Latest News
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UN considers moving Ukraine's aid underground after a warehouse attack
The U.N. humanitarian coordination in Ukraine announced 'on Tuesday that his organization is considering moving aid supplies underground, to avoid Russian strikes. These 'attacks have hit 10 of its warehousing facilities this year, destroying supplies worth millions of dollars. Matthias Schmale, U.N. Humanitarian coordinator in Ukraine, said that Matthias Schmale: In Geneva. After briefing the states on the needs in 'Ukraine five years after Russia's full scale invasion, he stated: "These deliberate attacks against warehousing capacity (...) are a new trend of the last couple of months." He said that they are considering moving aid into underground bunkers, and delaying the purchase of aid supplies to the last minute in order to minimize exposure to strikes. He said: "This is increasingly feeling like the frontline is moving up into the sky." "That also means additional costs to taxpayers who, at the end, 'pay for the goods brought in by the U.N. or other humanitarians," he said. He added that such costs weren't foreseen within the $2.3 billion aid budget of the UN for 2026. He said that the U.N. was investing in equipment for staff protection, including more armored vehicles and drone detection devices, and is also considering requests from Ukraine to build'mobile drone shelters' in the street, near bus shelters and other public places, in response to a rise in civilian casualties.
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Aena's Spanish Airports served 34.9 millions passengers in August
Aena, the airport operator, reported that 34.9 million passengers travelled through its Spanish 'airports' in August. This is 4.7% more than in a similar month last year. The growing number of tourists in Spain is a testament to its resilience, even as the airline industry struggles with geopolitical instability and labour shortages. * The number of passengers in the first eight months of 2026 was 225.5 million. This is 4.1% more than one year earlier * Adolfo Suarez-Barajas Airport in Madrid remained the busiest airport of Spain. Josep Tarradellas Barcelona El Prat?and Palma de Mallorca followed. * The number of passengers at all?airports? operated by Aena, which includes 46 airports, two heliports, and 17 'airports' in Brazil as well as London Luton, Leeds Bradford, and London Luton, increased a 4.7% in August to 41.4 million.
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Libya's NOC may declare force majeure following protests at oil facilities
The National Oil Corporation announced on Tuesday that operations were suspended in two oilfields, as well as a pumping station, after members of the security force charged with protecting Libya's oil industry closed a valve at the main Hamada to Zawiya crude loading pipeline. NOC stated that it could declare force majeure in the event of a valve remaining closed, or if similar forced shutdowns are imposed on other fields. The company reported that production at the Hamada?and Tahara?fields and at a?pumping station had been completely halted. Since the 2011 uprising, Libyan oil production has been closed repeatedly for both political and technical purposes. The Petroleum Facilities Guard demanded in a statement, obtained by, that their agency, which is responsible for the security of Libya's oil fields, pipelines, and terminals be placed "financially, and administratively, under the National Oil Corporation". The NOC and Prime Minister were urged to set up a timeline for the implementation of the project and to make urgent arrangements to finish the administrative and finance aspects. The agency is currently under the?defence ministry. The Guard announced that it would cut production for a week starting on Tuesday in several?fields, including Wafa Al-Khamsa El Feel. They also said a total?shutdown could follow if their demands weren't met. The main source of Libya's economy is oil production, which accounts for approximately 90% of its total?economy. The NOC said in a press release that "shutting down oilfields and halting production at this critical time -- when the world is witnessing a rise in crude?oil?prices -- would be a devastating blow to the national economy."
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Carney: Canada will seek private investment for major airports
Mark Carney, the Prime Minister of Canada, said that the country is looking for?private investments through long-term concessions to 'operate' the four largest airports in the nation as part a campaign to stimulate the economy. Toronto, Montreal Calgary and Vancouver are the airports. Last year, the Liberal government announced that it was exploring ways to boost airport investment but did not provide specific details. Carney will welcome dozens of international investors to Toronto in the coming 'week. He hopes to attract investments for more than 160 projects, which he believes are crucial to Canada's economic survival during a trade conflict with the United States. Carney stated in his opening remarks at the summit that "we will seek private investments through long-term contracts to operate Canada's largest airports." "We will retain ownership of underlying land and asset, but we will unlock the true value by bringing in new capital and expertise to their operations and growth." Two asset managers said they were interested in investing airports on the sidelines of the summit. Canadian labor groups have stated that they are against privatization. They claim it would increase travel costs.
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Poland strengthens border protection with Ukraine
After Russian 'drone attacks' on the border, Poland has reinforced its border crossings with Ukraine. Defence Minister Wladyslaw KosiniakKamysz announced this on Tuesday. On Sunday, a Russian drone struck a passenger rail on Ukraine's border to Poland while another struck a truck in a nearby petrolstation. Later, border guards?said that they had to suspend crossings and evacuate people from vehicles. "Recent events show that Russia's actions are a threat to the security of Europe as a whole." Kosiniak Kamysz, writing on X, said that the Border Guard's infrastructure is being strengthened in?accordance to our?government?s decision. The 18th Engineer Regiment is already performing tasks that will strengthen the infrastructure and checkpoints near the Polish-Ukrainian Border. In a separate posting, the Polish 'army command' said that engineer regiments were building border fortifications with collapsible containers lined with wire mesh. These containers can be filled with sand and gravel to act as blast walls or retaining structures. It said that construction work also included observation posts and guard posts near the Polish-Ukrainian Border close to crossings at Dorohusk Medyka and Korczowa.
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Poland will reintroduce windfall tax on oil companies and use the proceeds to reduce fuel prices
Donald Tusk, Poland's Prime Minister, said that the government wants to impose a windfall 'tax' on the excess profits of oil companies and use the money raised to reduce fuel prices. The 'tax' would impose a 60% surcharge on the excess revenue generated between March 2026 and December 2026 by oil companies, which according to the government could generate $4 billion ($1.06 billion). The bill had been rejected by Karol Nawrocki in July, who was an ally of Poland’s nationalist opposition. He then referred the matter to the Constitutional Tribunal. The Constitutional Tribunal has not yet ruled, but the government has revived and resubmitted the bill to parliament. Tusk, speaking before a cabinet meeting, said: "I guarantee that we will implement another option immediately to reduce fuel price if the President finally signs the recently submitted law on extraordinary profit." We will see how the money is spent. But I do hope that no one is still in doubt about the need to sign this bill. This fuel crisis is not a problem that should be paid for by the people. "It is not the Polish people that should pay for this fuel shortage." The Polish government began a programme in March to cap fuel prices. This program ended in July, and it cost the budget about 4.7 billion Zlotys. In the last two weeks of August, a?lower rate of VAT on fuel was in effect. Fuel prices have risen sharply due to the turmoil in global markets caused by the Iran War. This has benefited?fuel companies. Orlen, for example, saw its revenue increase by 26% in the second quarter compared to the same period last year, and its LIFO EBITDA rise by 54%. The transport sector was also facing higher costs. The result was also an increase in inflation.
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Shippers claim that Danube delays can triple the time it takes to transport grain from Ukraine to Egypt.
Shippers reported on Tuesday that the delays caused by congestion and long waiting times for entry into the Danube River, as well as the return to the Black Sea, have increased grain delivery times, from 12 days to over a month. This has impacted profitability. After Russian attacks, 90% of Ukraine's exports were handled by Black Sea ports. Ukraine has three major river port on the Danube. All maritime exports and imported, including priority cargoes are now routed through these ports. The Sulina Canal, however, is not used only by ships heading for Ukrainian ports but also by those destined for Romanian and Moldovan ports. This results in delays, increased freight costs, and, as a result, decreased competitiveness of Ukrainian grains on international markets. Costs Jump by a Huge Amount ASAP - According to a consultancy, the cost for shipping a metric ton (one metric tonne) of grain from Ukraine’s Danube port?to Egyptian ports is around $105 on September 11 compared with just $30 in July when Black Sea ports still operated. ASAP Agri stated that "cargo supply is substantial but the availability of coaster-tonnage willing to make such voyages remains very limited, especially amid the rapidly increasing delays at Sulina." The waiting times for both entry and exit are reported to be approximately 15 days for each. Charterers are left with no choice but to accept the high freight rates that owners continue to demand. Official data revealed that Ukraine exported 606,000 tonnes of grain during the first half September compared to 1.57 million tons in 2025. According to the ministry, "the current export volume" includes 45% of goods shipped via the Danube and 45% via rail crossings in Eastern Europe. Ukrainian authorities said that the country could export at least 500,000 tons of grain per month through the Danube port. Shippers claim that weather conditions in the autumn and winter may reduce volume. The Sulina Canal shipping was suspended Monday due to?high waves. Katerina Kononenko, of AVALON Shipping, said that there was no realistic prospect of a significant reduction in transit times on the Danube from/to Ukrainian ports, given the fact that the autumn and winter will arrive, the weather will worsen more frequently, and the canal may be open for less days.
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The Indonesian survivor of a shipwreck saw the vessel capsize within minutes and waited for 10 hours to be rescued
Rizky Apriliansyah, who was sleeping on the top deck of the Virgo transport 8, the ferry which capsized in 'Indonesia Java Sea on a saturday morning, was woken up by friends at 1 a.m. to urge him to get a life jacket. Rizky said that the ship was already pointing roughly 30 degrees left at the time. He and his friends fled their room in panic. Rizky was a waiter aboard the vessel and recalled waves of up to 3-4 metres hitting it multiple times. This caused the ship to list even more. He said that no alarm had been sounded, and he was afraid other passengers may not have known about the impending disaster. The company that operates the ferry, Virgo Karya, said to local media that they couldn't comment on the alarm because they had to confirm with the crew. Could not contact the company immediately. "When I walked out of that door, I fell immediately?onto ship's railing. Rizky: "I hugged my friends and held on, but we were then swept away by the waves." Within minutes, he, his friends, and a floating 12 kilogram cooking gas cylinder were at sea. They were about 15 meters away from the ship. The ferry flipped over. Rizky stated that the ship capsized in just minutes, and even less than 10 seconds. The survivors floated in the water for around 10 hours until another ship found them and rescued them. As of Tuesday, 129 people were still missing and six?people had died. Rescuers were battling rough seas and strong winds in their search for survivors. Some ?234 were aboard. The ferry was traveling about 510 kilometers from Indonesia's 2nd-largest city,?Surabaya, in East Java to Banjarmasin on Borneo Island. This trip took roughly 20 hours. It was reported missing?Sunday Morning. The authorities found the ship inverted about 80 nautical miles (nearly 15 km) from the Banjarmasin Port. Rizky stated that the ship has been rocked since it left Surabaya. He was only working onboard for three month. He said that he was traumatized and wouldn't work at sea again. He said: "I felt exhausted, overwhelmed, suffocated and just accepted what will happen." His eyes were still red, and there were minor injuries visible on his body.
Emirates airline is working to keep ticket prices down by hedging jet fuel.
A senior executive said on Tuesday that Emirates is well-prepared to deal with higher fuel prices and is trying to avoid passing on the rising costs to its customers. This is as airlines struggle to cope with the impact the Iran War has had on the fuel market.
Adnan Kazim, the airline's chief commercial officer and deputy president, said in an interview that the company's position is "half protected and half open" to the market.
He?added, "We are reducing the price as much as we can today due to the high costs of operation."
Travel was disrupted earlier this year by the Iran war, which caused fuel prices to rise and flight delays, cancellations, and diversions throughout the Middle East.
The Strait of Hormuz shipping lane has been effectively closed, and the energy infrastructure has also been attacked. This region is the largest supplier of jet?fuel in the world.
Brent crude?approached $100 a barrel on Sunday.
Kazim stated that "we are trying to do as much manoeuvring as we can, and you can't raise the prices because we would displace traffic."
Emirates stated in May that it was 'well hedged for fuel until 2028/29, and had'secured enough supplies to support the current operations and return to pre-disruption capability.
(source: Reuters)