Latest News
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Sources: Ethiopian Airlines is close to ordering Boeing cargo planes
Ethiopian Airlines has reached a 'deal to purchase up to 10 Boeing long-haul freighters, as it moves forward with plans to build a new African hub to compete with Gulf carriers. Sources said that the deal will likely include two Boeing 777F aircraft of the current generation, which would help the U.S. planemaker to bridge the gap until the new 777-8F model is ready. This is expected to be the remainder of the order. A source stated that the order will include eight to 10 aircraft, if there are no last-minute changes. Boeing refused to comment on speculation. Ethiopian Airlines had ?no immediate comment. Boeing will cease production of the widely-used 777F by the end of 2027 under international emission rules. This will close a profitable chapter after sales of over 400 units. Boeing has been under pressure to continue making the current 777F to avoid its supply chain going cold due to delays in developing the successor of the 777 jets, the 777X. This includes the new 777-8F freight model. Boeing requested a waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration in December to allow it to deliver 35 more 777F cargo aircraft, citing a strong demand for the planes and a delayed certification of 777X. The FAA stated on Tuesday that the waiver request was still pending, and that no decision had been made. Boeing's request will allow them to meet some demand up until the new 777-8F enters service. Boeing was confident that the exemption would be approved. According to a FAA filing, Boeing builds two 777F Freighters per month.
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Europe could accelerate satellite launches to meet demand
The European Space Agency is looking at increasing the launch schedules for Ariane 6 & Vega C rockets over the next few years to overcome a possible bottleneck in satellite launches. Aschbacher, the Director General of the DG, told reporters that an immediate decision was needed if projections were correct and a surge in demand would peak by 2030. Arianespace's latest?projection? calls for nine or ten launches of Ariane-6 rockets per year starting in 2027. Aschbacher, a member of the AJPAE aerospace association, said that based on Europe's scientific missions and other missions as well as... possible further interest from Amazon or other commercial activity there is... more?demand? than planned capacity. Amazon has already ordered 18 launches. "Ofcourse, the question is: Can we satisfy all of these launches?" Aschbacher stated that this is exactly what we are doing at the moment. "We are investigating the costs and benefits... You can imagine that this is not trivial," said he. "We have already made some progress in these estimates. But it is also?clear... that if you want to meet?launch requirements by 2030, we will need to take a quick decision to?build the capacity needed." Arianespace, the subsidiary of Airbus and Safran rocket venture ArianeGroup declined to comment before a scheduled regular press briefing on September 7.
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Bessent: US targets digital assets and airlines as Iran-related targets
Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury secretary, said on Wednesday that digital assets and the maritime industry as well as airlines could be targets of the Trump administration's plan to squeeze Iran’s economy. Bessent warned that "everyone" should not support Tehran when asked about Russian support of Iran during a Fox News interview following the G20 gathering in North Carolina. "My message to everyone is to'stay away. We 'all want this war to end. The fastest way to make it end is to have no one?support this regime", he said to "Fox & Friends", one day after Russian President Vladimir Putin threw their?support - behind Iran. He added, "We have very full-blown talks with anyone who supports the regime." Bessent stated on?Tuesday that the administration may also target airline leasing companies, and that more Iran bank sanctions could be coming this week.
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Heat wave puts US electricity grids under stress
On Wednesday, the?risk of a power outage? is expected to increase across a large swath in the United States as the intense heat will put the electricity supply serving millions of homes from the Midwest up through the Mid-Atlantic. The U.S. Department of Energy has warned of increased blackout risks on?the PJM Interconnection. This is the largest U.S. electrical grid that serves 67,000,000 people across a?territorium extending from Washington D.C. up to Chicago. Last night, DOE Secretary Chris Wright gave PJM the authority to 'direct backup generation resources as a last-resort before declaring a Level 3 Energy Emergency Alert, which could be one of the final steps before ordering rotating blackouts. The DOE said the move was part of a plan to "stabilize the Mid-Atlantic Grid and reduce the risk of blackouts." Wright stated in a press release that "maintaining reliable, affordable and secure power during hot weather for hard-working American families and business is non-negotiable." The temperatures in Chicago, St. Louis, and Washington D.C. are expected to reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degree Celsius) at the peak of electricity demand. PJM issued an alert on "maximum generator emergency" early Wednesday, asking generators to report on how quickly they could restore units to service. Midcontinent Independent System Operator, a regional grid operator for 15 U.S. States in the Midwest, South and Midwest, has predicted that peak demand will be near a record on Wednesday, at about 121 gigawatts. MISO's record high is 127.1 GW. MISO warned of tight conditions, and increased its reserve requirement to protect against unexpected power plant failures and transmission line congestion. Howell-Oregon?Cooperative in rural Missouri's Ozark region advised its customers to unplug chargers and other appliances that were not being used due to the extreme heat. Customers were also asked to raise their thermostats in order to reduce the use of air conditioning.
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Germany investigates new sabotage incidents as the EU retaliates against Russia following a drone attack
European Union members demanded new sanctions against Russia on Wednesday after an attempted drone strike at Leipzig/Halle Airport, Germany. The EU's chief of foreign policy said that the attack bore hallmarks state-sponsored terrorism. Last month, airport workers discovered a drone with explosives and detonator. The airport is an important NATO logistics and civilian freight hub in eastern Germany. It also serves as a base for large Ukrainian Antonov An-124 freight planes. Germany blamed Moscow for this attack and described it as part hybrid warfare designed to intimidate countries who have rallied around Ukraine following the full-scale invasion of 2022. Russia has denied involvement and vowed to take action against what its spokesperson for the foreign ministry called "anti Russian actions". Kaja Kallas, the EU's chief of foreign policy, said that "the?Leipzig terrorist attacks" had all the hallmarks and characteristics of state-sponsored terror during a meeting with EU officials in Ireland. "We will react with resolve." Kallas stated that the EU was working to implement sanctions against Russia's military complex. The French foreign minister also called for action in relation to Russia's "shadow fleet", a group of ships accused by Russia of circumventing sanctions on energy. The EU and several member states summoned Russian Embassy officials. Germany announced that it would close the Russian consulate general at Bonn, and end its agreement with the Russian House Cultural Centre in Berlin. It is obvious that Russia doesn't see the political costs of its hybrid actions against us. For them, it's a cheap way to create tensions in society", said Lithuanian foreign minister Kestutis Budrys. Our goal is to demonstrate that these actions will not intimidate us or prevent us from continuing our support for Ukraine and keeping pressure on Russia. GERMANY PROBES SABOTSAGE CASES Germany had two suspected sabotage incidents within 24 hours as the EU prepared their response. First, the authorities investigated vandalism that occurred at a substation located in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia in western Germany. This caused lignite units totaling 4,200 Megawatts (MW). On Tuesday, devices containing conductive materials damaged power lines at one of Brandenburg's most important high-voltage nodes. The motive for the attack was not immediately known, but NRW's Interior Minister said that it could be foreign forces or left-wing radicals. Brandenburg's Interior Minister, Jan Redmann said there were parallels between the two attacks, but that investigations are still "at an early stage". The incidents occur at a sensitive time in politics, as the far right Alternative for Germany (AfD), a party that calls for closer relations with Moscow, currently leads polls ahead of a state elections this weekend. Alexander?Throm is an expert in interior policy from Germany's ruling conservatives. The goal is to disturb the public. This is not just a Russian goal, but one that other extremists, like those on the left, also share.
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How are the search and rescue operations in Nepal progressing a week following a deadly flash flood?
Authorities in Nepal are working to find survivors of the flash flood that devastated the Himalayan nation, and the neighbouring Tibet. The disaster killed over 1,000 people, while thousands remain missing. Here's a look at what the situation is like on the ground a week after the tragedy. What happened? Experts suspect that a glacier's collapse was the cause of the?unprecedented avalanche of debris, ice and rock which swept down the mountains in the early morning hours of the 26th of August. In Nepal, 1,114 people are dead and 2,916 people missing. China has 16 deaths with 546 still missing. How was the infrastructure affected? According to the United Nations Development Programme, the disaster produced 2.2 million tonnes of debris including building parts, rocks, and sediment. The floods have damaged eight power plants that are already in operation and four others under construction. Officials have said that only "some" can be repaired. Authorities estimate that 20 suspension bridges can be repaired. The remaining suspension bridges will have to be rebuilt. The floods also washed out 31 motorable bridges. According to the Finance Minister, Nepal could need between $4 and $5 billion dollars to rebuild following the flood. WHAT IS THE PROGRESS OF THE SEARCH EFFORTS? Rescuers deployed heavy machinery such as helicopters and excavators in order to reach more than?11,000 victims. Over 9,200 troops are deployed to the area in order to assist with rescue operations, body management, and clearing blocked roads. At the moment, however, the focus is on the tunnels and powerhouses of destroyed hydroelectric plants. These have rooms and spaces for people to live. Authorities are battling collapsed debris and flooding water to reach the 639 people believed trapped in the ruins. This includes dozens of people believed to be inside the tunnels. Around 279 people have been rescued. OTHER COUNTRIES HELPING? Nepal's Foreign Minister said last week that the country needs foreign assistance in areas of specialised expertise and technology. Nepal has received aid and relief worth more than $42 billion from countries. India and China both have already sent tunnel experts, specialised forensic teams and South Korea is sending a 44-member team of emergency relief workers. Beijing says it will send additional DNA experts and supplies. Singapore also sent six members of a 'victim identifcation team'. Thirteen more are expected to arrive on Wednesday, along with DNA testing equipment. WHAT IS the situation in Tibet? After China rebuilt the only road leading to the border crossing, washed out by the flood, heavy machinery and other equipment arrived at the worst-affected Gyirong Border Crossing into Nepal on Wednesday. Earlier, equipment and supplies were airdropped on the frontline rescuers who had trekked up the mountain to reach the scene. CCTV, the state broadcaster, showed footage of rescue teams with excavators and life detection devices. It also said that search dogs and rescue crews were deployed.
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Chile copper thieves are undermining security measures on mine train
In a memo, Antofagasta Plc, a miner in Chile, warned that gangs are raiding copper trains across the remote Atacama Desert, becoming more bold and tactically sophisticated. They have breached anti-theft measures which had been effective for years. In a meeting this year, the copper miner and railroad operator raised alarms. Chilean prosecutors claim that some 'thieves' jump from trucks to rail cars, crossing isolated desert stretches. They then throw 80-kilogram copper slabs to waiting gangs and escape into the desert. Other people use hook lines in order to remove entire stacks from slow-moving trains. Copper stolen from illegal scrap yards is sold, melted to remove the identifying marks and sent abroad, disguised as scrap cargo, to destinations such as China. The memo was prepared by Antofagasta in May as a follow-up meeting to the March meeting with former Security minister Maria Trinidad Steinert. Copper is essential for manufacturing and the fast-growing markets of electric vehicles and renewable energies. The scale of robberies is still modest when compared with the monthly exports of one of the largest copper producers in the world, which were $5.37 billion last July. But any increase in copper theft remains a serious problem for Chile, which relies heavily on the export of this red metal. It supplies about a quarter the world's supply of copper. Antofagasta’s subsidiary Ferrocarril de Antofagasta Bolivia (FCAB), operates about 700 km (435 mi) of rail used to transport copper from Antofagasta’s own mines and operations run by competitors?to port. The thefts take place in isolated parts of northern Chile where trains transport copper cathodes over miles of desert terrain, with little nearby infrastructure or communication coverage. Antofagasta has not responded to our request for further information. PICKING UP THE PACE The rate of robberies is increasing. Antofagasta recorded 86 train heists in 2018, more than twice the 39 reported by local media in 2022. In the first four month of 2026, 34 robberies had been reported, with 169 metric tonnes of stolen goods, or 71% of total 2025. The train that carries copper from the state-owned Codelco mine in Chuquicamata is a frequent target. Antofagasta reported that it was targeted dozens of time last year. Thieves made off with $2.4million worth of red metal. Since then, the rail operator has budgeted almost the same amount for the installation of an anti-theft enclosure and the assignment of a security team to the line. Antofagasta stated that the "most effective control" the company had against desert heists was the cages bolted to train cars. The firm claims that recent attacks have become brazener. Antofagasta reported that in early 2026 a train equipped with a cage containing ore from Freeport McMoRan’s El Abra Mine was struck twice within two weeks. The train operator stated that "this shows a higher level in terms of adaptability, coordination, sophistication, and risk appetite from the gangs." Typically, copper cargo is insured for transit to limit financial losses. The company also said that its employees are in danger. One train was attacked by criminals who stole copper in the past. COPPER SMUGGLING CRACKDOWN Security analysts claim that gangs are now quasi-paramilitary organizations, equipped with guns and bulletproof vests. Authorities dismantled in April a major copper-smuggling network that had allegedly moved $917 million of the red metal from 2020 to 2025. This was the first major bust for President Jose Antonio Kast who took office in March and promised to crackdown on crime. Andres Jouannet, the then Deputy Minister of Public Safety, promised to make rapid progress in combating copper theft. He also pledged to create working groups to address the problem. Early June, he was replaced. The ministry has not responded to any requests for comments on the working group or the actions taken after the meeting between the Antofagasta office and the Ministry. Codelco, and Freeport McMoRan were both targets of the thefts. Both companies did not respond to inquiries for comment. Legislators are pledging to address the problem. Even as the number of robberies has increased, a bill to make copper theft an offense specific in the lower chamber since it passed the Senate in 2020 is still stuck. The House Mining Committee did not provide any comment on the actions of several members. Kast has "pushed for stronger powers to fight crime. These proposals have been met with resistance by Congress. But he also made security improvements an economic necessity, as mining companies are currently being forced to pay for increasing protection costs. Kast stated last week that mining companies should not have to dig trenches in order to prevent the theft of equipment, or send armed guards into mines to remove product. "That's what we want." Kast stated that "organized crime has changed." These are transnational organisations that need a different legal frame work. "We need to agree what this framework should be."
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Two sailors were killed by Bahri, a Saudi shipping company, in an incident on the Hormuz.
Saudi Arabia's national shipping firm, Bahri?said Wednesday that two Filipino seafarers were killed in a?security?incident on its vessel?SIDR" on August 31, as it was transiting through the Strait of Hormuz. The company has not disclosed any further information. The UKMTO maritime security agency reported that on?August 31 a tanker reported being hit by three unknown projectiles as it was leaving the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has threatened to shut down any tankers that attempt to pass through the narrow waterway without authorisation. In its statement, the company said that "Bahri is in constant contact with the vessel. It coordinates closely with relevant authorities and industry stakeholders while closely monitoring developments." Another Bahri vessel had been?hit by the strait a month before. At the time, the Wedyan supertanker was?sailing near Oman's coastline. After the Iran-backed Yemeni Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, two other Bahri ships,?AMZAN? and MASA?, were also?attacked? in the Red Sea.
Zelenskiy aviation warning not enough for Moscow to prevent airspace disruption
After warnings from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, that the drones used by Russia had made its?airspace? dangerous to use, Russia promised to prevent any disruptions to civil aviation.
Zelenskiy, a Russian-born Ukrainian pilot, warned insurance companies and airlines on Tuesday about the "war that Russia started" by closing their own skies. He claimed he wasn't targeting civil aviation.
Andrii Sybiha, Ukrainian Foreign Minister, said that on Wednesday the Ukrainian government had officially informed the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that Russian airspace is not safe.
Other airlines, such as those from China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and other Gulf States, use the airspace of?Russia.
Interfax reported that Andrei Nikitin was the Russian transport minister and he said: "We have solutions to all of these problems."
"We work in close communication with the Ministry of Defence, and the Russian National Guard." "I believe that we won't allow any disruptions to civil aviation," said he.
SOME FLIGHTS CANCELLED
Flightradar24 showed that there were disruptions on Wednesday at Moscow's main airport. Some airlines also cancelled flights, but did not give a reason.
Flydubai issued a statement saying that it would continue to monitor closely the situation in the area and make any necessary adjustments to its flight schedules or routings.
Our teams constantly assess operational requirements as the situation is dynamic. We are aware that delays and diverts may occur. "The safety of our passengers and crew is our top priority."
Pegasus Airlines, Turkish carrier, said that it cancelled certain flights to Russia due to "technical" and "operational" reasons.
RUSSIAN ATTACKS KIEV
Flightradar24 reported that the Sheremetyevo International Airport in Moscow had 21 cancelled flights, 235 delays and 22 cancelled flights at Vnukovo Airport.
Pegasus Airlines cancelled six arriving flights and six departing ones at Vnukovo Airport on Tuesday. The carrier stated that overnight flights into the Wednesday were affected, but that other flights "operated as scheduled".
Requests for comments from other carriers, such as Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Etihad, and Emirates, that regularly fly to or over Russia were not answered.
Aviation risk advisory firm, Osprey?Flight Solutions, has issued an alert to its clients, stating that daily attacks on Russia, including Moscow and St Petersburg, are likely until 2026.
In recent weeks, Russia has intensified its air strikes on Kyiv as well as 'other cities. Residents of the Ukrainian capital endured the 7th?day?of intense attacks on Wednesday.
Ukraine responded by launching frequent drone attacks on Russian targets. Many of these are associated with Russia's oil industry and retail sites.
(source: Reuters)