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At least 15 people are killed in a bus crash that occurred in the northeastern region of Brazil
In a statement, the Brazilian Federal Highway Police reported that a bus accident occurred in Pernambuco in northeastern Brazil on Friday evening. The driver of the bus lost control and caused the crash. Accident occurred just before 8 pm. The driver lost control, went into the opposite lane and hit rocks along the side of highway. He then crashed with a sand embankment, overturned, and collided. According to the Federal Highway Police, the Federal Highway Police is investigating the causes of the accident. According to the police list, there were 30 passengers aboard. So far, half have been confirmed as dead, 11 women and 4 men. Total number of injuries has not been revealed. The driver suffered minor injuries. According to the statement, he underwent a test of breathalyzer, and received a normal result. The police said that there were indications some passengers might not have worn seat belts during the accident. (Reporting by Rodrigo Viga Gaier. (Writing by Luciana Magnalhaes Editing Marguerita Choy.
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Fire at Dhaka Airport cargo terminal causes flight delays and diversions
Officials said that flights out of Bangladesh’s main airport on Saturday were either delayed or diverted after a large fire broke out at the cargo terminal. Talha Bin Zassim, an officer with the Fire Service and Civil Defence Media Cell said that 36 firefighting units were working to put out the flames. Airport official Masudul Hasan informed reporters that operations at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport have been suspended. He added that all aircraft were safe. The cause of the fire was not immediately known. The problem affects both domestic and international flights. Air Arabia from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, diverted a flight from Delhi bound for Dhaka to Chittagong and IndiGo from Delhi bound for Dhaka to Kolkata. Officials said that a Cathay Pacific plane from Hong Kong circled in the air after it failed to land at Dhaka Airport. The fire service, army, navy and air force all worked together to put out the fire. This is the third fire in Bangladesh reported this week. The fire that broke out at a Bangladeshi garment factory and adjacent chemical storage facility on Tuesday killed four people. At least 16 people Others were injured. Another fire destroyed a building of a Chittagong export processing zone garment factory on Thursday.
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Security firm reports that a tanker with a Cameroon flag issued a distress call to Ahwar in Yemen.
Ambrey, a British maritime security company, said that a tanker flying the flag of Cameroon issued a distress signal on Saturday following an explosion aboard as it passed around 60 nautical miles south-southeast of Ahwar in Yemen. The cause of explosion is unclear. Ambrey confirmed that it had received radio communications from the crew indicating their intention to abandon ship. A search and rescue effort was in progress. Ambrey said that the vessel was traveling from Oman's Sohar Port, to Djibouti. The tanker is not thought to have been linked to the Houthis, Yemen's Iran aligned militia. Since 2023 they have attacked numerous vessels in the Red Sea, targeting vessels they believe are linked to Israel as a show of solidarity with Palestinians in response to Israel's Gaza war. The attacks disrupted the flow of trade through the Red Sea, the Suez Canal and one of the busiest shipping routes in the world. Reporting by Enas Al Gebaly and Muhammad Al Gebaly, Editing by Jan Harvey & Barbara Lewis
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Sky News reports that Heathrow is considering WPP boss Jansen to be chairman.
Sky News reported that Philip Jansen, former CEO of BT Group and now chairman of marketing services group WPP is in advanced discussions with Heathrow’s board of directors and shareholders about becoming the chairman of the airport. The report cited sources to say that Jansen was the clear frontrunner of the shortlisted candidates. An announcement could be made within weeks, if discussions are successful. Could not verify the report immediately. Heathrow Airport didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. Sky News reported in July that the British aviation hub had been working with headhunter Russell Reynolds Associates on recruiting a successor for Paul Deighton who assumed the position in 2016. Deighton’s term as chairman would have ended on April 30th, 2025 after nine years. Due to recent board changes, and the relatively new appointments of leadership, Deighton was asked to extend his tenure. Deighton stated in the annual report of the company that "I have... accepted to extend my role for a limited time as Chair to ensure continuity and security on the HAHL Board throughout this period transition". Sky News reported that Jansen’s experience as CEO of BT Group – a regulated company – from early 2019 until the end of 2024 was a key factor in his selection as he preferred candidate. According to his WPP profile, the executive began his career with Procter & Gamble and has held leadership positions at Sodexo Group and Telewest. He also worked at MyTravel, Travis Perkins and Sodexo Group. Rhea rose Abraham, Bengaluru reporter; Jan Harvey, editor
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China Eastern Airlines resumes flights as China and India restore air connections
China Eastern Airlines, a state-owned airline, will resume Shanghai to Delhi flights on November 9, according to the website of the airline. This comes as China and India resume their direct air links after a five year diplomatic freeze. According to the airline's ticketing platform, flights will be operated three times per week, on Wednesdays. Saturdays and Sundays. China Eastern Airlines didn't immediately respond to a request for comment sent via email. The Indian Foreign Ministry announced earlier this month the resumption of commercial flights between India and its neighbours after a 5-year-long freeze. The announcement came after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited China for the first time in seven years to attend a regional security summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Both sides discussed how to improve their trade relations, and Modi expressed concern about India's growing bilateral trade deficit. The Indian and Chinese foreign ministers did not respond immediately to requests for comments on the Shanghai-Delhi flight. IndiGo, India's largest airline, announced previously that it would begin daily non-stop flight between Kolkata and Guangzhou. Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, a state-backed airport, said that when IndiGo announced its plans to expand direct flights between Guangzhou (China) and Delhi (India), it would encourage airlines like IndiGo to offer more routes. After deadly clashes on their Himalayan border, the two countries suspended direct flights in 2020. This led to a long-lasting military standoff. (Reporting and editing by Tom Hogue; Amy Lv and Colleen howe)
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Ship tracking data shows Sinopec diverts supertanker away from US-sanctioned ports
According to Chinese consultants and ship tracking data, the latest U.S. sanction on a major Chinese crude terminal has forced Sinopec to divert one supertanker from its route and to ask certain plants to reduce crude processing rates. LSEG data revealed that a supertanker transporting oil to the Chinese Port of Rizhao, in Shandong Province, changed its destination at the weekend after U.S. sanctions were imposed on Friday on an import terminal located there. JLC Consultancy estimated that Sinopec’s October runs could drop by 3.36% compared to earlier plans, and may be around 5.16 million barrels a day. Sinopec has not responded to comments immediately. LSEG data revealed that the supertanker New Vista chartered by Sinopec’s trading arm Unipec, originally scheduled to discharge in Rizhao, on Sunday, has changed its destination to Ningbo or Zhoushan, for arrival on 15 October. New Vista is capable of carrying 2 million barrels and currently carries Abu Dhabi's Upper Zakum crude. The U.S. Treasury listed the Rizhao Shihua crude oil terminal, which is half owned by a Sinopec logistic unit, in a series of sanctions, including ships that transport Iranian crude and liquefied petrol gas. The U.S. announced that the terminal in Lanshan, in Shandong Province, a major Chinese oil refinery hub, had been sanctioned because it received Iranian oil aboard vessels sanctioned by the U.S. According to analysts and industry executives, one-fifth (or a fifth) of Sinopec’s crude oil imports passes through the Rizhao Terminal.
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Aeromexico, backed by Apollo, seeks a valuation of up to $2.9 Billion in US IPO
Grupo Aeromexico announced on Friday that it was aiming for a valuation up to $2.92billion in its U.S. Initial Public Offering, as the Mexican airline looks to go back public after more than two years. Aeromexico, based in Mexico City, and its existing shareholders seek up to $234.5 millions by offering 11,7 million American depositary shares priced between $18 and 20 each. After a successful bankruptcy reorganization, mature companies are often looking to return to the public markets. Aeromexico filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020, with $2 billion of debt. The pandemic had a major impact on travel demand. Aeromexico, which emerged from bankruptcy in 2022, is now backed by the alternative asset manager Apollo Global as well as U.S. carrier Delta. PAR Investment Partners, a private investment fund, intends to buy $25 million worth of Aeromexico stock in a simultaneous private placement. The price per share will be 95% of the IPO. Aeromexico was one of the first names to be used in the United States. IPO pipeline Publicly File paperwork In May 2024, LATAM Airlines, based in Chile Return to the Homepage After a $456,000,000 IPO, the New York Stock Exchange will be open in July 2024. PUBLIC MARKETS RETURN The legacy airline, founded in 1934 under the name Aeronaves was nationalized in 1959 by the Mexican Government. In 1971, it began operating under the name "Aeromexico". Aeromexico had been owned by the state for many decades, until 2007 when an investor group led by Citigroup bought it for $250 million. Bidding war Saba Family - The full-service carrier first went public in 2011, and traded on the Mexican Stock Exchange until 2022. Delisted As part of its bankruptcy restructuring. Aeromexico is a low-cost carrier that competes with Volaris, a low-cost airline focused on leisure and business passengers. Barclays, Morgan Stanley J.P. Morgan, and Evercore are all joint book-running managers. Aeromexico intends to list at the New York Stock Exchange using the symbol "AERO." (Reporting and editing by Anuj T. in Bengaluru, Arasu Kanagi Basil; Shrey Biswas).
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FAA: Boeing can increase 737 MAX production up to 42 planes per monthly
Boeing and the Federal Aviation Administration announced on Friday that the Federal Aviation Administration has lifted the 38-plane-per-month limit in place since January 2024. The FAA set the record-breaking production cap after an Alaska Airlines 737 MAX 9 was involved in a mid-air incident that occurred in 2024. Four key bolts were missing. This announcement marks a major milestone for the U.S. aircraft manufacturer, which has been thrown into a safety emergency following a mid-air accident. The FAA announced on Friday that its safety inspectors had "conducted extensive review of Boeing's manufacturing lines to ensure this small increase in production rate will be done safely." A person with knowledge of the situation said that FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford spoke to Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg Friday to confirm that the planemaker was able to increase the rate up to 42 aircraft. Boeing will begin production of planes as soon as possible, at the rate of 42 per monthly. Boeing expressed its appreciation for "the work done by our team, suppliers and the FAA in order to ensure that we are ready to increase production while safety and quality is at the forefront." David Shepardson, reporting;
Indians get hooked on 10-minute grocery apps, squeezing small retailers
In a middleclass suburban area of Mumbai, employees at SoftBankbacked Swiggy's grocery warehouse race against time to provide orders within 10 minutes. Their speed is tracked by the seconds on a screen that flashes red warnings for sluggishness.
Outside in sweltering heat, Swiggy's cyclists, sporting the firm's trademark bright orange T-shirt, frantically gather packed grocery orders to provide them nearby, while others go back to take on another shipment designated on their app and waiting.
Ideally, one requires to get finished with the entire (pickup). procedure in 1 minute 30 seconds, warehouse manager Prateek. Salunke stated.
Swiggy storage facilities are mushrooming across India to provide. whatever from milk and bananas to prophylactics and roses within. minutes - a business model that is improving how Indians store.
It is likewise threatening millions of mom-and-pop shops. that for decades dominated the grocery trade in a nation where. big supermarkets are fairly scarce and are located in more. upscale areas or malls.
Indians long depended on sees to small area outlets. for groceries or secured free shipments from them by means of phone orders,. before the increase of e-commerce activated by Amazon and. Walmart's Flipkart over the previous years.
But the U.S. giants, which provide location-dependent same-day. or next-day delivery, are not as fast with groceries as Swiggy. and its rivals Zepto and Zomato's Blinkit, which are. ushering a quick commerce boom.
Goldman Sachs said in April quick deliveries account for $5. billion, or 45% of India's $11 billion online grocery market. presently. As buyers prioritise convenience and speed, quick. commerce will account for 70% of the online grocery market set. to touch $60 billion by 2030, it anticipated.
IPO-bound Swiggy began as a restaurant food shipment. organization in 2014 and is valued at $10 billion, but it is now. switching equipments to wager more on the last-minute grocery. service in India, the world's third-largest retail market after. China and the United States.
We are training our guns to focus on a market much bigger. than food, a December 2023 private Swiggy technique. document seen stated of its Instamart service.
Its target? 21-35 years of age, time-starved metropolitan customers. who value convenience, the document stated.
Swiggy did not react to requests for discuss the. document or its broader technique.
The company doubled its warehouse count to 500 in 25 cities. last year and has strategies to increase it to 750 before April 2025,. said an executive at one of Swiggy's monetary investors, which. also consist of Prosus, Qatar Investment Authority and. Singapore's GIC.
Globally, COVID-19 lockdowns stimulated fast-delivery. start-ups, helping the similarity Turkey's Getir to broaden, just to. see the interest dissipate as shoppers went back to physical. outlets after the pandemic. Luxembourg-based Jokr downsized. from the U.S. market in 2022.
India is experiencing a different pattern.
Sumat Chopra, a partner at consultancy Kearney, said fast. commerce companies were benefiting from schedule of. cost-efficient warehousing area and spoiled Indian. consumers' long-time habit of buying simply a couple of products from. neighbourhood shops by phone.
Swiggy will even take an order for a single mango, though it. might cost about twice as much as strolling to a neighboring store.
Many consumers are willing to pay up to conserve time.
Mumbai lawyer Natasha Kavalakkat, 27, who has a stressful day-to-day. schedule, utilizes quick shipment apps like Swiggy and Zepto to. order apples and bread. She stated getting juice loads delivered. within minutes prior to a party was a game-changer.
This is too hassle-free.
VICTIMS OF THE BOOM
The rise of fast commerce implies numerous smaller stores. are reeling under pressure.
Suburban Mumbai grocer Prem Patel's service had prospered in. current years, enabling him to refurbish his shop and set up. cooling. He's not happy any longer.
Nobody buys milk from shopping centers and supermarkets. That was our. uniqueness. However these apps have changed the game, said Patel,. whose day-to-day sales have actually cut in half to about 25,000 rupees ($ 300).
4 retailer associations in four Indian states,. representing 90,000 grocery shops of the nation's estimated 13. million, informed regular monthly sales were stopping by 10% to 60%. for some due to rise of fast commerce apps.
Some conventional stores are reacting by becoming more. tech-savvy.
Hiren Gandhi, who chairs a retail association in Gujarat. state, has actually asked members to produce WhatsApp groups to take. orders and deliver products quickly in a 6.4-km (4-mile) radius.
Around 500 shops have actually taken steps to innovate and sustain. their business, he stated.
HIGH EARNINGS, NO REVENUES YET
Swiggy's financials for its Instamart fast commerce. division are not public, but the internal file revealed its. annualised order worth trebled from $340 million in December. 2021 to $1 billion in September in 2015. The business is still. loss-making, the executive at Swiggy's financier stated.
Swiggy's primary rival, Zomato, is India's biggest food. delivery service but obtained quick commerce business Blinkit in. 2022. Goldman Sachs said Blinkit is more valuable to Zomato than. food delivery and is anticipated to publish orders worth $2.7 billion. this year, nearly 60% greater than approximated in 2015.
Zomato, in a May regulative disclosure, said Blinkit had. recovered cost for the first time, however it expected its operating. revenue to hover around absolutely no for the next couple of quarters. It did. not react to a request for further comment.
Experts caution dependence just on big cities to lure. clients and high costs on advertising discount rates and. marketing that keeps earnings at bay might prove dangerous for quick. commerce firms in the low-margin groceries service.
But Swiggy and Blinkit are already diversifying beyond. groceries into higher-margin items.
On Swiggy's app, consumers can order fitness products and. electronics such as a $132 Xiaomi air purifier, while. Blinkit stated it offered a record number of roses, bouquets and. teddy bears in a single day on Valentine's Day in February.
Swiggy's Instamart was released as an Indian version of 7. Eleven (on the cloud), its internal document stated, but we are. altering our positioning to an online Grocery store.
(source: Reuters)