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Sources say that the derailment of Rusal in Guinea has stopped alumina exports.
Three sources said that a train owned by Russian aluminium producer?Rusal, derailed over the weekend in Guinea's Dubreka Prefecture, halting exports of alumina and slowing production. Two company officials reported that the train carrying alumina fell off the track near Kagbelen, on Saturday evening. The incident injured four people and forced the suspension of rail traffic. Senior Friguia refinery officials said that alumina production continued at a slower pace after the accident but they could not quantify its impact. Exports are at a standstill. "A team has been dispatched on the site to assess and repair the situation," said the official. They asked to remain anonymous because they were not authorized to speak on the subject publicly. Rusal didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. Guinean authorities have not yet released an official statement on the cause of the derailment. RUSAL FACE EXPORT DISRUPTIONS Guinea, the world's leading exporter of the bauxite ore that is used to produce aluminium, faces disruptions in its exports. Rusal runs the only alumina refining plant in the country, with a capacity of 600,000.00 metric tons annually. It supplies?alumina for the Russian aluminium smelters. The derailment of the Rusal ship in Guinea is a further challenge to Rusal's exports since the Iran War disrupted shipping lanes. According to a fourth source, the incident has disrupted the supply of key production inputs such as fuel and caustic soda, which are transported by rail between the port refinery. Rusal's second executive and a mining expert?said that the company had already cut alumina production before the derailment due to?fuel supply issues. Guinea's mining industry relies on a number of privately-operated rail corridors that connect bauxite, iron ore and alumina refineries with export terminals. The derailment, according to a senior official in the transport ministry, highlighted a 'chronic'?shortcoming of railway maintenance. According to the refinery's official, Friguia reopened in 2018 after closing in 2012. Since then, it has produced around 450,000 tons alumina per year. (Reporting and editing by Matthew Lewis; Maxwell Akalaare Adombila, Guinea newsroom)
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UK's Burnham: 'Glorifying dangerous driving in social media is repugnant'
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham referred to the promotion of dangerous driving via social media as "truly repugnant" on Monday, while his government called for tech companies to remove videos after a weekend car crash that killed seven people. In the early morning hours of Saturday, a car that was driven in the wrong direction down a major highway crashed into a police vehicle with armed officers in Northeast England. All five passengers and two officers were killed. Police said that four of the five people in the car had prior convictions. The police said that they had arrested 12 people as part of an investigation into organized criminal activity related to the incident. The accident came after two recent head-on crashes near Dublin. One of them killed five people. This prompted Ireland's chief police officer to warn that some young people are driving wrong way on motorways "for social media". The police said that there is no evidence to suggest the events that led up to the accident were filmed for the purpose of appearing on the short-form video platform TikTok. Burnham described the incident as "devastating" but said that he couldn't say more at this point because an investigation is ongoing. He told Kyiv reporters on Monday that anyone who promotes dangerous driving does something truly reprehensible. Since the accident, the government has raised the issue with social media companies of videos of dangerous driving and asked that they be removed. The police said they had received reports of dangerous driving before the crash, including one vehicle seen ramming into a property in Middlesbrough in northeast England. Police said that both vehicles were operating with cloned plates in order to avoid detection. Nine men and three woman, aged between 19 and 60, were arrested by police in the Teesside region after inquiries conducted over the weekend. Police said that the suspects were detained on suspicion of crimes ranging from possessing a firearm to engaging in 'activities of organised crime groups'. In a press release, Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox stated that the investigation was fast-moving with significant connections to serious criminal activity.
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UK Police arrest 12 after a crash in which seven people were killed is linked to organised crime
British police, who are investigating a weekend car crash that killed seven people, two of them police officers, announced on Monday they had arrested 12 people as part of a probe into organized criminal activity related to the accident. Cleveland Police stated that officers received reports of dangerous driving by two cars, including one seen ramming into a property in Middlesbrough. Police said that both vehicles were operating with cloned plates to avoid detection. The vehicle that crashed was driving the wrong way on a major highway and collided with a police car armed with weapons, killing all five of its occupants as well as two police officers. Police said that four of the five people in the vehicle had prior convictions. Nine men and three woman, aged 19 to 61 years, were arrested by police in the Teesside region over the weekend after they conducted inquiries. Police said that the suspects were arrested under suspicion of crimes ranging from possessing a firearm to taking part in activities of an organised crime group. In a press release, Assistant Chief Constable Wayne Fox stated that the investigation was "fast-moving" and complex. It had significant connections to serious criminal activity. The police said that there was no evidence to suggest that the events preceding the accident had been filmed in order to be aired on the short-form video platform TikTok. This follows recent concerns about motorists driving wrong way to gain attention from social media. (Reporting and editing by David Miliken; Sam Tabahriti)
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Putin gives the Russian state the right to control infrastructure that is not properly protected
The Russian state was given the authority by President Vladimir Putin to take control of critical infrastructure facilities that are deemed to have been 'poorly protected' from Ukrainian drone attacks and other threats. A presidential decree outlines the special powers that will allow for temporary management of these facilities. This is at a time where?Ukraine is intensifying drone attacks against oil refineries and retail warehouses. According to the decree, the state can take over 'physical and financial assets' and formal ownership rights when the entity responsible for these 'facilities is judged to be negligent in protecting them and too slow in repairing them after an attack. The new decree included fuel, energy, communications, transport, and logistics facilities, as well as other items deemed to be critical for ensuring?security and stability? of the state?and the people?. Putin ordered last week that the government launch "a" program to rebuild commercial warehouses destroyed or damaged by Ukraine over recent weeks. Kyiv has attacked at least two dozen warehouses belonging to Russia's largest online retailer Wildberries, destroying a significant?chunk? of its storage capacity. Russia's second largest?online retailer Ozon said on Monday that four of its logistic hubs in southern Russia were targeted by Ukrainian attacks. Reporting and Editing by Andrew Osborn
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TotalEnergies CEO: TotalEnergies to invest in expanding Fujairah Oil Export Pipeline in Abu Dhabi
The CEO of TotalEnergies, a French oil company, said that the company will continue to invest in the Middle East in spite of the Iran conflict. This was revealed at a conference on energy in Norway. Patrick Pouyanne previously said that it was important to fund alternate pipelines in order for oil to leave Middle East, given the paralysis of the Strait of Hormuz during the U.S.-Israel war against Iran. Pouyanne stated at the ONS Conference that "we are today the largest traders of oil from Iraq or Qatar... it is clear to me that a certain amount equity needs to be invested in an alternative route." He added, "We will partner with the pipeline that will move?from Baghdad into Syria. I will also make an investment in Abu Dhabi to double the Fujairah pipe." The Habshan-Fujairah Pipeline in Abu Dhabi, also known as the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline can transport up to 1.8 millions barrels of oil per day. This has proven?crucial for the United Arab Emirates, who are trying to maximize exports out of the Gulf of Oman, just outside of the Strait of Hormuz. The UAE hopes to double that export capacity by next year.
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Vision Marine signss letter of intent to be acquired by a private defense company
Vision Marine Technologies announced on Monday that it has entered into a letter of intent which is non-binding and under which the company would be acquired by a private defense firm, creating a public traded platform focusing on artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous systems, and electrification. The Marine Technology Maker said that the identity of the buyer and commercial terms will remain confidential "pending the completion of due diligence and negotiation and execution of definitive transaction documents." Vision Marine manufactures electric propulsion systems and operates Nautical Ventures in Florida, a platform for recreational boating sales and services. The acquiring company is developing unmanned aerial vehicles and autonomous systems, with a focus on aerial, for defense, government and critical-infrastructure applications, Vision Marine said. After the completion of this 'deal, Vision shareholders will own the remaining 2.9%. Vision Marine, with a capitalization of 1.52 million dollars, announced that the combined company would remain listed on the Nasdaq. The parties plan to execute definitive agreements by October 15th and complete the proposed transaction before December 31st. Aishwarya JAIN in Bengaluru, Anil D'Silva, and Shailesh KUBER edited the report.
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Maguire: High gas prices will test the endurance of US LNG exports.
The U.S. has shipped record volumes of super-chilled LNG so far in the year 2026. However, rising global natural gas prices could soon reduce demand among cost-conscious buyers. LSEG data shows that key forward gas and LNG price in?European and Asian countries -- which account for more than 80% of U.S. shipments of LNG -- are at their highest level in over three years. According to Kpler the ongoing U.S.-Israeli?war against Iran has disrupted the freight traffic in Gulf and reduced?LNG?flows from Qatar, a key exporter, by more than 60% from the previous year, opening the way for higher prices and record U.S. shipments. Exporters will soon see softer demand, as buyers delay purchases due to high freight costs and seasonal decreases in gas consumption. PRICED OUT According to LSEG, the estimated forward price for LNG deliveries in Asia is expected to rise to over $22 per million British Thermal Units (MMBtu) by October, November, and December. This compares with an average of under $17 per MMBTu so far in 2026, and would be the highest price seen in Asia since 2023 at the beginning of the global gas market's turmoil due to Russia's invasion and disruptions of Russian gas flows. Gas purchases in Japan, China and South Korea will likely be softer than usual until utilities restock their gas supplies as winter approaches. Gas consumers in Europe can expect to pay a benchmark price of $21,50 to $22,50 per MMBtu at the Netherlands gas trading hub between October and December, the highest prices since late 2022. The European gas market is showing signs of a slowdown. Gas-fired electricity is being replaced by renewable energy sources, and households and businesses are electrifying their heating and other energy needs to reduce fossil fuel use. Similarly, European gas stocks remain below long-term norms, which means utilities will have to replenish their stockpiles in order for heating demand to pick up. Recent import trends indicate that buyers are not in a hurry to purchase additional LNG at the current price. According to Kpler's data, Europe imported a total 6.2 million tons of LNG during July. This is the lowest total for July since 2021. The slow pace of imports suggests that buyer concerns about fuel prices currently outweigh those regarding potential supply security. EXPORTER PERSPECTIVE The prospect of a short-term slowdown in demand from importers is not a major concern for U.S. LNG suppliers, given the record numbers that have already been recorded during the first seven month of the year. Kpler data show that U.S. companies exported just under 73 million tonnes of LNG between January and July. This is a 23% increase from the same period in 2025. The shift towards alternative energy sources and electrification may be accelerated by prolonged high gas prices on key target markets. The cost-sensitive markets of Asia, which also have a rapidly growing renewable energy?generation sector and a strong growth in battery?systems, are likely to be the most affected. Storage operators may be discouraged from making discretionary purchases if natural gas prices are high. They will not want to fill up tanks if prices are high, in case the demand is low through winter. This could limit their reselling options. The LNG exporters should also be aware of the planned increases in export volumes. Several liquefaction expansions are expected to take place in the U.S.A. and Canada before the end of this decade. The majority of these planned expansion projects have been approved on the assumption that gas consumption in all markets will continue to grow in tandem with supply. Gas prices may be high enough in certain regions to reduce local 'demand' and speed up energy transition. Exporters will face fierce competition to find buyers regardless of the amount they have to sell. These are the opinions of the columnist, who is also an author. This column is great! Check out Open Interest, your new essential source for global financial commentary. Follow ROI on LinkedIn, X and X. Listen to the Morning Bid podcast daily on Apple, Spotify or the app. Subscribe to the Morning Bid podcast and hear journalists discussing the latest news in finance and markets 7 days a weeks.
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German billionaire Klaus-Michael Kuehne dies at age 89
The company announced on Monday that German investor Klaus-Michael Kuehne died at the age of 89. He was the controlling shareholder in the Swiss logistics group Kuehne & Nagel. Kuehne is the grandson to August Kuehne who founded the company. He also holds major stakes in German companies Lufthansa and Hapag-Lloyd, chemicals trade group Brenntag, and bus and train service operator Flix. He is a dominant figure in the world of shipping and logistics. Kuehne + Nagel, which was a small family business, has grown into one of the largest logistics groups on earth. Forbes estimates that his holdings are valued at more than $44.2billion. He was the chairman of Kuehne and Nagel's board of directors from 1992 to 2011. Kuehne, who has strong family ties in northern Germany formed a group of investors to purchase Hapag-Lloyd's Hamburg container shipping business. This was done to avoid the company being folded into another global competitor. He was a dominant presence among German family investors and later acquired 20% of the voting rights at German flagship airline Lufthansa Group. Reporting by Ludwig Burger, Friederike Heine and Kirovan Donovan.
Putin gives Russia control over infrastructure that is vulnerable to drone attacks
On Monday, President Vladimir Putin 'granted the Russian state authority to seize control of critical infrastructure that is not adequately protected against Ukrainian drone attacks or other threats.
A presidential decree outlines the special powers that will allow Ukraine to temporarily take over management of these facilities. This is at a time where drone attacks on oil refineries, retail warehouses and other critical infrastructure have increased.
According to the decree, the state can take control of assets such as physical or financial and formal ownership rights when entities in charge of these?facilities fail to do their job to protect them.
This applies to fuel, energy, communication, industrial and transport facilities, as well as other items deemed critical for the economic and security stability of both the state and its population.
First Deputy Premier Denis Manturov stated that the measure would not be used on a large scale and should not be seen as a prelude to nationalisation.
"This is not a nationalisation or change in ownership." Manturov, quoted by Interfax as saying that the decree allows for the state to be involved in managing an entity in order to "address certain?security concerns". Last week, Putin ordered the government launch a program to rebuild damaged or destroyed commercial warehouses caused by Ukraine in recent weeks. Kyiv has destroyed a significant portion of the storage capacity at Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer. Since July 18, Kyiv has targeted more than two dozen warehouses. Russia's second largest online retailer Ozon said on Monday that four of its southern Russian logistics hubs had been attacked by Ukrainian forces. (Reporting by Editing by Andrew Osborn, Alexandra Hudson)
(source: Reuters)