Latest News
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Drone attack on Panama flagged ship in Black Sea kills one, injures two
Panama's Maritime Authority said that two crew members were injured and one was killed in a drone attack against a Panama flagged ship in the Black Sea. The AMP'said that the incident took place on Thursday - and that one of those injured was in a'serious condition. It?added that the ship was able?to continue?on course. The authority said that it had "activated relevant protocols to collect official information about the incident and maintain communication with the parties concerned." The AMP 'didn't say where the drone came from but advised ships to avoid travelling?through Ukrainian - and Russian waters in Black Sea, & the Sea of Azov,??to the north. Panama is the largest ship registry in the world, with 16% of the global merchant fleet under its flag. (Reporting and editing by Sam Holmes; Elida Moreno)
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Trump unveils Qatari Boeing 747 before joining Air Force One
The President Donald Trump got to see his upgraded Boeing 747, which was a gift from Qatar, on Friday at the Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, as the aircraft approached delivery and would join the Air Force One fleet. This is the most luxurious aircraft in the world. It was built to a standard that was probably never seen before," Trump said in front of a crowd gathered at a brand new hangar on the base. The jumbo jet, which Qatar gave to Trump as a present last year, has been overhauled and repainted in the red, white and dark blue livery that Trump chose. This is a departure from Air Force One's iconic design. Trump said that the upgrade was needed to keep up with foreign leaders who fly more modern aircraft. "These countries respect us a great deal, but they also have an aircraft that is much better and newer." Trump said, "It's a bit ridiculous." Trump has said that the rest of Air Force One's fleet will be redesigned. The new addition to Trump’s fleet will provide a modern, luxurious aircraft that the president, his aides and security detail, as well as the media, can travel on. The cost of the upgrade has not been revealed, and because it was completed so quickly, some experts are concerned that it might not be as safe as Air Force One. Air Force fast-track program skipped some planned modifications to the next-generation Presidential jet to deliver interim version earlier, but officials claimed?it was upto presidential standards. In a Friday statement, Secretary of Air Force Troy Meink stated that "the safety and security of the commander-in-chief is our top priority." "We meticulously evaluated each requirement from the start to ensure delivery was expedited while maintaining the high standard expected for the presidential mission." JULY 4, WASHINGTON FLYOVER Trump said the aircraft would lead the formation, which he called the "biggest in American history", during the July 4th ceremony on the National Mall. Trump said, "This will lead a large group of planes." Trump arrived back in the United States on Thursday morning, aboard a Boeing 747-200 military grade that has been serving U.S. Presidents for over three decades. Trump announced that this was the final flight of the aircraft, and it would be eventually placed in a Museum. The U.S. government accepting the 747 luxury jet from Qatar raised concerns about whether this was an excessively expensive gift. Trump dismissed criticisms of the arrangement by saying that it would be "stupid' to reject the offer. Experts said that retrofitting the luxury aircraft required upgrades in security, communication to prevent eavesdropping and missile defense capabilities. Democratic senators estimated that the conversion would cost more than $1 billion, and increase security risks. The Qatari aircraft is being used as a temporary bridge while Boeing delivers two 747-8s built to order under a fixed-price $3.9 billion contract signed in 2018. The program is currently four years behind schedule. Delivery will not be expected until the middle of 2028. This delay could leave Trump without a plane by January 2029, when his term ends. The Boeing program has cost more than $5 billion. Boeing posted $2.4 billion of charges against its earnings. The new color scheme is a departure from the two-tone white and blue design that dates back to President John F. Kennedy. The Air Force has revived a palette of red, white and navy blue that Trump had pushed for but was scrapped by the service in 2022 because darker colors were deemed to be overheating. The new livery, which includes red, white and dark blue, will also be used on the VC-25B, the military designation of the Boeing 747-8, and four modified Boeing 757 200s that are used to transport senior officials, including the vice president and cabinet members. (Reporting from Washington by Mike Stone; Jarrett Renshaw, additional reporting; and Alistair Bell, Stephen Coates and Edmund Klamann editing)
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Trump unveils Qatari Boeing 747 before joining Air Force One
President Donald Trump got to see his upgraded Boeing 747 on Friday at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, as it was nearing delivery for the Air Force One fleet. The aircraft was a gift from Qatar to Trump last year. It has since been overhauled and painted by L3Harris Technologies in the colors of red, white and dark blue that Trump selected. Trump now has a modern, luxurious aircraft that he, his staff, security team and media can travel on. It was completed so quickly and at an unknown cost that some experts are concerned it might not be as safe as the current 'Air Force One' aircraft. Air Force fast-tracked effort skipped some planned upgrades for the next generation presidential jet to deliver an interim model sooner. Officials said that?it met presidential standards. In a Friday statement, Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink stated that "the safety and security for the commander-in-chief is our top priority." "We meticulously evaluated each requirement from the start to ensure delivery was expedited while maintaining the high standard expected for the presidential mission." The U.S. government accepting the 747 luxury from Qatar raised concerns about it being an excessively expensive gift. Trump said it would be "stupid", to reject the offer, if critics were to voice their concerns. Experts said that retrofitting a luxury aircraft required upgrades in security, communications to prevent eavesdropping and missile defense capabilities. The conversion, according to Democratic Senators, could cost over $1 billion. It also poses security risks. The Qatari aircraft is being used as a temporary bridge while Boeing delivers two 747-8s built to Boeing's specifications under a $3.9billion fixed-price agreement signed in 2018 The program is currently four years behind schedule and delivery will not be until mid-2028. This delay could leave Trump without a new plane by the end of his presidency in January 2029. Boeing's program has cost more than $5 billion. The company posted $2.4 billion of charges against the earnings from the project. The new color scheme is a departure from President John F. Kennedy’s white and two-tone?blue?design. The Air Force has revived the red, white, and blue color scheme that Trump originally pushed but was scrapped by 2022 when it determined darker colors would cause overheating. The new livery, which includes red, white and dark?blue, will also be applied on the VC-25B, the military designation of the Boeing 747-8, and four modified Boeing 757 200s, used to transport vice presidents, cabinet members, and other senior officials. (Reporting from Washington by Mike Stone; Jarrett Renshaw, additional reporting; Stephen Coates, Edmund Klamann and Stephen Coates)
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Multiple injuries reported after two trains collided north of London
The British Transport Police said on Friday that it was responding to media reports about a major collision between two trains, 60 miles north-east of London. Media reports claimed the incident resulted in'multiple injuries. The video was posted on Facebook and showed what appeared to be the front of a train intertwined with the?back of another train, both of which were still on the track. The East of England Ambulance Service sent multiple resources, including an air ambulance, to the accident on the rail south of Bedford and advised people to avoid that area. In a post to X, Heidi Alexander, the Transport Minister said she was "deeply worried"?by the reports of this collision. Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service reported that crews were on the scene of a?railway incident just south 'of Bedford and also asked the public to stay away. East Midlands Railway said that it would not be able to run any services into or out of London until the end of today, while Thameslink reported that all lines between Luton and Bedford had been blocked because of an investigation. (Reporting and editing by Louise Heavens, Kate Holton and Sam Tabahriti)
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Airport security takes action as World Cup fans gorge on ranch dressing
The Transportation Security Administration has issued friendly advice for those who wish to bring home ranch dressing after visiting the United States to watch the World Cup. The 'TSA' decided to issue a helpful warning after receiving numerous posts on social media from fans who love Ranch dressing. They wrote on Instagram: "If you are visiting a large sporting event, and you discover RANCH during your stay... pack it into your CHECKED BAGGAGE on the way home." If you are travelling within the U.S.A., keep all carry-on sauces to 3.4 ounces (100ml or less) and put any larger containers into your checked bags. Some heroes wear 'capes. Some heroes wear?capes. The TSA told travelers to avoid throwing away their ranch dressing before reaching security because airlines will check it for them. Trevor Stynes reported, Ed Osmond edited.
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Iraq wants to increase oil production from the southern fields by 3 million barrels per day within 1-2 months
Iraq's state news agency reported Friday that it expects oil production to reach three million barrels of oil per day from its southern fields within one to two months. The report was based on a spokesperson for the Oil Ministry. Iraq exports around 3.6 millions barrels of crude oil per day. Before the Iran War, around 3.4million bpd passed through its southern Basra terminals. Iraq has also suffered a decline in oil revenue as a result of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the U.S. - Iran War. Iraq used to export its fuel oil from the Gulf port Khor al-Zubair. But the conflict has forced the country to seek other routes, after the strait closed and the storage facilities started filling up. Saleem al Rikabi, a spokesperson for the Iraqi Oil Ministry, said that there was no set timetable to restore exports to their previous levels. This is because production capacities and reservoir conditions differ from field to field. The minister said that the ministry is prioritising associated gas, condensates and liquefied gases, and added that tanker activity and restoring export capacity would be progressed along with production recovery. Iraqi oil officials had earlier stated that the country has increased its crude oil production by 250,000 barrels a day from its southern fields to 1.75 million barrels a day, as more tankers are loading crude from Iraq's ports. Iraq plans to increase production to 2 million barrels per day within the next few days, according to officials. Reporting by Muayad Haeed in Baghdad, Aref Mohammed Basra. Writing by Muhammad Al Gebaly. Editing by Louise Heavens & Alistair Bell.
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Ryanair extends CEO O'Leary's Contract to 2032 and offers a EUR150 million Bonus
The budget airline announced on Friday that Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair, has extended his contract until 2032. This deal includes a bonus plan which could pay the 65-year old Irishman over EUR150 million ($172 millions). Ryanair announced last month that negotiations to extend O'Leary's tenure to nearly 40 years had almost been concluded. O'Leary, who took over as CEO of the airline in 1994, has been the driving force behind the company's growth from a regional carrier to Europe's biggest by passenger numbers. If O'Leary remains with the group through April 2032, he would be able to buy 10 million shares for EUR26.70 a share if the annual 'profit' reached EUR4 billion. Or if the price of the share exceeded EUR42 on 28 consecutive days. Ryanair posted a record-breaking full-year profit after taxes of EUR2.26bn last month. At 1315 GMT its share price was EUR25.70, and the strike price of the agreement represented the market price prior to the Middle East conflict. The airline stated that achieving these ambitious targets would add substantial value to all Ryanair's shareholders. O'Leary did not answer directly an analyst last month when asked if this extension would be his last. O'Leary is expected to make up to EUR100 million from a previous share option plan after Ryanair hit the share price target he set in his last contract. O'Leary claimed that the payout was a good deal compared to footballers' salaries. The airline said O'Leary's compensation, which includes a "modest annual salary" and a "capped annual bonus", would be presented to shareholders at the annual general meeting in September for approval.
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Although there are questions about Iran's transit conditions, oil shipments to Hormuz have increased.
The United States and Iran signed a ceasefire agreement on Friday, and Gulf producers are preparing to increase exports in spite of concerns about the conditions set by Tehran. Washington and Tehran have released the text for an interim agreement that was signed on Wednesday, to end the conflict. Donald Trump has warned that he will resume his attacks and "target Iranian officials" if the commitments made are not kept. MarineTraffic reports that at least four tankers with crude oil, oil products, and liquefied gas headed for Iraqi Gulf port entered the strait Friday. After being delayed by war, a Japanese crude tanker left the Strait of Hormuz and was headed for Japan. Separately Indian-flagged crude oil supertankers DeshVibhor, and DeshVaibhav began their voyages to India through the Strait of Hormuz after days' worth of disruption. VESSELS SWITCH TO SIGNALS WHEN TRAFFIC RETURNS After weeks of hiding their movements by turning off transponders, ships resumed broadcasting their positions as they passed through Hormuz. AXS Marine data revealed that 25 commercial crossings were made through Hormuz in June 18 – the highest number of crossings on a single day since April 18, and five times the average daily count of the first 10 months of June. The traffic is still well below pre-conflict levels of 120 crossings per day. Gulf oil producers are already active in the tendering process. Kuwait Petroleum Corp. is tendering crude oil for delivery in July, according to a document published on Friday. This comes after the lifting of force majeure, and plans to increase production. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company issued its fourth bid this month. The U.S. lifted its formal blockade on Iranian ports Thursday. The Joint Maritime Information Center, a U.S. Navy-led organization, said late Thursday that "mariners should be aware of the presence?of mines" and to expect naval activity as the clearance?operations proceed. The scheme was admonished to vessels because of the dangers associated with mines. The United Nations shipping agency adopted the scheme in 1968 and established routes through Iranian waters. Braemar, a ship broker, said that the risks ranged from mines to getting stuck in the Mideast Gulf if tempers flared and Iran blocked Hormuz again. The deal allows Iran to charge fees for managing Hormuz Transits after 60 Days. SHIPPERS WORRY ABOUT IRAN'S CONDITIONS Switzerland announced that U.S. and Iran talks on a broader pact of peace would not be held on Friday, while Vice President JDVance cancelled a scheduled visit. This underscores the uncertainty surrounding a lasting solution. Iran has tightened its control on shipping. State TV reported that vessels must coordinate transit with the Revolutionary Guards Navy. Ambrey, a British maritime security company, said that Iranian forces had ordered a tanker flying the flag of Hong Kong and a bulk carrier flying the Saint?Kitts?and Nevis to?turn around on Thursday. Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority stated in an undated message circulated among the maritime industry within the last 24 hour and seen by that "no vessel will be allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz unless it has a valid permit issued by the PGSA". The PGSA has also stated that it reserves the right, if necessary, to impose insurance fees on shipowners, requiring them to renew their coverage and obtain insurance. Shipping industry rejects any toll or fee system imposed on international waterways. According to United Against Nuclear Iran (which monitors Iran related tanker traffic), a flotilla of 10?Iranian flagged supertankers with close to 20,000,000 barrels of crude oil was sailing?from Iran’s Chabahar Anchorage in the Gulf of Oman to Asia, likely to teapot refineries located in China. Charlie Brown, UANI's senior advisor, said: "There appears to be no hot potato issue regarding unilateral American sanctions." (Reporting and editing by Louise Heavens, Florence Tan Siyi Liu Renee Maltezou Nidhi verma)
Azov fighters from Ukraine were expelled from Mariupol. Now, they are retaliating
The rebuilt Azov Regiment is determined to make Moscow pay for its occupation four years after it surrendered Mariupol's last corner to the?Russians.
Azov's bitter defeat of May 2022, when hundreds of its fighters died or were captured, turned it into a symbol for endurance in Ukraine. It paved the road to its return in a stronger and bigger force. It is now focusing once more on its hometown?on Azov sea.
According to the Kyiv military, drones from the First Corps Azov flew across the sky above the city's strategic port last week. The operation targeted electrical substations and repair facilities, as well as a sanctioned vessel, and plunged the entire port into darkness.
I was able confirm the location of certain parts of a video posted by the Corps.
The attack was part a larger strike campaign by Ukraine against Russian military infrastructure deep behind the front lines, in an attempt to crush Moscow's war machines and turn the war in Kyiv’s favor.
Col. Arsen Dytryk, First Corps Azov chief of staff, said there would be many more operations like this to show off the unit's technology, planning and capabilities.
He admitted that it would be a long game to drive Russia out of Mariupol. The city is 120 km behind the front lines, which are barely moving.
"If it takes twenty years, we'll spend that time planning, waiting and preparing," said Dmytryk (32), who was one of those captured by Russia, then freed later. "But we have to be prepared when the time comes. I think we will return (Mariupol).
It's only a matter of time.
The Russian defence ministry didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment.
"MORE IS COMING"
The port attack, conducted by Ukraine's SBU security services and drone forces, was just a few mile from the destroyed steel mill, where Azov fighters, and other troops, surrendered following Moscow's three month siege of the city.
This was after months of strikes in Russian-occupied areas of eastern Donetsk, including Mariupol. The aim was to disrupt Russian supply routes to the front.
The Corps posted footage of its operations on April 16, including drones flying over fields and highways in Donetsk before crashing into army vehicles.
A second post from May 8 shows drone footage of central Mariupol and heavily damaged Azovstal Iron and Steel Works. This is the site where the Ukrainian garrison will make its last stand in 2022.
"Azov has already begun patrolling Mariupol, its hometown. "From the skies -- at least for now," said it.
A recent investigation found that Russia is trying to consolidate its grip in the occupied south of Ukraine by constructing new infrastructure in the city, which had a population of more than 400,000 prior to?the conflict.
Kyiv’s foreign intelligence service reported in January that Russia is expanding Mariupol’s seaport to become a key hub for its economy while pursuing showcasing construction projects within the city, at the expense of ordinary residents.
The authorities of the region in Russian-occupied Donetsk didn't immediately answer questions about this article.
CUTTING CRITERAL SUPPLIES
Azov is the main target of Ukraine's "middle-strike" campaign. Its goal is to choke off enemy cargo, especially fuel, heading from Russia via key nodes such as Mariupol and Donetsk City, according to a drone officer.
He said that the constant movement of trucks on vast open roads made them hard to defend. "There is no way to conceal a fuel tanker." It's impossible.
He said that the routes being attacked include the M14 connecting Mariupol and the Russian city Rostov in the east; the H20 running north from Mariupol towards Donetsk; and a ring-road around Donetsk.
Ukraine's military has also intensified its strikes against the logistics along the "landbridge" that connects Russia and Crimea in southern Ukraine, an area occupied by Russia. These attacks have caused fuel shortages across the peninsula.
Robert Brovdi, Ukraine's top commander of drones, spoke to the media last week and pledged to "isolate Crimea within the near future" by mounting strikes on P-280.
Azov strikes are "cumulative, rather than decisive", Franz-Stefan Gady said, a Vienna-based expert at the Center for a New American Security. They force Russia's military to disperse their vehicles by longer detours, and to resort to night driving.
He added that this "degrades" the offensive pace Russia can generate on the battlefield over time.
Russian forces are close to capturing Kostiantynivka - the southern anchor in the "fortress belt" of the Donetsk Region, which Moscow demanded Kyiv surrender. Russian drone teams also continue to hammer Ukrainian battlefield logistics.
In recent months, however, the overall speed of Russian advance has slowed down to a crawl. Ukrainian forces have gained ground in some areas of the front.
Rob Lee, senior fellow at U.S. based Foreign Policy Research Institute said Kyiv’s mid-range strikes could "test the condition" for Ukraine and possibly Azov to go on the offensive.
This is one of the biggest stories of this past year: How does Russia handle Ukraine's Middle Strike Campaign? He said.
Future Operations
Azov uses the AI-assisted Hornet, a drone developed by Perennial Autonomy in the United States. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt founded this firm.
Lee said that Corps operators had modified the device by installing Starlink Internet Terminals to extend its original range of 100 km. This innovation demonstrated the technical expertise of this unit.
He said that Azov had been responsible for many of the improvements made to the Hornet.
Dmytryk, chief of staff of the?corps, explained that by raining drones down on the roads to and from Mariupol the?corps was working towards a major objective: speeding up the end of the fighting, which he hopes will see over 700 of his fighters released from Russian prisons.
Kyiv makes a prisoner exchange that is all for everyone a key part of any deal. In Kyiv, and in other major cities there are frequent "Free Azov", or "Free Azov," rallies. This reflects the unit's heroism in Ukrainian society.
Denys Prokopenko, the corps commander, said last month on X that releasing his comrades in arms was "my priority and a question of honour".
Azov is vilified in Russia for its origins as a nationalist group. Today's Azov, however, is a far cry away from the scrappy, volunteer battalion which liberated Mariupol in 2014 from pro-Russian rebels, or from the fragmented regiment in 2022.
Formerly under the National Guard it is now viewed as a premier combat force, and one of Ukraine’s "most advanced" formations in drone warfare, according to defence analyst Olena Khryzhanivska, of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute.
The unit claims that it has grown to include tens thousands of soldiers.
"When we were captured, the Muscovites said that they wanted us to be destroyed, destroyed, and then again, destroyed," said Dmytryk whose callsign is "Lemko". "But their 'destruction,' somehow keeps scaling up Azov." (Editing by Daniel Flynn and Mike Collett White)
(source: Reuters)