Latest News
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The top US prosecutor won't dispute DOJ's decision to drop Indian tycoon Gautam Adani criminal case
The top federal prosecutor of Brooklyn said he did not have any basis to dispute the 'U.S. The Department of Justice has decided to drop its case against Indian billionaire Gautam?Adani. However, he did not say whether he was in agreement with the decision. U.S. attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. wrote a letter to the judge overseeing the case on Friday, saying he "was not the decisionmaker" in the dropping of the 'case. He also said he had no reason to believe that the reasons given by Trent McCotter, the top Justice Department official who was his supervisor, were "not the real grounds" for dismissal. Nocella was asked by U.S. district judge Nicholas Garaufis to clarify whether he agreed or disagreed with McCotter’s reasons for dropping Adani’s case, and if there were any other grounds for this decision. Nocella's Office did not?respond immediately?to an?invitation for comment. (Reporting and editing by Sanjeev Mikleni and Cynthia Osterman in New York)
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Mexico's economic boost was not achieved by the World Cup
Mexico's economy is sluggish due to weak investment, uncertainty about the USMCA review and a lack of confidence in the World Cup. Mexico hosted 13 of the 104 matches in this tournament. It is expected to end on Sunday, after more than a months worth of matches played across Canada, United States and Mexico. It fell short of the ambitious tourism targets set by officials to boost gross domestic product (GDP), a figure that contracted in the first three months. Humberto Calzada is the chief economist at Rankia. Calzada said the tournament is only a temporary stimulus to an economy that the government expects will grow between 1,8% and 2,8% this year compared with analysts' predictions of 1.1%. The impact of the World Cup was localised. Banorte has lowered its estimate for the World Cup's contribution to GDP from up to 0.62%. Banamex estimated the total economic impact as $2 billion, which is about 0.1% GDP and less that half of the $5.6 Billion Mexico received from remittances alone in May. Deloitte estimated that the competition would create 100,000 temporary jobs. This is 10% less than their previous estimate. BBVA's household consumption indicator dropped 0.2% in June, despite a 16.5% increase in entertainment. Spending on hotels was down 10.5%, and restaurant spending down 4.9%. Benefits were not evenly distributed across Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey, the three?host cities. Mexican Restaurant Association reported that half of its establishments had a worse performance than usual due to the low hotel occupancy in Mexico City and protests. The data on air travel was also mixed. In June, passenger traffic increased slightly in Guadalajara, Monterrey and Mexico City but declined at the main airport. Analysts claim that the USMCA will provide greater trade certainty for Mexico. The IMF has recently reduced Mexico's growth projection to 1.2%, from 1.6%, due to companies holding back investments ahead of the review of the trade agreement and the economy's contraction by 0.6% during the first quarter. Reporting by Noe Turres Editing By Christian Radnedge
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FAA restores Boeing's authority to certify 787, 737 MAX planes
Federal Aviation Administration announced on Friday that it would allow Boeing to begin issuing airworthiness certifications for all 737 MAX airplanes and 787 aircraft next week. This marks a major milestone for Boeing as it ramps production up. The FAA stated that the "decision was made after months of data analysis and safety reviews demonstrating consistent quality production and reflects FAA's faith in Boeing's capability to issue airworthiness certifications under FAA supervision." First reported by?. After a second MAX crash that killed two people in?Ethiopia in 2019, the FAA revoked Boeing’s authority to approve MAX aircraft, and Boeing 787 planes due to quality production issues in 2022. The FAA has allowed Boeing to continue issuing airworthiness certifications for the 737?MAX aircraft and 787 planes alternately every other week. The FAA said that it has observed "comparable findings" in production quality when Boeing issued airworthiness certificates compared to when the FAA did. It added that they will continue audits, inspections and monitoring of Boeing’s production system. Boeing will continue to "work under the FAA's oversight in building high-quality, safe commercial aircraft that comply with airworthiness requirements" and "doing better", according to FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. He added that the goal was "not to relax our regulatory compliance requirements for Boeing, but to be more cooperative in the decision-making processes." Boeing is aiming to 'increase 737 MAX Production. Last year, the FAA raised Boeing's production cap from 38 aircraft per month to 42. This was a result of a panel blowout mid-air aboard a new Alaska Airlines MAX 9 MAX 9 in January 2024. Bedford stated in May that the agency supported Boeing's decision to increase production to 47 planes per month, and they expected the company to continue to push for further increases. Bedford said he also expects that the 737 MAX 7 will be certified by the summer, and the MAX 10?will be approved by the end of the year. The MAX 7 is the shortened version of two existing types, the MAX 8 & 9, that have accumulated thousands of flight-hours. Also, the widebody 777X aircraft from the U.S. manufacturer has been delayed in certification.
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Satellite images and experts confirm that a sanctioned tanker has leaked oil near Oman.
According to experts and satellite images, a vessel sanctioned for?moving Russian oil is likely to be leaking oil off the coast Oman in a marine protected area. According to data from ship tracking, the Caroline Bezengi vessel took "Russian oil" on board before departing for its latest voyage in Novorossiysk. The last time it sent a signal to the public AIS tracking system was on June 11, off the coasts of Yemen. Rentoor Shipmanagement of Shanghai, the owner listed in shipping databases, was not available for comment. The Oman Maritime Security Centre - and Oman's Environment Authority - did not respond to requests for comments. Images from the?Copernicus Sentinel-1 & Sentinel-2 satellites on July 2-13 showed a silvery-grey slick covering waters in a bay southwest of al-Qibliyyah Island. Three independent experts - John Amos, Leon Moreland, and Louis Goddard from Data Desk – said that satellite imagery seemed to show an oil leak. A video was reviewed that showed Caroline Bezengi, off the coasts of al-Qibliyyah Island. The date of the video could not be independently confirmed. Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" is made up of aging and often poorly maintained oil tankers that are used to circumvent Western sanctions against Russian oil exports. The cause of the leak is not known. It could be a malfunction, damage from an attack by Ukraine on Russian tankers or the conflict between the U.S. Two separate maritime security sources reported that the tanker first reported problems on June 8, off the coast south of Yemeni port Mukalla. One confirmed the spill. The cause of the vessel’s problems is unclear, they said. The European Union (EU) and Britain (UK) have sanctioned the vessel, claiming that it was involved in transporting fuels from Russia.
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Energy Ministry says Azerbaijan produced 13.3 million tonnes of oil and condensate from January to June.
The energy ministry announced on Friday that Azerbaijan’s oil and condensate production fell from 13.7 million metric tons in the same period last year to 13.3 millions metric tons in this time frame. Azerbaijan’s gas production from January to June increased to 25.4 billion cubic meters from 25.2 billion cube metres in the same period last year, while oil exports fell to 10.2 millions tons from 11.6million tons, according to the report. BP, a British company, reduced its Azerbaijan oil?production to?7.9 millions tons from 8.0million tons a year ago. Gas exports into Europe dropped to?5.9 billion cubic meters from 6.1 billion cubic metres. The ministry reported that overall gas exports increased to 12.7 billion cubic meters (bcm) from 12.1 billion cubic metres. Gas exports to Turkey remained unchanged at 4.9 billion cubic meters, while those to Georgia increased to 1.2 billion cubic metres from 1.1 billion cubic metres. The TANAP pipeline increased gas deliveries to Turkey to 3.0 bcm, up from 2.9 bcm. The ministry reported that Azerbaijan exported 0.7 billion cubic meters of gas to Syria.
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CPC: Drones attack a Chartered Oil Tanker near a Black Sea Terminal, CPC claims
CPC reported that two drones attacked and damaged an oil tanker, which was chartered to load oil at the Caspian Pipeline consortium terminal near Russia's Black Sea coast. ExxonMobil was said to have chartered the Suezmax class Nordic Zenith. CPC has not identified any party responsible for the incident. In the past week, both Russia and Ukraine have intensified their attacks on shipping in the Black Sea and Azov Seas. This marks a new phase in a war which has been fought mainly on the ground. CPC stated in a press release that a fire had broken out on the Nordic Zenith, but it was extinguished later. The statement said that nearby CPC vessels evacuated thirteen crew members, while nine other chose to stay on board. CPC announced on its Telegram channel that the tanker had been removed from the schedule of loading and was "unfit" for any moorings or loadings at the terminal. The 'CPC' is a 1,510-km (1,510 mile) oil pipeline that connects Kazakhstan's Caspian Sea oil deposits to Russia's Black Sea Port of Novorossiysk. The oil is then transported by tanker from Novorossiysk to the world market. CPC is responsible for 80% of Kazakhstan’s oil exports. At 'various points during the war, its operations were disrupted by Ukrainian attacks against?pumping station in Russia and drone strikes on the CPC load terminal near Novorossiysk.
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Three people killed in Russia's strikes on Black Sea ports of Ukraine
Officials said that Russia has intensified its pressure on Ukraine’s main trade routes by attacking two Ukrainian Black Sea port cities and killing three people. Regional prosecutors reported that a Russian drone attack in the southern city Mykolaiv caused damage to three civilian foreign flagged vessels. Two Ukrainians were killed in one of the early Friday morning strikes on a foreign vessel. Local officials confirmed that another man was killed during a Russian attack against Odesa, Ukraine’s largest seaport. ATTACKS HAVE DETROYED GRAIN SHIPMENTS The Russian defence ministry has confirmed that its forces have struck Ukrainian port facilities in Odesa, Chornomorsk and overnight. Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's export routes during the war. However, the strikes have intensified over the past few weeks and are now focusing on deepwater port facilities that handle a large amount of the country's grain - and other cargo - which is vital to the wartime economy. Ukraine's Seaports Authority said on Thursday that Russia struck Ukrainian ports and civil vessels several times in the month of July, killing eleven people, including port employees and foreign crew members. Analysts and traders say that the strikes have caused a partial suspension in grain purchases, as well as a complete suspension of grain shipments. Local authorities reported that a Russian missile attack late Thursday night on a building housing residential units in Odesa killed two people and injured others. "Never before has anything like this happened. There are so?many air alerts. Viktoriia, an Odesa resident, said that it's "practically one alert after another". Ukraine is continuing its campaign to isolate Russia's annexation of Crimea and disrupt the logistics for Moscow's military. Robert Brovdi said that Ukraine struck another?12 Russian ships in the Black Sea Friday. He said that the total number of vessels that were struck in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov this month was now 159. The Russian Defence Ministry has confirmed that Russian forces have attacked 24 Ukrainian military vessels in the last week. (Reporting and editing by William Maclean, Andrew Heavens and Anna Pruchnicka)
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Latvian PM: We are in discussions with a strategic investor to save airBaltic
Prime Minister Andris Kubergs said that the Latvian government was in talks with a strategic investor to help airBaltic. The carrier is trying to stabilize its finances and avoid default. These comments are made ahead of a meeting on August 3, at which airBaltic - in which Lufthansa Germany has a minor stake - will ask bondholders for short-term funding. Kulbergs said in an interview with the?widely-reaching Kulbergs on Thursday that they were talking to a serious company. He declined to identify it. "It's a matter of executing this summer... We have to take the necessary steps to prepare the company for a strategic shareholder... "If that happens, then airBaltic is going to fly," he said. Kulbergs said that Latvia's primary condition for any investors would be to maintain airBaltic hub at Riga Airport, where it's the largest airline. He added: "I think this is a good proposal for the investor." Questions about the stake that a potential investor might be able to take in the carrier were dismissed. AMBITIOUS GROWTH TASKS AirBaltic didn't specify how much money it needs to raise in its announcement about the meeting on August 3. Fitch Ratings stated in a report last week that the Latvian government has not yet repaid a EUR30m ($34m) short-term lending due in August. In June, it failed to replenish a required reserve account under its?2029 Senior Secured Notes. AirBaltic’s financial struggles highlight the fact that rising costs following the U.S./Israeli war against Iran have revealed structural problems at some airlines. This has fueled investor concerns about the ability of these airlines to pay their debts. The airline, which has a fleet consisting of '55 Airbus A220-300 planes and aims to double this number by 2030, repeatedly delayed plans to list on the stock exchange due delays in engine deliveries that have 'ground many of its aircraft. Kulbergs stated that the management would be presenting a new business proposal?next Monday outlining necessary restructuring measures to put the airline back on a sustainable basis. The (business) plan is dependent on a number of factors to be in place. The first is cash and the second is a strategic investor. He said that "airBaltic"s growth targets were unrealistic because it had lost access to Russian and Ukrainian markets due to Moscow's war on Ukraine. He said that the COVID-19 epidemic and the Middle East Crisis had also affected its operations.
There are some flights to the Middle East that have resumed but there is still disruption.
Some airlines have maintained their suspensions, while others are increasing the number of flights they offer to certain parts of the Middle East.
The following is a list of the alphabetical status updates for airlines flights:
AEGEAN AIRLINES
The largest airline in Greece has cancelled flights to Dubai and Erbil until September 30.
AIRBALTIC
The cancellation of flights to Dubai is effective until October 24.
AIR CANADA
Canadian Airlines has cancelled all flights to Tel Aviv, Dubai and Abu Dhabi until October 24.
AIR FRANCE-KLM
Air France has suspended flights to Beirut until July 20. Air France resumed flights to Riyadh and Tel Aviv in June, but Dubai was not reopened until July 8.
KLM has suspended all flights to Riyadh Dammam, and Dubai until the 23rd of August.
CATHAY PACIFIC
Hong Kong Airlines plans to resume flights to Dubai and Riyadh on September 1.
The U.S. carrier suspended?services on the Atlanta-Tel Aviv routes through December 18, The airline plans to resume New York JFK-Tel Aviv flights starting September 6. However, the launch of its Boston-Tel Aviv flight, scheduled for late October, was delayed.
FINNAIR
It has cancelled all Doha flights up to October 2 and continues to avoid the airspace of Israel, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Iraq. The airline will resume its Dubai flights in October, which are only operated during the winter.
British Airways, owned by IAG, delayed the resume of flights to Riyadh and Doha until August 8th. Flights from Dubai, Tel Aviv and Bahrain to Amman and Amman will be paused until after the summer. They are expected to resume on October 25,
When the airline resumes its services, it plans to reduce flights to Dubai, Doha and Riyadh to just one flight per day, while removing Jeddah from their list of destinations.
JAPAN AIRLINES
Japan Airlines has suspended its scheduled Tokyo-Doha and Doha-Tokyo flight until August 31, and Doha-Tokyo until September 1.
The Polish airline will resume its operations in Beirut during the summer of 2027 and its winter route from Dubai.
LUFTHANSA GROUP
SWISS delayed the return of flights to August and Brussels Airlines suspended its operations until 24 October.
The suspension of Dubai flights by SWISS and Lufthansa will continue until September 13.
Until October 24, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa and SWISS have suspended their flights to Abu Dhabi and other destinations, including Amman, Beirut and Dammam as well as Riyadh. Erbil, Muscat, Tehran and Riyadh are also affected.
Eurowings, a low-cost carrier, plans to resume flights to Tel Aviv as early as July 10. The airline plans to resume flights to Tel Aviv in the autumn after restarting Erbil and Beirut on July 1.
ITA Airways also extended its suspension of flights to Riyadh and Dubai until October 24, for operational reasons.
NORWEGIAN AIR
No new dates have been set for the launch of Tel Aviv or Beirut flights by the low-cost carrier.
SINGAPORE Airlines
In response to increased demand, the carrier has extended its Singapore-Dubai suspension until August 2 and added services on Singapore-London Gatwick (late March) and Singapore-Melbourne (late March-October 24).
TURKISH AIRLINES
SunExpress (a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa) resumed Izmir to Dubai on July 7, with plans to resume Antalya to Dubai route on July 15. SunExpress, a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa, resumed its Izmir-Dubai route on July 7 and plans to resume its Antalya-Dubai route?on July 15.
WIZZ AIR
Low-cost carrier has suspended flights from Europe to Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Amman until mid-September. (Compiled by Josephine Mason and Jamie Freed. Elviira Lioma, Tiago Branao, Agnieszka Olesska, Bernadette HOG, Boleslaw LaSocki, Alexander Klyve Gudbrandsen, Romolo Tosiani. Matt Scuffham and Louise Heavens edited the article.
(source: Reuters)