Latest News
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Nigerian, US and UK agencies investigate $235 million Cocaine seizure at Lagos Port
Nigeria's antidrug agency, working with U.S. counterparts and British counterparts, is investigating the origins of $235 million worth of cocaine seized in Tincan Port at Lagos. This was one of Nigeria's biggest drug hauls. In a Tuesday statement, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency said that over the weekend 1,000 kg of cocaine was found in an empty container in a terminal. The terminal operators notified the NDLEA, other port security agencies and the NDLEA jointly to examine the consignment. After tests confirmed that the substance was indeed cocaine, the drugs were handed over to NDLEA. On invitation from the Nigerian Government, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and UK's National Crime Agency joined the investigation. Buba Marwa, Chairman of the NDLEA said: "The essence is to work with our international partners to make sure that no stone is unturned... to bring to justice all those responsible for this massive consignment, wherever they may be located in the world." (Reporting and editing by Chijioke Ahuocha, Patricia Reaney, and Camillus Eboh)
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US Airlines cancel 1,200 flights on Tuesday due to the government shutdown
The government has been imposing mandatory flight reductions in response to safety concerns. This is the fifth day that the airlines have cancelled more than 1,000 flights. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) instructed airlines last week to reduce 4% of flights daily starting Friday, November 7 at 40 major airports due to staffing problems in air traffic control. The reductions in flights increased to 6% on February 2. On Thursday, the flight reductions would be 8% and on Friday, they will be 10%. The FAA and airlines are discussing when and how to reduce and eliminate the flight cuts as the record-breaking 42-day shutdown of the government nears its end. Sources said that the FAA is considering a variety of options for ending or reducing the flight reductions. The Senate approved legislation on Monday night to end the shutdown. It also funded the government until January 30. The House will take up the bill on Wednesday. Since the beginning of the shutdown on Oct. 1, air traffic absences led to thousands of cancellations and delays. 1.2 million passengers experienced flight delays or cancellations over the weekend due to air traffic controllers' absences. FlightAware's flight tracking website reports that airlines delayed over 1,300 flights Tuesday, after cancelling 2,900 flights Monday and delaying 9600. The airline officials said that the shortage of air traffic control personnel improved dramatically on Tuesday, after a total of more than 20 issues on Monday. According to the FAA, there was only one staffing issue on Tuesday. On Monday, Donald Trump warned that he would dock the pay for any controllers who failed to return to work. He also welcomed the resignation of employees who were not punctual in their attendance. The longest shutdown in U.S. History has forced 13,000 air-traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents to work for free. The FAA has about 3,500 air-traffic controllers less than the targeted number. Before the shutdown, many had already been working six-day weekends and mandatory overtime. (Reporting and editing by Franklin Paul, David Gregorio and David Shepardson)
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Aegean Airlines reports record revenue for the nine-month period on strong demand
Aegean Airlines (Greece's largest airline) reported Tuesday record revenue and passenger traffic in the first nine months 2025. The company reported that lower fuel prices and higher travel costs offset the increased regulatory costs, but warned about operational challenges related to engine inspections. The revenue for the period January to September rose 4% on an annual basis to 1.43 billion euro ($1.67 billion), while net profit increased 12% to 148 million euros, on the back of a 5% increase in passenger numbers to 13.2 millions. Dimitris Gérogiannis, Chief Executive Officer of the Greek Civil Aviation Authority (GCA), said that demand for air travel was still high. Gerogiannis warned that there are still operational challenges, such as delays in air traffic control, and early inspections of Pratt & Whitney GTF engine, which has grounded 12 aircraft. The company anticipates that the inspection cycle will last for about 30 months more, and then gradually ease off from autumn 2026. Aegean Airlines is a member airline of Star Alliance and operates an aircraft fleet of 83 aircraft that serves more than 160 destinations across 47 countries. The carrier plans to add new routes to the Middle East, and offer 4.9 millions seats, an increase of 9% over the previous year.
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Boeing maintains strong delivery pace throughout October
Boeing announced on Tuesday that the company delivered 53 jets during October, bringing their total deliveries for the year up to 493. They also received 15 new orders in November. The U.S. aircraft manufacturer delivered 39 of the best-selling 737 MAX jets. Nine were to Southwest Airlines, and five were to Ryanair Ireland's budget airline. One 737 NG was delivered to the U.S. Navy for conversion into a P-8 patrol plane. Boeing delivered 13 widebody aircraft: seven 787 Dreamliners and two 777 Freighters, as well as four 767s. The company is on course to deliver its highest number of deliveries since 2018, when the company delivered 806 aircraft. Boeing's delivery numbers plummeted the following year when the 737 MAX aircraft was grounded after two fatal crashes. Boeing's production was destabilized by a series quality and safety crises as well as a COVID-19 pandemic. Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg is focusing the commercial aircraft division of Boeing on improving quality production by 2025. Federal regulators recently approved the company's request to increase its 737 production to 42 planes per month from 38. Airbus is still ahead of Boeing, with 585 planes delivered in the first ten months of this year. Boeing's order books were quiet in October. Eight 737s, seven 787s and seven cancellations of seven 737s were logged by the company. This leaves a total of eight new orders. Boeing has so far received 320 orders of its 787 Dreamliner this year. This is the second most 787 orders Boeing has received this year behind the 369 it received in 2007. The company has expanded its South Carolina production facility, where the 787 is assembled. Two Central Asian airlines have announced their plans to buy more 787s. Boeing booked 782 new order through the first 10 month of this year after accounting for cancellations and convertions. The order backlog of the company is now 5,911. Boeing shares closed Monday at $194.81, up 0.1%. The stock has gained 13.4% this year.
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After Italy gave rights assurances, the Nord Stream suspect ended his hunger strike.
His lawyer announced on Tuesday that a Ukrainian suspected of being involved in the blasts at 2022 Nord Stream has ended a hunger-strike he started on October 31. Italian authorities had pledged to protect his rights. According to his lawyer Nicola Canestrini, the detainee identified as Serhii in Germany under privacy laws, stopped protesting after being assured that he would receive food that met his medical needs. The Italian authorities have not yet commented. Serhii k. refused to eat in protest of prison conditions, and what his lawyer claimed was the failure to provide him with a proper diet. Canestrini previously stated that his client has pancreatitis, coeliac disease, and is a vegan. He was arrested in Italy on an Italian warrant in August. He denies playing any part in the explosions which cut off Russian gas to Europe. Last month, an appeals court in Bologna ordered his transfer to Germany. He is still in a high security Italian prison, pending an appeal. The 2022 explosions have not been attributed to anyone. Both Moscow and the West have described them as an act sabotage. Ukraine denies any involvement. (Reporting and editing by Crispio Balmer, Emilio Parodi)
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A bridge partially collapses months after its opening in Southwest China
Local authorities reported that a part of a newly opened bridge in China's southwest province of Sichuan collapsed on a national highway connecting the heartland of China with Tibet Tuesday. However, there were no casualties. The local government reported that the police in Maerkang, China, had shut down the 758-metre long Hongqi Bridge to all traffic Monday afternoon after cracks appeared in nearby roads and slopes, and a shift in the terrain was observed on a mountain. The report said that on Tuesday afternoon, conditions on the mountainside deteriorated and triggered landslides. This led to the collapse of both the roadbed and the approach bridge. According to a video shared on social media by Sichuan Road & Bridge Group, the construction of the bridge was completed earlier this year. (Reporting and editing by Andrew Heavens, Xiuhao Zhang, Yukun Zhuang and Ryan Woo)
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United Airlines wants to settle lawsuits over 'windowless seats'
United Airlines asked a federal court to dismiss a lawsuit that claimed it charged passengers unfairly extra money for "window seats", which, to their surprise, did not have windows. In August, passengers filed class action lawsuits against United Airlines and Delta Air Lines for finding that their seats in Boeing 737, Boeing 755, and Airbus A321 aircraft were windowless. They claim this was not flagged when they booked the tickets. United Airlines said in a filing Monday in San Francisco Federal Court that it never promised in contract that the seats at the window would offer views, even though it labeled these seats "window" on its seat selection screens and boarding cards. United explained that the word "window" identifies a seat's position, i.e. next to the wall on the aircraft's main body. The use of the term 'window,' when referring to a specific seat, cannot be reasonably interpreted as a guarantee that the seat has an exterior window view. United, which is based in Chicago said that courts have consistently held that federal law prohibits passengers from bringing breach-of-contract claims regarding airline fees and surcharges. This includes the cost of more desirable seats. These fees, also known as ancillary revenues, allow carriers to generate revenue and keep base fares low. LAWYER FAILS UNITED'S "WORD GAMES" Carter Greenbaum said, in an email, that United's position "contrary the reasonable expectations" of many passengers who paid extra for seats without windows. The consumers deserve more than United's empty words and empty promises. Greenbaum represents Delta passengers who sue that carrier in Brooklyn federal court, New York. Plaintiffs claim that passengers buy window seats in order to reduce their fear of flying, to keep their children busy, to get more light, or to watch the world go by. They would not have paid more if they knew that United and Delta would place them near blank walls. Both lawsuits are seeking millions of dollars in damages for more than one million passengers. Reporting by Jonathan Stempel, New York, Editing by Frances Kerry
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Sources say that CPC Blend oil exported for November was revised downward to 1.45 millions bpd.
Sources say that CPC Blend oil was revised down to 1.45 million barrels a day (bpd), from 1.55million bpd in November. Two sources confirmed that the November loading schedule has been cut due to the cancellation of two Suezmax cargoes, each weighing about 130,000 tons, supplied by Tengizchevroil led by Chevron. In October, Kazakhstan's oil output declined due to a decrease in TCO production. Sources said that CPC Blend oil exports have also been affected by the lower output of Kazakhstan's Karachaganak Oilfield, operated Karachaganak Petroleum Operating. This oilfield had to reduce production because of a Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian Orenburg plant which processes its gas. CPC is the main export route of Kazakh crude oil to international markets. The majority of volumes are shipped to Europe and Asia. Russia also contributes smaller amounts of oil to the CPC pipeline system. Louise Heavens (Reporting and Editing)
Discussions are underway about the airport project in Moldova with Lukoil, a Russian oil company
The airport director announced on Tuesday that talks are in progress between the Moldovan government and Russia's Lukoil about buying the energy company’s infrastructure at Chisinau Airport as part of an effort to implement U.S. Sanctions imposed last month.
Serdgiu Spoiala stated that he did not see any risk of the airport running out of aviation fuel, after the government proposed to buy Lukoil’s facilities on Monday.
The sanctions imposed by the United States on Lukoil and Rosneft were linked to the war that has lasted for more than three-and-a-half years in Ukraine. Currently, it is the only supplier of fuel to Eugen Doga Airport.
Spoiala, a reporter, said: "We've issued a proposition in the name the airport. Talks are underway."
"I believe that things are going well. We are looking at different scenarios. It is still too early to make any conclusions, although the situation has advanced. "I think we'll have results in the next three to four days."
Lukoil-Moldova has declined to make any comment.
Moldova's proEuropean government announced on Monday that they had proposed purchasing Lukoil airport infrastructure including a storage facility to ensure aviation fuel supplies in the country located between Ukraine and Romania.
The Energy Ministry stated that it wanted to make a deal with the ex-Soviet country which would be of maximum benefit.
Last week, Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu said that the company must cease its operations within the country by November 21, in order to comply with U.S. sanction.
He said that the country was aligned with the sanctions, but had asked for a temporary exception to ensure minimal disruptions to its citizens.
The Lukoil company in Moldova operates 110 fuel stations, which provide both petrol and diesel. It also has facilities to service aircraft. (Reporting by Alexander Tanas, Writing by Ron Popeski, Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
(source: Reuters)