Latest News
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FedEx CEO informs staff that Frederick Smith, founder and executive Chairman of FedEx, has passed away.
FedEx Corp.'s former CEO Frederick Smith has passed away, according to a memo posted by the CEO Raj Subramaniam on the company website. Smith founded the global delivery conglomerate in the 1970s with more than 12 planes. Smith, born in 1944, was the executive chairman of FedEx until recently. He focused on issues of global significance, such as sustainability, innovation, and public policy. Subramaniam succeeded Smith as FedEx CEO in 2022. Subramaniam was the operations chief at that time. "Fred was much more than the founder of a great company and a pioneer in an industry. Subramaniam wrote in a memo to employees that "Fred was more than just the founder of our great company and an industry pioneer." Smith, a former officer of the U.S. Marine Corps who served in Vietnam, launched Federal Express with 389 team-members and 14 small aircraft that flew 186 parcels from Memphis to 25 U.S. city. According to its website, FedEx's operations include 705 aircraft and more than 200,000 vehicles. It also has about 5,000 operational facilities. FedEx employs more than 500,000 people worldwide who handle 17 million shipments per day. (Reporting and editing by William Mallard, Jamie Freed, and KanjyikGhosh)
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After the US attack on Iran, airlines continue to avoid Middle East airspace
FlightRadar24 reports that airlines continued to avoid the Middle East after the U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday. Traffic in the area was already skirting the airspace due to recent missile interchanges. FlightRadar24 posted on the social media platform X that "Following US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, commercial traffic is operating in the region as it has been since new airspace restriction were put in place last week," The website of the company showed that airlines did not fly in airspace above Iran, Iraq and Syria. The airlines have chosen to fly via other routes, such as the north via the Caspian Sea and south via Egypt and Saudi Arabia. This is despite higher fuel costs and crew costs. A growing number of conflict zones around the world are a threat to air traffic. Since Israel's strikes on Iran began on June 13, airlines have suspended flights for destinations in those countries. However, there have been some flights that evacuated Israelis from the country and others that brought them home. El Al Israel Airlines, the largest carrier in Israel, and Arkia announced on Sunday that they would suspend rescue flights, which allow people to return to Israel, until further notice. Israel's airports authorities said that the airspace of Israel was closed to all flights. However, land crossings between Egypt and Jordan were still open. The Japanese Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday that it had evacuated overland 21 people from Iran to Azerbaijan, including 16 Japanese citizens. The ministry said that this was the second evacuation of this kind since Thursday, and it will continue to do so if needed. New Zealand's Government said on Sunday that it would be sending a Hercules transport plane to the Middle East to be ready to evacuate New Zealanders. In a press release, it said that government personnel along with a C-130J Hercules plane would depart Auckland on Monday. It said that the plane would need a few days to arrive in the region. It added that the government is also in discussions with commercial airlines about how they can help. (Reporting from Sydney by Jamie Freed; Additional reporting in Jerusalem by Steven Scheer, Tim Kelly and Sam McKeith; Editing by SonaliPaul)
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After the US attack on Iran, airlines continue to avoid Middle East airspace
FlightRadar24 reports that airlines continued to avoid the Middle East after the U.S. strike on Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday. Traffic in the area was already avoiding the airspace due to recent missile attacks. FlightRadar24 posted on the social media platform X that "following US attacks on Iranian nucleonic facilities, commercial traffic is operating in the same way as before new airspace restrictions took place last week," The website of the company showed that airlines did not fly in the airspace above Iran, Iraq and Syria. The airlines have chosen to fly via other routes, such as the north via the Caspian Sea and south via Egypt and Saudi Arabia. This is despite higher fuel costs and crew costs. A growing number of conflict zones around the world are prone to missile and drone barrages, which pose a serious risk to air traffic. Since Israel's strikes on Iran began on June 13, airlines have suspended flights for destinations in those countries. However, there have been some flights that evacuated Israelis and others that brought them home. The Japanese Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday that it had evacuated overland 21 people from Iran to Azerbaijan, including 16 Japanese citizens. The ministry said that this was the second evacuation of this kind since Thursday, and it will continue to do so if needed. New Zealand's Government said on Sunday that it would be sending a Hercules transport plane to the Middle East to be ready to evacuate New Zealanders. In a press release, it said that government personnel along with a C-130J Hercules plane would depart Auckland on Monday. It said that the plane would need a few days to arrive in the region. It added that the government was in discussions with commercial airlines about how they could help. (Reporting from Sydney by Jamie Freed; Additional reporting in Tokyo by Tim Kelly and Sam McKeith; Editing by SonaliPaul)
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US B-2 Bombers, Bunker-Busters and Alternatives
On Saturday, the U.S. Air Force used stealth bombers B-2 Spirit to attack Iran's nuclear facilities. Donald Trump announced on Saturday that three Iranian nuclear sites had been struck by a "very effective attack". He added that Fordow, the crown jewel of Tehran’s nuclear program, was no longer there. The B-2 is America's most sophisticated strategic weapon platform, capable of entering sophisticated defenses and delivering precise strikes against hardened targets like Iran's network of buried nuclear research facilities. B-2 SPIRIT Specifications: The U.S. B-2 is the most expensive aircraft in history, costing $2.1 billion per unit. The bomber was made by Northrop Grumman and featured cutting-edge stealth technologies. Production began in the late 80s, but the fall of the Soviet Union curtailed its progress. After the Pentagon's planned program for acquisition was cut short, only 21 bombers were produced. With a range of 11,112 km (over 6,000 nautical miles), the bomber can strike anywhere in the world from U.S. continental bases. The B-2 is able to reach almost any target in the world with aerial refueling. This has been demonstrated on missions from Missouri, Afghanistan, Libya, and now Iran. The aircraft's payload of over 40,000 pounds (18.144 kg) allows it to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons. The internal weapons bays of the bomber are designed to keep stealth while allowing for large ordnance, which may include two GBU57A/B (Massive Ordnance Penetrator), as well as a precision-guided 30,000-pound "bunker-buster" bomb. According to reports, six bunker-buster bombs have been used at Iran's Fordow Research Site. Advanced automation systems allow the B-2 to operate with a two-pilot crew, reducing personnel requirements and maintaining operational effectiveness. Stealth technology on the B-2 includes radar-absorbing materials, as well as angular design elements that reduce detection by enemy air defence systems. The radar cross-section of the B-2 is said to be similar to that of a small avian, making it virtually invisible to conventional radar. MASSIVE ORDNANCE PENETRATOR (MOP), The MOP, which weighs 30,000 pounds, is the largest conventional bomb in U.S. military arsenal and was specifically designed to destroy hardened underground bunkers. The B-2 can only carry one or two MOPs on a mission due to its massive size. However, it has an unmatched ability to penetrate bunkers. Its length of 20.5 feet (6.25 m) and precision targeting system, which uses GPS guidance, allow for precise strikes on specific underground installations. The weapon's ability to penetrate concrete up to 200 feet makes it an effective weapon against even the most secure underground installations. ...............? Joint Direct Attack Munitions, or JDAMs, provide precision conventional strike capabilities to the B-2 against fixed targets. The GPS-guided weapons are able to be used in large quantities, and the bomber is capable of engaging multiple targets simultaneously with high accuracy. Joint Standoff Weapons (JSOWs) increase the engagement range of aircraft while maintaining stealth during approach. The B-2 can use glide bombs to attack targets outside of heavily protected airspace boundaries. Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles offer precision long-range strike capabilities with their stealth features. The JASSM-ER extended-range variant allows for strikes against targets more than 500 miles (805 kilometers) away. NUCLEAR PAYLOAD CAPACITIES The B-2 Spirit is a crucial component of America's nuclear triad. It can deliver strategic nuclear weapons with stealth, precision and accuracy. The aircraft is capable of carrying up to 16 nuclear bombs B83. (Reporting and editing by Margueritachoy and SonaliPaul)
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Eight people killed in hot-air balloon crash on Brazilian coast
State officials reported that eight people died after a hot air balloon crashed in the state of Santa Catarina on Saturday. The balloon was carrying 21 passengers including the pilot. According to the state fire department, the tourism balloon caught on fire in the early morning hours and crashed in a forest in the city Praia Grand. In Brazil, the city is one of the most popular places for tourists to go on balloon rides. Santa Catarina estimates that between 25 and 30 hot air balloons leave daily from Praia Grande during peak season. Most of these balloons can transport up to 25 passengers. According to the fire department, thirteen survivors were transported to hospitals nearby. According to a spokesperson for the fire department, CNN Brasil reported that none of these survivors' lives were in danger. In a message on X, Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva expressed his solidarity with the families who lost loved ones, and said that the federal government was available to the local and state authorities involved in the case. (Reporting and editing by Diane Craft, Franklin Paul and Andre Romani)
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Superyacht Bayesian of tech tycoon Lynch is lifted out of the water off Sicily Coast
Salvage experts pulled the superyacht of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch from the water Saturday. They plan to bring it to a Sicilian harbor for inspection. This is 10 months after the yacht sank near the coasts of Sicily and killed Lynch, his daughter, and five other people. The work had begun at dawn, when one of Europe's most powerful maritime cranes was used to lift the 56-metre (184-foot-long) Bayesian out from the sea. The upper decks of the Bayesian appeared to be badly damaged, while the blue hull had become encrusted in mud. It was found at a 50-metre depth on the seabed. Next week, Italian authorities will be able to inspect a luxury yacht in the nearby port Termini Imerese as they search for clues about a tragic accident that has baffled maritime experts. In August of last year, the Bayesian, moored near Porticello in Palermo's small port, sank suddenly during a storm. A British interim report last month said that the yacht was susceptible to violent winds, and was likely knocked down by gusts exceeding 117 km/h (73 miles/hour). The salvage team led by British company TMC Marine pumped seawater out of the vessel's hull. It was then elevated and surrounded by pollution containment barriers while more checks were conducted. Marcus Cave, director of TMC Marine, said: "This was an extremely complex and precise lifting and salvage operation that followed a step by step programme." The yacht will be transported to the port on Sunday, before being lifted onto a cradle made of steel on the quayside on Monday. The recovery process was made easier by the removal of the 72-metre mast using a remote controlled cutting tool. It was then placed on the seabed. The yacht capsized and killed Lynch, the founder of Autonomy software, his daughter Hannah as well as Chris Morvillo, his wife Neda and banker Jonathan Bloomer, Judy and Recaldo. Six guests and nine other crew members were saved. (Reporting and writing by Roberto Mignucci, Additional reporting by Wladimir Panttaleone, Danilo Aroni, Igor Petyx, Rosaura Bonafardino, Writing by Keith Weir, Editing by William Mallard.
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Air India is warned by India's watchdog for violating the pilots' duty hours
According to the government directives that were reviewed on Saturday, India's aviation regulator has warned Air India about "repeated serious violations" in relation to pilot duty schedules and oversight. Air India was ordered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to remove three executives from their crew scheduling roles – a divisional Vice President, a Chief Manager of Crew Scheduling and a Planning Executive – for lapses related to flights between Bengaluru and London on May 16-17 that exceeded the pilot flight limit of 10 hour. The order of June 20 cited "systemic failings in scheduling protocols and oversights", and criticized the lack strict disciplinary actions against responsible officials. The latest action taken by the aviation authority is not related to the crash of a Boeing 787-8 aircraft that took place this month, in which all but one person onboard died. However, it does signal increased scrutiny of the airline. The authorities warned Air India on Thursday for violating safety regulations after three Airbus planes were flown despite not having been checked for emergency equipment or escape slides. The latest order from Himanshu Srivastava as assistant director of operations for the DGCA said: "Of special concern is the lack of strict disciplinary actions against key officials who are directly responsible." Air India issued a press release stating that it had implemented the DGCA's order. In the interim, its chief operations officer would be responsible for overseeing the Integrated Operations Control Centre. Air India has committed itself to adhering to all safety protocols and standards practices. In its order, the DGCA noted that Air India had voluntarily reported the violations. Air India will be taken over by Tata Group 2022. It faces many challenges to rebuild its reputation after years of complaints from travelers about poor service. Like many regulators abroad, the Indian regulator fines airlines often for non-compliance. In February, the Indian government informed parliament that 23 safety violations were cited by authorities and fined or warned airlines. Air India Express and Air India were involved in about half (12) of the fines. Air India was fined $127,000 for "insufficient air on board" on some international flights. Aditya K. Kalra, Jacqueline Wong (Editing and Reporting)
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FAA reports Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center is experiencing a telecommunications problem
Federal Aviation Administration announced on Friday that Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center, located in Florida, is experiencing a communication issue which has led to a loss in radar, frequencies and automation equipment. According to the agency's statement, the center is still operating. It also added that the redundant equipment and telecommunications have not resulted in any loss of vital air traffic services. The FAA stated that L3Harris, the local exchange providers and other agencies have been contacted and initially identified the cause of the outage to be a cut fiber in Florida. The company said that the local exchange carrier was on-site and working to fix the problem. According to the FAA, this center covers an area of 160,000 square miles (414 400 sq km) and includes parts of Florida and Georgia. (Reporting and editing by Jasper Ward)
Minister says Turkey hopes to hold 5G auction in August
The Turkish transport and infrastructure ministry said that it hoped to conduct a 5G network tender in August. It also stated that mobile communication services were expected to begin next year.
In an Istanbul press briefing, Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said: "I believe we will conduct this tender in August, if there aren't any issues."
He added: "Instead covering the whole country in the first phase, I believe we will cover the densely-populated provinces (first), and roll out this gradual process within the program, as was the case with 4.5G."
Uraloglu, when asked about the impact of the conflict between Israel and Iran on the aviation industry, said that Turkish airlines currently have seven civilian aircraft in Iran and four more in Iraq because of the closure of airspace.
We are monitoring this through our Foreign Ministry and MIT (intelligence service). "We and the other countries concerned could not take this risk, given that air traffic in this area is extremely intense," Uraloglu stated.
He added: "At our first opportunity, we will bring them home." The planes, he explained, belonged to Turkish Airlines as well as its subsidiaries AJet, Pegasus Airlines, and Tailwind Airlines. (Writing Tuvan Gumrukcu, Editing Hugh Lawson).
(source: Reuters)