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Hong Kong Airlines evacuates planes while they wait for Typhoon Ragasa
While Typhoon Ragasa - the strongest tropical cyclone in the world this year - approached Hong Kong, airlines at one of the busiest airports in the world were faced with massive flight cancellations, as well as revenue losses. Flightradar24 data revealed that, ahead of Wednesday's arrival of hurricane force winds and torrential rainfall, 80% of aircraft from the four major airlines in the city were relocated or grounded in airports located in Japan, China and Cambodia, Europe and Australia, among other places. From Tuesday evening, all landings and departing flights at Hong Kong - the busiest airport in the world for cargo and ninth busiest international passenger traffic - were cancelled. Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong's biggest airline, announced on Monday that the typhoon would have "a significant effect" on their operations, and they would cancel over 500 long-haul flights and regional flights. The airline said that it was moving some aircraft away from Hong Kong. It expects a gradual and staggered return to its schedule on Thursday and Friday. Hong Kong issued its highest warning of typhoon 10, early Wednesday morning, urging businesses and transport services shut down. In order to avoid damage or conflict, airlines often move their aircraft to other countries during severe weather conditions or when the risk of war increases. According to tracking data at Techo Airport, Cathay Pacific sent 14 jets from Hong Kong on Tuesday to Cambodia's Phnom Penh Techo Airport to wait out storm. The airlines can also send their aircraft out of the main base to be ready for a return flight when a storm has passed. Airlines can add fuel to their aircraft or store them in hangars during high winds. Smaller aircraft may be tied down. Hong Kong's Greater Bay Airlines, which has seven aircraft, announced that it had moved all of its planes out of Hong Kong for safety reasons. Tracking data shows that Boeing 737s landed in Japan and China Tuesday. Hong Kong Airlines also appeared to have kept 28 of its aircraft away from Hong Kong, except for one. Tracking data shows that Cathay and its low cost subsidiary HK Express have kept more planes in Hong Kong. Cathay and HK Express didn't respond to inquiries about the storage of their planes. Cathay stated in a 2017 publication that it stored some planes at the Hong Kong airport for cyclones past, and others were sent to other locations. (Reporting and editing by Jamie Freed in Seoul, Lisa Barrington)
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Oil little changed; lower US crude stockpiles provide floor
The oil prices remained stable on Wednesday, as an industry report revealed that U.S. crude stocks declined in the past week. This added to the feeling of a tightening supply. Brent futures were up 3 cents at $67.66 per barrel as of 0630 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude Futures rose 5 cents to $63.46. The benchmarks rose by more than $1 per barrel as the deal to resume oil exports from Iraqi Kurdistan fell through. This halted pipeline shipments from the region into Turkey, despite the hopes that a deal would be reached to end the deadlock. Two key producers demanded debt repayment guarantees. An agreement reached between the Kurdish region and federal government of Iraq and oil companies will allow for the export of approximately 230,000 barrels of oil per day. Since March 2023, pipeline flows have been halted. Emril Jamil is a senior oil analyst at the LSEG. He said that prices are expected to be supported, but range-bound. Jamil said that while the price gains have been capped by the uncertainty surrounding interest rate decisions from the U.S. Federal Reserve, they are still expected to continue. According to sources citing API data, American Petroleum Institute figures show that U.S. crude, gasoline, and distillate stock levels fell last week while they rose for distillates. Sources said that crude stock levels fell by 3.82 millions barrels during the week ending September 19. Gasoline inventories dropped by 1.05million barrels, and distillate stocks rose by 518,000. On Wednesday, the official U.S. energy data will be released. It is expected that crude oil and gasoline stocks have increased and distillates are likely to decline. Other signs of tightening of supply include reports that U.S. giant Chevron, which produces crude with Venezuelan partners, will only be able export half of its 240,000 barrels of crude per day. The company was granted permission to operate in Venezuela in July. However, due to the new rules, less heavy, high-sulfur crude will be exported from Venezuela.
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The Greek power grid's neglect fuels wildfire destruction
The cause of the deadly wildfire that broke out near the Athens Riviera was found by Greek firefighters in August. They discovered a familiar culprit - a loose cable, whose sparks had been blown over a field dry grass during a strong windstorm. According to the investigators report, which was seen by, the cable near Keratea had signs of oxidation, and that it was not maintained properly. In just a few hours, the fire had claimed the life of one person and destroyed 4,000 acres (16 sq km) of land south of the capital. Manolis Paliolougkas of Keratea, a Keratea resident, said that the fire was "rapid" and pointed to a patch of charred ground just outside the town where it started. The preliminary data from the fire brigade, seen exclusively by, shows that faulty power lines were the main cause of wildfires in this summer. They surpassed arson and negligence. The brigade investigated 41 major Greek fires. Of these, 15 likely were caused by the electrical network. These fires charred 51,000 acres. The data show that this is an increase from last year and follows years of underinvestment during Greece's debt crisis between 2009-2018. This adds to climate change risks, as it has caused summers to be hotter, drier, and wildfires to be more destructive. The state is now facing billions of euro in damages. Palaiologos Palaiologou is an assistant professor of the Agricultural University of Athens. He said, "I and my colleagues have been raising this issue for many years with flares that are caused by energy transmission network." "We cannot hide this issue." HEDNO, POWER DISTRIBUTOR, DEFENDS THE RECORD The second report of the fire brigade, seen by, showed that nine major fires in 2024 were probably caused by the electrical network. One of these fires was a fire that raged north of Athens, burning 10,000 hectares, an area larger than Paris. In Greece, the details of what causes wildfires to start are not generally published. Vassilis Vathrakogiannis, spokesman for the fire brigade, declined to comment because the data was not publicly available. HEDNO, the public power distributor, said that it performs regular maintenance. The maintenance costs will increase to 165 millions euros by 2024 from 2019's 122 million. HEDNO stated that it had prioritized laying cables under the ground to reduce fire risks. HEDNO said that it has only been found guilty of three wildfire cases since 2012. Out of 122,000 recorded fires, the organization added. GOVERNMENT BLAMES DEBT CRISIS for UNDERINVESTMENT The government attributes the problem to a lack investment made during the debt crises before it took power in 2019. Nikos Tsafos, Deputy Minister of Energy, told the Parliament this month that "this has left us with a large gap which we must now fill." Local authorities are losing their patience. Dimitris Papachristou said that he will sue HEDNO this month for negligence over the at least two major fires caused by cables in the summer. Papachristou said, "We see the same thing every year in Greece." "We've reached our limit." HEDNO has said that it did not find any link between the August fires and the grid. The maintenance was carried out in Keratera, Greece on May 14, and a 4-metre circle had been cleared around the pole as per Greek law. FIRE "HOT SPOTS" - MUCH OF THE GRID INSTALLATION DATE DECADES OLD It is a huge challenge to upgrade the grid, as some of the 4.5 million poles are located in areas with dense forests that are fire hotspots. Numerous lines still serve villages in rural areas that are almost empty. Keratea is crisscrossed by a multitude of cables, some so sagging that local residents joke that they could be used as a clothesline. Palaiologou stated that to reduce the risk, cables could be relocated from areas of high-risk, or renewed, or buried underground where possible. Tsafos informed the parliament that about 1,800 km underground cables are installed each year. If the rate of underground cable installation continues, it will take decades to finish. He said, "There's still a long way to go."
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China's COMAC is behind schedule on the delivery of C919 aircraft, according to filings
According to filings by the three airlines who fly this model, COMAC has fallen behind its previously stated production targets for its narrow-body C919. China Eastern Airlines (CEA), Air China, and China Southern Airlines all expected 32 planes from COMAC to be delivered in this year. However, as of September, only five had been delivered, according to airline reports, Flightradar24 data, and financial reports from COMAC. Bloomberg reported Wednesday that the state-owned manufacturer had reduced its C919 production goal to 25 in this year, from 75 previously. Bloomberg cited sources familiar with the issue. COMAC did respond to a comment request immediately. COMAC announced in January that it would deliver 30 C919 aircraft and increase its annual production capacity to fifty aircraft by 2025. Chinese media reported that in March it increased the target production to 75. COMAC aims to compete with the leading Western aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing. These companies produce dozens each month of their single-aisle A320neo and 737MAX jets. COMAC faced an unexpected challenge this year when the United States temporarily stopped exports of CFM engines that it uses in the C919 from June to July due to escalating trade tensions. The fact that many of the major components of China's jet building programme are made from foreign parts is a key weakness. The C919 is a plane that has not been certified by major Western aviation regulators. Its only customers are Chinese and two airlines from Brunei and Cambodia, both close allies to Beijing. The aviation consultancy IBA stated last month that COMAC’s C919 targets are ambitious and they expect "more measured growth" by the manufacturer. IBA predicted that around 18 C919s will be delivered in 2020, 25 in 2025, and 45 in 2027. China Eastern, Air China, and China Southern all ordered 100 jets.
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The drop in US crude stocks adds to the sense of tighter supplies
The price of oil rose on Wednesday for the second consecutive day as an industry report revealed that U.S. crude stocks fell last week. This added to the feeling in markets about tightening supply. Brent futures were up 27 cents at $67.90 per barrel as of 0005 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate Crude Futures rose 28 cents to $63.99. The benchmarks rose by more than $1 per barrel as the deal to resume oil exports from Iraqi Kurdistan fell through. This halted pipeline shipments from the region into Turkey, despite the hopes that a deal would be reached to end the deadlock. Two key producers demanded debt repayment guarantees. An agreement reached between the Kurdish region and federal government of Iraq and oil companies will allow for a return of exports of approximately 230,000 barrels of oil per day. Since March 2023, pipeline flows have been halted. API figures released later in the day showed that U.S. crude, gasoline, and distillate stock levels fell last week while they rose the previous week, according market sources who cited the API data. Sources said that crude stock levels fell by 3.82 millions barrels during the week ending September 19. Gasoline inventories also fell by 1,05 million barrels, and distillate stocks rose by 518,000. On Wednesday, the official U.S. energy data will be released. It is expected that crude oil and gasoline stocks have increased and distillates are likely to decline. Other signs of tightening of supply include reports that U.S. giant Chevron, which produces crude with Venezuelan partners at a rate of 240,000 barrels per day (bpd), will only be able export half. The company was granted a new operating permit in July to continue operations in Venezuela, but new rules mean that less heavy crude oil with high sulphur produced there will be exported to the U.S.
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New Mexico landmark bridge closes to pedestrians following record suicide numbers
The New Mexico Rio Grande Gorge Bridge was closed to pedestrians Monday due to a spate of suicides. Officials are looking for ways to prevent people from taking their lives on the bridge. Authorities said that three people have died after jumping off the span in the last three weeks. This has contributed to the record number of deaths on the bridge this year. Taos County Sheriff's Office has announced that the bridge will be closed indefinitely after deputies entered the gorge Sunday, which is 600 feet deep (183 meters). They were looking for the remains of 15-year old boy who was the sixth suicide victim at the bridge since 2025. The sheriff's report stated that on September 5, a 60 year-old U.S. Army Veteran suffering from post-traumatic disorder drove 15-hours from San Antonio, Texas to commit suicide at a bridge. Three days before, deputies from the sheriff's office had closed the bridge in order to recover the remains a man who was originally from Albuquerque. Since its construction in 1968, the 1,280-foot (390 meter) steel arch bridge has been featured in many movies and advertisements. The bridge is not only a popular tourist destination, but also a place where people want to end their life. The 600-foot drop is unsurvivable. "The closing of the bridge for pedestrian traffic is just a beginning," said Sheriff Steve Miera in a message. He added that this year's bridge suicides were at an all-time high. He said that the bridge will reopen for pedestrians as soon as the state installs effective barriers to stop suicides. It's too easy for people to kill themselves Ashley Roessler, a suicide prevention activist, said that safety barriers were needed to replace a railing which is only four feet high (1.2 meters) and easy to climb. Roessler said, "We make it too easy for people kill themselves." He is the founder of New Mexico Fight for Life Foundation. If you could just make it harder or jolt them, perhaps that kid would not have killed himself. In the United States, other bridges and buildings where suicides are frequent have nets or barriers. According to the authorities, a net placed on both sides of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, reduced the suicide rate by 73% during the first year of its installation in 2024. The number of deaths was cut from 30 to 8 in comparison to the average of 30 per year. After an 11-foot vertical net was installed at the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Tampa, Florida in 2021, suicides have decreased from an average of 12 to 15 per year. The New Mexico Department of Transportation released a statement stating that the crisis call boxes were installed along the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge and upgraded earlier this summer. Press reports state that a 2018 study of this bridge found it necessary to reinforce the structure to support nets and fence. New Mexico Transportation Secretary Rick Serna stated that he is working with the consultant for the 2018 study in order to get a new evaluation. His department stated that the number of guards on the bridge had been increased from two to three until then. (Reporting from Andrew Hay in Taos New Mexico; Editing done by Frank McGurty, Bill Berkrot).
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Super Typhoon Ragasa lashed Hong Kong with hurricane force winds and heavy rainfall
Super Typhoon Ragasa - the strongest tropical cyclone in the world this year - slammed Hong Kong on Wednesday with hurricane force winds and torrential rainfall. The city was shut down, and over 700 flights were cancelled. The authorities told people to stay inside and the waves were surging over some of the Asian financial hub’s southern and eastern shores. The observatory stated that "areas which were previously protected may become exposed...seas with phenomenal swells" will be a reality. Ragasa will pass closest to the city within the next few hours. It will skirt around 60 miles (100 km) to the south. The super typhoon is expected maintain its intensity as it moves closer to China's Guangdong Province, which is home to over 125 million residents. It is predicted to land on the coast between midday and late Wednesday. Ragasa hit the Philippines' northern region on Monday, and Taiwan on Tuesday. Fears that the shops might be closed for two full days sparked panic shopping this week. People crowded into supermarkets and left little on the shelves. In some cases, people waited for hours in line to buy goods. Residents taped windows as the typhoon approached in an attempt to minimize any risk from broken glass. Hong Kong issued its highest warning of typhoon 10, early Wednesday morning, urging businesses and transport services shut down. According to South China Morning Post, authorities also issued the Amber Rainstorm Signal, expecting heavy rainfall to continue. Some streets are already partially flooded. Authorities have warned that sea levels could rise to the same level as those experienced during Typhoon Hato and Typhoon Mangkhut, both of which caused damage worth billions of dollars. The observatory reported that "the water level will reach its maximum around noon (0400 GMT), usually to about 4 metres (13 ft)". The SCMP reported that a woman and her 5-year-old child were swept out to sea on Tuesday, after they watched the typhoon at the waterfront. They are currently in intensive care. The government has announced that it has opened 49 shelters temporary in different districts, and 727 people are seeking refugee at these shelters. Hong Kong Stock Exchange will be open. The stock exchange changed its policy in late 2013 to allow trading regardless of weather. CCTV, the state broadcaster, reported that Guangdong authorities evacuated more than 770,000 people. The authorities in Macau, the gambling hub next to Hong Kong and the home of Macau's casinos, also issued the No. 10 warning signal early on Wednesday. Early on Wednesday morning, authorities issued the No. 10 warning signal.
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US criticises UN Aviation Group for its social and climate focus
Sean Duffy, the U.S. Transportation secretary, criticized a United Nations group on aviation for failing to focus enough on safety and security. He called for reform. Duffy stated at the triennial meeting of the International Civil Aviation Organization, held in Montreal, that the organization has overstepped its mandate and wasted resources on programs for social welfare or climate finance initiatives which have no connection to the safety, security, and efficiency of global air transport systems. The United States and President Trump will evaluate ICAO's support based on our ability to implement this reform. Apostolos Tzitzikostas (European commissioner for sustainable tourism and transport) told the Assembly that its safety and security goals are aligned with environmental targets like achieving zero net emissions by 2050. He said that "none of these elements could be seen in isolation". Duffy said that, for the sake global safety, countries who threaten aviation security must be excluded from ICAO's leadership. All stakeholders, including Taiwan should be included in their technical work, regardless of politics. Duffy stated that "there is no place for politics in this question. This is about the safety and security of our global system, which we all benefit from and to which Taiwan is a key player." Liang Nan is the deputy administrator of China's Civil Aviation Administration. She reacted to Duffy's remarks on Taiwan. She told the audience that there was only one China. Last month, U.S. legislators urged ICAO not to support China's unilateral decision to extend a flight path in the Taiwan Strait. Environmentalists, as well as certain countries such France, Kenya, and Barbados have suggested charging fees for premium travel. The United States stated in a document to the assembly that the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force's proposed fees "undermine integrity and efficiency of global air transportation systems". Duffy said on Tuesday that the new taxes and charges "are at odds with ICAO's principles... Why should international aviation be singled-out? Why should air travelers be required to pay a new tax to a single country? (Reporting and editing by Lisa Shumaker; David Shepardson)
Maguire: Using the Dirty Dozen as a tool to monitor global energy emission potential
Climate watchers must look beyond China in order to get a complete picture of global trends related to energy extraction and production.
China is the largest emitter of energy-related gases in the world.
While China has led the way in energy emission trends this century, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam will also play a major role in determining the future trends of pollution.
This means that any attempt to estimate the trajectory of potential global energy emissions should include discharge patterns from a wider group of nations than China.
THE DIRTY DOZEN
China, as the largest consumer of energy and producer of power in the world, must play a key role in efforts to measure and predict global emission trends.
But, given the steadily increasing pollution caused by energy in these countries, they deserve to be included in this effort.
In fact, 11 other countries stand out as major current and future drivers of global energy emission trends due to their record of increasing pollution linked to energy production and usage.
According to the Energy Institute, between 2019 and 2024 12 countries increased their annual emissions of energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) by at least five million metric tonnes per year.
These nations are listed in descending order by annual emission growth between 2019 and 2024: China, India Indonesia, Russia Iran, Vietnam United Arab Emirates Malaysia Turkey Uzbekistan Philippines Bangladesh.
This Dirty Dozen collectively increased their total energy emission to record levels in nine of the last 10 years. The exception was in 2020, when COVID-19 locksdowns severely stifled the global energy production and use.
In 2024 the Dirty Dozen nations released a total of 19,06 billion tons CO2 through energy extraction and production. This compares with a global discharge of 16,4 billion tons CO2.
The Dirty Dozen discharge total represented a record 54% all energy-related emission in 2024. This figure is expected to increase in the coming years due to the heavy reliance of several member countries on high-polluting fossil fuels.
KEY COUNTRIES
The Dirty Dozen countries increased their energy-related emissions by an average of 3 percent per year between 2019 and 2024.
Energy emissions outside of the Dirty Dozen decreased by 1.4% on average per year.
The divergence in emissions between the Dirty Dozen group and the rest highlights their impact on global energy pollution trends and why climate trackers should be monitoring them.
China has consistently emitted CO2 from its energy sector in the window between 2019 and 2024, with an average of around 10,5 billion tons per year.
China has the highest average annual increase in CO2 emissions among all countries.
The rate of increase in China's discharge has been among the lowest among the Dirty Dozen nations since 2019. This indicates that other countries have been increasing their pollution trends at the same time as China is reducing it.
India is ranked second in the Dirty Dozen for annual energy emissions. These averaged 2.6 million tons per year between 2019-2024.
Russia ranked third, with energy emissions of around 1.6 billion tonnes per year. Iran was next with 680 million tons.
FAST GROWTH
Indonesia is the leader in terms of percentage annual growth since 2019 with an average of 7%.
Vietnam (6% per year) and Bangladesh (5%) have both experienced strong growth over the last five years, while India (4%), Uzbekistan (4%), United Arab Emirates (4%), and the Philippines (4%) all had annual growth rates around 3%.
China's annual emission growth has been 2.6% per year since 2019. This means that the other members of the Dirty Dozen could drive the collective discharge higher, even if China is able to reduce pollution in the next few years.
India, Indonesia and Vietnam, as well as the Philippines, have a high pollution potential due to their current power system's dependence on coal.
Russia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iran, and Uzbekistan all rely on natural gas to power their systems. They are unlikely to reduce their fossil fuel dependency for energy production any time soon.
All of this means that the global emissions from energy production and extraction will continue to rise in the years ahead, even if China is able to change course and begin a steady reduction path for emissions later in the decade.
Climate trackers that focus too narrowly on China to represent global emissions trajectory risk missing this important trend. They should also keep in mind the Dirty Dozen.
These are the opinions of the columnist, an author for.
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(source: Reuters)