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Airliners continue to avoid Iran & Iraq despite reopening of airspace
According to flight tracking sites, European airlines such as Wizz Air, Lufthansa and British Airways avoided the airspace of Iraq and Iran on Thursday. Instead, they chose routes through Afghanistan and Central Asia to reduce the risks associated with ongoing geopolitical instability in the Middle East and?Iran. Iran closed its airspace for nearly five hours, and then reopened it after that, on Wednesday, amid fears of a possible military conflict between the U.S.A. and 'Iran, which forced airlines to cancel or reroute flights. FlightRadar24 reports that despite the airspace being reopened, many airlines continued to use alternate routes, including Singapore Airlines and TUI. Many Western airlines changed their Middle East routings in the last two years. They flew more frequently over Afghanistan despite the Taliban's rule. On Wednesday, Germany issued "a new directive" warning its airlines not to enter Iranian airspace. This came shortly after Lufthansa revised its flight operations in the Middle East due to escalating regional tensions. Wizz Air's spokesperson stated on Thursday that some flights departing from Dubai or Abu Dhabi will be required to stop in Larnaca (Cyprus) or Thessaloniki (Greece) for refueling and crew changes. In recent months, carriers like Ryanair have shifted some of their routes away from the Middle East to avoid the turmoil around Israel, Iran and many other countries. Air France, for example, has avoided Iranian airspace for years. (Reporting and editing by Ed Osmond, Joanna Plucinska)
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Air India warns about possible disruptions on A350 routes following engine damage to jet
Air India has warned that possible disruptions to its A350 routes could occur due to engine damage sustained by one of their long-haul aircraft after it encountered "a foreign object" Thursday. Air India has six Airbus A350s that fly lucrative routes between India's New Delhi, London, New York, and Newark. This makes the airline susceptible to disruptions if an aircraft is suddenly grounded. The airline said that the damage occurred while the plane was taxiing through dense fog at New Delhi. The carrier did not provide any further information on the 'foreign object' or possible routes affected. Air India stated that the aircraft was currently grounded to allow for an investigation and repairs. This could cause disruptions on certain A350 routes. The plane was originally scheduled to fly to New York, but it was forced to return to its origin due to the temporary closure of Iran's airspace. After landing in New Delhi, the incident happened. Iran has reopened its airspace following a five-hour-long closure due to concerns about possible military action between the U.S.
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Maguire: Key trends in US energy and power at home and abroad
The U.S. Energy System has begun 2026 with more momentum and buzz than it's had in decades, despite all the policy whiplash. Electricity production in the U.S. is increasing faster than most other western countries, which allows utilities to provide more power to data centres, AI applications, and other fast-growing, energy-intensive technologies that are driving the U.S. economic growth. Overseas the U.S. will?cement its position as the world's largest and most influential crude oil and gas exporter. These commodities continue to support a vast majority?of global energy systems, and generate massive profits for the U.S. Treasury. The strong state of the U.S. Energy Sector is a testament to President Donald Trump’s "energy dominance", which will gain even more momentum in 2018 as new energy policies are implemented. Here are some key metrics for electricity production, fossil fuel exports and imports that will help you track the U.S. Energy Sector through 2026. GROWTH ELECTRIC Data from Ember shows that the total electricity generated by U.S. utilities in 2025 increased by 3% from the previous year. This is the second consecutive year where wholesale electricity output has shown a rise of 3% or more. This electricity growth rate is compared to an average annual rate of 0.3% over the last five years. It shows that utilities have increased their generation efforts. The increase in utility production was due to a 5% increase in the output of electricity from clean energy sources and a 1 % rise in outputs from fossil fuel power stations. The United States has a 3% growth rate in the total supply of?utility, compared to just a 0.2% increase in the total utility electricity generated in Europe last year. Europe is still gripped by sluggish economic growth due in part because of stubbornly high energy prices. The U.S. is on par with the global average for 2025 but falls short of China's 5% increase in utility electricity output. The U.S. utility industry is expected to increase electricity production in 2026. This will be due to the addition of solar and battery networks, as well as a planned restart of Palisades Nuclear Plant in Michigan. The federal government's decision to stop funding renewable energy projects could slow down the rate of growth in solar and wind power and, over time, affect the amount of electricity produced. OIL, GAS & COAL According to the Energy Institute, while clean power sources have gained a record-breaking share of U.S. electricity in 2025 fossil fuels will remain the mainstay of the U.S. system of energy and account for 83% of all U.S. total energy supplies. The fossil fuels will continue to dominate the energy mix with their record production in 2025, both of crude oil and of natural gas. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, crude oil production in the United States will average 13.6 million barrels a day by 2025. Dry natural gas production will average 107.4 trillion cubic feet a day. In 2025, coal output increased by around 5% compared to the previous year. However, the total U.S. production of coal remains below levels from a decade earlier due to the reduced use of domestic power generation. Natural gas is the main power fuel for the U.S. It accounts for about 40% of the electricity produced and is a major source of power and heat for the industry. In 2026, rising natural gas prices will be a result of increasing power consumption and record LNG export demand. This is expected to increase the extraction rate from gas wells. FOSSIL EXPORTS According to Kpler, the commodities intelligence firm, LNG was the U.S.'s energy export star in 2025. It shipped a record-breaking 252 million cubic metres. The total LNG exports for 2025 are expected to increase by 25 percent from the previous year, with further growth anticipated in 2026 due to the addition of new liquefaction capacities along the Texas coast and the Louisiana coast. The EIA estimates that U.S. total LNG exports will increase by 9% to 1.3 billion cubic foot per day (Bcf/d), and then reach 1.7 Bcf/d by 2027. It is not clear what will happen to U.S. crude exports by 2026. Exporters should have plenty of supplies, on the one hand. On the other, the robust production combined with a relatively flat domestic crude demand suggests that they will be able to meet their needs. Kpler says it is still unclear whether exporters can?ship more than the 1,38 billion barrels that they exported in 2025. They will also have to deal with increased supplies from Venezuela after the U.S. ousted Venezuelan President Maduro this month. The U.S. coal exports are also being pressured by the declining demand for coal globally and increased competition from Indonesian, Australia, Colombian, Russia, and South Africa. All of these countries have shorter trade routes with major importers. Even if coal exports are flat in the long run, output and consumption of coal in the power sector will likely increase in 2026. The U.S. Energy Sector is expected to have a strong year in 2020, with continued growth in LNG, record crude oil exports and near-record production. These are the opinions of the columnist, an author for. You like this article? Check it out Open Interest The new global financial commentary source (ROI) is your go-to for all the latest news and information. ROI provides data-driven, thought-provoking analysis on everything from soybeans to swap rates. The markets are changing faster than ever. ROI can help you keep up. Follow ROI on You can find us on LinkedIn.
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Mumbai Airport, Adani and Ambani's billionaire Ambani fight over mobile networks
According to a letter obtained by, Mukesh Ambani’s telecom company has urged the government to take action?over what it calls monopolistic practices in Gautam Adani’s new Mumbai airport, which they claim is blocking mobile operators from providing connectivity. Adani's Navi Mumbai International Airport has denied the allegations. However, the dispute highlights India's growing rivalry among the two richest men in the country, whose conglomerates are increasingly competing across sectors, from green energy centres to data centers. The airport on the outskirts of Mumbai began operating in December, after it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Adani has eight airports in his portfolio, and plans to add more. After spotting the billboards offering free Wi-Fi at airports, passengers raised concerns about privacy and poor mobile coverage. TELECOM OPERATORS REQUIRE ACCESS TO INFRASTRUCTURE AT AIRPORTS In a letter dated January 13, Cellular Operators Association of India sent to the Indian government, it stated that Adani's Airport'must grant access' to install equipment, as required by Indian regulations, including airports. Navi Mumbai International Airport stated that it has deployed "state-of the-art solutions", and that operators can partner with a company managing the airport's network infrastructure within buildings. COAI, the company that represents Ambani Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, as well as Vodafone Idea, has said it will not comment on anything beyond its letter, which is private. Both the companies and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India did not reply to our queries. PASSENGER DISTRESS : "WE CAN'T CALLS?PEOPLES" Jio is India's largest telecom company with more than 500 million subscribers. Airtel comes in second place at 314 millions, and Vodafone is third at almost 128 million. Passengers have complained online that they cannot access the airport's Wi-Fi without mobile coverage, because a one-time WhatsApp password is required to log in. You'll be grateful to see free Wi-Fi ads, thinking that you can now at least book taxis. When you go to the WiFI network to log in and you are asked for an OTP, adarsxh_baab posted on January 13. Adani's statement?added that individual operators often provide "suboptimal coverage" when left to their own devices in sensitive areas like baggage handling zones. COAI?also claimed that the airport charges around $102,000 per month for each operator - or nearly $5 million annually if four carriers are involved - in order to use its network. Adani denied this claim. "We cannot call anyone, pay for taxis, or book anything." Srihita Vanguri, a X user on Sunday, wrote that solo travellers would be in hell. Aditya K. Kalra, Munsif V. Vengattil and Louise Heavens (Reporting)
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Maersk resumes Suez Canal service for MECL
Maersk, the shipping group, will resume its MECL service via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal to connect?the Middle East with India as well as the United States. The Danish company announced on Thursday that it will resume sailings via the Red Sea and Suez Canal for its MECL service, connecting?the Middle East and India with the?U.S. Maersk announced in a press release that it had decided to return all MECL service sailings to the trans Suez route. The company added that this was part of its step-by-step approach to fleet management. Shipping companies are considering a return to Asia-Europe's critical trade corridor after rerouting their vessels around Africa for more than two years following Yemeni Houthi Rebels' attacks against ships in the Red Sea, which they claimed was "a show of solidarity" with the Palestinians in Gaza. Maersk said Monday that one of its ships had tested the route, as a Gaza ceasefire raised hopes for normal shipping. Changes to the MECL service will be implemented with a sailing leaving Oman's Salalah port on January 26. Clarksons Research states that the Suez Canal was the fastest way to connect?Europe with Asia. Prior to the Houthi attack, the Suez Canal accounted for about 10% of the global seaborne trade. The Red Sea traffic has been re-energised by the ceasefire that has existed in Gaza since October of last year. Both sides accuse each other of violations. Over 440 Palestinians, three Israeli soldiers and more than 440 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip during the past three months. Have you been killed? Since the truce came into effect. (Reporting and editing by Gwladys Faouche, Terje Solsvik)
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China's investment in power grids will reach a record of $574 billion by 2026-2030
State-run Xinhua reported on Thursday that China's State Grid would spend $4 trillion yuan (about $574 billion) to upgrade the country's electricity grid between 2026 and 2030. According to a report by Xinhua (China's official news agency), fixed asset investments have increased by 40% in the last five years. This is because China has been increasing its wind and solar -capacity as it strives to reach its goal of reducing carbon -emissions to zero by 2030. The average investment is 800 billion yuan per year, which is more than the 650 billion yuan record that was set by the main national grid operator in 2025. The funding will be used to improve China's power transmission system from west to east, Xinhua?said. High-voltage powerlines are being used to transmit electricity over thousands of kilometres between China's western, less densely populated regions, and its eastern metropolises. State Grid plans to increase power transmission across provinces and regions?by 30 percent from the levels of end-2025, according to a report. Outlays will be used to explore microgrids and off-grid models of power generation, as well as expand distribution networks both in urbanised and rural areas.
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Two people killed in Thailand when another crane collapses and crushes cars
On Thursday, a crane fell onto a road in Thailand's capital, crushing two cars and killing?two?people. A day earlier, a similar incident in the northeast had led to the derailment of a train and the death of 32 passengers. Thailand's Transport Minister said that the Italian-Thai Development PCL was also involved in a crane accident near Bangkok. The company, whose crane had fallen onto a train in the northeastern Nakhon Ratchasima Province a day before, is also responsible for the crane incident. According to the local police, two people were also injured in the incident that occurred in Samut Sakhon Province on Thursday. The crane was used to build an elevated highway and fell onto the road below, crushing two cars. A SERIES of fatal construction accidents The accident was the latest of a string of fatal construction accidents in Thailand. Several involved Italian-Thais, such as the collapse of a partially built Bangkok tower in 2013 that resulted in the deaths of at least 89 individuals during an earthquake of 7.7 magnitude. 23 people were charged with negligence, including its president. Italian-Thai did not respond immediately to emailed requests for comment and declined to comment immediately on the incident. Images of the scene revealed a crane mangled in green and large pieces of concrete that crushed vehicles below. Thai Rath, a news outlet in Thailand, released a video showing cars reverse to avoid the wreckage and a cloud of dust caused by the collapsed concrete. Anutin Charnvirakul said that two incidents had shown it was time to take more safety measures. He was previously the president of Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction which was owned by his family. Anutin said, "We need to fix the law", after visiting the scene of the train accident in the northeast. "Instead telling agencies to this or that, I think we should have a meeting. We will need to take action." Thailand is Southeast Asia's largest economy. It has seen significant infrastructure developments, from elevated highways to high-speed rails, and a major expansion of the elevated rail network in Bangkok. "OVER AND AGAIN" Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Transport Minister, said that it is crucial to determine if these are caused by accidents or another factor. The?incident occurred repeatedly. He said that the same contractor was responsible for it during an interview with Channel 3 Television. I am confused by what is happening in the company. Authorities have confirmed that an investigation is ongoing into the accident which occurred in the Northeast on Wednesday. In addition to the 32 deaths, 66 of the 195 passengers were injured when a crane used in the construction of structures for a?elevated project high-speed rail collapsed on an existing train track below. Cross-country high speed rail will connect China via Laos. Last year, the government announced that the construction of the segment between Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima had reached more than a quarter. The entire line from Nong Khai to the border with Laos is expected to be completed by 2030. Italian-Thai is a company founded in 1958 by Italians and Thais. In a press release, the firm said that it would compensate families of those affected by the derailment. (Reporting and editing by David Stanway, Toby Chopra and Martin Petty. Additional reporting and editing by Panu Thepgumpanat and Orathai Shriring.
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Vladimirov: ROI-Venezuela is the first step in a geoeconomic reset of LatAm
The removal of Nicolas Maduro from Venezuela could be the start of a larger U.S. effort to realign Latin America in a geoeconomical sense, thus limiting Russia's and China's ability to use the Western Hemisphere as a pressure-point on global commodity markets. Central America may be the next domino in the fall. This region has a lot of shipping lanes, and is close to checkpoints. It's a great place for both licit and illegal commerce. The Panama Canal handles approximately 40% of U.S. containers and 5% of world trade. Other transit routes include the Caribbean Sea and ports on the west coast in Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica, used to ship goods to Asia. Russia has already benefited from this geography by a growing "shadow Fleet" of aging vessels that are operated outside the Western Insurance System. These vessels help move crude and refined products that are subject to Western sanctions through the Caribbean corridor, the Panama Canal, and the Gulf of Mexico. This undermines U.S., European, and other efforts to stop Moscow's financing of the war in Ukraine. The region is an important node in the Kremlin’s global financial network. Some of the largest Russian firms use offshore financial hubs to conduct international business. According to the Center for the Study of Democracies, offshore shell companies in the Caribbean control assets worth close to $70 billion. China is still the dominant economic force in Latin America. China's Belt and Road investment, technology transfer and financing dwarf Russia and, increasingly, the U.S. 's outlays. China has increased its engagement in the region through tariff reductions and industry agreements, positioning it as a major provider of technology and industrial inputs. It also provides consumer goods, transportation equipment and consumer products. Moscow and Beijing used political ties, long-term contracts and strategic investments to gain a foothold in the Americas. According to Inter-American Dialogue, Chinese development loans to Latin America will reach more than $120 Billion by the end 2023. Even though U.S. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), which is estimated to be worth $1.4 trillion by the year 2023 in Latin America, dwarfs the combined $610 billion of Russian and Chinese capital in the area, The strategic bilateral agreements that Latin American countries signed with Moscow or Beijing have severely limited the opportunities for U.S. companies and European firms to enter markets which will determine the future trajectory of the Western Hemisphere. The "Donroe Doctrine", the Trump administration's plan to?cement its dominance in this region, is a move that aims to change this. Venezuela, with its largest oil reserves in the world and additional support from Moscow, has supported regimes from Cuba to Nicaragua for decades. Venezuela and Russia, for example, cover over 60% of Cuba's petroleum consumption at very low costs. Energy supply has become a geopolitical tool because of this dependence. Cuba already suffers from chronic energy shortages. If the U.S. were to block Venezuelan and Russian supply, it could lead to economic chaos. The immediate impact on commodities markets would be indirect. A tighter scrutiny of Caribbean shipping and insurance, as well as reflagging (or changing the country of registration of a vessel) is likely to increase costs for traders. It may also restrict the flow of sanctioned oil. In this scenario it is likely that the U.S. Gulf Coast will be more reliant on its refineries in order to replace lost supplies from Russia and Venezuela. If the U.S. Southern Command suppresses also the shadow fleet along South America's Atlantic coast, it will further push Russia back, who recently became Brazil's largest supplier of petroleum products. This could allow U.S. refiners a chance to reclaim the traditional role of swing supplier in the region. The reintegration into the global oil markets under U.S. management would also directly affect the market share of oil exporters like Mexico, Ecuador, and Colombia. The collapse of the Venezuelan oil industry has benefited all three countries, increasing their regional sales over the last decade. BROADER GEOECONOMIC REALIGNMENT The U.S.'s move to reclaim the economic sphere of its influence in the Western Hemisphere could open up the door for more American investment, especially in strategic areas such as nuclear power, port and road infrastructure and the development of critical raw materials in the region. These sectors are currently dominated, amongst others, by Chinese and Russian firms in Bolivia, Brazil Argentina, Venezuela Peru and Chile. The U.S. strategy is not without risks. U.S. coercive action could disrupt regional trade and investments, strain relationships with Latin American governments, and in some cases accelerate the shift towards China. The Trump administration's intervention in Venezuela could help reverse the growing geoeconomic alignment of the region with Russia and China. But only if the coercion matched by credible economic incentives to encourage countries to change course. This month's events will have far-reaching implications that go beyond the oil markets. You like this column? Open Interest (ROI) is your new essential source of global financial commentary. ROI provides data-driven, thought-provoking analysis on everything from soybeans to swap rates. The markets are changing faster than ever. ROI can help you keep up. Follow ROI on LinkedIn and X.
European airlines avoid Iran and Iraq even after the airspace was reopened
According to flight tracking websites such as Flight Tracker, Wizz Air, Lufthansa and British Airways avoided the airspace of Iraq and Iran on Thursday in order to reduce the risks associated with geopolitical unrest in Iran and the Middle East.
Iran closed its airspace for nearly five hours, and then reopened it after that, amid fears of a possible military conflict between the U.S. FlightRadar24 reports that despite the airspace reopening many airlines continued to use alternate routes. This included Singapore Airlines, TUI, and others. Many Western airlines changed their routes in the Middle East in the past two years. Some even flew over Afghanistan more frequently despite continued 'Taliban' rule.
On Wednesday morning, Germany issued a directive warning its airlines not to enter Iranian airspace. This came shortly after Lufthansa revised its flight operations in the Middle East due to the escalating tensions.
Wizz Air's spokesperson stated on Thursday that some flights departing from Dubai or Abu Dhabi airports (for refueling and crew changes) will be required to stop in Larnaca, Cyprus, or Thessaloniki Greece.
British Airways owner IAG spokesperson said that all flights from Bahrain to the UK were cancelled until and including January 16.
"KLM avoids Iranian airspace at the moment as a precaution. This is a route that we use very rarely." The closure of Iranian airspace last night 'had no impact on our operations,' a KLM spokesperson said.
Finnair told the local media on Thursday that it has ceased flying over Iraqi airspace and is instead travelling to Doha, Dubai, and other destinations in Saudi Arabia. Finnair had been avoiding Iranian airspace, Syrian airspace and Israeli space for security purposes.
Air France and other airlines, including Ryanair, have avoided Iranian airspace for years. Anne Kauranen, Helsinki (additional reporting), Ed Osmond (editing)
(source: Reuters)