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The death toll from Bualoi in Vietnam has risen to 51, and banks have been told to assist affected firms
According to a government report released on Friday, the death toll from the typhoon Bualoi in Vietnam and the flooding it caused has reached 51. The central bank also urged banks to provide assistance to businesses affected by the typhoon. Bualoi hit the northern central part of Vietnam on Monday, bringing with it huge sea swells and strong winds, as well as heavy rains. The storm also caused 14 deaths and 164 injuries, according to a report by the government's agency for disaster management. The agency has also increased its estimate of the property damage caused by typhoons and their flooding from $435.8 to $15.9 trillion dong (or $603 million) in its previous report, released on Thursday. The report stated that the typhoon caused severe damage to roads, schools, and offices. It also caused power grid failures, which left tens and thousands of families without electric power. It said that more than 230,000 homes were damaged or flooded, and almost 89,000 hectares (hectares) of rice and other crops had been destroyed. The report does not mention any significant damage to industrial property. Vietnam is the regional manufacturing hub. Large factories near or in the path of Typhoon Haiyan were owned by Foxconn and Formosa Plastics. Pham Thanh Ha, deputy governor of the central bank, said that on Friday banks were told to consider freezing or restructuring loans for companies affected by the typhoon. Reporting by Khanh Vu, Editing by David Stanway.
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FAA announces buffer zones at two airports in the Washington DC area
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration announced on Thursday that it would modify helicopter routes at two airports in the Washington area. This comes months after an American Airlines plane collided near Washington with an Army Black Hawk helicopter. The FAA has confirmed that the changes will affect Washington Dulles Airport and Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport. The FAA stated that "These changes will increase separation between helicopters, airplanes, and aircraft operating in and out of airports." The FAA also said that it would be making changes to the traffic around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The FAA was criticized by lawmakers, the National Transportation Safety Board, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy because it failed to act on near-miss reports before the mid-air collision that killed 67 people on January 29, 2013. The FAA banned the Army in May from helicopter flights near the Pentagon following a close call on May 1, which forced two civilian aircraft to abort their landings. At the time of the accident, the Army Black Hawk helicopter had exceeded the maximum altitude allowed. In March, the NTSB reported that there have been 15200 incidents of air separation near Reagan Washington National Airport involving commercial aircraft and helicopters since 2021. This includes 85 close calls. The FAA announced Thursday that it has reduced the boundary of zones around Reagan and added notes on the Reagan helicopter chart to "improve clarity regarding altitude and operation instructions." In April, the FAA has imposed new restrictions in order to prevent The collisions of helicopters with passenger planes at the busy Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas have raised serious safety concerns. The FAA also examined the flow of traffic around Hollywood Burbank Airport, Van Nuys Airport and other airports in Los Angeles. These are all less than 10 miles away and have a variety of aircraft that arrive and depart at close intervals. (Reporting and editing by David Shepardson, Jasper Ward)
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Venezuela accuses US combat planes of flying near its coast
Venezuelan Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino announced on Thursday that five fighter planes were detected near Venezuela's coast. He described this as an American threat. Padrino, speaking from an airbase, said that the imperialist planes were close enough to the Venezuelan coastline to be considered a threat. The comments were broadcast on the state television. He added that the information had been provided to a control center by a carrier. Padrino said that the presence of these planes near our Caribbean Sea was a vulgarity and a provocation, as well as a threat to national security. The Pentagon didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. The government released a statement later stating that the Colombian flag carrier Avianca had reported the planes to be approximately 75 kilometers away from the Venezuelan coastline. Avianca didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. Venezuela "urges U.S. Sec. of War Peter Hegseth immediately to cease his reckless and thrill-seeking posture," which disturbs the peace in the Caribbean. Washington claims to be fighting drug trafficking by sending a fleet warships across the Caribbean. The U.S. also killed those on board several boats that it claimed were transporting drugs from Venezuela. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro claims the U.S. wants regime change but also offers to talk with U.S. Envoy Richard Grenell. Trump has downplayed suggestions of regime changes, but has accused Maduro repeatedly of leading drug trafficking network, which the Venezuelan President denies.
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US Court of appeals to review airline fee decision
On Thursday, a federal appeals court said that it would reconsider its recent ruling that the U.S. Department of Transportation was authorized to require airlines fully disclose all fees upfront when customers book flights. In a short order, the Fifth U.S. The 17 judges of the New Orleans Circuit Court of Appeals will review a decision made by a three judge panel on January 28, "en bloc". Several major airlines have challenged a rule that was issued to protect consumers in April 2024, during the Biden Administration. The rule required ticket agents and airlines to disclose "ancillary charges" like baggage fees during the booking process. Alaska Airlines, American Airlines Delta Air Lines JetBlue United Airlines and three industry groups, including Airlines for America, objected to the rules, claiming that federal law did not give the Transportation Department any power to make such rules. The rule was put on hold by the appeals court in July 2024. In a January ruling, the court ruled that the Transportation Department has the authority to create fee disclosure rules that address the "unfair or misleading practices" of airlines. The agency was criticized for not allowing airlines to comment on the study that it used to evaluate the potential impact of the new fee rule. Instead of canceling the rule, the appeals court sent the case back to the Transportation Department. The airlines stated that adopting this rule would "upend how airlines interact with customers at great cost and without any demonstrated benefit." The Transportation Department opposed the rehearing stating that the appeals court had "properly used its discretion" by remanding this rule. The lawyers of the airline did not respond immediately to comments. Airlines for America refused to comment. Requests for comment were not immediately answered by the Transportation Department or the U.S. Department of Justice. The 5th Circuit is a conservative federal appellate court. It has not announced when it will hold oral arguments. Airlines for America et al v Department of Transportation is the case. Circuit Court of Appeals No. 24-60231. Reporting by Jonathan Stempel, New York; editing by Jamie Freed
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Bloomberg News reports that Boeing 777X will be delayed until 2027.
Bloomberg News, citing sources familiar with the situation, reported Thursday that Boeing's 777X aircraft will begin commercial flights in 2027, not next year. The report cited a source as saying that Deutsche Lufthansa AG is preparing to take a step back and will not include the 777X until 2027 in its fleet plan. Boeing did not respond immediately to a comment request. When the program launched in 2013, the company had expected to deliver its first 777X aircraft in 2026. This was already six years behind schedule. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg stated last month that Boeing was behind schedule with the certification of the jet. She said a "mountain" of work needed to be completed. He said, however, no new technical issues had been discovered. Boeing announced the plane in 2013 at the Dubai Airshow.
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NTSB and FAA will investigate crashes of two Amazon drones
Two U.S. agencies announced Thursday that they would investigate the collision between two Amazon Prime Air drones and the boom of an Arizona crane in Tolleson. Both the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have said that they will both investigate the incident which occurred on Wednesday. Amazon announced in November 2024 that it would begin drone deliveries to the West Valley in Arizona's Phoenix Metro Area from its same-day location in Tolleson. It also said on Thursday that it had temporarily paused Prime Air drone operation in Arizona. Amazon's Terrence Clark, a spokesman for the company, said that the company had been made aware of the incident. "We are currently working with relevant authorities to conduct an investigation." Amazon has announced that customers living near Tolleson can buy an item weighing less than 5 pounds and have it delivered in under an hour by drone. Amazon started delivering prescription medication by drone in 2023 in College Station, Texas, in partnership with Amazon Pharmacy. The U.S. Transportation Department announced new rules in August to accelerate the deployment of drones outside the line of sight for operators. This is a crucial change to help commercial applications like package delivery. Sean Duffy, Transportation Secretary, said: "It will change the way people and goods move through our airspace... you might get an Amazon package or a Starbucks coffee by a drone." Amazon wants to deliver 500 million packages per year by drones by 2030. (Reporting and editing by David Shepardson)
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Premier: Alberta and Canada have 80% agreement on pipeline proposal
Premier Danielle Smith said on Thursday that Canada and Alberta were not far apart in terms of the terms of an agreement which would set the conditions for the construction in Alberta, in exchange for environmental commitments. on Wednesday The main oil producing province of Canada will take the lead in early planning for a new pipeline. Smith stated in an interview that "we're approximately 80% in accord on most aspects." The ball is in the court of (Canadian prime minister) Mark Carney now. The federal government didn't immediately respond to our request for comment. Smith stated that her government does not intend to build the pipeline directly from Alberta's oilsands up to the Northwest Coast of British Columbia. According to Smith, Canadian pipeline companies Enbridge and South Bow, as well as government-owned Trans Mountain, have agreed to offer advice and technical assistance to Alberta in developing its proposal. Smith is confident that if the Canadian government approves Alberta's pipeline project, a private company will step forward to build it. Greg Ebel, CEO of Enbridge, said in a speech delivered to an audience of businessmen on Thursday that Canada would have to lift its ban on oil tanks off the coasts of B.C. Before any pipeline company will commit to Alberta's proposal, it is important that they first listen to the coast. Ebel stated that "no company would build a pipe to nowhere". B.C. Premier David Eby stated on Wednesday that his province has been in support of the ban since its inception. He is adamant about the law remaining in place. South Bow and Trans Mountain are yet to comment on the proposal. Carney's government was reported to be in talks in September with Alberta and energy companies about removing a federal cap on emissions for Canada's oil & gas industry in exchange for reducing the carbon footprint of the province and industry in other ways. The federal government also made it clear that a pipeline proposal from Alberta would only be considered if the proposed Pathways project for carbon capture and storage was approved. Smith refused to reveal what additional commitments the federal Government may ask Alberta to make. Alberta's government stated that the proposed pipeline would be able to carry up 1 million barrels of oil per day. Canada reached record oil production levels in 2024, as completion of the Trans Mountain expansion pipeline boosted the ability of oil companies to deliver their product. Analysts have predicted that Trans Mountain would be full by 2027 or 2028, as Canada seeks to diversify its oil exports.
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US public power sector evaluates data center customer risks and rewards
Data centers are a major source of electricity for U.S. power utilities. Some requests exceed the energy consumption by their entire customer base, according to CEOs and investors from the non-profit sector. The data center power demands of Big Tech have created an opportunity for the long-stagnant US power industry to grow revenue and investment. But the record-breaking build-outs of energy-intensive servers warehouses come with new risks, according to market participants at the Large Public Power Council Financial Conference held in New York. Dan Sullivan, CEO of the Grand River Dam Authority in Oklahoma, said that "we're experiencing exponential growth." He said that there were about 2,000 Megawatts in demand, mainly from data centers. They wanted to connect to the roughly 2,000 Megawatt system of his utility. "They will scale as fast as they are allowed to or as quickly as their capabilities allow them." Kirk Hudson, the general manager of Chelan PUD in Washington, said that there is a demand for about 1,400 Megawatts, mostly from data centers, to be connected to their system. The utility averages around 200 Megawatts. Hudson, the Chelan PUD's spokesperson, said that there is significant hydropower surplus, but they are figuring out how to support data centres while maintaining low rates, assuring system reliability and preserving local authority. The data center market is a fast-moving one, and public power utilities that have contracts for 40 years with their municipal customers face a unique challenge in adapting. Data centers are becoming more and more prevalent. Some of them consume as much electricity as an average-sized U.S. town. This has raised concerns over power shortages or excessive construction. Public utilities can issue municipal bonds that are tax-exempt to finance infrastructure. They also explore how to structure data center agreements to avoid stranded cost - the risk associated with building capacity to serve customers who then leave. John Murphy, Director at PFM Financial Advisors, said that the demand from hyperscalers is unlike anything seen before in public power or utility markets. How these projects are funded will be the key to managing risks. OLD RULES, NEW ISSUES In general, public power groups cannot enter into long-term power contracts for data centers, which are commonly used in the power sector that is profit-driven, without compromising the tax status of the entire portfolio. This has led to public utilities issuing short-term contracts that can complicate infrastructure planning in the long term, according to industry executives. They are also seeking clarification from the U.S. Treasury on rules that govern private use contracts. Javier Fernandez is the CEO of Omaha Public Power District. He said, "These rules need to be updated." In order to protect my residential customers from price shock, I must have a contract that is long-term with these data centres. Jason Pollack is the executive director for government and institutional banks at Wells Fargo. He said that utilities also face uncertainty about costs and waiting times of equipment needed to build infrastructure. Reporting by Laila K. Kearney, New York. Editing by Ni. Williams
Hurricane Beryl strikes Jamaica as Caymans, Mexico brace for storm's effect
Hurricane Beryl surged Jamaica with heavy winds and rain on Wednesday, eliminating a minimum of a single person after forging a destructive, watersoaked course throughout smaller Caribbean islands over the previous couple days.
The death toll from the effective Category 4 hurricane climbed to at least 10, but it is commonly anticipated to increase further as interactions return online throughout soaked islands harmed by flooding and fatal winds.
In Jamaica, Beryl's eyewall skirted the island's southern coast, mauling neighborhoods as emergency groups rushed to leave individuals from flood-prone locations.
It's dreadful. Whatever's gone. I'm in my house and scared, stated Amoy Wellington, a 51-year-old cashier who lives in Top Hill, a rural farming community in Jamaica's southern St. Elizabeth parish. It's a catastrophe.
A lady passed away in Jamaica's Hanover parish after a tree fell on her home, Richard Thompson, acting director basic at Jamaica's catastrophe agency stated in an interview on regional news.
Nearly a thousand Jamaicans were in shelters by Wednesday night, Thompson included.
The island's primary airports were closed and streets were mainly empty after Prime Minister Andrew Holness provided a. across the country curfew for Wednesday.
We can do as much as we can do, as (is) humanly possible,. and we leave the rest in the hands of God, Holness said earlier. on Wednesday, advising locals in vulnerable locations to leave.
The loss of life and damage wrought by Beryl highlights the. repercussions of a warmer Atlantic Ocean, which researchers mention. as an indicator of human-caused environment modification fueling. severe weather condition that differs from previous experience.
Ralph Gonsalves, prime minister of St. Vincent and the. Grenadines, among the hardest-hit locations in the eastern. Caribbean, said in a radio interview that the country's Union. Island was flattened by Beryl.
Everybody is homeless ... It is going to be a Herculean. effort to rebuild.
Speaking with state media, Nerissa Gittens-McMillan, long-term. secretary at St. Vincent and the Grenadines' agriculture. ministry, warned of possible food shortages after 50% of the. nation's plantain and banana crops were lost, with considerable. losses likewise to root crops and veggies.
Power blackouts were extensive throughout Jamaica, while some. roads near the coast were rinsed.
By Wednesday evening, the eye of the spiraling hurricane was. located about 100 miles (161 km) west of Kingston, according to. the U.S. National Cyclone Center (NHC), as the storm's core. headed towards the Cayman Islands, where cyclone conditions. were anticipated late tonight.
Beryl is loading optimal sustained winds of 130 miles per. hour (209 kph).
The force of the winds is expected to deteriorate somewhat in the. next day or more, according to the NHC, though it cautioned that. Beryl would stay at or near significant typhoon strength as it. passed the Cayman Islands.
Beryl is anticipated to dispose 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) of rain on. the Cayman Islands overnight and into Thursday. Big swells. were anticipated to cause life-threatening surf and rip current. conditions, the NHC stated.
The center added that a cyclone warning was in impact for. Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, in addition to the eastern coast of. Mexico's Yucatan peninsula, consisting of for the nation's top. beach resort Cancun.
' ARMAGEDDON-LIKE'
Extra validated casualties up until now consist of a minimum of. 3 din St. Vincent and the Grenadines, a senior main told. , where Union Island has suffered severe damage of. over 90% of structures.
In Grenada, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell explained. Armageddon-like conditions with no power and prevalent. damage, while also verifying 3 deaths.
In Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro told state tv. that three individuals had died and 4 were missing in the area,. along with more than 8,000 homes harmed by downpours,. consisting of a minimum of 400 ruined.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez was injured by a. falling tree on Tuesday as she surveyed a location south of Beryl. where extreme rains caused the Manzanares River in Sucre. state to burst its banks, the president validated.
The unusually early typhoon reinforced at a record speed,. which scientists argue is almost certainly sustained by environment. change.
Beryl is the 2024 Atlantic season's first hurricane and. the earliest storm on record to reach the highest classification on. the Saffir-Simpson five-stage scale. The U.S. National Oceanic. and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has anticipated a big. number of significant cyclones in an amazing season this. year.
Beyond near-term effect in Jamaica and Haiti, the NHC warned. that Beryl will likely make landfall as cyclone on Mexico's. Yucatan peninsula as early as Thursday night.
In the fishing village of Punta Allen, in the state of. Quintana Roo, residents moved boats inland for safety, while. navy officers implored hesitant homeowners to leave.
In tourist center Cancun, an ecological agency worked. to collect eggs from sea turtles' nests for their security. Travelers absorbed the sun's rays while they still could.
Meanwhile, workers filled bags with sand and boarded up. doors and windows of organizations for security. Officials stated. supplies of wooden boards were dwindling as Cancun residents and. travelers prepared for Beryl's arrival.
Laura Velazquez, head of Mexico's civil security company,. urged travelers in Cancun and neighboring Tulum to hunker down in. hotel basements once the typhoon methods, in comments to. local broadcaster Milenio.
(source: Reuters)