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Gazprom is blamed by the president of Moldova for the energy crisis
The President Maia Sandu accused Gazprom on Thursday of creating an energy crisis in Moldova. She said the Russian energy giant refused to supply gas via an alternative route, if fuel stopped flowing through Ukraine by the end of the year. Since Kyiv announced that it would not renew its contract with Gazprom at the end of December, Moldova's 2.5 million residents have been preparing themselves for prolonged power outages. Russia provides Moldova with around 2 billion cubic meters of gas each year via Ukraine. This is piped to the breakaway region of Transdniestria which uses the gas to generate cheap power, which it sells to government-controlled Moldova. "The problem is simply that Gazprom refuses to fulfill the contractual terms, and supply gas through another route." Sandu, Moldova’s pro-Western President, said at a press conference that the route and volumes were available. "To call them by their proper names, they have an opportunity to create an Energy Crisis in Moldova. "This is yet another lesson to us: don't have a single source of energy that can blackmail us at every turn," Sandu said. She said that the government of Transdniestria, a small former Soviet Republic trying to join the European Union was looking at how it could supply natural gas to Transdniestria, and encouraging the country to pay for the cost. Transdniestria, the government of Moldova and Chisinau have agreed that in 2022 all Russian gas received in Moldova will flow to the breakaway region which does not traditionally pay for fuel. The unrecognised, separatist enclave is home to a power plant which provides most of the power for government-controlled areas of Moldova at a fixed and low price. The power plant may stop working without gas, and Moldova and Transdniestria could face blackouts lasting hours. This is the same situation that Ukraine has been experiencing for the past two years because of constant Russian missile strikes. Sandu said that her government will propose "a variant" on how Transdniestria would receive gas if Gazprom stops deliveries of gas from January 1. Chisinau said that a possible alternative route for Moldova would be to ship Russian natural gas via TurkStream to Turkey, and then through Bulgaria or Romania. How to Pay Both Moldova and Transdniestria declared states of emergencies due to the possibility of gas supply disruptions. Sandu stated that the main issue was payment for fuel to be provided to Transdniestria. He added: "The left-bank of the Dniester region will have to pay the gas that Moldova supplies to the Transdniestria region." She added, "The question now is how will the left bank be able pay for the gas." Transdniestria used to be an industrial region of Moldova prior to the collapse of Soviet Union in 1991. After the split, both the region and its population were left impoverished and deprived of market opportunities, and they were cut off from Russia, which was a supporter. (Writing and editing by Alexander Smith; Pavel Polityuk)
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Turkish carrier Pegasus orders 100 Boeing 737 MAX 10 jets
Boeing said on Thursday Turkish lowcost provider Pegasus Airlines had placed a company order for a hundred 737 MAX 10 aircraft, providing a welcome increase for the U.S. planemaker recovering from a debilitating employee strike previously this year. The deal deserves some $5.85 billion after common industry discount rates, according to estimated delivery prices from UK-based Cirium Ascend. Boeing shares rose 2.7% in early morning trading. The Pegasus order takes the total orders for the largest design in the 737 MAX family above 1,200 jets, Boeing stated in a. statement. The design, nevertheless, is yet to be accredited by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Problems connected to the. engine anti-ice system have postponed certification of limit 10. and limit 7, the tiniest design in the MAX family. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2028, Pegasus said. Planemakers get a bulk of the money when the jet is provided to. a client. The planemaker anticipates to burn cash next year after a. seven-week strike stopped most jet production, including its. cash-cow 737 MAX. Pegasus, which has seen a quick recovery in travel after the. pandemic, told Reuters earlier this year it was dealing with a jet. order to continue its fast-paced development into the next decade. The airline likewise has a choice to purchase 100 more MAX 10. aircraft, which it will assess converting into firm orders in. the coming years, based upon market conditions and fleet requirements.
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American Airlines settles race discrimination lawsuit by Black men removed from flight
American Airlines has actually agreed to settle a race discrimination claim by 3 Black males who were momentarily eliminated from a flight at the insistence of white flight attendants, according to a court filing on Thursday. The terms of the contract were not disclosed, but attorneys for the males stated the settlement consists of a dedication by American to take action to avoid discrimination in the future. The plaintiffs had actually declared that they and five other Black guys were gotten rid of from a New York-bound flight out of Phoenix, Arizona, in January for about an hour after white flight attendants complained about a guest with offending body smell, in a lawsuit filed in Brooklyn federal court in May. None of the males purchased off the aircraft had a smell, the plaintiffs stated in the lawsuit. They called the incident distressing, disturbing, frightening, humiliating, and degrading. The guys accused the airline of breaking a Civil War-era law prohibiting race discrimination in contracts. American Airlines did not right away respond to a demand for comment. When the claim was submitted, the airline stated it takes discrimination claims seriously and was examining the matter. Legal representatives for the three males who took legal action against stated American had fired the flight attendants involved in the incident and expressed a. commitment to delivering a favorable experience to clients who. pick to fly with the business. In 2017, the NAACP advised Black tourists not to fly. American, citing what it stated were a series of racially-based. incidents. The civil rights company withdrew its advisory. the following year after the airline company accepted update its. policies and train employees on implicit predisposition.
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Argentina's YPF indications agreement with Shell to establish Argentina LNG task
Argentina's staterun oil business YPF and oil major Shell signed an agreement to develop the country's flagship melted natural gas (LNG) project, the companies stated on Thursday. The multi-stage $50 billion Argentina LNG project aims to export the gas to significant international markets. The agreement, which was signed in the Netherlands, brings the Dutch oil giant on for the very first stage of the task, which aims to produce 10 million metric lots of LNG per year. We are proud that Shell, a world leader in LNG production, is joining the project, YPF President Horacio Marin said in a. statement. As a leader in the LNG market, Shell's understanding and. experience will contribute in assisting to position Argentina. as a reputable and competitive international energy supplier. The statement said that the arrangement suggests Malaysian state. oil business Petronas' participation in the task had ended. It. included that Petronas and YPF would continue establishing the La . Amarga Chica location in Vaca Muerta, the second biggest. unconventional gas reserve in the world and the fourth largest. oil reserve. Shell said in a different declaration that the LNG task is. aligned with Shell's plans to continue growing its LNG. organization. Argentina LNG will likewise draw out gas from Vaca Muerta and. transport it through dedicated gas pipelines to the seaside. province of Rio Negro. The very first phase of the project will utilize. LNG vessels while future phases imagine the construction of. onshore LNG centers.
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Germany's DET says Wilhelmshaven to provide LNG capacity in May
Deutsche Energy Terminal ( DET) stated on Thursday that Germany's Wilhelmshaven liquefied gas terminal means to market capability for ships to discharge LNG in May 2025, adding that there would be restricted slots available in the very first quarter there and at another place. DET has actually been commissioned by Berlin considering that the height of Europe's energy crisis in 2022 to market regasification of gas volumes arriving on LNG tankers, as well as related storage and gas deliveries to inland transport grids. Germany's LNG terminals have actually assisted calm markets by offering proof that gas supplies are being stabilised and new overseas suppliers searched for westward gas exports from Russia stopped. This has assisted cut gas costs from multi-year highs. In a market notice of European operator group GIE, DET. said while it would seek to market capacity at Wilhelmshaven,. real usage in May would depend upon marketing results. DET stated on its own site that restricted capability slots. would become available in the very first three months of 2025 at the. Wilhelmshaven and Brunsbuettel terminals in a Dec. 23 auction. Shippers will need to sign up on the PRISMA capacity. auction site, it stated. DET on Monday stated a time out at Wilhelmshaven between Jan. 5 and April 1, adding that preparation might alter short-term. Operators of LNG infrastructure have actually been preparing plans. for land-based terminals to change floating storage and. regasification units
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FAA banning drone flights over critical infrastructure websites in New Jersey
The Federal Aviation Administration stated on Thursday that it was temporarily disallowing drone flights over 22 crucial infrastructure places in New Jersey. The FAA stated the choice to bar drones for 1 month at the sites was made in an abundance of care at the request of federal security agencies after the firm disallowed drones over two places in New Jersey in November. The new locations throughout the state consist of Jersey City, Elizabeth, Edison, South Brunswick, Camden, Metuchen and Bridgewater. A craze of issue about drones in New Jersey and surrounding states has actually triggered a significant spike in the number of individuals in the area pointing lasers at airplanes flying overhead, which is unlawful and can be dangerous, the FAA said on Wednesday. U.S. firms have repeatedly said that the spike in drone sightings does not position national security dangers and that they appear to be mainly airplane, stars or hobbyist drones. The FAA said on Wednesday that reports are up 269% to 59 in the first half of December, compared to 8 in the exact same period last year. The FAA said it has received lots of brand-new laser reports from pilots in New Jersey, New York City and Pennsylvania airspace. The FBI in New Jersey warned individuals on Wednesday not to shoot at presumed drones or point lasers at them, cautioning that there could be unsafe and potentially deadly repercussions if manned airplane are targeted incorrectly as drones. Authorities have repeatedly said that most of the big fixed-wing sightings included manned aircraft, and came after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Monday called for more federal comment on the reported sightings. There have to do with 1 million registered drones flying about 42 million flights each year.
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Pepperell birdie blitz earns preliminary lead at Mauritius Open
England's Eddie Pepperell birdied 4 of his last 5 holes to post a 6 underpar 66 for a one stroke lead after the first round of the DP World Tour's Mauritius Open at Mont Choisy Le Golf on Thursday. Pepperell, 33, who has two previous wins on trip, both in 2018, soared the leaderboard with his birdie burst and overtook Dane Jacob Skov Olesen, who carded 3 birdies and an eagle in a bogey-free 67. After bogeying the second hole I was fretted it was going to be among those Thursdays again, Pepperell stated. However I turned it around truly nicely and played extremely well to be sincere. So I'm extremely pleased. There is a pack of six players a shot further back on four under-par, consisting of a trio of South Africans in Jacques Blaauw, Wilco Nienaber and Jayden Schaper.
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Tunisia purchases 100,000 T of soft wheat and 100,000 T of durum, traders report
European traders reported that Tunisia's grain agency purchased approximately 100,000 metric tonnes of soft wheat, and approximately 100,000 tons durum at an international auction for the same volume held on Thursday. Traders said that the soft wheat, which was 25,000 tons in size, had been purchased at a price of $255.39 per ton with cost and freight included (c&f). Viterra is also said to have sold a second 25,000-ton soft wheat shipment at $256.39 per ton. Traders said that the durum was purchased at a price of $339.49 per ton, cost and freight included, for 25,000 tonnes. The lowest price came from Viterra. The traders reported that Viterra sold another 25,000-ton consignment of durum at $340.49; Amber sold 25,000 tonnes at $340.29; and Casillo sold 25,000 tons for $340.69 per ton, c&f. Tunisia’s state grain agency bought about 100,000 tonnes of soft wheat, and another 100,000 tonnes of durum in its latest tender reported on November 27. It had sought offers for the same amount. The reports reflect the opinions of traders, and it is still possible to estimate prices and volume later. Wheat and durum, both in four 25,000 ton consignments, were sought for shipment 2025 between January 15 and February 25, depending on the origin provided. The tender on Thursday did not mention payment by agencies outside. The World Bank, as well as other organizations helping Tunisia deal with recent financial problems, have provided financing for several tenders over the past few months. (Reporting and editing by Emelia Sithole Matarise; Reporting by Michael Hogan)
Ukraine might think about Russian gas transit if Moscow not paid throughout war
Ukraine could think about continued transit of Russian gas on the condition that Moscow does not get cash for the fuel till after the war, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday.
Ukraine has previously ruled out extending a contract to transit Russian gas, by means of Ukraine, to Europe, which is due to end at the end of the year. Slovakia, one of the recipients of the gas, has actually been racing to prolong the offer.
We would not prolong the transit of Russian gas. We will not provide the possibility of extra billions to be earned on our blood, on the lives of our people, Zelenskiy informed a news conference during a European Union summit in Brussels.
However he added: If the country is ready to provide us the gas, however not to pay the money back to Russia till the end of the war, then it's a possible potentiality. We can think of it.
The European Commission has stated it is all set for the agreement to end, and all countries receiving Russian fuel through the Ukraine route have access to alternative supplies.
Zelenskiy lambasted Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who has alerted of the economic hit his country will deal with if it loses cheap gas from Russia.
To be sincere, during war, it's a bit disgraceful to talk about money, because we are losing people, Zelenskiy stated.
Zelenskiy stated he informed Fico on Thursday that Ukraine would be open to bring another country's gas through its facilities to reach Europe - but it would require guarantees that this was not merely re-labelled Russian fuel.
We have to understand that we will just transit gas if it's. not coming from Russia, Zelenskiy said.
(source: Reuters)