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New York governor says World Cup prime target for drone attacks
New York Governor Kathy Hochul demanded on Monday that President Donald Trump boost federal defenses to combat drone attacks. She said events such as the World Cup and U.S.250th Anniversary celebrations were "prime targets." She said that the New York area would be a focal point for many high-profile events next summer. These include the World Cup, the flotillas of Tall Ships and International Naval Review as well as the largest Macy's ever fireworks show. Hochul wrote in a Monday letter to Trump that "we need a comprehensive federal policy which not only improves the detection of drones at a national level, but also offers robust and multi-layered mitigation strategies." She said that the government must do more to protect "critical infrastructure" such as population centers, utilities and military assets. Hochul called on the White House to act, citing several incidents that occurred last year as well as the increasing use of drones during the conflict in Ukraine and in other trouble spots in the world. The White House made no immediate comment. The White House did not immediately comment. The FIFA World Cup Final will take place on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford New Jersey, approximately 13 miles away from New York City. Hochul stated that an attack on New York's strategic military infrastructure and critical infrastructure poses a grave danger to the United States. The federal government is not prepared and is poorly positioned to detect and mitigate drone threats. States are also hampered by a lack in legislative authority, and by actions by the Federal Aviation Administration. Michael Kratsios of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy said last month that Trump is also looking to deal with the "growing threat of terrorists and foreign misuse of UAVs in U.S. airspace." airspace." He stated that the country is "securing its borders from national security threat, including in airspace, with large public events like the Olympics and World Cup on horizon." Los Angeles will be hosting the Olympics during the summer of 2028. (Reporting and editing by David Shepardson)
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Iranian lawmaker: Strait of Hormuz is still being reviewed, and no decision has been made yet about closing it
In comments carried on Monday by Iran's official media, Esmail Kosari, a hardline Iranian legislator, said that any closure of Strait of Hormuz is still being reviewed but that no decision has been made. Kosari was quoted by the Iranian Parliament as saying, "Military actions concerning the Strait of Hormuz are complete, but a decision has not yet been taken regarding its (closure). The matter is still being reviewed." He did not specify what military measures may have been in mind. During the 12-day air conflict between Israel and Iran, speculations were made about the possibility that Iran would close the waterway through which a fifth or so of the world's oil and gas shipments travel. The Strait is located between Oman, Iran, and the Gulf of Oman in the south. It also connects the Gulf to the Arabian Sea. Iran has threatened to shut it down for years, but never actually followed through with that threat. Kosari continued, "We are currently reviewing the situation and can implement whenever necessary." Reporting by Parisa hafezi and Elwely Elwelly, Editing by Toby Chopra & Alison Williams
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Farmers say that more sun is needed to boost the main cocoa crop in Ivory Coast.
Farmers said that although rainfall was below average in the main cocoa-growing areas of Ivory Coast, soil moisture was sufficient to maintain strong flowering. Ivory Coast is the top cocoa producing country in the world. Its rainy season officially runs from April until mid-November. The pace of flowering was described by growers as the fastest in the last three years. The trees were healthy, and the green leaves indicated that they are in good health. However, more sunlight is needed to increase the main crop from October to March. Farmers are expecting a good main crop harvest, but warned that the weather conditions in August and Septembre will be crucial, as cloudy skies, lack of sunshine, or excessive rainfall could cause disease, and reduce yields for harvests from October to March. The trees are in full bloom. "We need more sunlight because the air has a cool temperature," said Kouassi Kouame a farmer in the west. Last week, the area received 3.7 millimeters of rainfall, which is 25.8mm less than the average for the past five years. In the east, Abengourou and Agboville, rains were also below average. Farmers in the region said that enough pods will be harvested by mid-August, and they expect an early start to their next main crop. Farmers in central and centre-western Daloa, Bongouanou, and Yamoussoukro regions, where rainfall is below average, say that more sunlight is crucial to the development of young fruits. Emile Kassi is a farmer near Daloa where last week's rainfall was 16.8 mm less than average, 6.1 mm. The average weekly temperature ranged between 23.6 and 26.6 degrees Celsius. Reporting by Loucoumane Courlibaly, Editing by Ayen deng Bior
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Traders say that although the price of Russian Urals oil has fallen, new sanctions could change this.
In July and August, freight rates for Russian oil from Baltic Sea ports into India fell as more tankers became available. However, this could change in the future if new sanctions were imposed against Moscow, according to two traders. The European Union has finalised its 18th package of sanctions against Russia. This may include a price cap for Russian oil. The cap was introduced in 2022 and bans the trade of Russian crude oil transported in tankers at a price above $60 per barrel. The EU could decide to tighten the price caps in its new sanctions and push oil prices below $60 per barrel. Early in April, the global oil price fell, pushing the price of Urals Crude in Russia's port below $60 per barrel. This allowed more Western shipping companies, including freight, to resume their services for Russian oil. Costs for shipping Urals oil to India from the Russian Baltic Sea port of Primorsk or Ust-Luga dropped to $5 to $5.3 million, per one-way shipment, using an Aframax oil tanker. This tanker can carry up to 730,000 barrels, in average, down from $5.5 to $5.7 million between June and July. Data showed that the price of Urals oil was below $60 per barrel last week. Donald Trump, the U.S. President, plans to make "a major statement" about Russia on Monday. This has led to speculation that it could include a possible strengthening of sanctions against Moscow. One trader said that the Russian oil market has been "frozen" ever since Friday last week, following this announcement. After the new round of U.S. energy sanctions announced in January, rates for shipping Russian crude oil rose dramatically. Russian oil sellers had to find new tankers to replace the vessels that were affected by the sanctions. The cost of shipping Russian crude oil from Baltic ports to India was between $4.7 and $4.9 millions in early January. Reporting by Jane Merriman (Editing by Jane Merriman).
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Air India CEO: Investigation into Ahmedabad crash raises questions
Air India CEO, in a memo dated Monday, said that a preliminary investigation into last month's crash of an Air India passenger plane which killed 260 people raised additional questions and that the investigation was far from being concluded. According to the preliminary report released on Saturday by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, confusion was present in the cockpit just before the Boeing Dreamliner crashed. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson stated in a memo that the report "triggered a whole new round of speculations in the media... It provided greater clarity as well as opened up additional questions." He said: "The preliminary investigation has not yet concluded, and I urge everyone to refrain from drawing premature conclusions." The memo stated that the preliminary report had found no mechanical or other maintenance issues and that all necessary maintenance was completed. Shortly after takeoff, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner departing from Ahmedabad in India bound for London began to lose thrust. It sank shortly thereafter. The 242 passengers and 19 people on the ground, except for one, were all killed. In the final moments of the flight, a pilot is heard asking another pilot on the cockpit recorder why he has cut off the fuel. The report stated that "the other pilot replied that he had not done so." The report added that both fuel cutoff switches on the plane's engines were flipped nearly simultaneously but did not specify how. The preliminary report did not suggest any immediate action by Boeing or GE whose engines were installed on the aircraft. ALPA India, the Indian pilots' representative at the Montreal-based International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations (IFALPA), has denied any presumption of a pilot's error and demanded a "fair fact-based investigation". Campbell wrote in his memo that "the pilots had passed the mandatory pre-flight alcohol breathalyzer and there were not observations regarding their medical status." Sumeet S. Sabharwal (56), the pilot in command of the Air India aircraft, had 15,638 total hours of flying experience. According to the Indian Government, he was also an Air India Instructor. Clive Kunder was his co-pilot, a 32-year old man with 3,403 total hours of experience. Air India is under increased scrutiny in multiple areas following the crash. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency announced on July 4 that it would be investigating Air India Express after a report revealed that the airline had failed to replace engine parts in an Airbus A320 within the timeframe required and falsified documents to show compliance. (Reporting by Aditya Kalra in New Delhi and Chandini Monnappa in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Hritam Mukherjee; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Raju Gopalakrishnan and Aidan Lewis)
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Air India CEO: Investigation into Ahmedabad crash raises questions
Air India's CEO stated in a Monday memo that a preliminary investigation into last month's crash of 260-passenger Air India jet raises more questions and that the investigation is not over. According to the preliminary report released on Saturday by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau, there was confusion in the cockpit just before the crash of Boeing Dreamliner. Air India CEO Campbell Wilson stated in a memo that the report "caused a new round speculations in the media... It provided greater clarity as well as opened up additional questions." He said: "The preliminary investigation has not yet concluded, and I urge everyone to refrain from drawing premature conclusions." The memo stated that the preliminary report had found no mechanical or other maintenance issues and that all necessary maintenance was completed. Shortly after takeoff, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner departing from Ahmedabad in India bound for London began to lose thrust. It sank shortly thereafter. The 242 passengers and 19 people on the ground, except for one, were all killed. AAIB's report states that in the final moments of the flight, a pilot could be heard asking another on the cockpit recorder why he had cut off the fuel. The report stated that "the other pilot replied that he didn't do so." The report added that both fuel cutoff switches on the plane's engines were flipped nearly simultaneously but did not specify how. The preliminary report did not suggest that Boeing or GE would take immediate action, whose engines had been installed on the aircraft. ALPA India, the Indian pilots' association at the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations in Montreal, has denied any presumption of error by a pilot and demanded a "fair fact-based investigation". Campbell wrote in his memo that "the pilots had passed the mandatory pre-flight alcohol breathalyzer and there were not observations regarding their medical status." Sumeet S. Sabharwal (56), the pilot in command of the Air India aircraft, had 15,638 total hours of flying experience. According to the Indian Government, he was also an Air India Instructor. Clive Kunder was his co-pilot, a 32-year old man with 3,403 total hours of experience. Air India is under increased scrutiny in multiple areas following the crash. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency announced on July 4 that it would be investigating Air India Express after a report revealed that the airline had falsified documents to show compliance and failed to replace engine parts as required. (Reporting by Aditya Kalra in New Delhi and Chandini Monnappa in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Hritam Mukherjee; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Raju Gopalakrishnan and Aidan Lewis)
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Sources say that the Caspian Pipeline increased oil exports in June by 8% from May.
CASPIAN PIPELINE CONSORTIUM RAISED OIL EXPORTS IN JUNE BY 8% FROM MAY TO 6.177 MILLION TONS - TWO SOURCES Two industry sources said on Monday that the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which transports oil via Russia's Black Sea Terminal from Kazakhstan, increased its exports in June by 8% compared to May. Last month, the oil exports via CPC's pipeline increased to 6.177 millions metric tons or 1.63million barrels per day. The consortium that handles over 80% of Kazakhstan's oil exports does not comment on the production activity. Sources said that only oil exported from Kazakhstan via this route increased to 5.580 millions tons last month from 5.386 in May as the country ramped production up to match a record monthly high. CPC, which includes Chevron, ExxonMobil and other shareholders, expects oil exports this year to be down by 2.6% compared to the initial plan of 74 million tonnes. Reporting by
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The rupee has fallen to a two-week-low on the back of corporate dollar bids and outflows
As traders reported, the rupee fell below 86 dollars per Indian rupee on Monday, its lowest level for more than two months. This was due to corporate dollar demand, and equity related outflows. The rupee ended the day at 86.9850 per dollar, down by 0.2% from Friday's close of 85.80. The currency had a low earlier in the day of 86.0475, its lowest level since June 25, The rupee was under pressure from the dollar demand of a large Indian conglomerate, as well as other companies. This is in addition to possible outflows from Indian equity markets. India's benchmark equity indices, the BSE Sensex, and Nifty 50, both declined by 0.3% even though most regional peers were ticking higher. The common currency and stocks in Europe both fell after U.S. president Donald Trump threatened to levy a 30% tax on imports from the region over the weekend. This heightened his ongoing trade conflict. The S&P 500 Futures fell 0.3%. Investors see the threats as a Washington negotiating strategy to force the other side into a deal, ING stated in a report. India is one of the few major U.S. trading partners who have yet to receive a tariff notice. Indian negotiators will be returning to the U.S. for a second round of negotiations, centered on differences over auto parts, steel, and farm products. Amit Pabari is the managing director of FX advisory firm CR Forex. He said that "all things considered, the chances of rupee gaining more ground are limited". Pabari believes the rupee will face resistance at the 85.40 to 85.50 level. India's consumer price inflation data is due later today. According to a survey of 50 economists, benign food prices and high base probably helped Indian inflation to slow down to a more-than-six-year low in June at 2.50%. (Reporting and editing by Eileen Soreng; Jaspreet Klra)
Uber, Lyft drivers utilize Teslas as makeshift robotaxis, raising security issues
A selfdriving Tesla carrying a. guest for Uber rammed into an SUV at an. crossway in rural Las Vegas in April, an accident that. triggered brand-new concerns that a growing stable of selfstyled. robotaxis is making use of a regulative gray location in U.S. cities,. putting lives at risk.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk intends to show off plans for a. robotaxi, or self-driving cars and truck used for ride-hailing services, on. Oct. 10, and he has actually long considered a Tesla-run taxi network. of autonomous vehicles owned by individuals.
Diy variations, however, are currently multiplying,. according to 11 ride-hail chauffeurs who use Tesla's Complete. Self-Driving (FSD) software application. Many say the software, which costs. $ 99 monthly, has limitations, but that they utilize it because it. helps in reducing chauffeurs' stress and for that reason permits them to work. longer hours and make more money.
Reuters is very first to report about the Las Vegas mishap and. a related questions by federal safety officials, and of the broad. use by ride-hail drivers of Tesla autonomous software.
While test versions of self-driving taxis with human backup. drivers from robotaxi operators such as Alphabet's. Waymo and General Motors' Cruise are heavily regulated,. state and federal authorities say Tesla chauffeurs alone are. responsible for their automobiles, whether or not they utilize. driver-assist software application. Waymo and Cruise utilize test versions of. software application categorized as totally self-governing while Tesla FSD is. classified as a level needing motorist oversight.
The other driver in the April 10 Las Vegas mishap, who was. required to the medical facility, was faulted for failing to yield the. right-of-way, according to the cops report. The Las Vegas. Tesla driver, Justin Yoon, stated on YouTube the Tesla software. stopped working to slow his vehicle even after the SUV emerged from a. blind area produced by another automobile.
Yoon, who publishes YouTube videos under the banner Task. Robotaxi, remained in the motorist's seat of his Tesla, hands off the. wheel, when it got in the intersection in a rural part of. Las Vegas, according to footage from inside the vehicle. The Tesla. on FSD browsed the vehicle at 46 miles per hour (74 kph) and did not. initially sign up a sport-utility automobile crossing the road in. front of Yoon. At the last moment, Yoon took control and turned. the cars and truck into a deflected hit, the footage shows.
It's not perfect, it'll make errors, it will most likely. continue to make errors, Yoon stated in a post-crash video. Yoon and his passenger suffered small injuries and the car was. amounted to, he stated.
Yoon discussed using FSD with Reuters before he openly. published videos of the mishap but did not respond to requests. for remark afterward.
Tesla did not respond to ask for comment. Reuters was. not able to reach the Uber passenger and other chauffeur for. comment.
Ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft responded to. questions about FSD by saying chauffeurs are accountable for. security.
Uber, which said it was in touch with the motorist and. guest in the Las Vegas accident, cited its community. guidelines: Drivers are expected to preserve an environment. that makes riders feel safe; even if driving practices don't. breach the law.
Uber also mentioned guidelines by Tesla which alert chauffeurs. who use FSD to have their hands on the wheel and be all set to. take over at any moment.
Lyft said: Chauffeurs concur that they will not participate in. reckless behavior.
GRAND AMBITIONS. Musk has grand prepare for self-driving software based upon the FSD. item. The innovation will act as the structure of the. robotaxi product software, and Musk envisions developing a. Tesla-run autonomous trip service using automobiles owned by his. clients when they are not otherwise in use.
But the motorists who spoke to Reuters likewise described crucial. drawbacks with the innovation, including unexpected unexplained. acceleration and braking. Some have actually quit utilizing it in complex. scenarios such as airport pickups, navigating parking lots and. construction zones.
I do utilize it, however I'm not completely comfy with it,. stated Sergio Avedian, a ride-hail driver in Los Angeles and a. senior factor on The Rideshare Guy YouTube channel, an. online community of ride-hailing chauffeurs with almost 200,000. customers. Avedian avoids using FSD while carrying guests. Based upon his discussions with fellow chauffeurs on the channel,. however, he estimates that 30% to 40% of Tesla ride-hail chauffeurs. throughout the U.S. usage FSD routinely. FSD is categorized by the federal government as a kind of. partial automation that needs the driver to be completely engaged. and attentive while the system carries out steering, velocity. and braking. It has come under increased regulatory and legal. examination with a minimum of two fatal accidents including the. innovation. But utilizing it for ride-hail is not against the law.
Ride-share services enable making use of these partial. automation systems in business settings, and that is something. that should be dealing with substantial scrutiny, Guidehouse Insights. analyst Jake Foose said.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Security Administration stated. it was aware of Yoon's crash and had reached out to Tesla for. extra information, however did not respond to specific. questions on additional policies or guidelines.
Authorities in California, Nevada and Arizona, which manage. operations of ride-hail business and robotaxi companies, stated. they do not manage the practice as FSD and other such systems. fall out of the purview of robotaxi or AV regulation. They did. not comment on the crash.
Uber just recently allowed its software application to send guest. location information to Tesla's control panel navigation system - a. move that helps FSD users, composed Omar Qazi, an X user with. 515,000 fans who posts using the deal with @WholeMarsBlog and. frequently gets public replies from Musk on the platform.
This will make it even simpler to do Uber trips on FSD,. Qazi stated in an X post.
Tesla, Uber and Lyft do not have methods to inform that a motorist. is both working for a ride-hailing company and utilizing FSD,. industry professionals stated.
While practically all major car manufacturers have a variation of partial. automation technology, most are limited in their capabilities. and limited for use on highways. On the other hand, Tesla. says FSD helps the car drive itself nearly anywhere with. active chauffeur supervision however very little intervention.
I'm thankful that Tesla is doing it and able to pull it off,. stated David Kidd, a senior research study scientist at the Insurance coverage. Institute for Highway Security. But from a security standpoint, it. raised a lot of hairs.
Rather of new regulations, Kidd said NHTSA ought to think about. supplying fundamental, nonbinding guidelines to avoid misuse of such. innovations.
Any federal oversight would need a formal investigation. into how ride-hail chauffeurs use all driver-assistance innovation,. not simply FSD, stated Missy Cummings, director of the George Mason. University Autonomy and Robotics center and a former consultant to. NHTSA.
If Uber and Lyft were smart, they 'd get ahead of it and. they would prohibit that, she stated.
Meanwhile, ride-hail chauffeurs desire more from Tesla. Kaz. Barnes, who has actually made more than 2,000 trips utilizing FSD with. passengers considering that 2022, informed Reuters he was anticipating. the day when he might leave the vehicle and let Musk's network. send it to work.
You would simply kind of take off the training wheels, he. said. I wish to have the ability to do that with this vehicle one day..
(source: Reuters)