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Families of victims of massive Lebanon port explosion still waiting for justice six years after the blast
Lebanon marked Tuesday the sixth anniversary of a deadly explosion at Beirut's?port. Both victims and Lebanese authorities expressed a cautious but renewed hope that justice would be served for one of the largest non-nuclear blasts in history. It was believed that hundreds of tons ammonium-nitrate, stored at the port, were responsible for the explosion on?August?4, 2020. This explosion killed over 200 people and ravaged large areas of the capital. Years of political interference stymied an investigation into which officials might be considered negligent and the chemical substances involved. Former ministers and judicial officials would raise legal challenges against the judges who were investigating the case, effectively paralysing the investigation. In a normal country, we would be finished by now, and in a new phase of our life. We'd also have the right to mourn," said Paul Naggear whose daughter Alexandra, nicknamed Lexou, was killed in this blast. Lexou's death has no worth when there is no justice. A PROBE could lead to the arrest of 70 people for a blasphemy In early 2025 President Joseph Aoun, and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam?took over and promised to hold the perpetrators accountable for the explosion. Tarek Bitar resumed his investigation and presented an investigative report to the public prosecution's office in late March 2026. According to a senior official of the Lebanese judiciary who was briefed about the investigation, Bitar's report includes accusations against 70 people for different offenses related to the explosion. To protect the judicial system, this official was not able to provide any further information. The official stated that Bitar would prepare a public accusation after receiving a response by the public prosecutor. This will include names of the accused and initiate the trial process. Hundreds gathered on Tuesday evening at a memorial near the port. Organizers read the names of the victims and survivors shared their stories. Many of the attendees said that they hoped the perpetrators would have been sentenced to prison by the 7th anniversary?of the explosion. Some remained sceptical that the state would deliver justice. Reine Abbas said she has always participated in the annual memorial marches, but that numbers have been declining year after year. "The number of families of victims is decreasing and that's proof there's no trust." Abbas stated that he would not trust a situation where he didn't see even?one person behind bars. On Tuesday morning, Justice Minister Adel Nassar of Lebanon laid a wreath on a memorial in the port. The state and judiciary let this case go all the way to the end. "This is a must for those who are affected, the families of the victims and the Lebanese," Nassar said. "We can't say that there is a judicial system (in Lebanon) when we remain silent on a tragedy as large as the Beirut Port blast."
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Indian Minister: Projectile sinks Indian vessel near Yemeni waters, but all seafarers are safe
In a Tuesday post on X, India's Shipping Minister Sarbananda said that a projectile hit a vessel flying the Indian flag near Yemen, causing a capsize. All 14 seafarers were rescued. Sonowal stated that the crew, which included 13 Indians, were rescued by Yemeni Coast Guards and brought to the Port of Mokha after the MSV Faize Noore Oliya sank into the Red Sea. Yemen's Transportation?Ministry, a part of the Saudi-backed and internationally recognised 'government', has accused Yemen's Iran aligned 'Houthis' of carrying out an attack using a boat laden with explosives. The group did not comment. The Houthis have disrupted Red Sea traffic off the coasts of?Yemen, as they want to blockade Saudi oil exports and expand the U.S.Iran conflict that has already choked the oil supply?throughout the Strait?of Hormuz. The Indian Foreign Ministry confirmed that it was coordinating with Yemeni officials. Since the Houthi attack on several Saudi tankers, Indian?refiners are now importing cargoes from the Middle East.
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A plane tyre bursts at Cape Town Airport, disrupting flights
A tyre on an 'airplane burst during landing at the 'Cape Town International Airport? on Tuesday afternoon. This caused flight disruptions, as the main runway had to be closed. All passengers were able to disembark the plane without incident. South 'Africa's Airports Management Company said that the 'Kenya Airways aircraft was disabled on the main runway for several hours, before the runway reopened and flights resumed. Prior to this, flights into Cape Town were diverted to another airport and international departures had been put on hold. Airports Company South Africa stated in a statement that some flights could still be delayed until operations return to normal. Kenya Airways posted on X in a 'post' that their engineers and technical staff were working to fix the plane. Cape Town is one of the most popular tourist cities in South Africa, and its international airport is the second busiest.
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Petrobras suspends study for $1 billion gas pipe in Brazil amid regulatory uncertainty
Sources have told us that Brazil's Petrobras has reassessed a major investment in natural gas infrastructure in Brazil due to a lack of clarity over a government proposal which could impact Equinor's project. Three sources said that Petrobras was prompted by the proposal to halt studies on a proposed $1 billion gas pipeline in Sergipe, a state located in northeastern Brazil. A source in the industry said that the Raia project of Equinor in the Campos Basin could be affected if the program were to become law. The project is expected to begin operating in 2028. In order to boost competition and lower prices, the Brazilian energy regulator ANP will be discussing the?government proposal on Friday. It would require large producers to auction off a portion of their gas to third parties. ANP will reveal the details of its draft regulation on Friday. The regulatory body will then 'open a consultation period with stakeholders', and vote afterward. After a final version has been reached, implementation could begin as early as next year. Who would approve a pipeline investment of $1 billion without the assurance that their rights will be protected? A source who asked to remain anonymous because the discussion is sensitive said. Petrobras has not responded to a comment request. Equinor stated that regulatory predictability and stability are essential to?investments which require billions of dollars, and development timelines over a decade. Petrobras' pipeline will transport gas from the two floating production units planned in Sergipe, to the shore. Petrobras estimates that the units will process?22 millions cubic?meters per day of gas, and 240,000 barrels oil each day. First oil is expected to be produced in 2030. Equinor’s Raia project includes a pipeline from Macae, Rio de Janeiro, to produce 16 million cubic metres of gas each day. This will meet approximately 15% of Brazilian demand. The Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva administration has made it a priority to keep gas prices as low as possible for consumers and industries. Sources said that the proposal wouldn't increase gas supply overall, but rather would redistribute volume among market participants and create uncertainty about project returns. Reporting by Rodrigo Viga Gaier, Marta Nogueira and Fabio Teixeira.
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After drone sinks vessel, FESCO Russia halts all new Black Sea orders
The company announced on Tuesday that the Ukrainian drone attack last 'week on one of FESCO's vessels forced them to stop accepting new orders for shipments via the Black Sea. The announcement highlights the increasing disruption in shipping caused by a sharp increase in attacks between Russia and Ukraine on each other's ships, which have pushed up wheat prices globally. The Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom owns 92.5% in FESCO. It announced earlier that the ship Yanina was damaged by Ukrainian drones flying over the Black Sea and sank overnight between Friday and Saturday. FESCO, a Russian 'logistics operator' that specializes in rail and maritime container shipments, is one of Russia's largest?logistics companies. In recent weeks, Russia, which is the largest exporter of wheat in the world, reported that its agricultural export facilities, as well as commercial vessels, were attacked in the Black Sea. Last week, Russia's largest grain lobby group warned that Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian ports and ships could cause a shutdown of grain exports through the Black Sea within the next few months. This would push up prices. Both Russia and Ukraine claim that they only strike military targets. Ukraine's agriculture minister said that alternative grain export routes would be able to reach the?required capacities at the end?of August?the latest, and cover only half of the volumes handled by Black Sea port disrupted by Russian attacks. In July, Ukraine reported 35 'attacks' on its vessels in ports, 22 on ships at sea and 67 strikes against port facilities.
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New Jersey Sues Amazon for poor pay and conditions of drivers?
New Jersey sued 'Amazon.com' on Tuesday, accusing it of abusing its power as an online retailer over independent delivery drivers. Amazon was accused by the state of abusing its market power to force low wages and poor conditions on delivery drivers through its Delivery Service Partner Program. The lawsuit was filed in Newark federal court, New Jersey. Amazon's logistics division runs the program, which allows individuals to set up local businesses for package delivery. According to Amazon, these small businesses deliver around 20 million packages per day. The state claims that Amazon punishes its drivers who "try to unionize" and works to prevent independent businesses from poaching each other's drivers, in violation of antitrust laws. A'spokesperson' for Amazon did not respond immediately to a comment request. Amazon is fighting other antitrust suits brought by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, and the State of California, accusing the company of illegally monopolizing online retail market. The company has denied these allegations.
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Exporters claim that a strike has halted the activity of Argentina's grain ports.
The CIARA-CEC export and processing chamber said that a'strike' by maritime workers has prevented'ships' from 'entering' or 'leaving' Argentina's grain ports. This is causing'significant disruption' to the country's major grain supplier. Gustavo Idigoras (president of CIARA CEC), which represents grain processors and exporters, said that the strike 'has paralyzed all grain ports across the country. The strike is in response to a government decree deregulating the services of river navigation. The union that represents river captains and pilots has said the changes may reduce the demand for Argentinean river pilots, and could put their jobs at risk. The?union announced that it was preparing a legal challenge to?the decree. Argentina is the largest exporter of?soybean oil and meal, as well as major supplier of corn?and?wheat, with the majority of shipments passing through the ports on the Parana River. It was not immediately known the duration of the strike or the number of vessels that were affected. Maximilian Heath, Gabriel Araujo (Editing and Reporting)
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Maguire: The EV export boom in China is beginning to affect the gasoline market.
Years ago, predictions of the energy shift followed a familiar plot: Electric vehicles would gradually reduce gasoline demand in Europe before spreading elsewhere. Recent trade data suggests that the process is already accelerating in a wider swath across the global economy. Comparing the year-to date gasoline imports with Chinese EV exports shows a striking overlap across several major economies. Australia, Brazil and South Korea have all increased their imports of Chinese EVs in the past year, while the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Canada, United States, Nigeria, and Japan reduced their gasoline imports. No single ?dataset proves causation. Imports of gasoline are affected by refinery operations and inventories as well as economic growth, government policy, and government policies. When a'same' pattern appears in multiple regions, and at different income levels, this is less a coincidence and more an early sign of structural change. THE FIRST SIGNS OF DISplacement? It is possible that the global trade in gasoline is starting to reflect China's surge in EV exports. Years ago, EV adoption was treated as a separate story. They seem to be more and more connected. In 2026, the countries listed here collectively reduced gasoline imports by about a third compared to last year's same-month figures. They also increased imports of Chinese electric vehicles to record levels. Fuel traders will need to watch Chinese vehicle exports just as closely as refinery failures if this relationship continues. AUSTRALIA LEADS IN THE WAY Australia is perhaps the most obvious example. Imports of Chinese EVs increased by 200%, or $2.5 billion. Chinese brands have gained rapid market share because they offer vehicles at prices that Western competitors cannot match. The economics of electrification is increasingly favorable for consumers who face high living costs and unpredictable fuel prices. ASIA PRESSURE BUILDINGS South Korea and Japan are both automotive powerhouses. South Korea reduced its gasoline imports to around 0.4 million tonnes or 44%, while increasing Chinese EV imports to more than $1 billion. Japan has cut its gasoline imports to 0.3 million metric tons or 11% while EV sales in China have risen by 90%. Chinese automakers may have a stronger global competitive position than they realize if they can establish themselves in two of the most advanced automotive markets. EVEN OIL PRODUCERS ARE JOINING THE PARTICIPATION The United Arab Emirates is perhaps the most important case symbolically. In the first half of 2018, the country saw a 61% drop in gasoline imports, to 1.43 million tonnes, while Chinese EV imports reached new heights, totaling more than $1.4billion. The conflict in the Middle East has impacted oil and product flow around the region this year, including to the UAE. The steep rise in EV sales is still important because traditionally, oil-producing countries have been viewed by many as laggards when it comes to vehicle electrification. EVs are becoming more popular due to falling prices and improved technology. If EVs are able to gain traction in an economy based on hydrocarbons they can do so almost anywhere. NORTH AMERICA'S QUIET SHIFT Canada and the United States are also part of the same pattern. Canada has increased its purchases of electric vehicles from China while reducing gasoline imports. The United States cut its gasoline imports in half compared to 2025's first half and imported more than $1 billion worth of electric vehicles from China despite trade barriers. In both markets, refining dynamics play a significant role. Every electric vehicle sold replaces an upcoming gasoline vehicle, reducing fuel consumption growth that refiners used to take for granted. THE EMERGING MARKET TEST Pakistan is the largest market in the world. The conventional wisdom held that electric vehicle adoption would be concentrated in wealthy countries because they were too expensive for developing economies. Chinese manufacturers challenge this assumption. Pakistan has decreased total gasoline imports this year, while Chinese EV imports have increased by an astounding 549% on a scale of nearly $500 million. Nigeria followed a similar trend, as the Dangote refinery's increased gasoline production helped to reduce gasoline imports more than half from last year, while EV imports more than doubled, to nearly $72 million. Nigeria has also partnered with South Korea’s development arm in order to build a EV manufacturing facility that will manufacture both cars and charging equipment?in Nigeria. If low-cost EVs gain traction in emerging markets that are fuel-sensitive, future expectations of gasoline demand growth could need to be revised. Why this Matters These countries are not only important because of their numbers, but also for their diversity. Together, they cover North America, East Asia and South Asia. They also include the Middle East, Africa, Oceania, Africa, and Oceania. They include oil exporters and importers, wealthy economies, middle-income countries and emerging markets. Histoically, EV adoption was dismissed as a largely European phenomena supported by subsidies and regulations. This argument is getting harder to "sustain". Consumers seem to be responding more to a simple economic calculus: gasoline is still expensive and volatile while Chinese EVs become cheaper and more readily available. The Takeaway The demand for gasoline is not going to fall. Internal combustion engines will continue to dominate the global road for many years. Major shifts are rarely the result of dramatic headlines. They begin with subtle shifts in behavior, which are first evident in trade data and market flows. One of the early signs may be the overlap between declining gasoline imports and increasing Chinese EV sales across different economies. Fuel efficiency and slower economic growth may not be the greatest threat to long-term gasoline demand. There may be an increasing number of Chinese electric vehicles that are affordable. These are the opinions of a columnist, who is also an author. This column is great! Open Interest (ROI) is your new essential source of global financial commentary. Follow ROI on LinkedIn, X and X. Listen to the Morning Bid podcast daily on Apple, Spotify or the app. Subscribe to the Morning Bid podcast and hear journalists discussing the latest news in finance and markets 7 days a weeks.
FAA wants airlines to have more flexibility in choosing emergency medical kits for flights
The Federal Aviation Administration proposed on Tuesday that airlines be given a 'flexibility with the requirements of emergency medical kits for commercial flights.
The FAA proposes?moving away from a prescriptive?checklist?of medical items?and?setting instead?performance-based?standards that require carriers to have enough resources to manage nine conditions which are life-threatening?
Emergency medical kits are required by the agency to be available for all passengers who need to be treated until emergency medical personnel can arrive.
The proposal would allow airlines to?determine the items and quantities in a kit. The nine conditions are: severe allergic reactions, hypoglycemia, severe bleeding, gastrointestinal emergencies, childbirth and opioid overdoses.
The 2025 Duke Health Study Review?of 77,000 medical incidents in flight showed that most were minor, but thousands needed hospital care upon landing and hundreds died or caused aircraft diverts.
Researchers reviewed medical calls made by 84 airlines on six continents. They covered over 3.1 billion passenger boardings between January 2022 and Decemeber 2023. One in every 212 flights had a medical emergency. About 8% of passengers went to hospital after landing. And 1.7% caused a diversion.
The emergency kit contains supplies for treating abrasions and lacerations as well as sprains and strains. It also includes items to treat fractures and more serious injuries.
The kit currently requires 64 items, which is double the number of items required in 2001.
Equipment required includes a first-aid kit, a sphygmomanometer, or blood pressure cuff; medical gloves; four syringes; six needles; one 50% dextrose injection; two epinephrine dosages and ten nitroglycerin tablet.
The revised rules still require planes to be equipped with an external defibrillator.
Sometimes, a shortage of medication can affect the ability of airlines to obtain enough?emergency kit supplies. A flight cannot be operated if the kit is incomplete. Airlines can apply for an FAA exception.
In 2013, the?FAA granted an exemption due to a shortage of dextrose. The medicine is used for severe and life-threatening hypoglycemia. If the new rules were finalized, airlines would have been able to find a substitute for Dextrose and not need an exemption. (Reporting and editing by Mark Porter, Hugh Lawson, and David Shepardson)
(source: Reuters)