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Sources say that Colonial Pipeline is experiencing a fuel supply interruption on its main lines.
Three market sources said on Thursday that the Colonial Pipeline, which is the largest fuel conduit in America, has an outage across all its main delivery lines. The outage started around 5 a.m. One of the sources on the market said that "computer problems" were to blame for Thursday's outage. Source: The source did not know the exact nature of these issues. Sources requested anonymity in order to discuss confidential data. Colonial Pipeline didn't immediately respond to our request for comment. According to its website, the Colonial Pipeline transports over 2.5 million barrels of fuel per day across its 5,500-mile network that stretches from the U.S. Gulf Coast towards major consumption centres along the U.S. East Coast. The company claims that its pipelines transport about 45% all the fuel consumed along the East Coast. (Reporting and editing by Chizu Nomiyama in New York, Shariq Khan from New York)
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Recent deadly attacks in Britain
British police killed a man on Thursday who had driven a car at pedestrians in Manchester, northwest England and then stabbed a guard outside a synagogue on Yom Kippur. This was the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Here are some recent deadly attacks that have occurred in Britain: The date for October 2, 2025 In the incident that occurred on Thursday, at least three people were seriously injured and two others killed. The police said that the attacker was killed by a single shot. A police officer told the people at the scene to get away because he believed that the attacker was carrying a bomb. Later, the counter-terrorism police said that they classified the attack as an act of terrorism and that the police were increasing patrols throughout the country. JULY 19, 2020 Axel Rudakubana (18) attacked children in a dance class with a Taylor Swift theme in Southport in northwest England. He killed three girls, aged 6, 7 and 9, and injured ten more. Far-right groups then rioted in the aftermath and attacked a mosque, based on false allegations about the background of the suspect. The police did not label the attack as terrorist, but prosecutors described it as "mass killing as an end unto itself". FEBRUARY 2, 2019 Sudesh amman was shot by police after he stabbed 2 people in a busy south London street while wearing a fake vest. Amman, who at the time was 20 and had just been released from prison on terrorism charges, was actively under surveillance. During the police response, broken glass injured a third person. JUNE 19, 2017 One person was killed and many others were injured when a British man drove his van into a group of Muslim worshippers in front of a London Mosque. At his trial, the man convicted of murder said he tried to kill as many people as he could. JUNE 3, 2017 Three attackers drove a van at pedestrians near London Bridge and then stabbed them in bars nearby, killing 8 people and injuring 48 others before the police killed all three. Islamic State claimed responsibility. May 22, 2017 The suicide bomber in Manchester killed 22 children, adults and injured 59 others as the crowds started to leave Ariana Grande's concert. The police said that they believed Salman Abedi (a 22-year old Briton of Libyan descent) had constructed the bomb in the days leading up to the attack. 22 MARCH 2017 A policeman was stabbed by an attacker near the British Parliament in London, after a car plowed into pedestrians nearby Westminster Bridge. The police described the attack as a "marauding terror attack" in which six people were killed, including the attacker and the officer he stabbed. At least 20 others were also injured. JUNE 16, 2016. A man armed with a sawn off rifle and a knife repeatedly stabbed Jo Cox in her constituency, north of England, during a street attack that shocked Britain just a week prior to the European Union referendum. May 22, 2013 Two attackers knocked a British soldier down as he crossed the street in broad daylight, in southeast London. They then killed him with a meat-cleaver and other knives. One of the attackers, who was standing in the street holding blood-soaked hands and trying to justify his attack, was filmed. JULY 7, 2005 Four young British Muslims detonated homemade explosives hidden in backpacks during rush hour on three underground trains, a bus and in a morning train. This was the first suicide attack by islamist militants to occur in Western Europe. They were killed by themselves, 52 others and injured around 700 other people. (Reporting and editing by Andrew MacAskill and Sam Tabahriti)
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Data shows that gas demand at Venture Global Calcasieu has been reduced for the second day in a row.
Data from financial firm LSEG revealed that the gas flowing into Venture Global's Calcasieu Pass Plant, located in Louisiana, was just under 750 million cubic foot (mcf) Thursday. This is the second consecutive day when the demand for the facility fell well below its usual 1.4 bcf (billion cubic feet). The plant's demand on Wednesday was 700 mcf. Data showed that the decline in demand for U.S. feedgas on Thursday was down from 16.2 bcf Tuesday and 15.9 bcf Wednesday. Venture Global didn't immediately respond to a comment request. After Russia's invasion in Ukraine, the U.S. became the largest LNG exporter in the world and was a major supplier of super-chilled fuels to Europe. Calcasieu Pass cargoes are sold to the largest LNG companies in the world, including Shell, Repsol and Edison. The demand for feedgas at Cheniere’s Sabine Pass facility in Texas also decreased slightly. Cheniere's Corpus Christi plant and Venture Global Plaquemines in Louisiana both saw small increases. Reporting by Curtis Williams, Houston; Editing by Elaine Hardcastle
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India and China will resume direct flights following a five-year ban
India and China are resuming direct flights this month between certain cities, ending a more than five-year suspension. The move signals a gradual easing of tensions bilaterally, the Indian foreign ministry announced on Thursday. Since 2020, there haven't been any direct flights between China & India. This is despite China being India's largest bilateral trading partner. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited China for the first time since 2007 to attend the a Meeting The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Regional Security Block Modi and Chinese president Xi Jinping discussed ways to improve trade ties in the face of global tariff uncertainty. Modi stressed India's commitment towards improving relations and expressed concern about the growing trade deficit between India and China, which is nearly $99.2 Billion. He stressed the importance of maintaining stability and peace along their disputed boundary, where a clash that occurred in 2020 led to a five-year standoff. (Reporting from Mrinmay dey and Yazhini M.V. in Bengaluru, Editing by Susan Fenton & Kevin Liffey).
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Gulf oil giants make billions in infrastructure deals
Gulf Arab national oil firms have a strategy that involves raising funds while maintaining control of oil and gas assets. This has helped them raise billions. Here are some key facts regarding such deals. ADNOC of the UAE ADNOC raised $4 billion by creating a new subsidiary in 2019. ADNOC Oil Pipelines was created and leased 18 pipelines to a consortium that included BlackRock and KKR for a period of 23 years. The investors bought a 40% stake, while ADNOC retained 60% of the company and had full control. ADNOC created ADNOC Gas Pipelines in 2020 and sold a 49 percent stake to a group consisting of six investors. These included Global Infrastructure Partners, Brookfield Asset Management and Singapore's sovereign fund GIC. Other investors include Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board and Snam. This deal raised $10 billion. Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based company, acquired BlackRock & KKR's 40% stake in the oil pipeline on April 20, 2024. Snam, the indirect owner of a stake in the entity that owned the gas pipeline, announced to Lunate in January 2024 it had also sold its shares. Lunate, an Abu Dhabi based alternative investment manager, is part of the business empire headed by Sheikh Tahnoun Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. KKR bought a minor stake in ADNOC Gas Pipeline on Tuesday. SAUDI ARAMCO Aramco sold its 49% stake in Aramco Oil Pipelines Co. to EIG Global Energy Partners under a 25 year lease for $12,4 billion. In the same year, Aramco Gas Pipelines Co. was formed and a 49% share of it was sold to a group headed by BlackRock and Hassana Investment Co. Aramco, a consortium led Global Infrastructure Partners and BlackRock, signed a lease-and-leaseback agreement for infrastructure surrounding its Jafurah project in 2025. Aramco retains majority ownership in all transactions and maintains operational control. Reports in July indicated that Aramco was looking to sell five gas-fired plants, which could raise $4 billion. This is part of an effort to release funds that could bring in tens or hundreds of millions of dollars. Oman's OQ Oman raised $750 million in 2023 by selling a 49% stake of its gas pipeline company, OQ Gas Networks. Fluxys, a Belgian company and the Qatar Investment Authority in Qatar are among the key investors. OQ retains 51% ownership, and has operational control. BAHRAIN'S BAPC Bapco Energies, a subsidiary of BlackRock Infrastructure Fund, sold a minor stake in the Saudi Bahrain oil pipeline last year. This was Bahrain's very first infrastructure monetization. The deal's value wasn't disclosed. Bapco retains majority ownership as well as operational control. KUWAIT PETROLEUM CORPORATION (KPC) KPC's CEO, Sheikh Nawaf Nasir al-Sabah, has revealed that the company is looking at a lease-leaseback agreement for its oil pipeline system. This would be a similar deal to those used by ADNOC or Aramco. He did not give any figures. Bloomberg reported that the deal involved 13 pipelines, and that it could raise between $5 billion and $7 billion. Centerview Partners advises on the possible transaction, according to people familiar with the issue. KPC will retain operational control. Kuwait's official news agency reported in September that BlackRock would open an office and Ali AlQadhi will lead operations in Kuwait. BlackRock declined to comment on the potential deal with KPC. (Reporting and editing by Elaine Hardcastle; Yousef SABA)
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Sources say that China's banks are lending to Saudi gas project, but their funds are not included in the BlackRock-led deal.
Three people with knowledge of the matter have confirmed that China's largest state banks are lending Aramco billions for its Jafurah Gas Project, despite the fact that their funds had passed up the chance to invest. Two people with knowledge of the matter claim that Chinese banks have provided more than a quarter of the funding for what could be the largest shale-gas project outside of the U.S. Bank of China, ICBC, and China Construction Bank all lent about $1 billion each, and Agricultural Bank of China lent around $750 millions. Aramco signed an agreement in August for a lease-and-leaseback of $11 billion with a consortium headed by Global Infrastructure Partners. Global Infrastructure Partners is backed by U.S. BlackRock - the world's largest investor. Two people citing U.S. China trade tensions said that some Chinese funds were offered the opportunity to participate in the equity financing round for Jafurah but did not. The absence of Chinese funds contrasts with Aramco’s 2022 deal when China's Silk Road Fund, China Merchants Capital and BlackRock joined Keppel and BlackRock in a pipeline project. This shows how the deteriorating U.S. China trade relations is influencing deal-making in Gulf. The Jafurah Project is central to Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to be a major player in the global natural gas market and to increase its gas production by 60% from levels of 2021 by 2030. Aramco will retain 51% of the assets, while the GIP-led consortium will hold 49%. According to sources familiar with this deal, BlackRock's GIP is the anchor of the Jafurah Equity Group, which also includes investors such as the Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala, and Abu Dhabi investment company Lunate. Aramco BlackRock Mubadala Lunate have declined to comment. The U.S. government and the Chinese government did not respond when asked for comment. Bank of China and ICBC as well as China Construction Bank, Agricultural Bank of China did not reply to a comment request. The Financial Times reported that Beijing had instructed its state funds to avoid U.S. private capital firms, and even managers from other countries with American exposure. Beijing was outraged by CK Hutchison, a Hong Kong company, for its $22.8 billion plan earlier this year to sell 43 ports to a BlackRock/MSC consortium, including two on the Panama Canal. Sources and analysts in July reported that Hutchison, under Chinese pressure is now in talks to include shipping giant COSCO in the deal. This, despite the fact that U.S. president Donald Trump has asked for a reduction in China's involvement in this canal. China, as the largest buyer of Saudi crude oil, has helped broker the rapprochement of Riyadh and Iran in 2023, after years of hostility which had fueled conflicts throughout the region. Beijing's role in this breakthrough has shifted the dynamics of the Middle East where the United States had been the primary dealmaker for decades. Reporting by Hadeel al Sayegh, with additional reporting from Beijing newsroom in New York and Davide Barbuscia. Editing by ElisaMartinuzzi and Elaine Hardcastle.
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Police report four wounded in shooting near UK synagogue
The British police confirmed on Thursday that four people were injured in a stabbing near a Manchester synagogue after a car allegedly drove at pedestrians. Greater Manchester Police (GMP), said that officers were called to the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue incident in Crumpsall, North Manchester after a witness reported seeing a car drive at members of public and that a man was stabbed. GMP reported that armed officers responded to the incident and that an offender believed by GMP was shot. A photographer reported that there was heavy police presence around the area. Ambulance crews in protective helmets and body armor were seen, and one person was taken into an ambulance. GMP released a statement saying that "paramedics have arrived on the scene... and they are treating members of public. Currently, four members of public have injuries from both the vehicle accident and stab wounds." The North West Ambulance Service has dispatched its resources to the region. The ambulance service stated that they were evaluating the situation with the help of other emergency services. Andy Burnham said that it was a serious event. He told BBC radio that he would advise people to avoid the area because it was a serious incident. However, he also said, "I can reassure people immediately, the immediate danger seems to be over and Greater Manchester Police has dealt with it quickly." (Reporting and editing by Kate Holton, Michael Holden and Phil Noble)
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France arrests the captain and first officer of a detained tanker believed to be part Russia's "shadow fleet"
After the navy boarded a tanker sanctioned by France, the police arrested its captain and first officer. They were suspected of working for Russia's shadow fleet. Sebastien Lecornu, Prime Minister of France, wrote in X: "We are grateful to our Navy commandos as well as the crews from the French Navy for intervening this weekend at a Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker currently anchored near Saint-Nazaire." Their action led to the arrest of 2 crew members. Brest prosecutor Stephane Kellenberger whose office is in charge of the investigation into the Boracay said in a press release that the two people arrested had identified themselves in the statement as the captain and first officer of the ship. It is a slang term for "you are". Those who are accused of not providing proof of nationality of the vessel and of failing to follow orders will be charged with failing to comply. He said that their detention had been prolonged. Despite the fact that President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the investigation into the vessel and estimated that Russia's shadow fleet contains between 600 and 1,000 ships, French officials have kept quiet about the investigation. MarineTraffic reports that the Boracay left Primorsk, a Russian port, on September 20. The vessel was sanctioned by Britain, the European Union and other countries. MarineTraffic data shows that drone activity caused the airport to close around 1830 GMT, September 22. It was about 50 nautical miles south of Copenhagen and heading out of Baltic Sea. Drones were also reported to be flying near airports and north of Esbjerg on September 24. The French and Danish authorities declined to comment if the French investigation is connected to the drone incursions. The Kremlin stated on Wednesday that it did not have any information about the ship, but also added that sometimes the Russian military was required to act to restore order after foreign countries took what Dmitry Peskov called "provocative" actions. (Reporting and writing by Alessandro Parodi, Makini Brice and Gabriel Stargardter. Editing and revision by Richard Lough, Hugh Lawson and Richard Lough)
Europe must fight tax fraud gangs, corruption, EU chief prosecutor says
The EU's top prosecution officer said that Europe loses an estimated 50 billion euro ($58 billion) per year due to tax and customs scams, which have become the most lucrative criminal activities within the EU. More needs to be accomplished to combat the gangs involved, he added.
Laura Codruta Kovesi spoke on Thursday in Piraeus Port, Athens. The European Public Prosecutor's Office is conducting a major investigation.
"We want send a clear message to the criminals who are behind this massive fraud: the rules have changed. No more safe havens!" Kovesi spoke to reporters in Piraeus. "We must fight back." "We have to fight back. EPPO is investigating a series of fraud cases which have rocked Greece. One of these, dubbed Calypso, involved alleged gangs that extended from China to 14 EU countries and operated out of Piraeus.
In the largest seizure in EU history, the agency confiscated more than 2,400 containers of shipping at the port that is owned by China's COSCO.
According to EPPO, since 2017, gangs have allegedly been underreporting the value of goods imported from China. This has resulted in a loss of VAT and duties totalling around 800 million euro.
EPPO investigations over the past few years also revealed that corruption in state institutions, which contributed to Greece's debt crisis from 2009-2018, had not been eradicated. Some of these cases have hurt the popularity of the centre-right Government.
Kovesi, during her visit to Greece last week, said that she wanted EPPO to have more resources and more prosecutors in Athens. Ministers have pledged their support. She also called on Greece to amend its laws that protect politicians from prosecution.
EPPO referred two cases before the Greek Parliament, which is the only institution that has the constitutional authority to investigate ministers. One case is connected to Greece's biggest rail disaster of 2023. The latest case involves Greek farmers and officials who are suspected of cheating the EU out of subsidies since 2019 for the use pastureland.
(source: Reuters)