Latest News
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FBI arrests multiple suspects in Michigan attack plot
Kash Patel, FBI Director, said that multiple arrests were made in Michigan to stop a possible attack. He did not provide any further details. Two sources claim that five people were being interrogated on Friday. Patel wrote on X Friday that the FBI had foiled a possible terrorist attack by arresting multiple suspects in Michigan. They were allegedly planning a violent attack for Halloween weekend. Officials at the Justice Department said that the plot was expected to occur over Halloween weekend, and it was linked to international terrorism. Dearborn police, a suburb of Detroit, announced on social media on Friday that the FBI conducted an operation there, and that "there was no threat." (Reporting and editing by Scott Malone, Franklin Paul, Chizu Nomiyama and Scott Malone; Sarah N. Lynch & Andrew Goudsward)
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FAA delays flights as shutdown enters Day 31
Federal Aviation Administration delayed flights on Friday at airports in Austin and Newark, as staffing issues continue to cause delays and the government shutdown enters its 31st week. The FAA reported that there were staffing problems at nine FAA facilities on Friday, and said this was likely to cause delays in flights later for Houston and Dallas airports. Flight delays averaged 61 minutes in Nashville, 50 minutes in Austin and 101 minutes in Newark. FlightAware, a tracking website for aviation, reported that 2,200 U.S. flight delays and 300 cancellations had occurred as of 12:25 p.m. ET. On Thursday, there were 1,250 canceled flights and 7,300 flight delays in the United States. Sean Duffy, the U.S. Transportation secretary, said that he expected more flight delays to occur in the next few days. Duffy told Fox News' America's Newsroom that there would be more disruptions to the airspace this weekend, and the following week. Staffing shortages in air traffic control caused delays on Thursday at Orlando, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Washington, D.C. The shutdown forced 13,000 air-traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers to work for free. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and American Airlines have all called for Congress to pass a temporary funding bill so that the government can reopen, and to continue discussions on healthcare policy disagreements. Transportation Department officials said that the shutdown caused flight delays because of air traffic controllers' absences. The airlines have repeatedly called for an end to this shutdown, citing safety concerns. The shutdown has worsened existing staffing shortages and threatens to cause widespread disruptions. Even before the shutdown, many air traffic controllers were working six-day weekends and mandatory overtime. (Reporting and editing by Andrea Ricci; David Shepardson)
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Staff of the Border Force patrolling UK waters are planning a strike over pay
The union that represents British Border Force employees announced on Friday, more than 120 staff members who patrol Britain's waterways in "sometimes harrowing" roles plan to go on strike on November 14, to protest pay and working conditions. Most of the UK Border Force's 10,000 staff members work in ports and airports across the UK and abroad. The website of the agency does not provide a breakdown showing how many people are employed to patrol the waters in the UK. The union representing Britain's Public and Commercial Services said that the government started a review of the issue six years ago, addressing the need for standardisation in pay and roles. However, despite long discussions the concerns of the members have not been addressed. The UK interior ministry didn't immediately respond to an inquiry about the planned stoppage of one day or the status on the review. The union stated that workers are involved in dangerous tasks such as patrolling for illegal entry or smuggling into the UK and boarding vessels to inspect them, responding to incidents including small boats with asylum seekers, and boarding vessels for inspection. The Labour Party of British Prime Minister Keir starmer, which is trailing in the polls, has promised to crush the gangs that traffic migrants into Britain via small boats. Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, a populist party with a strong political agenda has also made illegal immigration a key issue. In a statement, PCS General Secretary Fran Heathcote stated that "this strike sends a message clear to the Home Office": We will not accept further delays or inadequate proposals. Heathcote said, "We are prepared to escalate the situation if needed." (Reporting and editing by Muvija m; Alexander Smith).
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Buffett will send a letter to his children and shareholders as well as Abel's annual letter, according to WSJ
The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that Buffett's assistant said Warren Buffett would release a letter on November 10 to his children and Berkshire Hathaway's shareholders. Greg Abel, who will become Berkshire Hathaway's chief executive in February, will write Berkshire Hathaway's annual shareholder's letter. Buffett will step down from his role as chief executive officer at the end this year. He will, however, remain chairman. Abel is a vice chairman of Berkshire but has taken on additional responsibilities since Buffett announced a management change during Berkshire’s annual meeting held May 3. Buffett plans to join other directors in the audience, and not on stage, for next year's meeting. Berkshire has not responded to any requests for comment since Friday. The Omaha-based conglomerate, which will announce its third-quarter results this Saturday. Buffett's letter of November 10, to his children Susie and Howard, and to shareholders is not clear. Buffett sent letters to his family in November 2023, and again in November 2024. In these letters he discussed estate planning. He also expressed gratitude for the opportunities that the U.S. offers. He announced four donations to family charities. Howard Buffett will eventually become the non-executive Chairman of Berkshire. New York Newsroom reported the story.
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Portugal announces that the sale of TAP Airlines has cross-party support
The government of Portugal expects that the partial privatisation process for flag carrier TAP will proceed smoothly. This is due to a rare political consensus across parties and interest shown by Europe's biggest airlines, Infrastructure Minister Miguel Pinto Luz stated on Friday. He stated that the centre-right minority government initially wanted to offer 100% of TAP but settled for 49.9% when the two major opposition parties threatened to stop any larger sale. This led to a “broad consensus” in parliament with the extreme right Chega and Socialist parties. He told a committee of parliament that "dialogue and mutual respect is always the best way for politics." To ensure transparency, the sale of the property will be reviewed and monitored by an independent commission as well as a working group within the parliament. Portugal has relaunched its long-delayed TAP privatisation in July. The aim is to sell a stake of 44.9% to a carrier that can bring global scale and competition, plus an additional 5% for TAP staff. Airlines interested in TAP are required to submit a formal "manifestation" of interest by November 21, and non-binding bids by the end the year. Lufthansa and Air France-KLM have expressed interest in purchasing TAP. British Airways and IAG, the owner of British Airways, also met with the government last year.
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KLM signs two-year contract with unions of ground staff
Dutch airline KLM announced on Friday it had reached a deal with five unions that represent ground staff in The Netherlands for a two-year agreement that included pay increases, bonuses and improved retirement options. The Collective Labor Agreement (CLA), which is retroactive to March 1, this year and ends on February 28, 2027, will be in effect. This includes a salary increase of 3.25 percent in total as well as a one-time payment of 500 euros ($583) net in December 2025, and 250 euros in January 2026. KLM has also agreed to permanentize the 80-90-100% scheme, which allows older workers to work 90% of their working hours and still accrue full pension. "We are happy that we reached an agreement with all five unions. We have reached solid agreements with KLM on remunerations, career development and productivity. The agreement came amid ongoing labor unrest in KLM. Two major unions, FNV and CNV, had rejected the September deal with other unions and continued to organize strikes.
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Tanzania opposition claims hundreds of deaths in protests against voting
Tanzania's main Opposition Party said that hundreds of people were killed this week in protests against elections throughout the country, while the government claimed it was restoring the order following "isolated" incidents. The United Nations has confirmed credible reports that at least ten people have been killed in protests across three cities. This is the first estimate of fatalities made public by any international body since the vote on Wednesday. The government hasn't responded to any requests for comment or released any estimates of casualties. Could not independently verify these figures. Since Wednesday, protesters have been taking to the streets in anger over the exclusion of the two main challengers to President Samia Hassan from the race. They also criticized what they called widespread repression. Police have been accused of using tear gas and firearms to disperse some protests, according to witnesses. The police have imposed a curfew overnight in Dar es Salaam's commercial capital over the last two nights, after burning down government offices and other structures. Since Wednesday, internet access has been interrupted. HIGH SECURITY PRESENCE On Friday, the military and police patrolled Dar es Salaam's streets to prevent people from moving without a valid excuse. The government has extended the order for civil servants to work from home. John Kitoka, a spokesperson of the CHADEMA Party which was banned from the elections for refusing to adhere to a code and whose leader was arrested in April for treason, said that the party has documented 700 deaths based on the accounts of health workers. He said that protests were still ongoing in several cities on Friday, but they had diminished in others due to heavy security deployment. He said: "We want the protests continue until we get our electoral reforms." Hassan faces a challenge in the unrest. He was praised for his easing of repression after taking office 2021, but has faced criticism more recently from opposition parties and activists following a series arrests and allegations of abductions. Hassan denies allegations of widespread human rights abuses. She claimed that she ordered an investigation last year into reports of abductions. However, no official findings were released. Thursday, the electoral commission announced provisional results of the election. Hassan won a majority in several constituencies. GOVERNMENT : "NORMALICY WILL RETURN" The first direct comments from her government on the unrest were made on Friday by the Foreign Affairs Ministry in a broadcasted message to diplomatic missions on state television. In the message, it was stated that "due to isolated incidents where law and order were violated, the government has increased security and taken other precautionary steps." The statement added that the security measures are temporary, but necessary. Normalcy is expected to return soon. Seif Magango, spokesperson for the U.N. Human rights office, told reporters in Geneva that there are credible reports of 10 deaths in Dar es Salaam and Shinyanga. He urged the protesters to remain peaceful and called for security forces to "refrain from excessive or unnecessary force". A Dar es Salaam local, who requested anonymity for safety, said that a family had lost a member when a protester was mistakenly shot outside a hospital. No one from the police department responded to our requests for comment. In a joint statement released on Thursday, two members of the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee called the election a fraud, saying that it "took place in an atmosphere of intimidation and fear". The article was written by Vincent Mumo Nzilani, George Obulutsa and edited by Aaron Ross. Ros Russell and Andrew Heavens.
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ITA Airways will resume flights from and to Tel Aviv on January 1, 2019.
Italy's ITA Airways has announced that it will resume direct flights to Tel Aviv on January 1. This will restore connections with Rome's Fiumicino airport, the main airport. According to the statement, the company, which is part of the Lufthansa Group, will operate at first two daily routes between Tel Aviv and the rest of Europe. The route is "of strategic importance to ITA Airways, and it represents a significant move for Italy. It further strengthens the commercial, cultural, and social ties between Italy and the United States." Hamas has reached a fragile truce with Israel this month, brokered by U.S. president Donald Trump. The deal is being tested periodically by violent outbreaks, as part of the conflict that was sparked by the October 7, 2020 attack by the militants group. As a result, several airlines have suspended flights in the past two years.
Ryanair sees much better momentum in bookings, raises having a hard time airline shares
Ryanair has actually seen better momentum in bookings given that last month and less require to cut costs, CEO Michael O'Leary told Reuters on Tuesday, adding that yearly profit was most likely to be slightly down on in 2015 but remained extremely strong.
His remarks provided reassurance after a tough few months for the industry. Shares in Ryanair spiked higher, also giving a. improve to rival European airline company groups including easyJet. , IAG, the owner of British Airways, Air. France-KLM and Lufthansa.
We think we are past the worst of the 'fare scare' which. hit European airline companies this summertime, provided the upward trend in. European macro signs, stated RBC analyst Ruairi Cullinane.
Other smaller sized European airlines have actually reported either slower. rate development or flat ticket rates as the post-pandemic travel. boom settled into something more comparable to routine demand.
Ryanair shares plunged in July after it reported ticket. rates had actually seen yearly falls of 15% in the three months to the. end of June, increasing worries of a weak summertime for Europe's. airlines.
Costs will likely be down 5-9% in the 3 months to the. end of September from the exact same period in 2015, O'Leary said,. with signs of enhancement in current weeks.
We were needing to discount rate greatly to hit our load aspect. goals. I think, from about August onwards ... there's a. better momentum of reservations, we're needing to discount rate less,. O'Leary stated, adding that smaller discount rates are expected up until. November.
O'Leary said the Irish provider was producing extremely strong. profits but yielded they might be somewhat down this year. versus the previous year in spite of traffic being up 8%.
AIRLINE COMPANY RATES STABILIZE
Other carriers stated they also saw a minor impact on prices. as travel demand stabilizes but have not been impacted as. significantly as Ryanair.
Latvian carrier AirBaltic, which is a rival to Ryanair, stated. that its ticket rates had also gone down, however that in turn its. reservations had actually risen, indicating earnings wasn't affected.
Airline company shares have broadly been down in the last 6. months, with some shortsellers targeting airline stocks provided. ongoing issues dealing with the sector.
Wizz Air, which was listed as one of the carrier's targeted. by shortsellers in a recent Hazeltree report, likewise said that its. prices had not been affected as highly, specifically provided the. hectic summer season. Summer season lags us - however we are still on positive. areas year-on-year, or a minimum of not on unfavorable. area, competing inexpensive provider Wizz Air's CEO told Reuters. on Monday.
BOEING TROUBLES CONTINUE
Ryanair is one of few European providers that has a mainly. Boeing fleet, making it especially vulnerable to ongoing. turbulence at the planemaker.
O'Leary warned that he was optimistic instead of. confident that Boeing would be able to provide on time the. airline's next huge aircraft order, limit 10.
Asked about a strike at planemaker Boeing which is involving. more than 30,000 workers in the United States, he stated he feared. hold-ups to shipments, although he was confident an agreement to. end it would be reached in the next three or four weeks.
Ryanair, Europe's biggest by traveler numbers, already has. 150 company orders for the MAX 10, the largest jet in the 737. household, and choices for 150 more, with the very first deliveries due. in 2027.
He stated Boeing informed Ryanair limit 10 was anticipated to get. certified in the 2nd half of 2025 and that made him. positive but not confident about the timing.
O'Leary stated Ryanair was not interested in taking control of slots. that will be quit at Milan's Linate airport to maintain. competitors following a prepared tie-up in between state-owned ITA. Airways and Lufthansa.
He explained Ryanair wished to accomplish stronger growth at. Milan's main airport of Malpensa - even more from the city -. particularly if EasyJet wanted to move more operations to Linate.
(source: Reuters)