement read by a TV presenter. Iran downplayed the extent of damage to?Kharg Island. The U.S. claimed that it targeted military targets, and not energy-related ones, on the island. It is located about 24 km (15 miles) off the coast of Iran in the Gulf. U.S. Central Command reported that it had hit more than 90 sites in Kharg including missile storage bunkers, naval mine storage, and other military targets. Araqchi stated that Iran will respond to "any attack" on its energy infrastructure. Iran's Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday that 9 ballistic missiles and 33 drones had been launched by Iran toward the UAE. Iran has warned residents in Dubai to avoid areas near the ports of Jebel Ali and Khalifa in Abu Dhabi, and Fujairah in the UAE. It also said that it is targeting U.S. bank branches in the Gulf. Fujairah is the UAE's Murban crude-oil exporter. It receives about 1 million barrels of oil per day, which is about 1% of global demand.
-
Why is the port of Fujairah important to the oil industry?
After a Saturday drone attack and fire, some oil-loading activities have been suspended at the United Arab Emirates’?Fujairah Port, a global hub for refuelling vessels?aswell as crude fuel and exports. Why Does FUJAIRAH Matter Globally? According to Kpler, Fujairah exported a total of 1.7 million barrels of crude oil per day and refined fuels in average during the past year. This volume is equivalent to 1.7% of world daily demand. Fujairah is situated on the Gulf of Oman and is approximately 70 nautical mile from the Strait of Hormuz which is currently closed because of the Iran conflict. This increases the importance of Fujairah to the global market. In 2025, it will sell 7.4 million cubic metres (roughly 7.33 million tons) of marine diesel fuels, ranking fourth in the world behind Singapore, Rotterdam, and China's Zhoushan. Why is it important to the UAE? The UAE operates a pipeline capable of transporting 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. The Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline, also known as Habshan-Fujairah Pipeline transports oil from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah. The UAE crude grade Murban is loaded at the port and sold mainly to Asian buyers. Fujairah, OPEC's largest?crude producer, would be forced to cut production if there were significant disruptions in Hormuz. Why is it important to the Crude and Fuel Markets? The port has an 18 million cubic metre storage capacity, making it a top hub in the world for storing fuels and crude oil as well as for blending operations. Blending is the process by which different petroleum components are mixed to produce finished products, such as gasoline and bunker fuels, that meet specific standards. VTTI Vitol ADNOC Vopak and other global storage companies are present at the port. Fujairah Oil Industry Zone has the largest commercial storage capacity in the Middle East for refined products.
-
India is seeking passage for other vessels that are stranded in the Strait of Hormuz area after a few have sailed through
A spokesperson for the Indian Foreign Affairs Ministry said that India had'sought safe passage' for 22 of its vessels, which were stranded in the Strait of Hormuz west of Iran. This was after Iran permitted a few Indian ships, as a rare exception, to sail through. Randhir Jaiswal said at a press briefing that India had stayed in contact with all the major players in the Middle East, including Iran, the U.S., and Israel, to communicate its priorities. Mohammad Fathali, Tehran's ambassador to India, confirmed Iran had allowed certain Indian vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. He was speaking at the India Today conclave, New Delhi. Since the United States launched an air campaign against Iran, Tehran has stopped traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which runs along its coast. Around 20% of the world's oil and liquefied gas are transported through this strait. India has experienced its worst gas shortage in decades as a result of the blockade. The government cut supplies to industries and households to protect them from any shortages. Rajesh Kumar Sinha, the special secretary of the Indian shipping ministry, said that the stranded vessels include four crude oil ships, six liquefied?gas carriers, and one liquefied?natural gas vessel. Sinha stated that two Indian vessels chartered by the Indian Oil Corp., Shivalik, and Nanda Devi, had safely navigated the strait. They would be reaching the western Indian port of Mundra, and Kandla, on March 16 and 17. He said that the vessels carry together more than 92,000 metric tons of liquefied gas. Jaiswal stated that India was also working to achieve consensus among BRICS countries on a 'position' regarding the Middle East - conflict. India is the current?chairman of the BRICS countries, which originally consisted of Brazil, Russia India China and South Africa. The group has now expanded to include Iran. (Reporting and editing by Toby Chopra, Emelia Sithole Matarise and Shivangi Acharya)
-
The Paris Mayoral race tests the support for green transformation
Marion Soulet cycles to Paris City Hall on a road that was once clogged with cars. It is now a bikeway, a symbol for the French capital’s urban green transformation. This transformation will be tested in Sunday’s mayoral elections. Soulet is pleased that leftist Mayor Anne Hidalgo has built about 1,000 km of cycle lanes over the past decade. She says this means that nearly half of Parisians ride their bicycles at least once per week. Soulet told a reporter after stopping her bike on the Rue de Rivoli that the more the city changes to accommodate cycling, the more it increases. People like it because is easy, cheap, and quick. Hidalgo, and her predecessors who were leftists in City Hall for a decade, have been working to turn Paris into a "15 minute-city" with bike lanes and more trees. The ecological legacy will be tested in the Sunday election. Hidalgo is not running, and his right-wing opponents are hoping to capitalize on voter fatigue due to the city's increasingly car-free status, disruptions caused by roadworks, and mounting debt. According to opinion polls, the winner is either Socialist Emmanuel Gregoire who wants a double-down on the green agenda or former conservative minister Rachida Datti who claims that the classic allure of Paris has been?disrupted. Sarah Knafo is a 32-year-old far right nationalist who has been rising in the polls. She could complicate the situation for Dati, if she makes it to the second round of voting on the 22nd March. Knafo is polling above the 10% threshold required to enter a run-off. Gregoire, 48 years old, polls at about 33%. Dati is 60 and on around 30%. Dati said, while greeting shoppers in northern Paris: "We are not fighting an ideological war on mobility issues." "We want everything to be organized." URBAN -TRANSFORMATION WINNS PRAISE, BUT ALSO FACE CRITICISM. Under Hidalgo's leadership, the city authorities sought to adapt Paris, France to the climate change, and make it more livable for 2 million of its residents within a larger metropolitan population. The City Hall has removed thousands of parking spaces on the streets and planted 130,000 new trees. The highways along the Seine River have been pedestrianised. According to data from the city hall, car traffic has dropped by more than 60% since 2002. The use of bicycles has also increased. The air pollution is better. Patrick Le Gales is an urbanist from the?Sciences-Po University in Paris. He said that there was criticism of the city's cleanliness and debt, which has increased by 42% in just two years. Pierre Chasseray of the 40 Million Motorists lobby group said that Hidalgo has built a Berlin Wall between wealthy residents in the centre of Paris, and those who rely on cars from poorer suburbs. He said: "We have a caricatured picture of the capital, with motorists on the one side and cyclists?on the opposite -- the good guys against the bad guys." Hidalgo is also facing viral social media posts that use the hashtag #saccageParis to highlight social blight – everything from chronic roadworks, to trash-strewn walkways. Gregoire attributed this to Hidalgo's "overambition". He said, "We did too much at once." "I would've chosen a different schedule, above all for reasons of quality implementation." DATI IS OUTFLANKED TO HER RIGHT? Dati is a lawyer with North African roots who has toned down her criticism of cycle lanes in order to condemn dirty streets. She released a video showing herself wearing a fluorescent jacket and joining garbage crews as they went about their work. She said, "The city has become increasingly dirty -- this is not a secret." Dati’s increasing moderate stance towards transportation issues - as well as the fact that she is facing a trial in September on corruption charges which she denies -- has created an opening for Knafo. Knafo unveiled an Artificial Intelligence-generated plan to return cars along the Seine's banks and to stage interviews while driving through Paris. Soulet thinks Knafo is appealing to "a small group of Parisians...who want to turn back the clock."
Nigeria's NNPC to provide Dangote refinery 13 unrefined cargoes in October
Nigeria's stateoil company will supply the Dangote Oil refinery a total of 13 crude freights in October to relieve pressure on local fuel supply, head of the firm's downstream operations said on Thursday.
Nigerians have been facing long fuel queues which started in July and this has actually caused a sharp boost in the pump rate of gas and higher fares for commuters.
Adedapo Segun, executive vice president of NNPC Ltd, ( Downstream) told regional tv station Emerge TV that NNPC Limited, in line with government's strategy to offer unrefined locally in naira, is supporting the Dangote Oil refinery with 7 freights in September and a further 13 freights in October.
So we are doing everything we can to ensure this situation (fuel scarcities) eases off, as soon as possible, Segun stated.
Crude supply to the Dangote Oil refinery in October will impact Nigeria's unrefined exports however help meet demand locally.
President Bola Tinubu's government last year opened gas imports to private companies by announcing an end to subsidies however foreign currency lacks and a cap on the price of petrol has suggested that NNPC remains the only importer.
This is set to continue with Dangote Oil Refinery which started processing gasoline this week.
Dangote Refinery might not right away confirm what rates they would offer to the NNPC, but the state-oil company has actually fixed 855 naira ($ 0.5411) as the pump cost in its retail outlets, a. 39% increase from the previous rate.
This has actually sustained much discontent in the nation as other. fuel outlets have actually raised their prices, some by more than 50%
As Nigerians face longer fuel lines, labour unions,. small companies and trade groups have actually opposed the new gasoline. rate.
A steep cost hike would likely activate widespread price. boosts, potentially reversing the recent easing in inflation. seen in July and resulting in another rise in inflation rates,. Chinyere Almona, head of the Lagos chamber of commerce and. industry said in a declaration.
Nigeria depends upon fuel imports because its. government-owned refineries run by the NNPC are not. functioning due to years of disregard.
Gasoline exports might fall with Dangote oil refinery. anticipated to provide 25 million litres of fuel into the. market this month.
(source: Reuters)