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US air force flexes its power in Maduro's extraction mission
The removal of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro on Saturday and his wife demonstrated U.S. aerial dominance. Stealth fighters were deployed to control the skies. Jets were used to jam enemy air defenses. And covert reconnaissance satellites and drones provided real-time intelligence to commanders. Open-source data and industry analysts reviewed by the Defense Department indicate that the U.S. used a full array of helicopters and fighter jets as well as refueling and drone aircraft. This is a major victory for U.S. defense companies and an impressive display. The Pentagon released a statement stating that more than 150 aircraft, including rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft, were deployed. Lockheed shares rose 6.2% in the past week while Northrop and Textron both saw gains of 4.4%. SIGNAL TO CHINA This mission sent a signal to China that the United States is capable of executing complex operations overseas at a time when tensions are rising with China. China has been rapidly modernizing and expanding its military presence throughout the Pacific. "It is indicative of something we can only do", said Tim Ray, former commander of the Air Force Global Strike Command and responsible for U.S. long-range conventional and nuclear strike capabilities. Ray, who is CEO of Business Executives for National Security and is currently a former U.S. General, said, "It shows that we can compete economically and geographically with the Chinese right in our backyard." Maduro, who is 63 years old, denied the charges of narcotics in New York on Monday. Trump claimed that "a certain expertise" was needed to control the airspace above Caracas prior to the start of the operation. Dan Caine said that the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff used a variety of capabilities to "create a path" for U.S. planes to enter the country unhindered. It was impossible to determine what all was done to clear the way for U.S. planes. Space Command, according to a spokesperson, provided "multiple capabilities" as "overwatch", which ensured the "freedom of movement" of U.S. aircraft during the mission. In June, the U.S. Military created a similar protection corridor when it sent bombers to Iran in order to attack its nuclear facilities. Delta 3's electromagnetic warfare unit of the U.S. Space Force used satellite jammers on the ground to disrupt Iranian communications in the area, Delta 3 Commander Angelo Fernandez said in December. HELICOPTERS and FIGHTER JET The Venezuelan extraction relied heavily on helicopters. These included MH-60L Direct Action Penetrators - specialized attack helicopters with advanced weapon systems - as well as Boeing Little Bird M/AH-6M support and light-attack helicopters. Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters were used to transport troops and equipment into contested areas. According to defense industry executives, AH-64 'Apache' attack helicopters armed with Hellfire rockets and 30 mm chains guns provided close air support for the extraction phase. Lockheed F-35 fifth-generation fighter jets, capable of evading radar systems with advanced technology, were used to dominate Venezuelan airspace. The F-22 Raptor, a fighter that hunts enemy aircraft, was also present. Other jets included Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, the Navy's main strike fighters. EA-18G Growlers are a specialized electronic war variant that jams enemy communications and radar, making it difficult for air defenses on the ground to track and kill attacking aircraft. B-1B Lancer bombers are able to deliver precision-guided weapons from beyond the range of air defences. Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers were used to refuel these aircraft in mid-air. This extended their operational range and allowed them to continue the mission for several hours. Mission success was dependent on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes, carrier-based early warning aircraft, provided battle management and threats detection. RQ-170 Sentinel drones were used to conduct covert reconnaissance. They had previously been used in 2011 during the operation that found Osama bin Laden. According to a defense industry official, it is unlikely that the latest equipment of the Defense Department was involved as operators are not trained on next-generation platforms. According to the executive, if this operation followed past Pentagon post-mission analyses, the industry would receive a briefing on which equipment worked and what didn't. After Operation Midnight Hammer, airstrikes on Iranian drone facilities, the defense industry was given an hour-long presentation at an industry event detailing the equipment performance and operational issues. (Mike Stone and David Jeans, Washington, DC, and New York, edited by Joe Brock, Chris Sanders, Rod Nickel).
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US air force flexes its power in Maduro's extraction mission
The extraction of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro on Saturday and his wife demonstrated U.S. Air dominance. Stealth fighters were deployed to control the skies. Jets were used to jam enemy air defences. And, covert reconnaissance satellites and drones provided real-time intelligence to commanders. Open-source data from the Defense Department and industry analysts show that the U.S. employed a full array of helicopters and fighter jets as well as refueling and drone aircraft. This is a major victory for U.S. companies in defense and a display likely to be noticed by China. The Pentagon released a statement stating that more than 150 aircraft, including rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft, were deployed. Lockheed shares rose 6.2% in the past week while Northrop and Textron both saw gains of 4.4%. SIGNAL TO CHINA This mission demonstrated to China's adversaries that the United States is capable of executing complex operations overseas at a moment when tensions are rising with China. China has been rapidly modernizing and expanding its military presence throughout the Pacific. "It is indicative of something that only we can do," said Tim Ray, former commander of the Air Force Global Strike Command and responsible for U.S. long-range conventional and nuclear strike capabilities. Ray, who is CEO of Business Executives for National Security and the former commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, said, "It shows that we can compete economically and geographically with China in our backyard." Maduro, who is 63 years old, denied the charges of narcotics in New York on Monday. Trump claimed that "a certain expertise" was needed to control the airspace above Caracas prior to the start of the operation. Dan Caine said that the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff used multiple capabilities in order to "create a path" for U.S. planes to enter the country without being disturbed. Space Command provided multiple capabilities as "overwatch"?that ensured "freedom of maneuver" for U.S. planes during the mission, a spokesperson said. Space Command's "overwatch" capabilities ensured the "freedom to maneuver" of U.S. aircraft throughout the mission. In June, the U.S. Military created a similar protection corridor when it sent bombers to Iran in order to attack its nuclear facilities. Delta 3's electromagnetic warfare unit of the U.S. Space Force used satellite jammers on the ground to disrupt Iranian communications in the area, Delta 3 Commander Angelo Fernandez said in December. HELICOPTERS and FIGHTER JET The Venezuelan extraction relied heavily on helicopters. These included MH-60L Direct Action Penetrators - specialized attack helicopters with advanced weapon systems - as well as Boeing Little Bird M/AH-6M support and light-attack helicopters. Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopters were used to transport troops and equipment into contested areas. According to executives from the defense industry who studied the raid, AH-64 Apache attack 'helicopters' armed with Hellfire rockets and 30 mm chains guns provided close air support for the extraction phase. Lockheed F-35 fifth-generation fighter jets, capable of evading radar systems with advanced technology, were used to dominate Venezuelan airspace. The F-35 was used 'alongside the F-22 Raptor, a fighter that is designed to hunt down enemy aircraft. The Navy also operated the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet as its primary strike fighter, and the EA-18G Growlers which are specialized electronic warfare jets that can jam enemy radar and communications to make it hard for air defenses on the ground to track and shoot at attacking aircraft. B-1B Lancer bombers can be used to deliver precision-guided weapons from outside of the range air defenses. The aircraft were refueled mid-air by KC-135 Stratotankers. These aerial refueling platforms extended the range of the fighters and bombers throughout the mission. Intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance?proved crucial to mission success. Northrop Grumman E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes, carrier-based early warning aircraft, provided battle management and threats detection. RQ-170 Sentinel drones were used to conduct covert reconnaissance. They had previously been used in 2011 during the operation that found Osama bin Laden. According to a defense industry official, it is unlikely that the latest equipment of the Defense Department was involved as the operators haven't completed training on next generation platforms. According to the executive, if this operation followed past Pentagon post-mission analyses, the industry would receive a briefing on which equipment worked and which did not. After Operation Midnight Hammer, airstrikes on Iranian drone facilities, the defense industry was given an hour-long presentation at a day-long industry event detailing the equipment performance and operational issues. (Mike Stone and David Jeans, Washington, DC, and New York, edited by Joe Brock, Chris Sanders, Rod Nickel).
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US offers to help airlines avoid fines for violating consumer protection laws
The U.S. Transportation Department proposes to revise their guidance and deemphasize the imposing of civil fines against airlines that violate consumer protection laws. They also want to abandon policies from Biden's era, which emphasized a tougher enforcement. The Office of Aviation Consumer Protection of the Department cited a February executive order from President Donald Trump, saying that its enforcement focus would be "on ensuring compliance with consumer protection and civil rights regulations rather than finding entities and penalizing them for violations." The department also said that in the event of violations, it would "attempt to address the issue by issuing a warning letter to help the regulated entitty achieve compliance and solve the issues before taking enforcement action." The department is also proposing to drop a 2023 directive issued by then-President Joe Biden, which stated that the department would "intensify its enforcement actions." It will also seek to increase penalties for airlines who violate consumer protection laws. Biden's administration claimed that these moves were necessary to prevent future violations, and ensure that they weren't viewed as "just a cost to doing business". In the Trump administration's draft guidance, it is stated that "civil penalties must be proportionate to the severity of the violation." The Transportation Department reversed some penalties that were imposed by the Biden administration on airlines last month. It waived $16.7m in fines that were imposed in 2024 on American Airlines as part of an agreement over the carrier’s treatment of “disabled” passengers. This included failing to provide adequate assistance to some and mishandling wheelchairs. Last month, the department agreed to waive the $11 million remaining fine on Southwest Airlines in a settlement of $140 million over operational problems which stranded?2 millions passengers during a busy travel period of December 2022. Southwest Airlines' decision to invest more than $1 billion into its operations was cited by the department in making its decision. The Department of Transportation retracted a proposal made under Biden in November that would have required airlines to compensate passengers for flight delays caused by them. (Reporting and editing by Franklin Paul, Paul Simao and David Shepardson from Washington)
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Russia attacks two Ukrainian ports, Kyiv says
Officials from Ukraine said that Russia had attacked two'seaports' in the Odesa region of Ukraine on Wednesday. One person was killed and eight injured. In recent weeks, Russia has attacked Ukraine's port and foreign-flagged ships sailing from it. This is after Vladimir Putin promised to cut Ukraine from the sea as a retaliation for Kyiv's attacks on unregulated oil tanks sailing to Russia. The Ukrainian'seaport' administration stated that the ports attacked were Chornomorsk & Pivdennyi. Both are 'key export arteries' for Ukraine's commodities-heavy economy. Oleksiy Kulba, deputy prime minister of Ukraine, said: "This is another attack on port infrastructure by a terrorist country that has a role in ensuring global food security." Ukraine's Seaports Authority said on Wednesday that Moscow will attack the Odesa area seaports 96 more times in 2025 than it did in 2024, a nearly three-fold increase. Kuleba stated that the Wednesday attacks damaged port facilities, administrative buildings, and tanks containing vegetables oil. He added that the ports continued to operate while the damage was being repaired. Russia increased its strikes on Ukrainian port in December after Ukraine carried out?strikes against empty "shadow fleet tankers" that?Moscow used to ship their oil to buyers despite Western sanction. Kyiv has long tried to curb this revenue stream that it claims is funding Russia's conflict in Ukraine. Reporting by Yuliia Dyesa. Max Hunder wrote the article. Editing by Hugh Lawson, Mark Potter and Hugh Lawson.
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Norway's pipeline gas exports will drop by 2.3% in 2025 but remain steady in 2019.
Gassco, the operator of Norway's pipeline system, said that Norway's natural gas exports via pipelines to Europe in 2018 decreased by 2.3% compared to their record-breaking?2024 levels. They are expected to stay roughly at these levels also in 2026. Gassco will deliver 114.9 billion cubic meters (bcm), or slightly less than the previous year’s record of 117.6bcm, through its 8,800 km (5,468 miles) pipeline network by 2025. Alfred Hansen said that the relatively stable level of supply is due to well-planned maintenance and a record-high availability of terminals. Onshore plants, and pipelines. Hansen said that the results were "exceptionally good" and added that it also cemented Norway's status as a major supplier of energy to Europe. He said that the current 'levels' represent a plateau in Norwegian gas supply, and 2026 is expected to keep a range of?110-120 bcm. Norway is Europe's biggest gas supplier after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, 2022. It meets over 30% of its consumption. However, volumes vary depending on demand, maintenance, and other issues that affect capacity. Gassco's gas network links Norwegian gas fields to Germany, Belgium France, Britain, and Denmark. Deliveries are usually close to 340 millions cubic metres per day. RISE IN EXPORTS TO GERMANY Delivery to Germany, Europe’s largest gas market, increased to 58 Bcm by?2025, up from 56 Bcm one year earlier. This includes volumes sent to Denmark through a branch of the?pipeline that has been in operation since 2022. Gas exports to Britain dropped from 30 bcm per year to 27 bcm by 2024. Exports to France and Belgium also fell, each by 1 bcm. Gassco does not include LNG shipments from the Hammerfest LNG facility in Arctic Norway. This plant has an annual capacity of approximately 6.5 billion cubic meters.
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US proposes to help airlines avoid fines for consumer protection violations
The U.S. Transportation Department proposes to revise their guidance in order to?emphasize the imposition of civil?fines against?airlines that violate consumer protection laws and to abandon policies from Biden's era. The Office of Aviation Consumer protection?stated that its enforcement focus would be "on ensuring compliance with civil rights and consumer protection regulations, rather than finding and punishing entities for 'violations.'" If it finds violations, the office will "attempt to address the issue by issuing warning letters to help the regulated entitiy achieve compliance and resolve the issues before taking enforcement action." USDOT also proposes to remove guidance issued in 2023 by then-President Joe Biden, which stated that the department would seek higher penalties from airlines who violated 'consumer protection regulations.
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Local distributor reports that Dongfeng, a Chinese automaker, is in talks with Turkey's local distributor to manufacture passenger cars.
The Turkish distributor of China's Dongfeng Motor said that the company is in discussions with an investor to produce passenger cars in Turkey. Turkey is a large market with an annual sales volume of 1.4m vehicles. It also has a customs-free trade agreement with the EU. Chinese imports of cars to Turkey are subject to additional taxes, and Chinese automakers including Chery are seeking to set up production in Turkey with local partners. In a LinkedIn statement, Yavuz Cirak said, "We're working hard to begin production this year." Cirak is the CEO of Dongfeng’s local distributor,?Marcar, and was a part of the talks. A?request for a comment from Dongfeng Motor was not responded to immediately. The investor has secured a production facility. However, a final investment decision is not yet guaranteed. Talks are still ongoing. Marcar will oversee local sales, and support the cars. When contacted by? On Wednesday, Cirak declined to identify the investor invoking a confidentiality agreement. On Monday, a post was made on the Turkish Instagram account of Dongfeng luxury car brand Voyah stating that local production of a new hybrid model is in the works. Despite high taxes, Turkish car sales reached a new record in the last year thanks to an increasing adult population and electric vehicle demand. BYD, a Chinese manufacturer, is expected to begin production in Turkey by the end of 2026. Can Sezer is reporting; Zoey Zhang and Mirac Eren dereli are providing additional reporting from Shanghai and Gdansk, respectively; Darin Butler and Elaine Hardcastle are editing.
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Dozens Italian tourists evacuated by Yemeni island
The Italian Foreign Ministry announced that it has started repatriating its citizens who were stranded in the Yemeni Island of Socotra. A first flight carrying 46 tourists is due to land in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday. As authorities continue to work with Yemen and Saudi Arabia, another 59 Italians are still on the island. They will be returning on additional flights within a few days. Saudi authorities will issue a transit visa for the Italians to facilitate their return. Last week, the United Arab Emirates?withdrew their troops from Yemen in response to a Saudi Arabian deadline. They also left behind Socotra, a remote island off Yemen that had been inhabited by 600 tourists. The main airport on the island halted air traffic as the crisis between Saudi Arabia and the UAE intensified, resulting in a new conflict on the mainland of Yemen where the two Gulf countries are supporting opposing factions in the civil war. Socotra, which is located more than 300 kilometers (185 miles) south of Yemen’s coast and was only accessible by air until recently via the UAE, has been a refuge of calm during the conflict on the mainland. (Reporting and writing by Cristina Carlevaro, Editing by Janet Lawrence).
Lobby group claims that EU steel safeguards will lead to crippling price increases for manufacturing
A lobby group representing European steel-using industry said that the safeguards proposed by the European Union as a way to protect EU mills against the impact of imported steel would "lead" to crippling price increases for European manufacturers.
The 'European Using Industries of Steel, a grouping of lobbies that represents manufacturers of products ranging from automobiles and home appliances to farm machinery, has said the measures go too far when it comes to enclosing the European market.
It said: "We urge EU Policymakers to ensure that a more cautious and balanced approach is taken in the legislative process for the adoption of the measure. This must... adequately reflect the significant concerns and challenges facing European Steel Users."
The European Commission has proposed a reduction of tariff-free import quotas for steel by nearly half, and a duty of 50% on excess shipments in an effort to maintain viable steelmaking within the EU.
According to the European steel manufacturers, extra tariffs for protection of local mills can cost them anywhere between 5 billion and 9 billion euro each year.
Steel buyers estimate that prices could rise up to 30 percent, which would affect their ability to compete on their respective international markets.
A combination of rising imports from the U.S. and tariffs on EU steel products has resulted in a production capacity of only 67%. Due to rising imports and?U.S. tariffs, EU Steel producers were only operating at 67% of their capacity.
The Commission proposed an import volume of 18.3 metric tonnes per year that is tariff-free, a reduction of 47% from the quotas for 2024, and a doubled duty on goods imported outside the quota to 50%.
The EU Commission, as well as the countries with the largest industries in steel, are concerned that tariff-free imports will harm domestic producers.
In October, car manufacturers and countries that sell steel in the EU like Britain criticised the measure.
(source: Reuters)