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Sources say that Noem's top aide entered the cockpit and fired the pilot for missing blanket.
Corey Lewandowski, a top homeland security aide in the United States, entered a government plane's cockpit without permission during a flight, and then fired a pilot over a misplaced quilt, two people with knowledge of the situation said. Lewandowski was travelling with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Nuem when they noticed her blanket missing. New details about the incident suggest that Lewandowski might have violated safety guidelines established by the U.S. Coast Guard which operated the aircraft. Lewandowski entered into the cockpit before the aircraft had reached 10,000 feet (3.048 meters), and while the seatbelt signal remained on. Federal Aviation Administration regulations, some of which were tightened following 9/11, limit cockpit access, and forbid interference with the duties of aircraft crews. A FAA regulation prohibits airline staff and pilots from engaging in non essential activities or conversations while flying below 10,000 feet. Civil aircraft operators who violate this rule may face fines of thousands of dollars, while pilots can be terminated. The U.S. Coast Guard is not legally bound to the FAA regulation known as the "sterile-cockpit rule," but it has a policy similar, which is spelled out by a 2021 operation manual: "No one shall engage in any activity or conversation that could distract or interfere?with a flight crewmember performing their assigned duties properly during critical phases of flight." The manual does provide specific penalties for violations of the rule. However, it states that in general, rule violations will be dealt with through internal disciplinary procedures. Lewandowski responded to a request for comment in a text message: "There was never a conversation in the cockpit when the flight took off." Lewandowski responded to a? Lewandowski denied the information provided by the sources, but did not comment on whether or not he entered into the cockpit when the plane was still climbing below 10,000 feet. Experts in aviation safety consider that the initial ascent is one of the most dangerous parts of a flight. Randy Klatt is a flight safety officer at The Foundation for Aviation Safety. He said that planes climb "low and slowly" to 10,000 feet during the initial ascent, so it's important for pilots not to lose focus. Klatt stated that this is a dangerous situation for any aircraft. You don't have enough altitude or airspeed to trade if necessary. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Coast Guard declined to comment about the flight. The Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard, which are both under DHS, declined to comment on the flight in question. The FAA didn't respond to our request for comment. Noem has been under scrutiny since federal immigration agents in Minneapolis killed two U.S. Citizens in January. The Wall Street Journal published a report earlier this month about the tensions and infighting at DHS, under Noem's leadership and Lewandowski's. The article also mentioned the firing of?pilot. PILOT RELEASED, THEN REINSTATED The White House responded to a question about Lewandowski's entry into the cockpit, and tensions within DHS by referring to comments made by Trump in late January praising Noem. It also referred to remarks from Karoline Leavitt who said that Trump had "the utmost trust and confidence" in her. Lewandowski is a Noem senior adviser who has accompanied her on several high-profile trips. The Wall Street Journal reported that the White House Counsel's Office had opened an investigation into Lewandowski's role as a quasi-government employee last year. Lewandowski is a volunteer at DHS, and the spokesperson stated that DHS was unaware of any investigation. Lewandowski refused to comment on his employment status when asked. One of the people who was familiar with the incident stated that during the flight on the Gulfstream jet last spring, the cockpit pilots asked Lewandowski not to leave the cabin until the plane had reached cruise altitude. Lewandowski, according to the two sources, asked the pilot who should be fired when he returned into the cabin after the flight because Noem’s blanket was left behind during the technical switch before takeoff. Sources confirmed the Wall Street Journal's report that the pilot, an accomplished flyer who had a long history of service, accepted responsibility for any mistake. Lewandowski then fired him immediately. Sources said that once Noem & Lewandowski arrived at their destination, Coast Guard leadership realized they would need the pilot to fly them home to Washington, and the agency reinstated him. DHS and Coast Guard declined comment on the pilot’s firing and subsequent reinstatement. The Coast Guard and DHS declined to comment on the pilot's firing and reinstatement. (Reporting from Ted Hesson and Erin Banco, Washington; Additional reporting by Kristina Cooey in San Francisco; Editing and Craig Timberg by Edmund Klamann and Craig Timberg)
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The terminals in Greece will supply Ukraine with at least 75 mcm LNG by March
Analysts at ExPro said that in March, gas traders such as state-owned Naftogaz would import at least 75 million cubic meters of?gas to Ukraine via a'vertical pipeline' from LNG terminals in Greece. Atlantic See LNG Trade is a joint venture of?Aktor, the Greek gas supplier DEPA and Atlantic See. It announced this month that it had signed a first contract to supply U.S. natural gas liquefied to Ukraine. Ukraine is facing a 'worst wartime energy crisis ever' as its 'energy sector collapses under Russian attacks, bitter cold and accumulated damages. ExPro reported in a recent report that gas imports from Greece’s Revithoussa terminal would be 2.41 mcm/day at a special transport rate. Naftogaz announced earlier this month that it had received a delivery of nearly 100 mcm U.S. Liquefied Natural Gas, the first such delivery since?2026. The company stated that the LNG was delivered 'in partnership with Poland's Orlen.?And that further deliveries were expected in either February or March. (Reporting and editing by Louise Heavens, Jan Harvey, and Pavel Polityuk)
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Uganda plans to connect a new railway line with Tanzania to open a new export route
A government document seen by revealed that Uganda is looking to connect a new rail line it's building with one being built in Tanzania. This could potentially open up a new export route for minerals like gold, iron ore, and copper. Uganda exports most of its goods via the Kenyan port in Mombasa. It has announced plans to connect its Standard Gauge Railway Project to the one being built in Kenya. This initiative is still in progress. Uganda hadn't previously stated that it would also seek to connect the railway with Tanzania's network? and its port in Dar es Salaam. According to the Ugandan Ministry of Works and Transport, the railway will run from the border of?Tanzania and continue through the south and southwest of Uganda before ending in the town of Mpondwe at the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The document stated that the main objective of this project was to connect the vast mineral-rich areas of both countries, (Uganda & Tanzania), to the port 'of Dar es Salaam... while saving time and transport costs." The document stated that the African Development Bank (AfDB), could finance the project, and that the Democratic Republic of Congo might seek to connect to it in the future. Unable to comment immediately, a spokesman from the Ugandan Ministry could not be reached. The AfDB informed? The AfDB told? The?bank could consider financing the?project, depending on?the results?of the study, if it is determined that the project can be banked," said bank official Epifanio Carrvalho de Meo.
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Renault buys out Volvo and CMA CGM to gain full control of Flexis, an electric van company.
Renault announced on Monday that it would buy out the stakes of truckmaker Volvo Group and shipping firm CMA CGM in Flexis, their joint venture for new-generation electric vans. The agreement is expected to take effect by the first half 2026 as Renault CEO Francois Provost accelerates his efforts in streamlining the group's operation. Two sources said in January that the automaker had already planned to fold back its Ampere electric vehicle unit into the group. It has also shut down its car sharing services as part of restructuring its division focused primarily on new transportation solutions. Flexis was founded in 2024, by the former Renault CEO Luca de Meo. He partnered with?Sweden’s Volvo. CMA CGM joined later as a minor shareholder. CMA CGM and Volvo own a combined 10%, while Renault holds 45%. We have different opinions on how this project should be driven. Volvo Group spokesperson said, "We think this is the most strategic solution moving forward." The recent market slowdown was also a factor in the decision. The European association of carmakers ACEA reported that new van registrations will fall by 8.8% between 2025 and 2025. Around 11% (or the newly registered vans) are electrically charged. Volvo spokesperson refused to comment on financial details or purchase price. CMA CGM and Renault did not respond immediately to requests for comment. Volvo and Renault each committed to investing 300 million euros over a period of three years, while CMA planned to invest 120 millions euros. In its annual report, the Swedish group reported that it had invested 240 million Euros in Flexis by 2024. This was on top of the initial 2.4 billion Swedish crowns (approximately $265?million). The production of the Renault Trafic Van E-Tech Electric, the first model in the range, is expected to begin as planned by the end 2026 at Renault's Sandouville factory?in France. Volvo will market the vehicle through Renault Trucks (part of the Volvo Group) from 2027, as part of a long-term agreement for light commercial vehicles.
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Soccer-Four matches are postponed following violence sparked by the death of a Mexican cartel leader
Violence flared up near Guadalajara - one of Mexico's host cities for the 2026 World Cup - after a military operation that killed cartel leader Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera on Sunday. Oseguera (60), the mastermind behind the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel, died in custody following an injury sustained in a special force operation in Jalisco, a state on Mexico's Pacific Coast. Mexican league announced on social media that two games scheduled for Sunday, Queretaro against FC Juarez (men's?) and Chivas against America (women's) league, have been postponed. Local media also reported that two second division matches scheduled to be played on Sunday were cancelled. The match between Queretaro and?Necaxa in?Aguascalientes on Sunday was called off after the players left the field when they heard loud noises coming from outside Estadio Victoria. Media reports described these sounds as gunshots. Necaxa won 2-1 in the re-match. Mexico's national team will face Iceland in an amiable match on Wednesday at the Corregidora Stadium in Queretaro. The Mexican Open Men's Tennis Tournament in Acapulco will begin as scheduled on Monday, according to established security protocols. Merida's women's tennis event is also set to begin on Monday. After hearing of El Mencho’s death, suspected members of the cartel blocked highways in burning cars and torched business in more than a half dozen states. No civilian deaths were reported. Social media users in Jalisco's popular beach town of Puerto Vallarta reported plumes of dark smoke rising from the bay. Air Canada, United Airlines Aeromexico, and American Airlines have suspended flights to the area. (Reporting by Karan Prashant Saxena; Additional reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
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British citizen among 19 dead in Nepal bus crash
Police said that a passenger 'bus' fell from a sloping road in West Nepal just before dawn on?Monday morning, killing 19 people, including a British citizen. They said that only nine of the dead had been identified to date, and added that the bus was carrying 44 people. Police said that a New Zealander, as well as a Chinese, were among the 25 people injured when the bus, which was headed to Kathmandu from Pokhara, the tourist town, fell 200 meters (650 feet) off the road in Dhading District, 80 kilometers (50 miles), west of Kathmandu. It said that the 'injured' are being treated in hospitals in Kathmandu. In Nepal's mountainous regions, road conditions are often poor. ?Hundreds die ?in road crashes in Nepal annually. (Reporting and editing by YPrajesh; Gopal Sharma)
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Wall Street Journal, February 23,
These are the top stories from the Wall Street Journal. The?Wall Street Journal has not?verified? these stories, and does not vouch? for their accuracy. Ed Garden, an investor, has acquired a stake in Fortune Brands Innovations, a building products supplier. He is now looking to replace the incoming CEO. Winter storms in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic have caused more than 8,000 flights to be canceled on Sunday and Monday. Most of these were routes into or out from Boston and New York. A military raid in Mexico on Sunday resulted in the death of a notorious drug lord, "El Mencho" or 'Nemesio' Oseguera. Airlines such as United Airlines and Air Canada halted flights to Mexico's Puerto Vallarta. Dassault Systemes announced that Chief Executive Pascal Daloz will replace co-founder Bernard Charles in the role of executive chairman. (Compiled by Bengaluru Newsroom)
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Two people were killed and three injured in the Russian attack on Odesa, Ukraine
Ukraine's emergency service and a government official confirmed that a Russian attack on Ukraine's southern Odesa area overnight killed two people and injured three, respectively. Two people were killed when a Russian Drone fell on a truck-stop, causing an fire, according to the Telegram messenger. Oleksiy Kuleba, Infrastructure Minister Oleksiy Kuleba, said on 'Telegram' that Russia has attacked the port infrastructure in Odesa?region. "This is another blow to port infrastructure and civilian logistics." Kuleba said that Russia is attacking non-military facilities to undermine the economy of the area and the country as a whole. He claimed that the storage area for freight transport was damaged. Since the beginning of Russia's full scale invasion in 2022, the Odesa region, home to a major shipping hub, with terminals at the Black Sea ports Odesa and Chornomorsk as well as Pivdennyi, has been "targeted". Russia Sharply Increased The intensity of its attacks on Black Sea ports by late 2025, when?President Vladimir Putin threatens to "cut Ukraine from the sea". Sources in the transport industry who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the subject said last week that the strikes at the Odesa port?in the past few months had reduced the export capacity up to 30 percent from its pre-war levels. (Reporting and editing by Sonali & Gareth Jones.
Sources say that Russia is considering how to support Russian Railways, which has a debt of $51 billion.
Two people familiar with the situation said that the Russian government is looking at different options to support Russian Railways. The company, which is the largest employer in the country, has accumulated a debt of 4 trillion roubles ($50.8 billion).
The state-owned Russian Railways employs 700,000 workers and has seen its revenues fall amid the sharp slowdown of Russia's wartime economy. Meanwhile, debt costs are on the rise, driven by interest rates that have reached their highest levels in 20 years.
Two people, who requested anonymity because the subject was sensitive, said that Moscow had been discussing ways to help the railways pay off its debt, which is mainly owed to banks of state.
Sources said that these include increasing the price of cargo, increasing subsidies, reducing taxes, or even using money from the National Wealth Fund. The sources said that raising the prices of railway cargo would hurt Russian exporters who are already suffering due to high interest rates and economic slowdown.
One source said that Russian officials met in late November to discuss the current situation and will meet again in December. Requests for comments were not responded to by Russian Railways, Russian Government and Transport Ministry.
There are some ideas that haven't been discussed yet at the level of government, such as capping interest rates for Russian Railways to 9% and converting debts into stakes. This would give state banks a piece of the company.
Proposed DEBT-TO EQUITY CONVERSION
According to a source, one of the proposals was to convert 400 milliards roubles in debt of Russian Railways into shares. According to the source, this measure would save 64 billion Rubbles in interest over three years.
Sources portrayed the measures as a "save" Russian Railways. Russian Railways operates the third longest railway network in the world after the United States of America and China.
One source said that it was not clear what the final government decision would be due to the differences in opinion between the representatives of the Finance, Economy, Transport and Trade Ministries.
According to international standards, Russian Railways has reported revenues for 2024 of 3.3 trillion Russian roubles. Its expenditures are 2.8 trillion Russian roubles.
The debt crisis raises alarm bells
The company's financial statement for 2025 shows a net debt of 3,3 trillion roubles at June 30. This includes 1.8 trillion of short-term loans.
The debt spiked by 0.7 trillion rubles in only half a calendar year.
Russian Railways has been a leading indicator of the health of the Russian economy for many years. It transports oil, passengers and cargoes from the Pacific Ocean to the Black Sea and Baltic Sea.
The state's war economy is a major challenge. Its struggles are a reflection of the challenges faced by too-big to fail companies that are indebted with state-owned banks. This leaves the state on a hook, at he same time as Russia spends record amounts on military spending and the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year.
The war economy of PUTIN cools sharply
In the first two years of Vladimir Putin's presidency, from 2000 to 2008. Russia's GDP grew from $200 billion to $1.7 trillion. Now, Russia's nominal GDP of $2.2 trillion, is about the same as it was in 2013, just before Russia annexed Crimea, and the economy will slow down sharply this coming year.
The International Monetary Fund, however, has downgraded their 2025 forecast from 0.9% to 0.6%.
The West claims it wants to cripple Russia’s economy in order to force the Kremlin into changing its course on Ukraine. However, Putin has stated that Russia will not bow to foreign pressure. Russian officials also claim the economy is secondary compared to the goals of the war.
Putin claims that the economy performed better than anyone could have expected, despite the thousands of Western sanctions. He also says that it has a debt-free status in comparison to Western countries. He acknowledged that there were some issues with investments and the pain caused by high interest rates.
Sberbank's senior executive, who is the country's biggest lender, said that Russia's economy has been "continuing cooling". Growth will be around 1% in next year, and business activity will remain weak for at least four or five quarters. $1 = 78.7500 Rubels (Additional reporting by Darya Korsunskaya and in Moscow; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Tomaszjanowski and Ros Russell).
(source: Reuters)