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Poland eliminates drones that violated its airspace
Poland shot down drones Wednesday that were in its airspace when Russia attacked Ukraine. This was the first time an NATO member fired in the war. The following are details about the events that occurred overnight, the actions taken by Poland, and the reaction of its allies. WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT? Donald Tusk, the Prime Minister of Poland, told the parliament that the country, which is both a member state of the European Union as well as NATO, had received its first alert regarding the Russian attack in Ukraine at 0600 GMT on the same day. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, said that Russia had launched over 40 missiles and 415 drones in 15 Ukrainian regions. Ukraine's air force has reported that it shot down 386 drones, and 27 out of 43 missiles. According to Tusk, the first violation of Polish Airspace occurred around 2130 GMT Tuesday and the last violation took place around 0430 GMT Wednesday. Western officials confirmed that F-16s from Poland, F-35s from the Netherlands, Italian AWACS surveillance aircraft, and mid-air refuelling planes took part in an overnight operation to respond to the violations of airspace. Zelenskiy stated that at least eight Russian drones were aimed at Poland. At least two of them entered Polish territory through Belarus. Poland reported that it had detected several airspace violations over the course of the night, many of which originated from Belarus. It confirmed that three drones were shot down and said that it was probable a fourth one had also been destroyed. It said that the last drone was destroyed at 0445 GMT. What happened after the event? Polish authorities started searching for drone debris. They urged the public to report any sightings and to stay away from unidentified objects. Seven drones, as well as parts of a rocket, were discovered in the eastern part of the country. The interior ministry reported that a drone was discovered near Mniszkow, in the province of Lodz, 240 kilometers (149 miles), west of the border between Belarus. Within 48 hours, President Karol Nwrocki will convene a National Security Council. Poland requested NATO to begin consultations in accordance with Article 4 of their treaty. This article states that the members of the Western Military Alliance will consult each other whenever they believe the territorial integrity, political independence, or security of one of them are threatened. Polish officials were unable immediately to confirm whether the drones targeted the capital Warsaw or a logistics hub for western Ukraine in southeast Poland, as well as any NATO infrastructure. How have Poland's allies responded? NATO's top military leader, U.S. Air Force Gen. Alexus Grynkewich said that NATO is in constant contact with Poland and its allies. Officials in Europe described the drone invasion as deliberate and escalated. Kaja Kallas said that early indications suggest the drones intentionally entered European airspace. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, called for more sanctions against Russia. (Reporting and editing by Timothy Heritage; Pawel Florkiewicz, Marek Strzelecki, Anna Koper)
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Robotaxi service launched by May Mobility and Lyft in Atlanta
The first public deployment of the partnership will be launched by ride-hailing app Lyft, and the autonomous vehicle startup, May Mobility, in Atlanta on Wednesday. Customers can hail Toyota Sienna vans retrofitted with May Mobility's May Mobility app on routes around Midtown Atlanta for fares that are comparable to normal rides. Companies will begin with a small fleet and have trained operators in the vehicles to answer any questions or take over if necessary. The rollout highlights Lyft’s efforts to integrate autonomous rides into its app via partners, including Baidu in Europe, and Mobileye. This is even as robotaxi companies race to clear regulatory obstacles and prove that they can operate at scale safely and profitably. "We will start with a few cars and then move to dozens and eventually hundreds of thousands," Jeremy Bird said, Lyft’s executive vice-president of driver experience. Bird and May Mobility CEO Edwin Olson did not give a timeline. Olson stated that the vehicles are equipped with a redundant drive by wire system, and a 360 degree sensor suite which combines lidar and radar. The service will integrate into Lyft’s hybrid marketplace and allow riders to select an autonomous trip or conventional ride. May Mobility will manage the Atlanta pilot, not Flexdrive's fleet operations backbone. Lyft held an AV Drivers Forum in Atlanta last month to inform drivers about the rollout. Both companies have said that they are working with state and local officials. (Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed) (Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Sahal Muhammed)
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Uber to offer helicopter and seaplane ride on Joby app by 2026
Joby Aviation, a maker of air taxis, announced on Wednesday it plans to add Blade's helicopters and seaplanes to the Uber App as early as next year. Joby purchased Blade Air Mobility's passenger service in August for $125 million and plans to launch its electric air taxi service worldwide in the future. Electric vertical takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL), or electric aircraft, is a new technology that air taxi firms are racing to commercialize to meet the demand for more efficient and sustainable urban transportation. These firms, backed by major airlines and defence contractors, aim to reduce congestion in cities that are already crowded by offering short-haul flight between airports and urban centres. In June, U.S. president Donald Trump told regulators that they should speed up the certification processes to accelerate the development of eVTOLs. Joby announced that, upon certification, its electric air taxi service would be launched in Dubai, New York City, Los Angeles and the United Kingdom. Blade, a company that flew over 50,000 passengers by 2024, has routes throughout the New York Metropolitan Area and Southern Europe. These include high-traffic destinations like Newark Liberty International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport as well as Manhattan and the Hamptons. Joby began working for Uber in 2019. He then bought the flying taxi division of the company, Elevate. A year later, he purchased it. The electric air taxi can carry up to four passengers, a pilot and be much quieter than traditional helicopters. It is capable of speeds up to 200mph. (Reporting and editing by AnshumanTripathy in Bengaluru)
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Maguire: Europe's wind production closely tracked as solar peaks passes
Wind turbines will overtake solar panels in Europe as the primary driver of growth for clean electricity by 2025. This is because the Northern Hemisphere's summer ends, bringing less sunshine but more wind at the turbine level. Due to prolonged wind droughts in Europe, wind generation has been well below average this year. This has led to an unusual drop in the total amount of clean electricity produced in Europe. Data from think tank Ember show that the total European wind-powered energy supply from January to August was down by 6% compared to 2024. Meanwhile, clean electricity overall supplies were down by 2%. The forecast of European wind power production is however positive. LSEG models predict a dramatic increase in regional wind energy output during the second half September. If these higher wind production levels are maintained through the winter, historically a period of high wind output in Europe, Europe's clean electricity output this year could reach a new record. Seasonal Peaks and Troughs Solar-powered electricity production has risen by over 20% in the last year, reaching all-time-highs. Ember data shows that solar electricity production in Europe reached successive record highs this year in May and in June, as capacity was increased across the continent. Solar farms have reached their peak production levels for the year. Production in both July and August has decreased from the previous month due to cloudier skies and reduced daylight. The clean energy advocates are fortunate that electricity production from wind farms increases steadily following the summer, as cooler weather is welcomed by the changing seasons. Even with the huge swings from summer to winter in solar and winds production, Europe's clean electricity production remains relatively stable. The low wind generation in the first half of 2025 raised concern that the output of wind farms would be stunted throughout the year and could have a negative impact on clean energy growth. WIND'S LEVELING According to DNV, the average wind speed in continental and northern Europe for the first half 2025 was 4% to 8 % below averages over the past few decades. These below-average winds speeds were particularly evident in the first four months of 2025 when Europe's wind power electricity supply was consistently lower than the previous year. Ember data show that the average wind electricity production from January to April was around 10 Terawatt Hours (TWh), or 16% less than in 2024. Germany and the United Kingdom are Europe's two largest wind energy producers. Germany's average wind power output from January to April was 30% lower than the previous year, while the UK output averaged 20% less. On the Rise? Wind forecasters closely monitor wind output forecasts in the autumn and winter months, because any wind production below par will require regional utilities to increase their use of fossil fuels as a source of power and heat. The latest forecast models indicate that a significant increase in wind power generation is expected to occur over the next few weeks. LSEG data indicates that the collective wind generation in continental Europe is expected to increase from 40,000 MWh - 60,000 MWh a day, so far this month, to approximately 60,000 MWh - 110,000 MWh a day by the second half. Forecasts for the longer term also indicate a sharply higher level of supply than recent levels. In Germany, the wind power output was around 10,700MWh per day during August. This is expected to increase to 15,200MWh by September, to nearly 19,000MWh each day in October and to over 24,000MWh daily in December. In August, the UK averaged around 5,100MWh per day. This is expected to rise to around 7,500MWh by September, and 8,500MWh by October. By December, it will be around 10,500MWh. LSEG data show that if these forecasts are accurate, output levels in Germany would be approximately on par with long-term norms and in the UK they would be about 10% higher than the average long-term level. These output forecasts will also be sufficient to ensure that Europe’s total supply of clean electricity reaches new heights in 2025 despite the dip in early-year wind production. If wind farms do not perform as expected in the next few months, this will lead to a reduction in clean electricity and a likely increase in fossil fuel production by utilities, especially during peak demand for power and heating seasons. These are the opinions of a columnist who writes for. You like this article? Check it out Open Interest The new global financial commentary source (ROI) is your go-to for all the latest news and information. ROI provides data-driven, thought-provoking analysis on everything from soybeans to swap rates. The markets are changing faster than ever. ROI can help you keep up. Follow ROI on You can find us on LinkedIn.
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Quotes-Western leaders denounce Russia for drones infiltrating Polish airspace
Poland shot down drones Wednesday that had entered its airspace, marking the first time an NATO member has fired shots in Russia's conflict in Ukraine. Some of the top politicians and officials have reacted to this situation. POLISH PREMIER MINISTER DONALD TUSK "We're dealing with a massive provocation... We're ready to resist such provocations." No one doubts the seriousness of the situation, or that we need to prepare for different scenarios. The fact that these drones posed a threat to security were shot down has changed the political climate. This is the closest that we've been to an open war since World War Two. RUSSIA'S RIA NEWS AGENCY CITES ANDREY ORDASH AS A RUSSIAN CHARGE d'AFFAIRES IN POLAND. We find the allegations to be unfounded. "No evidence has been provided that these drones were of Russian origin." KAJA KALLAS - EUROPEAN UNION HEAD OF REPRESENTATION FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRES AND SECURITY POLITICS "Russia's War is not ending, it is escalating." We must increase the price on Moscow, support Ukraine and invest in Europe’s defence." "The EU has a significant role to play and we support initiatives such as the Eastern Border Shield defense line." FRENCH PREMIER EMMANUEL MACON "The incursion by Russian drones in the Polish airspace, during an attack conducted by Russia against Ukraine, is simply unacceptable." It is a crime that I condemn in the strongest possible terms. "I call on Russia, to stop this reckless escalation." "I reiterate our complete solidarity to the Polish people and government. Mark Rutte, Secretary General of NATO, and I will be speaking soon. "We will not compromise the security of our Allies." BRITISH PREMIER MINISTER KEIR S STARMER The barbaric attack by Russian drones on Ukraine this morning and the violation of NATO and Polish airspace is deeply worrying. This was a reckless act by Russia, which only served to remind us about President Putin's disregard for peace and the constant bombardment of innocent Ukrainians. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY "It's clear that Russian aggression is a threat to every independent nation of our region. Only a coordinated and joint action can ensure reliable security." It is a precedent that several European countries have used combat aircraft simultaneously to destroy Russian weapons, and save human lives. "Europeans are stronger together." "Europeans are stronger together." U.S. AIR COMMANDER GENERAL ALEXUS GRYNKEWICH, NATO SUPREME ALLIED COMMANDER - EUROPE "Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, and Allied Command Operations" are in constant contact and coordination regarding the drones which entered Polish airspace. NATO reacted quickly and decisively, demonstrating its capability and resolve in defending Allied territory. (Reporting from Alan Charlish, Mathias de Rozario, Andrew Gray, Sabine Siebold, and Kate Holton, in London, and Juliia Dysa, in Kyiv. Compiled and edited by Timothy Heritage)
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Starmer, UK: Russia's violation against Polish airspace is 'extremely reckless
The British Prime Minister Keir starmer expressed his deep concern on Wednesday about the Russian drones violating NATO and Polish airspace during an air strike on Ukraine. He called it an "extremely irresponsible" move on Moscow's part. Starmer, in a press release, said that the barbaric attack this morning on Ukraine as well as the unprecedented and egregious violation of NATO and Polish airspace by Russian drones was deeply disturbing. Starmer stated that "this was an extremely reckless action by Russia, and it only serves to remind (Russian President) Vladimir Putin's blatant disrespect for peace," adding that on Wednesday he had spoken to his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk to express British solidarity with Poland. A Russian diplomat was quoted by the Russian state news agency RIA as saying that Poland had not provided any proof that the drones which were shot down in Poland came from Russia. John Healey of the British Defence Ministry, who hosted a meeting in London of the E5 grouping, which includes Britain, Poland France, Germany, and Italy, denounced Russia's actions at the beginning of the meeting. Healey stated, "We will discuss what additional assistance we can provide Poland this morning."
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Quotes-Western leaders denounce Russia for drones infiltrating Polish airspace
Poland shot down drones Wednesday that had entered its airspace, marking the first time an NATO member has fired shots in Russia's conflict in Ukraine. Some reactions from politicians to the current situation. POLISH PREMIER MINISTER DONALD TUSK "We're dealing with a massive provocation...We are prepared to repel such provocations." No one doubts the seriousness of the situation, or that we need to prepare for different scenarios. The fact that these drones posed a threat to security were shot down has changed the political climate. This is the closest that we've been to an open war since World War Two. RUSSIA'S RIA NEWS AGENCY MENTIONED ANDREY ORDASH AS THE RUSSIAN CHARGE d'AFFAIRES IN POLAND. We find the allegations to be unfounded. "No evidence has been provided that these drones were of Russian origin." KAJA KALLAS - EUROPEAN UNION HEAD OF REPRESENTATION FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRES AND SECURITY POLITICS "Russia's War is not ending, it's escalating." We must increase the price on Moscow, support Ukraine and invest in Europe’s defence. "The EU has a significant role to play and we will be supporting initiatives such as the Eastern Border Shield defense line." FRENCH PREMIER EMMANUEL MACON "The incursion by Russian drones in the Polish airspace, during an attack conducted by Russia against Ukraine, is simply unacceptable." It is a crime that I condemn in the strongest possible terms. "I call on Russia to stop this reckless escalation." "I reiterate our complete solidarity to the Polish people and government. Mark Rutte, Secretary General of NATO, and I will be speaking soon. "We will not compromise the security of our Allies." Reporting by Alan Charlish, Mathias de Rozario and Andrew Gray from Warsaw to Paris and Brussels. Compiled by Timothy Heritage. Edited by Peter Graff.
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US warns that hidden radios could be embedded in solar-powered infrastructure
U.S. officials have said that solar-powered highway infrastructure, including chargers, weather stations at roadside, and traffic cameras, should be scanned to detect rogue devices, such as hidden radios, secreted within batteries and inverters. The Federal Highway Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation issued the advisory late last month amid an escalating campaign by government officials to address the use of Chinese technology on America's transport infrastructure. The four-page note on security, which was reviewed, stated that undocumented radios were found "in certain power inverters manufactured by foreign manufacturers and BMS," meaning battery management systems. The note was not reported before and did not mention where the products that contained undocumented equipment were imported from. However, many inverters in China are manufactured. U.S. officials are increasingly concerned that devices and electronic systems used to manage rechargeable batteries could be laced with rogue communication components, which would allow them be remotely manipulated on Beijing's instructions. Reports in May indicated that American officials were concerned when experts discovered rogue communications devices in certain Chinese inverters or batteries. In the same month, Green Power Denmark reported that unaccounted for electronic components were found in imported equipment used by Denmark's energy network. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency forwarded questions to the Department of Transportation. In a statement, the Department of Transportation said that the advisory summarizes public and non-classified reporting in order to ensure agencies implement practical mitigation measures for transportation operators. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency was contacted for further questions. In a press release, the Chinese Embassy in Washington stated that it was against "the distortion and smear" of China's accomplishments in the energy infrastructure field. Federal Highway Administration's warning in its advisory cited federal- and state-level reports about "undocumented cell radios" that were found inside inverters or batteries, and that national assessments had determined they could pose a danger. In an advisory dated August 20, the device was used to power various highway infrastructure in the United States, including signs and traffic cameras. It also included weather stations and solar-powered visitor centers and warehouses. It cited risks such as simultaneous outages and data theft. The alert recommended that authorities inventoried inverters throughout the U.S. Highway System, used spectrum analysis to scan devices for any unexpected communications, disabled or removed any undocumented Radios, and ensured their networks were segmented properly. Washington also expressed concern over the presence on U.S. roads of Chinese cars, fearing that Chinese companies may collect sensitive data when testing autonomous vehicles there. As part of its crackdown on Chinese vehicle hardware and software, the Commerce Department published rules in January that effectively ban nearly all Chinese vehicles from the U.S. marketplace by the end of 2026. (Reporting Jana Winter. Raphael Satter, David Shepardson and Chris Sanders contributed additional reporting; Stephen Coates and Chris Sanders edited the story.
IGU report: World gas demand set to reach record levels in 2025
The 2025 Global Gas Report, released by the International Gas Union and Italian gas pipeline firm Snam on Wednesday, shows that global natural gas demand will continue to grow by 1.7% by 2025, after reaching a record in 2024. This is because consumers are using more gas for transportation, industry and power generation.
The report predicted that global gas demand in 2025 would increase by 71 billion cubic metres to 4,193 bcm. This is after a rise of 78 bcm or 1.9% to a record high 4,122 bcm. The report stated that the lower growth forecast in 2025 than in 2024 was mainly due to a slightly slower growth of demand in Asia in 2025.
The record demand for 2024 is approximately 11.3 billion cubic meters per day (399.3 billion cubic feet per day).
The report revealed that the growth of global gas demand in the first half 2025 will be mainly in Europe and North America. These regions are expected to grow by 6.1% and 1.5 % respectively.
The report notes that the rapid growth of artificial intelligence data centers in the United States, which is expected to account for 1.7% of global electricity consumption in 2025 and 1.5% in 2024, makes it difficult to predict future energy demand.
The report states that the LNG trade expanded this year. This was boosted by the sharp increase in European imports. These increased by 12 bcm (23,6%) compared to 2024's first half. They were mainly imported to meet the regional demand for storage and injection, as well as to meet the needs of the region. The global LNG trade reached a record of 555 bcm by 2024.
Reports showed that the global energy demand was likely to increase over the next decade. This would be especially true in China and India, where a surge in power consumption is expected. Reporting by Scott DiSavino, New York; editing by Lisa Shumaker
(source: Reuters)