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Google sues LATAM Airlines in US over Brazilian YouTube video dispute
Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet, sued LATAM Airlines, based in Chile, in a U.S. Federal Court in San Jose, California, on Thursday. The tech giant was seeking a ruling that Brazilian courts could not force it to remove a video posted in the United States accusing a LATAM worker of sexually abusing an American child. Google said in the lawsuit that LATAM had tried to "make a run around" the protections of free speech in the U.S. Constitution, by suing Brazil to force removal of the video worldwide. LATAM's spokespersons did not respond immediately to a comment request on Google’s allegations. Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda stated in a press release that the company "has long supported the legal concept that courts within a particular country have jurisdiction to decide what content is available there, but not on content that should be made available in other countries." In February, the right-wing social media firms Trump Media and Rumble sued a Brazilian court for ordering them to remove accounts in the United States of a prominent supporter of ex-Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. In the case, a federal judge ruled that the companies did not have to comply with the Brazilian order in the United States. According to Google’s lawsuit, U.S. Citizen and Florida resident Raymond Moreira uploaded two YouTube videos of his 6-year old son in 2018. The videos detailed allegations of sexual abuse the child claimed he experienced while traveling as an unaccompanied Minor. In 2020, Moreira filed a lawsuit against LATAM for the alleged abuse in Florida. The settlement was confidential. LATAM sued Google Brazil in 2018, seeking to remove the video on YouTube, which Google owned. Next week, a Brazilian appeals court will decide whether it has the power to order Google worldwide to remove the video. Google has asked a California court to declare on Thursday that LATAM can't force Google to remove videos in the United States. In a separate case, the Supreme Court of Canada upheld in 2018 an order that Google remove certain search results from worldwide. In 2017, a California judge stopped the U.S. implementation of that order. Blake Brittain, Washington; David Bario and Will Dunham edited the story.
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Seat 11A is the safest seat on an airplane. Experts say no.
A passenger's survival after escaping through an exit just seconds after the crash of his Air India plane, which killed everyone on board, has led to speculation about whether or not his seat 11A is the most safe. Aviation experts claim that it's not as simple as you might think. Aircraft have different seat configurations. Crash situations are also unique. And survival is often dependent on the complex interaction of many factors. Mitchell Fox, director of Flight Safety Foundation in the United States, said that each accident is unique and that it's impossible to predict survival based on seat position. Viswashkumar said that his 11A seat on the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner, bound for London and crashed in Ahmedabad last Thursday was close to an emergency exit. He managed to get out. It's possible to survive an accident by sitting next to the exit door, but that doesn't mean it will always be 11A. There are dozens of different configurations for aircraft. Ron Bartsch of Sydney-based AvLaw Aviation Consulting said that the seat was the most safe because it was adjacent to the emergency exit. The Boeing 787 is configured in a specific way that makes it 11A. Popular Mechanics' 2007 study of crashes from 1971 showed that the survival chances of passengers at the rear of the plane were better. Some experts believe the wing section provides more stability. Ramesh was fortunate to have sat next to the exit, which allowed him to be the first person out of the aircraft after the crash. However, some exits do not work. He said that the opposite side of his plane was blocked by a wall from a building he crashed into. A panel that was missing several bolts blew away from the side of a Boeing 737 MAX in mid-flight last January, creating a large hole and damaging the seat next to it. The incident was not fatal because no one was in the seat at the time. It may be faster to get out of an aisle seat, but you are more likely to be hit by the luggage that falls from the overhead bins. This is a far more common event than major accidents. SAFETY BRIEFINGS Experts say that paying attention to the safety briefing before a flight, which is often overlooked as routine, will increase your chances of survival. The lives of 379 passengers and crew on a Japan Airlines flight last January were saved by a strict adherence to cabin crew evacuation instructions, which included leaving bags behind. Five of the six crew on the smaller plane were killed when the Airbus A350 collided at Tokyo's Haneda Airport. The safety briefings usually include important instructions, such as how to secure your seatbelt, adopt the correct brace posture and plan your escape route. It is a good idea to count the rows between your seat, and the closest exit. This is important if there is a lot of smoke in the cabin and visibility is poor. Fox stated that despite tragedies such as the Air India accident, plane designs have improved to make it more likely for passengers to survive a rare plane crash. There are also floor lighting, extinguishers and fire detection, a reduction in cabin materials that can ignite and an improved access to the emergency exits. Fox stated that "there have been remarkable advances in aircraft cabin design which have improved the survival of accidents on the ground or near it." (Reporting from London by Joe Brock and Lisa Barrington; editing by PhilippaFletcher).
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Police report that a survivor of the Air India crash jumped from an emergency exit.
Viswashkumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the 242 passengers on board the Air India flight that crashed on Thursday in Ahmedabad, was sitting near the emergency exit and managed to jump from the plane, according to police. The 40-year old told Indian media from his hospital bed that he is a British citizen and was traveling to Britain with brother after visiting his family in India. When I got up there were dead bodies all around me. I was terrified. I ran. I saw pieces of the plane everywhere. Ramesh said to Hindustan Times that someone grabbed me, put me in the ambulance and took me to hospital. Ramesh's ability to jump from the plane before it hit was unclear. On Indian news channels, a man was seen in a white tee-shirt with bloodstains and dark pants limping down a street while being assisted by a medic. The man was covered in bruises and had a goatee, similar to the photos of Ramesh taken by local media after his accident. Could not verify the video in which the man was surrounded by people who asked him "where are the other passengers?" He replied, "they're inside." The Hindustan Times published a photo of Ramesh’s boarding card online, which showed him sitting in seat 11A on the plane heading to Gatwick Airport. He told the newspaper that his brother Ajay was seated in another row of the plane, and asked the paper for help finding him. Vidhi Chaudhary is a senior officer of the Ahmedabad police. She said that Ramesh was close to the emergency exit, and he managed to escape the building by jumping through the emergency door. Ramesh was rescued by a member of Ramesh’s family in Britain who asked to remain anonymous. The family is in contact with him and he has survived, the person said. Ajay Vagi, Ramesh's cousin who lives in Leicester (central England), told the BBC Ramesh called to confirm that he was okay. Valgi told the BBC that Ramesh only confirmed he was okay. Valgi stated that the family hadn't heard about his brother. "We are not doing well. "We're all angry," he said. Ramesh has a son, and is married. The plane crashed into a medical school hostel near the airport at lunchtime, crashing in a residential neighborhood. It was the worst aviation accident in a decade. The crash killed more than 240 people. Some of the dead were on the ground. The police said that the previously reported death toll was incorrect due to double counting of body parts. The police said Ramesh is the only passenger who has survived so far, but that rescue efforts are still underway. Chaudhary stated that it is possible there are more survivors among those being treated at the hospital. Reporting by Shivam Patil in New Delhi, with additional reporting by Sachin Ravikumar in London, and Sumit Khanna from Ahmedabad. Editing by Alison Williams & Sandra Maler.
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The sole survivor of the Air India crash describes seeing other people die as he fled
The only survivor from the Air India crash, which killed over 240 people, said he couldn't believe he was still alive. He described seeing other people dying as he fled through a broken emergency door. Viswashkumar, Ramesh was seen limping in the street after the crash on Thursday, wearing a stained T-shirt and bruises all over his face. The social media footage of Ramesh - a British citizen of Indian descent - has been shown on Indian news channels ever since the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner exploded in a ball after it crashed onto a medical school hostel just moments after departing from Ahmedabad. In the British press, his escape was hailed as "the miracle of seat 11A". "I can't believe I survived." Ramesh, 40, told Indian broadcaster DD News that he thought he was going to die for a while. "But I opened my eyelids and realised that I was still alive. I unbuckled myself from the seat to escape. The air hostess (and others) died in front of me." Members of his family said that he was traveling with his brother Ajay who had been sitting in a different seat. Ramesh: "I tried to escape from the aircraft through the broken door. I succeeded." The building wall blocked the opposite side of aircraft, so no one could have gotten out. Ramesh was kept under observation at the Civil Hospital of Ahmedabad after suffering burns and bruises, according to an official who requested anonymity. "His escape... without any serious injury was nothing less than a miracle." "He also realizes this and is a little shaken by it," said the official. FAMILY HEARTBROKEN OVER BROTHER The police said that some people in the hostel as well as others on the ground died in the crash. On Friday, rescue workers searched for missing people in the charred building of the hostel and for aircraft parts to find out the cause of crash. Air India said that the investigation would take some time. Boeing said that a team is prepared to travel to India and assist in the investigation. Ramesh reported that the plane appeared to have come to a halt in midair during a few seconds after takeoff, and the cabin lights had been turned on. The plane crashed into the hostel with great speed. Hiren Kantilal, Ramesh’s cousin, said that they spoke with him by video call the morning before and were trying to arrange urgently to travel to India. Kantilal, when asked about Ramesh’s brother, said: "We are heartbroken beyond words." Ramesh was visited by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the hospital on Friday. Modi had arrived in Gujarat, his home state, to visit Ramesh. (Reporting from Shivam Patel, New Delhi; Additional Reporting by Phil Noble, Leicester; Editing and Saad Sayeed by Alia Williams and Saad Saad)
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After Israel's attack on Iran, airlines suspend flights
International airlines have stopped flights to certain Middle East destinations following Israel's attacks against Iran. Here are a few airlines that have canceled flights in and out of the region. AEGEAN AIRLINES Aegean Airlines, a Greek airline, has cancelled all flights from and to Tel Aviv, including the early morning flight of July 12. It also cancelled all flights from and to Beirut, Amman and Erbil, up until the morning arrivals on June 28. AIRBALTIC AirBaltic, a Latvian airline, said that all flights from and to Tel Aviv were cancelled until June 23. AEROFLOT After Israel's attack on Iran, Aeroflot announced that it has cancelled flights between Moscow & Tehran and changed other routes throughout the Middle East. AIR FRANCE-KLM Air France has suspended flights to and out of Tel Aviv, until further notice. Dutch news agency ANP reports that KLM has cancelled flights to Tel Aviv for at least the month of July. AIR INDIA Air India reported that multiple flights are either being diverted to another destination or returning back to their original origin. A source at AJet confirmed that Turkish Airlines subsidiary AJet had cancelled all flights to Iran, Iraq, and Jordan until the morning of Monday. AJet will only operate flights into Lebanon during daylight hours, according to the source. The source said that AJet plans to fly to other parts of the Middle East, including Iraq, without using the affected airspace. Due to the closure of Israeli Airspace, Israeli Airlines has cancelled all flights until June 14, DELTA AIR LINES The U.S. airline warned that travel to, from or through Tel Aviv could be affected between June 12 and June 30. EL AL ISRAEL AIRLINES El Al Israel Airlines announced that it has suspended all flights to and out of Israel. Sundor flights have also been suspended by the airline. ETIHAD AERWAYS Etihad Airways has cancelled two flights from Abu Dhabi to Tel Aviv, and delayed four other flights. EMIRATES Emirates has cancelled all flights from and to Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Iran until the 15th of June. FLYDUBAI Flydubai has suspended its flights to Amman and Beirut. It also said that it will no longer fly to Iran, Israel, Damascus or Damascus. ISRAIR Due to the closure of Israeli skies, Israeli Airlines has cancelled all flights to and from Israel until June 15th. ITA AIRWAYS Italian Airlines has announced that it will extend the suspension of Tel Aviv flight until July 31, 2019. LUFTHANSA GROUP Lufthansa announced that it has suspended all flights from and to Tel Aviv, Tehran and Amman until July 31, and between Erbil, Beirut and Amman until June 20. Lufthansa said it will also avoid Iranian, Iraqi, and Israeli airspace at this time. PEGASUS Turkish Airlines announced that it has cancelled all flights to Iran and Iraq until June 19, and flights to Jordan and Jordan until the 16th of June. The airline said that it will only operate flights into Lebanon during daylight hours. QATAR AIRWAYS Qatar Airways has temporarily cancelled flights from and to Iraq and Iran. The flights to Damascus Airport in Syria will be cancelled up until June 14. RYANAIR Ryanair has announced that it will cancel flights from and to Tel Aviv up until August 31. Romania's flag airline said that it has suspended all commercial flights from and to Tel Aviv, Beirut, and Amman, until Monday, 16 June. TURKISH AIRLINES Turkish Airlines, along with other Turkish operators, have cancelled flights until June 16 to Iran, Iraq Syria and Jordan, according to the Turkish transport minister. WIZZ AIR Wizz Air announced on Friday that it would suspend all flights to Tel Aviv for 72 hours and, where possible, reroute them to other airspaces. (Reporting from bureaus, compiled by Agnieszka Olesnka, Elviira Loma, and Tiago Brancao, Editing done by Matt Scuffham, Alison Williams, and Alison Williams.)
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After Israel's attack on Iran, ships are warned to avoid the Red Sea and log their Hormuz journeys.
The Combined Maritime Force, a multinational force led by the United States, said that despite Israel's attack on Iran, merchant shipping continued to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, even though some shipowners wanted to avoid the area. Iran has threatened in the past to close down the Strait of Hormuz as a retaliation to Western pressure. The Strait of Hormuz could be closed, which would impact the global oil price and restrict trade. The Combined Maritime Force issued an advisory saying that the Strait of Hormuz was open, and commercial traffic continued to flow unhindered. It also said that the events of the previous day had increased the risk of regional conflict. Documents seen by revealed that Greece and Britain had advised their merchant ships to avoid sailing the Gulf of Aden, and to record all journeys through the Strait of Hormuz in the wake of Israel's attack on Iran. Jakob Larsen is the chief safety and security officer at the shipping association BIMCO. He said, "We've heard that ship owners are exercising more caution and opting to avoid the Red Sea and Persian Gulf." Larsen stated that if the United States was perceived as being involved in an attack, "the risks of escalation increase significantly". Such an escalation would include missile attacks against ships or the laying of seamines in the Strait of Hormuz. Israel claimed that it targeted nuclear plants, missile factories, and military commanders as part of an ongoing operation to stop Tehran from building a nuclear weapon. Iran denies that it has any such plan. The tanker shipping association INTERTANKO stated that "Hormuz, as a waterway without alternatives, is critical for the tanker trades. Any impediment to or threat against free shipping will have a significant impact on the global economy." According to a document sent by the Greek shipping association on Friday, Greek shipowners were asked to provide details of their vessels that are sailing through the Strait of Hormuz. Greek owners are in control of the largest tanker fleet in the world. The document stated that "due to the developments in the Middle East, and the escalation of militaristic actions in the region, the Greek Ministry of Shipping... calls upon shipping companies to urgently send... details of Greek owned ships sailing in maritime area of Strait of Hormuz," A separate document released by the UK transport ministry advised all UK-flagged ships, including the Gibraltar'red ensign'registries and Isle of Man's'red ensign'registries to avoid the southern Red Sea or Gulf of Aden. The advisory stated that vessels should adhere to the highest levels of security and limit the number crew members on board during voyages. Aspides is the European Union's navy in the Red Sea. It is operating as usual, but it is also monitoring the developments in the area, said an Aspides official. (Editing by Gareth Jones & Peter Graff).
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Finland concludes its investigation into Baltic Sea cable damage and suspects tanker crew
Police and the prosecutor announced on Friday that the Finnish prosecution is considering charging three senior officers from an oil tanker who are suspected of damaging underwater power and telecommunications cable in the Baltic Sea last December. The Cook Islands Eagle S, registered in Finland, is suspected by the authorities to have broken the Estlink 2 underwater power cable that connects Finland and Estonia last December as well as 4 internet lines. This was done by dragging the anchor across the seabed. The National Bureau of Investigation in Finland concluded its investigation of the damage Friday. In a press release, it said that three senior Eagle S officers were suspected of criminal mischief aggravated and interference with communications. Sami Liimatainen told the three crew members that they had done nothing wrong. After a series of failures of gas pipelines, power cables and telecoms in the Baltic Sea, there has been a high level of alertness for sabotage. However, subsea infrastructure can also be affected by technical problems and accidents. An attorney for Caravella LLC FZ in the United Arab Emirates, owner of the Eagle S said that he couldn't comment on behalf the crew, as he doesn't represent them. The crew's legal representatives could not be identified. The lawyer had previously stated that the ship's alleged damages to undersea gear occurred outside Finland's territory waters, and therefore Helsinki did not have jurisdiction to intervene. (Reporting and editing by Gareth Jones, Essi Lehto and Louise Breusch Rasmussen)
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As Israel attacks Iran, global airline and travel stocks fall.
The global airline stocks fell on Friday, as Israel's massive strikes against Iran triggered a surge of more than 9% in oil prices, and caused carriers to clear the airspace above Israel, Iran and Iraq, and Jordan. As a result of Iran's retaliation, travel and leisure stocks fell. This was due to fears of a disruption in oil supply at the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint that accounts for about a quarter of global oil consumption. Iran has threatened in the past to close the Strait to traffic as a retaliation for Western pressure. Helima Croft, an analyst at RBC, said that if oil gets caught up in the conflict between the Middle East and the United States, President Trump may seek spare barrels from OPEC to help keep prices down and protect U.S. consumer's economic impact. Flightradar24's data revealed that carriers were scrambling to cancel and divert flights. Patrick Scholes of Truist Securities, an analyst, said that higher oil prices will have a particularly negative impact on cruise lines because fuel is the second largest cost item after labor. Such macro-political concerns are never positive for travel agencies. As airlines have to detour and increase flight time, they are experiencing a strain on their profitability due to the rising number of conflict zones around the world. Delta Airlines of the United States, airBaltic in Latvia, Aegean Airlines of Greece, Ryan Air, and Air India, are just a few carriers who have cancelled or diverted their flights. Air France-KLM shares fell by more than 5% while Lufthansa, EasyJet and Lufthansa were all down at least 4%. Delta Air Lines (DAL), American Airlines (AAL) and United Airlines (UAL) all saw their stock prices drop between 4% to 5%. Richard Clarke is an analyst at Bernstein. He said: "There will be a global slowdown in the booking pace as we have seen after previous conflicts, and consumers are waiting to see what level of escalation there is." The shares of cruise operators like Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Corp and Booking Holdings were down between 2 and 4%. Online travel agencies Booking Holdings & Expedia also lost more than 2%. "Although the price of gas is increasing, it's not a tax for consumers. It's a cost to cruise operators and airlines, and that could affect spending on travel and other items," Dan Wasiolek said, an analyst at Morningstar Research. Conflict-related uncertainties boosted crude prices. Shares of U.S. majors Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and SLB rose between 1% and 3 percent, while Halliburton and SLB, oilfield service companies, increased by 3%. The shares of Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk, two European container giants, rose by 4% and 1,5% respectively. Frontline, Torm, and Euronav all gained over 2%. Reporting by Amanda Cooper, Tristan Veyet, Arunima, Aishwarya Jain, and Anuja, Bharat, Mistry, in Bengaluru. Editing by Alun, Arpan, and Shrey Biswas.
Air India plane crash - reactions around the world
Authorities said that more than 200 people died when an Air India flight bound for London, with 242 passengers on board, crashed shortly after it took off from Ahmedabad in western India.
What world leaders have said to date:
INDIAN PREMIER MINISTER NARENDRA MOTI, ON X
The tragedy in Ahmedabad shocked and saddened all of us. "It is beyond words."
I am thinking of everyone who is affected in this tragic hour. "I have been in contact with ministers and authorities working to help those affected."
BRITISH PREMIER MINISTER KEIR STAMMER, ON:
The scenes of the crash of an aircraft bound for London, carrying British nationals, in Ahmedabad city are heartbreaking.
"I'm being kept informed as the situation evolves and my thoughts are with passengers and their family members at this deeply distressing moment."
BRITAIN'S KING CHARLES, IN A STATEMENT ON X:
The terrible events that occurred in Ahmedabad early this morning have left my wife and me utterly shocked. We send our deepest sympathies and prayers to the families and loved ones of those who have been affected by this tragic event in so many countries.
U.S. SECRETAIRE OF STATE, MARCO RUBIO ON X:
"Heartbroken by the news of a tragic airplane crash in Ahmedabad (India). "My prayers are with those who have lost loved ones in this terrible incident."
PAKISTAN'S PRIME MINISTER SHEHBAZ SHARIF on X:
We are deeply saddened by the crash of Air India near Ahmedabad. "We extend our condolences and sympathy to the families who are grieving the loss of this tragic flight."
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those who have been affected by this tragic event.
The Vatican's Secretary of State, On X, said: "Deeply moved by the tragedy involving a Air India plane near Ahmedabad His Holiness Pope Leo XIV extends his deepest condolences and prayers to the family members and friends of the victims, as well as assurances of prayers for those involved in the recovery effort."
His Holiness invokes divine blessings for healing and peace on all those affected by the death of loved ones.
BANGLADESH CHIEF Adviser MUHAMMAD YUNUS IN A MESSAGE to MODI
We extend our condolences and deepest sympathy to the families of those who have lost loved ones in this tragic accident.
"We offer our full and unwavering support to the Government and people of India."
MARK CARNEY CANADA'S PRIME MINISTER, ON X : "Canada is deeply moved by the crash in Ahmedabad of a plane bound for London, with 242 passengers, including a Canadian." In the wake of this tragedy, Canadian officials are in constant contact with their counterparts. "Our thoughts are with those who have been affected."
URSULA VON DER LEEYEN, PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, ON X: “My deepest sympathies to the families and loved one's grieving this terrible death."
"Dear @narendramodi: Europe stands with you and your people in this time of sadness."
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN TO MODI IN AN OFFICIAL TEELEGRAM PUBLICED ON KREMLIN WEBSITE
Please accept my sincere condolences for the tragic effects of the airliner accident at Ahmedabad Airport. Please convey your sincere sympathies and support to families and friends of those who died, and wish a speedy recovery to everyone injured in the accident.
ITALIAN PRIME MINISTER GIORGIA MELONI, ON X:
"I express the condolences of both the Italian government and myself to the families of those who died and our complete solidarity with the Indian people at this time of great sadness."
PHILIPPINE PRESIDENT FERDINAND JR. ON X
"On behalf of Filipinos, I offer my deepest condolences and prayers to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government of India. My heartfelt sympathy also goes out to the loved ones and families of those who have lost their lives."
The victims should be remembered with dignity and the efforts to comprehend this tragedy must bring comfort to the people left behind.
FRENCH PREMIER EMMANUEL MACRONE, ON X
We have been deeply affected by the plane crash that occurred in Ahmedabad. "In this time of sadness, I send my heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of the victims and Prime Minister @NarendraModi."
AUSTRALIAN PREMIER MINISTER ANTHONY ALANESE, ON X
The news of the passenger plane crash in Ahmedabad was absolutely devastating. Australia is thinking of everyone who has been affected in this tragic time.
Our government receives regular updates, and we continue to closely monitor the situation."
IRISH PRIME MINISTER, MICHEAL MARTIN: "My prayers and thoughts are with the Indian people after the horrible plane crash that occurred in Ahmedabad today." I am thinking of the families and emergency services who are on the scene, as well as the passengers.
GENERAL SECRETAIRE OF BRITISH Airline Pilots' Association AMY LEVERSIDGE
Pilots from around the world are saddened to hear this. The British Airline Pilots' Association offers condolences for all the victims.
It is essential that a thorough and complete investigation be carried out now without any interference or unhelpful speculating about the contributing factors in order to avoid future tragedies." (Compiled by Hritam and Manvi Mukherjee in Bengaluru, edited by Andrew Heavens.)
(source: Reuters)