Latest News
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Source: European major satellite venture needs more time to be finalised
Sources told us on Monday that it will take a few weeks to reach a framework agreement between Airbus, Thales, and Leonardo in order to form a major European satellite manufacturer. A person with knowledge of the situation said that key details are still being discussed and the boards of all three companies are trying to come up with a united position. The talks between the two aerospace companies hit a snag after Thales and Leonardo, who were already partners in the industry, asked for more patience. This was reported by French newspaper La Tribune. Leonardo has declined to comment. Thales didn't immediately respond to requests for comments. Airbus spokesperson: "Discussions are ongoing and confidential; it is still too early to comment on further." Airbus, along with the two other companies that own Airbus' main rival in satellite production, Thales Alenia Space have been in discussions for months about creating a new European venture in order to compete more effectively against rivals in China and the U.S. including Elon Musk’s SpaceX. The deal is aimed at combining Airbus Space Systems, Airbus Intelligence, and Leonardo's space activities. La Tribune reported last week that the talks had accelerated but they hit a last minute obstacle regarding how work share would be distributed amongst the three companies.
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President Kenya says Kenya will set up sovereign wealth funds and infrastructure funds
William Ruto, the President of Kenya, said that Kenya will set up a sovereign fund and an infrastructure funds to invest in important sectors, without repeating recent debt binges which have strained the public finances. After borrowing heavily to build infrastructure in the last decade, the East African nation now has one of Africa's highest debt-to-revenue ratios. We are establishing two important funds. Ruto announced over the weekend that he would be launching two funds: one, an infrastructure fund, and another, a sovereign wealth fund. He said that lawmakers have passed a law on privatization of state assets. This gives the government the opportunity to raise money to establish the two vehicles. He said: "As citizens responsible for the future, we have to think of them and keep something for them, so they can start tomorrow." The privatisation campaign will begin with the sale shares of Kenya Pipeline Company. This state-owned firm manages the transportation infrastructure for petroleum products in Kenya and neighbouring countries. Ruto stated that the share offer could raise up to 130 billion shillings (1,01 billion dollars). Ruto stated that the infrastructure fund would be used to boost agriculture, Kenya's largest economic sector. It will also be used to increase production so that some crops can be exported. The president also said that funds would be used to increase the production of electricity. Kenya has a capacity to generate 2,300 megawatts, but it needs a minimum 10,000 megawatts to industrialize. He said, "We have been stuck on a standard trajectory for far too long and this is why we don't make progress." Ruto didn't give any details about when the funds will become operational.
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In India's Darjeeling, heavy rains cause landslides and floods that kill 18 people.
Authorities said that the unrelenting rainfall in India's eastern mountain region of Darjeeling caused floods and landslides, which washed away roads, bridges and homes. In Nepal, 50 people died after flooding and landslides. Officials in the Indian state of West Bengal warned that as more information from remote areas came in, the death toll would likely rise. In a recent post, Mamata Banerjee said that two iron bridges had collapsed and several roads were damaged or flooded. Huge tracts of land... were inundated. She added that the districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong as well as Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar which have tea plantations were affected. H R Biswas is the regional weather chief in Kolkata, which is the capital of the state, and he said that more showers will be expected following the weekend's downpours, described as "extremely intense" in Darjeeling. Heavy rain caused traffic disruptions on the highways as a part of the iron bridge that crosses the Balason river linking Siliguri, in the plains, with Mirik in the hills collapsed. A local official in disaster management said that there were large amounts of debris on the roads. This made it difficult for rescuers to get to many areas. Darjeeling, a Himalayan hill station in the west of India, is famous for its tea. It also attracts tourists because of its spectacular views of Mount Kanchenjunga - the third highest peak on earth. Banerjee warned tourists to remain in place until they are safely evacuated. A spokesperson for the Armed Police Force stated that the number of deaths from floods and landslides across the border in Nepal has risen to 50. 37 people were killed in separate landslides on the Indian border in the eastern district Ilam. Bholanath Gurugain, a district official, said that rescuers were digging through the mud to search for survivors. They also cleared blocked roads, after landslides had washed homes away in several villages. (Reporting from Jatindra dash in Bhubaneswar, and Gopal Sharma at Kathmandu. Writing by Sudipto Ganuly. Editing by Clarence Fernandez.)
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Russia claims that a drone attack by Ukraine damaged the security office of Tuapse Oil Refinery
Authorities in the region said that overnight, drones from Ukraine targeted Rosneft's Tuapse refinery, located in southern Russia's Krasnodar Region. The drones caused a fire to break out at a building used by security personnel, but it was quickly put out. Ukraine has intensified its drone attacks on Russia's oil pipelines and refineries in the last two months, claiming that it is in response to Russia's attacks against its own energy infrastructure. The Russian military announced on Monday that their air defence units have been upgraded. Overnight, 251 Ukrainian drones flew over the Black Sea, 61 of which were over the southwest. One was heading toward Moscow. On the night of 6 October, drone debris fell onto the grounds of Tuapse Oil Refinery. The fire in the security building was quickly put out by local officials on Telegram. Two people were hospitalized and injured, they reported. The Tuapse export-oriented plant has a capacity of processing 240,000 barrels per day of oil (bpd). It produces naphtha as well as fuel oil, vacuum gasoline, and high-sulfur diesel. It supplies mainly China, Malaysia and Singapore. Andrew Osborn, Reporting and Editing
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NTB reports that a drone sighting temporarily disrupts the traffic at Oslo Airport, Norway.
Oslo Airport in Norway temporarily halted landings on early Monday morning after receiving a report about a drone near the airport. "One or two aircraft waited until the situation could be clarified." Avinor's spokesperson confirmed that no aircraft had left for alternate airports. Norwegian news agency quoted police as saying that they received a report at midnight from a Norwegian Air Pilot who thought he had seen three to five drones while approaching the airport. Avinor confirmed that there have been no more disruptions in air traffic. NTB reported citing the police that this observation was unverified. In recent weeks, drone sightings have caused chaos at European airports including those in Copenhagen, Oslo, and Munich. (Reporting and editing by Kim Coghill; Anna Ringstrom)
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Biya is set to serve his eighth term in Cameroon despite calls for him to step down.
Paul Biya announced his bid for an eight-term in July. He said that he heeded "numerous, insistent" requests to remain in office. However, this year's elections have also seen a number of striking calls for him to step down. The first was Catholic Archbishop Samuel Kleda who, on French radio at Christmas last year, said that it wasn't "realistic" for Biya continue in his job. Two cabinet members, from Cameroon’s northern regions with a high voter turnout, openly questioned Biya’s leadership ability. Brenda Biya (27), the daughter of the president, stated on TikTok that her father had "made too many people suffer". She urged Cameroonians, therefore, to vote him out. The post has been widely circulated among Biya detractors. The world's oldest leader of state, despite these criticisms and a number of economic and security challenges, stands a good chance of winning when the country that produces cocoa and oil in Central Africa goes to polls on 12 October. Analysts claim that he has been supported by factors which have kept him in power for over four decades. These include a patronage system entrenched, flawed electoral institutions and a loyal military. "The President has been able to enforce loyalty towards him and to the system... "Very few people within the system are willing" to challenge him. Arrey Ntui is a senior analyst at International Crisis Group. "When it's about the president, independent thinking is gone." It's just a single-line story. The president is in office, he can run again. That's all. Health Fears Overshadow Campaign Since he took over the presidency in 1982, he has maintained a tight hold on power. He replaced his former mentor Ahmadou Ahidjo who he forced into exile. He was able to survive a coup in 1984, and the first multi-party election in 1992 when he only won 3 points over the second-place candidate. Biya signed in 2008 a constitutional change that removed the two-term limitation for the presidency. In 2011, he won by large margins, and in 2018, he did the same. He dismissed his opponents' claims of intimidation and ballot stuffing. Biya could face a major obstacle in his health this time, as it has been for years. Last year, he was absent from the public eye for 42 days. Last year, the government banned the public discussion on the subject. Cameroonians are still struggling to access basic services, from water and roads to electricity and waste management. DOUBTS RAISED ABOUT THE FAIRNESS OF VOTES The ability of his government to influence the outcome of the elections could offset these vulnerabilities. A court declared ineligible in July the candidature of Maurice Kamto - Biya's main opponent who came second in 2018 - stating that the party he was registered to represent already supported another candidate. Human Rights Watch stated that the move "raises concern about the credibility of electoral processes." Kamto, who had denounced the results of the 2018 elections as fraudulent, was arrested by security forces in January 2019, after leading protests that were dispersed using live bullets. He was charged with insurrection before a military tribunal, which according to his lawyers could have resulted in the death penalty. However, he was freed in October 2019. The threat or actual arrest of an opposition member has been used to keep them weak for a long time. Officials in Cameroon claim they are only enforcing laws. Raoul Sumo Tayo is a senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies in Pretoria. He says that the fear of being sued for speaking up goes beyond the political classes. "When you get into a taxi in Cameroon you never know who the driver is." He said that people are afraid to talk because of the perception that intelligence agents are everywhere. The regime is empowered by the fact that many people in Cameroon want to see their kids grow. Reporting by Robbie Corey Boulet in Dakar, and Amindeh Atabong in Yaounde
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Auckland Airport welcomes regulator’s decision that an airport investigation was not necessary
Auckland International Airport welcomed on Monday the New Zealand Commerce Commission’s decision to not launch an official inquiry into airport regulations as Air New Zealand requested. In 2024, the country's flagship airline had called for an investigation, expressing concerns about Auckland Airport's plans to redevelop and its proposal that it partially fund the project by increasing airline charges. It also argued that the airport's price framework was not subject to sufficient regulatory oversight. The competition regulator announced on Monday that it concluded such a move would be unnecessary and add to costs for the sector. The airport operator has launched a 10-year NZ$5.7bn ($3.31bn) infrastructure programme to boost capacity and improve customer experience. Air New Zealand's claims regarding the future cost of infrastructure are speculative. Carrie Hurihanganui, Chief Executive Officer of Auckland Airport, said that they have relied on conjecture in order to place a price on our draft Master Plan. ($1 = 1.7245 New Zealand dollars) Reporting by Roshan Thomsen in Bengaluru, Editing by Cynthia Osterman & Diane Craft
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Rescue of hundreds of trekkers from the Tibetan side of Mount Everest
Rescuers guided hundreds of trekkers trapped by a blizzard in Tibet near the eastern face Mount Everest to safety, Chinese state-run media reported Sunday. The Himalayas were pounded by unusually heavy rain and precipitation. China Central Television (CCTV), reported that 350 trekkers reached Qudang on Sunday. Contact was made with the other 200 trekkers. This week, China's National Day holiday allowed hundreds of people to visit the remote valley of Karma that leads to the eastern Kangshung Face of Everest. The snowfall began in the valley on Friday night and continued throughout Saturday. CCTV reported that the remaining trekkers would arrive in Qudang over a period of time, with the help and guidance of rescuers arranged by the local authorities. According to a report earlier by the state-backed Jimu News, hundreds of local villagers had been deployed and teams of rescuers to remove snow that was blocking access to this area. Jimu News reported that almost 1,000 people were trapped. The CCTV report didn't mention if the local guides and staff who supported the trekking groups had been found. Also, it was unclear whether or not trekkers in Tibet near the north face Everest had also been affected. Due to its easy accessibility by paved roads, the north face of Everest regularly attracts large numbers of tourists. The peak season is October, when the skies clear after the Indian monsoon. According to announcements posted on the official WeChat account of Tingri County Tourism Company, the sale of tickets and entry into the Everest Scenic Area was suspended as of late Saturday. Heavy rains in Nepal's south have triggered flash floods and landslides that have washed out bridges, blocked roads and killed 47 people. 35 people were killed in separate landslides that occurred in the eastern Ilam District, which borders India. Nine people are reported missing, after they were swept away in floodwaters. Three others died in lightning strikes in other parts of the country. (Reporting from Casey Hall in Shanghai, and Ryan Woo at Beijing; Editing and Lincoln Feast by Louise Heavens and Lincoln Feast)
U.S. aims to target China's grip over global ports with sweeping maritime missions
According to three sources who are familiar with the plan, U.S. president Donald Trump's government is on a quest to weaken China’s global network ports and bring in more strategic terminals to Western control.
This is part of an ambitious effort by the United States to increase its maritime influence. It is also designed to alleviate growing concerns in Washington about being at a disadvantage in the event of conflict with China.
The people said that Trump administration officials believed the U.S. Commercial Shipping Fleet was ill-equipped to support the military during wartime and Washington's dependency on foreign ports and ships is excessive.
Three people have said that the White House may consider supporting Western or American firms to purchase Chinese stakes at ports. The three people did not name any firms, but cited BlackRock's proposal to buy CK Hutchison's port assets in 23 countries including Panama Canal as a good case study.
They asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the issue.
Requests for comments from the White House or U.S. Treasury were not answered.
Sources say that, in addition to Panama, U.S. officials are also concerned by Chinese holdings of maritime infrastructure, including in Greece, Spain, the Caribbean and U.S. West Coast Ports.
A spokesperson for the diplomatic mission of China in Washington stated that China has a normal level of co-operation with foreign countries within international law.
The spokesperson stated that "China has been against unilateral sanctions, which are illegal and unjustified. This includes so-called long arm jurisdictions and actions that violate and undermine the legitimate rights and interest of other countries through economic coercion and hegemony.
Beijing officials did not reply to our request for comment.
The U.S. Government views Chinese investments in ports around the world as a threat to national security, said Stuart Poole Robb, founder and chief intelligence officer of KCS Group.
He said that he was concerned about China using its assets to espionage or gain a military advantage, or disrupt supply chains in times of geopolitical crisis.
GREEK PORT IN CENTRAL FOCUS
Three sources confirmed that the U.S. will examine Chinese interests in the Greek Port of Piraeus. Piraeus, located in Athens in the eastern Mediterranean region, is an important hub for trade routes linking Europe, Africa, and Asia.
COSCO, one China's largest port and shipping group, owns 67% of the Piraeus Authority.
Sources close to Chinese shipping investors in Greece have expressed concern that Washington could target COSCO operations in Greece.
COSCO and Greek government have not responded to comments. Greek officials previously stated that they were not informed of any plans to take control of Piraeus.
Washington has already set COSCO as a target.
In January, the Department of Defense included state-owned COSCO on its blacklist of Chinese military-linked companies. The designation does not entail immediate bans for U.S. businesses doing business with the listed companies, but it can be interpreted as a sign that further actions are being considered.
The Development Research Center of the State Council (an official think-tank of China’s governing cabinet) said in a recent paper that the United States intended to attack China’s international influence through exaggerating the ‘China threat theory’ and use this excuse to force allied countries to choose sides in supply chain agreements.
The U.S. Administration has announced measures to increase America’s small commercial maritime presence in the world. This includes encouraging domestic shipbuilding. It also wants to expand access U.S. controlled shipping registries and review global maritime chokepoints to assess shipping risks.
China has a vast network of ports that it owns or leases through its state-controlled companies, such as China Merchants in Shanghai and SIPG.
A report by the Council of Foreign Relations (a U.S. think tank) published last year stated that China, through its various companies, had invested in 129 ports projects around the world as of August 2024.
According to U.S. Navy estimations, China's shipbuilding capacity is 230 times greater than that of U.S. shipyards, so it may take decades for the U.S. to catch up.
The U.S.'s maritime push has contributed towards tensions between the U.S. and China, who see port and shipping assets integral to their Belt and Road initiative. This is at a moment when both superpowers have already been at odds over trade and tariffs.
MEDITERRANEAN GATEWAY UNDER REVIEW
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission began a review in March of seven chokepoints on the maritime route. It stated that it wanted to identify "regulations, policies or practices" that create unfavourable conditions for shipping.
This review examines the Strait of Gibraltar which separates Spain and Africa at the entrance of the Mediterranean Sea.
Two sources claim that the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's desire to strengthen trade relations with China has caused Washington to be concerned about Beijing's access its ports.
When asked to comment on Chinese port investments, a spokesperson for the Spanish Foreign Ministry said: "We do not know of any concerns or approaches from third parties in this regard and it is therefore not appropriate for us comment."
A spokesperson for the Spanish Port Authority confirmed that COSCO holds concessions to operate container ports in Valencia and Bilbao.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has taken a number of steps to increase U.S. power over the oceans.
In April, he signed an executive directive to revitalize shipbuilding capacities to expand the U.S. controlled vessel fleet.
His administration is looking at a proposal for a new shipping registry to be established in the U.S. Virgin Islands. This registry would allow vessels to fly a U.S. flag without meeting the more stringent standards of the U.S. domestic registry.
The U.S. will soon start charging Chinese-built or Chinese flagged vessels fees when they call at U.S. port.
Trump also wants to seize the semi-autonomous Danish Greenland territory, which is close to the Arctic and has important shipping routes.
Sources familiar with the plans say that this is the most ambitious attempt by the U.S. since Richard Nixon tried to boost domestic shipbuilding, commercial ship registry and U.S. maritime power.
Poole-Robb, a KCS analyst, said that the U.S. will likely continue to build alliances and partnerships in order to counter Chinese economic growth and power in the near to medium term.
CARIBBEAN SHIPMENT CONCERNS
According to three sources, the United States is also concerned about Chinese investments in Jamaica's Kingston Terminal, which is a major maritime transhipment hub for the Caribbean because of its location and deep water port facilities.
China Merchants owns a share in the company that operates Kingston's container port, along with France's CMA CGM. JISCO, a Chinese metals company, bought the Alpart refinery west of the capital and Port Kaiser in 2016.
According to a June study by the Center for Strategic & International Studies, China's presence at Kingston posed the biggest security threat for the United States of all Beijing port projects in Latin America & the Caribbean.
On a visit to Kingston in March, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, described China's strategy as being characterised by "predatory practices", using government-subsidised companies to "underbid everybody" and acquire assets.
A State Department spokesperson responded to Rubio's remarks by saying that the presence of untrusted equipment in critical infrastructure around the world, such as ports, increased the risk for U.S. security.
Jamaica's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade spokesperson said that it was unaware of any U.S. communication about the reduction in China's influence on the Caribbean nation's maritime trade.
During the first Trump administration, there was some resistance to Chinese investment in the area.
Bruce Golding, former Jamaican prime minister who brought Chinese investment to the Caribbean nation, said: "I expect that the U.S. will increase pressure on us to reduce our engagement with China."
COSCO, on the other hand, has invested with local partners at the ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach, the United States. The White House has not responded to a question about COSCO's U.S. investment.
A senior executive at the Chinese operator of Darwin Port said that the U.S. firm Cerberus in Australia, founded by U.S. deputy secretary of defense Stephen Feinberg has expressed interest in purchasing the lease.
Anthony Albanese, the Australian Prime Minister, has promised to return the strategic port in the north to Australian ownership. He also reiterated this position during his July visit to China.
Albanese's Office referred to Albanese’s previous comments.
A U.S. official of defense, when asked to comment on the matter, said that Feinberg had not participated in any discussions or made any decisions about any acquisitions in which his former company might be interested.
Since the end of the term of President Joe Biden, Democratic and Republican legislators have scrutinized China's ownership of its ports. A U.S. Port official who is familiar with the issue confirmed this.
Carlos Gimenez said in February that the United States cannot and will not stand by as Communist China undermines our interests at ports.
(source: Reuters)