Latest News
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US pipeline operator Kinetik exploring potential sale, sources say
Three sources familiar with this matter confirmed on Wednesday that U.S. pipeline operator Kinetik Holdings was in the 'early stages' of exploring the sale of its company. Sources said that the company was working with advisors on the process. They cautioned, however, that there is no guarantee of a deal. Kinetik is a company that focuses on the transportation of natural gas and crude oil from the Delaware portion of Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico. According to its website, it has over 4,600 miles of pipelines as well as the associated compression and processing infrastructure. Kinetik?did not?respond immediately to a comment request. Bloomberg News reported earlier on Wednesday that Kinetik was exploring its sale options.
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Enbridge, a Canadian company, will buy Tallgrass Crude Oil for $2.55 billion.
Enbridge announced on Wednesday that it would acquire the crude oil business of Tallgrass Energy, owned by Blackstone. The deal will cost $2.55 billion in cash. Enbridge also plans to expand its U.S.liquids pipeline network through the purchase of a majority stake and other assets. The Canadian pipeline operator stated that the deal will strengthen its presence in U.S. key crude-producing areas, including the Bakken and Powder River basins as well as the Denver-Julesburg Basins. It also creates operational synergies between its existing Express-Platte system. Enbridge, for example, is benefiting from the rising demand for natural gas and utility infrastructure, as well as power supply to data centers. This allows Enbridge to maintain a steady growth despite geopolitical tensions or commodity price volatility. Enbridge will acquire a ?75% interest in the Pony Express Pipeline, a 1,050-mile (1,690-km), 460,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) crude system that links production in the Rockies ?to the Cushing, Oklahoma, storage hub and provides access to about 500,000 ?bpd of refining capacity. The?acquisition is expected to close in 2026 (subject to regulatory approval), and includes a 51 percent stake in the Powder River Gateway Pipeline System, nearly 8,4 million barrels in storage at nine crude terminals that are connected to Pony Express as well as the crude marketing company Stanchion Energy. Enbridge stated that?the acquisition will be accretive in terms of distributable cash flow for each share during the first year after ownership. Its financial guidance for 2026 remains unchanged. The company said that it plans to?partially?fund its acquisition by way of an equity offering in conjunction with the August 26 purchase Salt Creek Midstream?s crude gathering business. Enbridge's C$41 billion (US$29.70billion) secured growth backlog is expected to be financed by an annual average growth capital investment of C$10 billion - C$11 billion. In April, the U.S. In April, President Donald Trump granted?several permits for pipelines, including one to build a new pipeline that will facilitate the transport of crude oil and petroleum between the U.S.
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Zelenskiy’s plane was almost struck by drone on Tuesday according to Norway PM
On Wednesday, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said that the 'plane taking the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy to Oslo - for the funeral of Norway's king - was almost?struck? by a drone as it took off from Moldova on?Tuesday. "His plane almost got hit by a drone when it was taking off from Moldova." Stoere said that this is what he faces. He did not specify his source or the distance the drone was from the plane. Stoere made no comments about Zelenskiy or his plane. The arrivals and departures of Chisinau Airport were temporarily suspended on Tuesday due to two?Russian 'drones' that had entered Moldovan airspace. Flightradar24 data shows that several flights headed for?the city's capital landed in airports outside of Moldova or were placed into holding patterns. A drone crashed in a field and ignited a fire. The second drone continued into Romanian airspace. The Moldovan president Maia Sandu condemned the intrusions and called them a "serious danger to people's life". She also condemned an attack at a border crossing between Ukraine, which killed two people. Zelenskiy marched behind the coffin of King Harald V in Oslo on Wednesday. He was joined by other heads of state. After the funeral, he left Norway. Stoere said in a statement on Tuesday he would be meeting the Ukrainian leader that evening. Their discussions will focus on Ukraine’s air defence. Zelenskiy said that while he was visiting Norway, 'there would be discussions with companies participating in the Freyja initiative for creating a European Anti-Ballistic System.
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EIA: US power consumption will surpass previous records in 2026 and '27, as AI usage surges.
?U.S. The U.S. Energy Information Administration stated in its Short-Term Energy Outlook on Wednesday that power consumption would reach record levels in 2026-2027 due to the AI-hungry data centres and electrification. The EIA predicted that the power demand would rise from 4,195 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) at a record in 2025, to 4,270 billion in 2026, and 4,349 trillion?kWh by 2027. The demand for electricity is increasing as more homes and businesses are using less fossil fuels to heat and transport their vehicles and use more electricity. EIA's report stated that despite a pause on connecting new data center projects to the grid in Texas, the West South Central Region accounts for the majority of the total electricity sales growth. According to the EIA, power sales will reach?1,527 kWh in 2026 for residential customers, 1,542 kWh commercial customers and 1,059 kWh industrial customers. These forecasts are compared to all-time records of 1,515 billions kWh in 2025 for residential customers, 1,493 for commercial customers and 1,064 for industrial customers. The EIA says that as renewable energy output increases, coal's share in power generation will decline from 17% to 16% by 2025, and then to 14% by 2027. Natural gas' share will remain at 40% until 2026, but will drop from 2025. According to the outlook, renewable energy will increase from 24% to 25% by 2026, and to 27% by 2027. Nuclear power will remain at 18% until 2026, and then to 20% in 2027. This is the same as it was in 2025. Gas sales for residential customers will drop to 12.5 billion cubic foot per day in 2026, while commercial customers will increase to 9.5 billion cubic feet a day. However, industrial customers and power generators are expected to rise to 23.9 bcfd. These figures compare to all-time records of 14,3 bcfd for residential customers in 1996, 9.9 for commercial customers in 2025, 23.8 for industrial customers in 1973, and 36,8 for power generation in 2024.
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Ariane, Europe's space rocket, wins Amazon Space Gathering boost
Arianespace, the operator of Europe's flagship rocket programme, announced on Wednesday that Amazon 'Leo' has ordered six more launches using Europe's 'Ariane 6' launcher. Amazon has now ordered 24 Ariane launches by 2031, following the announcement made at a space conference in Paris. ArianeGroup's commercial arm announced that new flights on the Ariane 64 high-capacity version will start in 2029. Emmanuel Macron, French President, praised the deal during the opening of a 2-day space summit that was boycotted by a number of?top U.S. companies, including Blue Origin, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. This followed what sources described last week as White House pressure regarding the summit's Europe led agenda. Amazon plans to offer broadband internet worldwide with its network of low-Earth orbit satellites. This will compete against SpaceX's Starlink which boasts millions of users around the world. Amazon relies on the Atlas V rocket, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin, to launch its satellites into space. The deal on Wednesday shows that Europe is increasingly reliant on its prime launcher, as the U.S. faces a supply shortage. However, Elon Musk's SpaceX remains the dominant European launch company. Arianespace has launched 100 Amazon Leo satellites on three Ariane 6 missions this year. Amazon was previously required to launch half its initial 3,232 satellites before this summer. However, that requirement was waived in June when the company cited shortages in supply. Arianespace announced earlier on Wednesday that it would announce new business, bringing the total number of "extra launches" to 10. A spokesperson stated that it currently has about 30 orders, with slots in 2029 or 2030.
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Delta is urged to be neutral in the unionization effort by Democratic Senators
Two?Democratic Senators on Wednesday urged Delta Air Lines' CEO Ed Bastian to stay neutral in the ongoing attempts by some airline.flight attendants unionize. In a letter seen by the?Senators, Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, they said that flight attendants at the Atlanta-based carrier have been trying for years to organize. They argued that management's attitude is "threatening future pay and benefits to flight attendants if they decide to organize", and called it inappropriate. Delta welcomed discussions with senators. Delta fully supports our employees' rights to decide if union representation is the right choice for them, and maintains a strict non-interference policty," it said. The airline added that they "respect every employee's decision and do not tolerate harassment, bullying or intimidation, regardless of whether their views about union representation." In June, more than 170 House members also wrote to Bastian to urge him to remain neutral regarding the efforts of flight attendants, fleet service workers and technicians to organize. They wrote: "We encourage Delta to respect these workers' rights by adopting a neutrality contract that commits the company to following the law, not interfering in union organizing activities, and refraining from intimidation, retaliation or any other illegal interference." Delta employees began a coordinated campaign to organize a trade union in November 2022. "Delta Flight Attendants have exercised their right to organise for 'years and leading coordinated union campaigns ever since the 1990s," Warren & Markey wrote. They cited reports that 'Delta said joining a Union would jeopardize benefits of its employees and published an official Delta anti union website. The senators pointed to emails sent by Delta last summer, in which the flight attendants were told that signing union authorization cards could cause "inner chaos" within the company. They said workers can now organize without fear or interference under the law. Once a majority has voted in favor of the union, it can request a representation election at the National Mediation Board. Delta's Pilots are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association.
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Bombardier wants to fill 500 US job openings despite Trump's threats
Bombardier continues to recruit American workers for 500 "open jobs" in the U.S. Some of these jobs will be for a new Fort Wayne service center, Indiana. It is scheduled to open mid-November. Sources in the industry said that despite Trump's threats to ban the Montreal-based company, Bombardier is still able deliver planes to U.S. clients despite the trade dispute between Canada and the U.S. escalating. The latest round of U.S. retaliatory actions against Canada, which was introduced on Tuesday, did not affect the aerospace sector. On Wednesday, a?White House official stated that the Trump administration was preparing options and actions regarding Bombardier. Trump agreed last year to reinstate the multi-decade agreement that grants tariff-free status for airplanes and component parts. Some Republican legislators have reached out to the White House because they are concerned that Bombardier may lose access to one of its largest markets, which represents about half of their sales. U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (a Republican candidate for reelection in November) said that he would fight for the jobs of Bombardier in his state where it employs?about 1,500 people. He said, "I've taken this concern inside the Oval Office," on?X Tuesday. Jerry Moran, a Republican senator from Kansas, said he reached out to President Trump on Monday to "ensure that he is aware of Bombardier's significant contributions to Kansas." Trump's threats against Bombardier risk worsening a bitter trade dispute between Canada and the United States. The tariffs that the Trump administration has imposed have become a major issue for Democrats in their bid to regain control of Congress during the November midterm elections.
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Container ship arrives in UK from China via Arctic
The container ship arrived in Britain on Wednesday, after a 'historic voyage' from China via the Arctic. This is part of plans to encourage more ships to use this route as an alternative to the Suez Canal that could be shorter and safer. The Dubai Tower reached Teesport, off the northeast coast of England on August 15 after arriving from eastern China. The Arctic route, which is significantly faster than freighters that go through the Suez Canal or around the Cape Good Hope, is meant to be a start for a regular container service from Europe via the North Sea Route. South Korean container ships are also currently making a similar journey, joining China and Russia as shipping firms test?cargo service along the route. This is more feasible due to the faster melting of Arctic sea-ice. As the U.S. war with Iran continues, the route offers shorter journeys while avoiding?security risk in the Middle East. Weather and sailing conditions can be unpredictable, and the commercial feasibility of this route is not certain.
Spain announces migrants returning to Ceuta following 57 deaths in border rush
Spain announced on Friday that it had stopped a massive influx of migrants to a Spanish?enclave located in North Africa. The majority of the over 50,000 people, who crossed the border via land and water, had already returned voluntarily.
According to the representative of the Spanish government in Ceuta, 57 bodies have been found on the Spanish side of the border. There could be more casualties on Moroccan side. Some drowned, and others were crushed as they tried to climb up the breakwater holding the border fence. Spain's Interior Ministry reported that around 50,000 people have crossed the border from Thursday morning. It estimated that 48.300 people returned to Spain by Friday evening at 6 pm (1600 GMT). Juan Jesus Vivas of Ceuta’s local government said that as many as 60 000 people have crossed the border over the last two days.
Moroccan forces used tear gas and batons to disperse crowds at the Ceuta gates, in an attempt to stop more people from entering this tiny Spanish territory. Ceuta is a small Spanish territory located on a sandy spit that extends into the Mediterranean.
Spain was asked to contain the incident by leaders from other EU countries. Italy announced that it would suspend the European Union's Schengen border-free arrangements with Spain. This measure will affect those travelling by boat or plane between the two countries. Madrid claimed that the move was in violation of?EU Treaties.
I'M GOING TO BE BACK
Moroccan police wearing riot gear used tear gas on some people gathered near the fences. The water cannon truck was deployed, and charred remains from a bus and 7 cars were visible during clashes.
The other side saw Spanish military vehicles lining up along the border while dozens of Moroccan migrants, who were unable to cross, watched from a mountaintop in Morocco.
Some people claimed they couldn't find food or shelter at Ceuta, while others said that border posts and holes were the only way to return.
A young Moroccan man who claimed to be from Tangier said, "I don't know why I came and now I'm returning." "I haven’t eaten since yesterday’s lunch, even though I had brought some money with me. What we are doing is neither enjoyable nor good."
Ayman, the 20-year old hairdresser who gave only one name from Larache, said he crossed on Wednesday, after a five hour swim. He said, "There was no food in Ceuta. We were thrown out by the Spanish army."
Unprecedented Scale of Crossings
The Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited Ceuta, Spain on Friday. He was insulted by protesters. He described the mass crossing as a "violation of Spain's sovereignty". The Moroccan authorities also cooperated in the speedy repatriation.
Ceuta and Melilla are autonomous Spanish cities located in northern Morocco. They have the only land border between Europe and Africa. The two cities experience surges of migrants trying to cross the border into Europe. But Thursday's rush was unprecedented. Right-wing parties on the continent blamed Spain's lax immigration policies, which included an amnesty given to hundreds of thousands unauthorised migrants in this year. Spain summoned its ambassador to Italy in protest of comments made by Antonio Tajani, the Italian foreign minister who said that Spain's amnesty policies had "encouraged" human trafficking. Donald Trump, the U.S. president and a critic of Spain's Socialist government, said at a cabinet meeting that the Ceuta crossings looked like an invasion. He added: "The same thing will happen to us, only worse, if the Republicans do not get elected." French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said that the police presence at the Spanish border will be quadrupled before Saturday. He also announced an increase in aerial surveillance and train patrols. EU countries are generally prohibited from conducting border checks within the Schengen area, but temporary checks can be implemented in exceptional circumstances.
In a posting on X, Spain’s?Guardia Civil Police association AUGC stated that there were too few officers on hand to monitor the fence on Thursday. This meant they could not stop the rush.
Angel Victor Torres, Minister of Territorial Policy, said that a recent ruling by the Supreme Court of Spain that migrants intercepted in the sea as they attempted to reach Ceuta and Melilla could not be rejected summarily at the border may have contributed to the surge. Experts claim that this still doesn't prevent their expulsion.
Thousands of migrants poured into Fnideq, a town in Morocco, over night despite an increased security presence that thwarted?most of their attempts to cross. Later on Friday, some began to leave again.
Despite the fact that the border crossing was blocked, groups of people moved along the coast to find a way around the fence.
Brahim, 32 years old, gave only his first name. He claimed he arrived from Tangier, hoping to pass through the gate. However, he found it closed.
(source: Reuters)