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Abacus Storage Kings, Australia's Abacus storage King, gets a sweetened bid of $1.43 billion
Abacus Storage Kings in Australia said that it had received an improved non-binding bid from a group of Ki Corporation and U.S. listed Public Storage, valuing the company at A$2,17 billion ($1.43billion), up from its previous offer of A$1.93billion. The consortium, which included South African billionaire Nathan Kirsh’s family office Ki Corporation as well as U.S. based Public Storage, raised its offer from A$1.47 per share to A$1.65 after Abacus had rejected the previous bid in mid-May. Abacus’ independent board committee has said that it will give the consortium six-weeks of due diligence in order to determine if an agreement can be reached. The self-storage operator stated that there is no guarantee the parties can agree on terms for implementing the revised proposal. ($1 = 1.5223 Australian dollars). (Reporting and editing by Sandra Maler, Jamie Freed, and Roshan Thomas from Bengaluru)
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Sources say that the US FAA and Boeing have issued a document to Boeing informing them of their safety concerns regarding fuel switch locks.
A document that was seen by and four sources who were familiar with the issue said the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Boeing privately issued notifications stating the fuel switch locks of Boeing planes to be safe. The FAA's continued airworthiness notification on July 11, came after an initial report into Air India Boeing 787-8 crash that killed 260 people in a month raised questions about engine fuel cutoff switch. According to the FAA's notification sent to Civil Aviation Authorities by, "even though the fuel control switch, including the locking function, is similar in various Boeing aircraft models, the FAA doesn't consider this issue as an unsafe condition warranting an Airworthiness Directive for any Boeing plane models, including Model 787." The FAA did not respond to a request for comments beyond the notification. Boeing also referred to the FAA notification in a Multi-Operator-Message sent to the airlines in the past few days, which said the planemaker is not recommending any action, two of the sources with direct knowledge said. Boeing's response to questions about its comments was to refer them to the FAA. The preliminary report of India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau referred to an FAA advisory from 2018, which advised, but did no mandate, that operators of various Boeing models, including 787, inspect the locking mechanism of the fuel shutoff switches to make sure it cannot be accidentally moved. Air India claimed that it did not carry out FAA suggested inspections because the FAA advisory of 2018 was not a mandatory requirement. It also stated that maintenance records indicated the throttle control module (which includes the fuel switches) was replaced on the aircraft involved in the accident in 2019 and in 2023. The report stated that "all applicable airworthiness instructions and alert service bulletins on the aircraft, as well as engine" were adhered to. ALPA India, the Indian pilots' association at the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations in Montreal, issued a statement Saturday rejecting the presumption of a pilot's error. They called for an "unbiased, fact-based investigation." Sam Thomas, ALPA India's President, said on Sunday that the pilots organization must be included in the investigation at least as observers. In a letter published on X, ALPA India said that the preliminary investigation report referred back to the 2018 FAA advisor "concerning fuel control switch gate, which indicates a possible equipment malfunction." On the cockpit recorder, a pilot is heard asking another pilot why he stopped the fuel in the final moments of the flight. The report stated that "the other pilot replied that he had not done so." The report stated that fuel switches were switched from run to shutoff almost simultaneously just after takeoff. The report didn't say how switches could have been flipped in flight. Two U.S. experts in safety said that they supported ALPA India’s request for observers to be part of the investigation, but the report didn’t suggest any bias towards pilot error. John Cox is a former ALPA U.S. Representative and a pilot. He said the AAIB report was objective and fair. Reporting by David Shepardson, Abhijith Gaapavaram, and Allison Lampert, in Washington; Editing and proofreading by Aditya K. Kalra and Jane Merriman, Sandra Maler
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All flights at London Southend Airport cancelled following small plane crash
London Southend Airport, in Essex, has announced that it will close operations until further notice. Police have confirmed that a small aircraft crashed on the airport's south east coast of England on Sunday. London Southend Airport announced in a Facebook post that all flights from and to the airport were cancelled, while emergency services, police and air accident investigators attended the incident. The local Essex police confirmed that "we remain at the scene of an incident of serious nature" at Southend Airport. They added that they had been alerted shortly before 4 pm to reports of a collision between a 12-metre-long (39.4 foot) plane. The number of passengers on the flight was not known. Images taken from British newspapers websites and not verified by showed a fireball rising in the air over Southend Airport. This is around 56 km (35 miles) east of London. East of England Ambulance Service has sent four ambulances as well as other response vehicles. Five international flights were cancelled on the airport website following the accident. Reporting by Andy Bruce, Disha Mishra and Andrew Cawthorne; editing by Sandra Maler and Andrew Cawthorne)
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Maritime agencies report that the search for the crew of a ship hit by Houthi has been called off.
On Sunday, the maritime agencies Diaplous & Ambrey announced that they had completed their search for any remaining crew members of the Eternity cargo ship which was attacked last week by Yemeni Houthi militants. Both agencies stated that the decision was taken at the request and request of the vessel owner. According to sources from security companies involved with the rescue effort, the Eternity C, a Liberia flagged, Greek operated vessel, sank Wednesday morning after two days of attacks. The ship's 22 crew members and 3 guards, ten in total, were rescued. Maritime security sources reported that the remaining 15 crew members are missing. Five of them are believed dead. The Houthis claimed to have rescued some crew members. There were 21 Filipinos on board and 1 Russian. Three armed guards, including a Greek and an Indian, were also aboard. The decision to stop the search was made reluctantly by the Owner of the vessel, but the firm believes that in the current circumstances the priority is to bring the 10 people safely alive to shore. Houthis claimed responsibility for an attack on another ship last Sunday, the Magic Seas. The crew of the Magic Seas was rescued just before it sank. The attacks on the two vessels marked the resumption a campaign of the Iran-aligned militants who, in their words, were showing solidarity with Palestinians by attacking more than 100 boats from November 2023 until December 2024. Reporting by Renee Maltezou, Writing by Hatem Mahar; Editing and proofreading by Sandra Maler
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Officials say that multiple people were injured and a suspect was killed in a series of shootings in Kentucky.
The governor of Kentucky and the Kentucky State Police confirmed on X that multiple people, including a Kentucky Police trooper, had been injured in a number of shootings near Lexington. The police state that the only suspect is dead, and that the trooper who was injured is being treated. State police reported that one of the shootings occurred at Richmond Road Baptist Church, and emergency responders treated multiple victims at the scene. The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that a Kentucky State Police trooper was shot Sunday morning in Fayette county at Blue Grass Airport. The Herald-Leader reported that the suspect fled to Richmond Road Baptist Church in Fayette County, which is about 27 km (17 miles) away. Multiple people were wounded there. The state police reported that the suspect was apprehended by the Kentucky State Police, along with the Lexington Police Department. Andy Beshear, Kentucky Governor, said: "Please pray for all those affected by these senseless crimes of violence." (Reporting and writing by Ryan Patrick Jones, Leah Douglas and Ted Hesson. Editing and proofreading by Scott Malone, Sandra Maler and Scott Malone)
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Syria signs an agreement worth $800 Million with DP World for port infrastructure
SANA, the Syrian state news agency, reported that Syria's General Authority for Land and Sea Ports signed a $800-million agreement on Sunday with UAE's DP World in order to improve port infrastructure and logistical support for Syria. The agreement is a follow-up to a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two parties in May. The agreement with DP World (a subsidiary of United Arab Emirates' investment company Dubai World) focuses on the development of a multipurpose terminal in Tartous, on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, and on cooperation for setting up industrial zones and free trade areas. At the signing ceremony, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa was present. Last month, U.S. president Donald Trump signed an Executive Order terminating the U.S. Sanctions Programme on Syria. This executive order paved the way to end the country's financial isolation and allow it to rebuild its economy, which was ravaged by the civil conflict. As the country begins to rebuild, the removal of U.S. Sanctions will allow humanitarian organizations in Syria to engage more actively. This will ease foreign investment and trade.
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Boeing settles with Canadian who lost family members in 737 MAX crash
Boeing has reached a settlement agreement with a Canadian whose family was killed in the crash of an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 MAX on March 2019, the lawyer for the man said. Terms of the settlement reached with Paul Njoroge, a Toronto resident, were not disclosed. The crash killed the 41-year-old's wife Carolyne, and his three children, Ryan, Kellie, and Rubi, as well as Carolyne. The crash also killed his mother-in law, who was travelling with them. The trial, scheduled to begin on Monday at the U.S. District Court of Chicago, would have been the U.S. aircraft manufacturer's first in response to two fatal 737 MAX accidents in 2018 and 2019, which killed 346 people. Boeing avoided a trial as well in April when it reached a settlement with the families two other victims of the Ethiopian Airlines crash. The aircraft manufacturer declined to comment about the latest settlement. Boeing lost more than $20 billion in the wake of these two accidents. Boeing's best-selling aircraft was grounded for 20 months. Robert Clifford, Njoroge’s attorney, will represent the families of six additional victims in a second trial scheduled to start on November 3. Boeing says it has settled over 90% of civil lawsuits relating to these two accidents. The company paid out billions in compensation via lawsuits, deferred prosecution agreements and other payments. Boeing and the U.S. Justice Department requested a judge approve an agreement earlier this month that would allow the company to avoid prosecution over the objections of relatives of some victims of the two accidents. Boeing would be able to escape being labeled a felon for three years and avoid oversight by an independent monitor. The agreement was part of the plea bargain struck in 2024 for a criminal fraud allegation that Boeing misled U.S. regulatory authorities about a critical flight 737 MAX system which contributed crashes. (Reporting from Seattle by Dan Catchpole; Editing by Tom Hogue.)
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What were the names of the two pilots that flew the Air India jet which crashed?
In a preliminary report, investigators investigating a fatal Air India crash stated that the aircraft's fuel switches had been briefly flipped into the off position. This caused confusion in the cockpit which focused attention on the Boeing 787 pilots. Here is a short profile of both pilots, based on media reports and the preliminary investigation report: CAPTAIN SUMEET SABHARWAL The 56-year old pilot had a valid airline transport pilot's license until May 14, 2026. He was cleared to fly in the role of pilot-in command on a number of aircraft, including the Boeing 787, 777 and Airbus A310. He has a total of 15,638 flying hours. Of these, 8,596 were spent on a Boeing 7. According to a report in the Times of India, Sabharwal called his family at the airport and assured them that he would call again once he landed in London. He was described as a gentleman by a pilot who briefly spoke with him. FIRST OFFICER CLIVE KUNDER The 32-year old had a commercial license that was issued in 2020, and it was valid until 26 September 2025. He was cleared to fly the Cessna 172, Piper PA-34 Seneca and Airbus A320 as well as Boeing 787 as a co-pilot. His total flying time was 3,403 hrs. One-hundred and twenty eight hours were spent as a copilot on a 787. Indian media, citing his family, reported that Kunder has been a passionate flyer since his school days. In 2012, he began working as a pilot. He joined Air India as a pilot in 2017. Reporting by Abhijith and Adityakalra, editing by Jamie Freed
Sources say that the US FAA and Boeing have issued a document to Boeing informing them of their safety concerns regarding fuel switch locks.
A document that was seen by us and four people with knowledge about the matter confirmed the FAA's statement.
After a preliminary Friday report into the Boeing 787-8 crash that killed 260 people last month, questions were raised about engine fuel cutoff switch.
According to the FAA's notification sent to Civil Aviation Authorities by, "although the design of the fuel control switch, including the locking mechanism, is similar in various Boeing aircraft models, the FAA doesn't consider this to be a dangerous condition that would warrant a Airworthiness Directive for any Boeing plane models, including Model 787."
The FAA did not respond to a request for comments beyond the notification.
Boeing also referred to FAA's notification in a Multi-Operator-Message sent to the airlines in the past few days, which said the planemaker is not recommending any action, two of the sources with direct knowledge said.
Boeing's response to questions about its comments was to refer them to the FAA.
The preliminary report of India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau referred to an FAA advisory from 2018, which advised, but did no mandate, that operators of various Boeing models, including 787, inspect the locking mechanism of the fuel shutoff switches to make sure it cannot be accidentally moved.
According to the report, Air India claimed that it did not carry out the FAA-2018 advisory's suggested checks because the FAA 2018 advisor was not a mandatory.
The report stated that "all applicable airworthiness instructions and alert service bulletins on the aircraft, as well as engine" were adhered to.
ALPA India, the Indian pilots' association at the International Federation of Air Line Pilots' Associations in Montreal, issued a statement Saturday rejecting the presumption of a pilot's error. They called for a "fair and fact-based investigation."
Sam Thomas, ALPA India's President, said on Sunday that the pilots organization must be included in the investigation at least as observers.
In a letter published on X, ALPA India said that the preliminary investigation report referred back to the 2018 FAA advisor "concerning fuel control switch gate, which indicates a possible equipment malfunction."
On the cockpit recorder, a pilot is heard asking another pilot why he stopped the fuel in the final moments of the flight. The report stated that "the other pilot replied that he had not done so."
The report stated that fuel switches were switched from run to shutoff almost simultaneously just after takeoff. The report didn't say how switches could have been flipped in flight.
Two U.S. experts in safety said that they supported ALPA India’s request for observers to be part of the investigation, but the report didn’t suggest any bias towards pilot error.
John Cox is a former ALPA representative and pilot. He said the AAIB report was objective and fair. Reporting by David Shepardson, Abhijith Gaapavaram and Allison Lampert from Washington; Editing and proofreading by Aditya K. Kalra and Jane Merriman
(source: Reuters)