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Staffing shortages at air traffic control for the second day cause delays
The Federal Aviation Administration announced in a Tuesday notice that staffing problems at air traffic control are affecting flights for the second day running. FAA reported that some flights are being delayed at airports such as Nashville and Newark. Newark airport is experiencing delays of up to 30 minutes for arriving flights due to staffing problems. The FAA reported that there were staffing problems at the Atlanta Air Route Traffic Control Center, and it said they could reduce arrivals per hour in Chicago O'Hare. The severe weather also impacts flights in the United States. A total of 13,000 air traffic control officers and approximately 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are still required to report for work during the shutdown. However, they will not be paid. Instead, controllers will receive a partial pay on October 14. Sean Duffy, Transportation Secretary, said that since the start of the shutdown last week the FAA has seen an increase in sick leave. In some areas the staffing for air traffic has also been reduced by half. We'll make sure that the airspace is safe if we don't use controllers. Duffy told Fox News' "Fox and Friends" Tuesday that they would slow down traffic. FlightAware is a website that tracks flights. It reported Tuesday that more than 2,300 flights were delayed, including 200 in Nashville or about 20% of their flights. The number of controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers absent during the 35-day shutdown in 2019 increased as employees missed paychecks. This led to longer waits at checkpoints. The authorities were forced to reduce air traffic in New York to put pressure on legislators to end the standoff.
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Trump Administration considers further $12 billion cut to clean energy funding
According to a list seen by, the U.S. Government is considering canceling an additional $12 billion of clean energy funding. This includes awards for auto manufacturing, carbon capture and other projects. Two major direct air capture hubs, one of which involves the oil company Occidental, are on the list. They received billion-dollar awards under the former president Joe Biden's administration. The list also includes $500 million Last year's award General Motors will convert its Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant to a new facility Michigan Stellantis will invest $335 million to convert the Belvidere Assembly Plant into EVs. Illinois Stellantis will receive $250 million to convert its mid-size electric trucks. Indiana Transmission Plant in Kokomo will produce EV components. The Department of Energy has announced that it will cancel financing of $7.56 billion for hundreds of energy-related projects, claiming they would not generate enough returns for taxpayers. DOE officials weren't immediately available to comment. Occidental GM, and Stellantis have not responded to comments immediately. Russell Vought, White House budget director, said last week in a post to X that the administration will terminate nearly $8 billion of climate-related funding for 16 Democratic-led States including California and New York. (Reporting from Valerie Volcovici, Washington; additional reporting by Chandni in Bengaluru and Nichola in Los Angeles, and David Shepardson, Washington; editing by Chris Reese, Nichola Williams and Nichola Williams.
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Tesla launches lower-cost Model Y to revive sales
Tesla launched a new, more affordable model of its Model Y SUV, starting at just $39,990. The electric vehicle maker is trying to combat falling sales and a shrinking market share in the face of increasing global competition. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has been promising mass-market cars for years. However, last year, he cancelled plans to build a new $25,000 electric vehicle, as first reported. Musk announced late last year that the vehicle will be priced below $30,000, including U.S. electric tax credits. The credit was terminated at the end last month in the United States. Prices jumped by about $7,500. This helped boost quarterly sales, which reached a record. However, it is expected that the pace of sales will drop for the remainder of the year unless an affordable car can be found. The desire to purchase the car is high. Musk stated in July that people simply don't have the money to purchase it. The more affordable the car is, the better. Tesla posted two videos on X this weekend, igniting interest among fans. The first video features headlights peeking out from the darkness. Another shows what appears to be a spinning wheel for a few moments, followed by the U.S. date format of October 7. The CRUCIAL PLAN FOR $1 TRILLION PAYMENT Musk originally promised that production would begin by the end June. Tesla said that in July it had only produced "first builds" and would not be ready for customers until the end of the year. Tesla is already struggling with the slowing of sales due to its aging product line. Competition has increased rapidly, particularly in China and Europe where Musk's extreme right-wing political views have undermined brand loyalty. Tesla introduced a new version of its Model Y earlier this year. It featured improvements such as a rear-screen touchscreen and light bars. Musk has shifted the focus of his company to artificial intelligence and robotaxis, with a particular emphasis on humanoid robotics. Tesla has announced that it will introduce more affordable vehicles to its lineup, but hasn't provided any details. According to sources, the EV manufacturer also plans on releasing a stripped down version of its Model 3 midsize car. The board of Tesla has set several milestones for the company, including a $1 trillion compensation package for Musk. One of these is delivering 20,000,000 vehicles in the next decade. (Reporting from Abhirup Roy and Akash Sriram, in San Francisco; editing by Peter Henderson and Richard Chang, Srirajkalluvila, and Alan Barona.)
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Owners of Chinese-built vessels face US port fees and costs of $3 billion.
The U.S. will begin charging port fees to certain vessels that have links to China in one week. This move is expected to cost the 10 largest carriers $3.2 billion over the next year, as President Donald Trump tries to counter China's increasing dominance on high seas. S&P reported in a recent report that "while some observers believe that the October 14th deadline may be extended - or even scrapped - as part of wider negotiations, the uncertainty already has carriers unsettled, adding another layer to geopolitical risks for fleet deployment strategies." Trump's administration has said that fees levied on ships owned, built or operated by Chinese entities would help fund the revival of U.S. shipbuilding. The U.S. Congress is moving forward with a law that will direct long-term funding. It has strong bipartisan support. The U.S. trade representative sent out an update to ship owners late last week informing them that it is their responsibility, and not the agency's, to determine if fees are applicable. USTR stated that the onus of determining whether a vessel is liable for the fee lies with the ship owner, and not CBP. The website Pay.gov of the Department of the Treasury also stated that fees are to be paid online, and not at the ports of entry. The higher of $23 per tonnage net or $154 for 20-foot equivalent capacity will be charged to non-Chinese ship operators. Alphaliner, a maritime data and technology provider, said that both fees can only be imposed five times per year on a vessel. USTR has lowered fees significantly from its initial proposals. It also exempted a number of U.S.-based companies and extended timelines for the fees on LNG carriers. USTR also increased fees for non-U.S. made roll-on/roll off auto carriers, with some exceptions. Alphaliner estimates that the Chinese carrier COSCO and its OOCL Fleet are most vulnerable to these fees. COSCO's fees may be up to $1.53 billion in the next year, which is nearly half the $3.2 billion that was projected for the top ten cargo carriers. CMA CGM and many other carriers, such as France's COSCO, have said that they re-deployed Chinese built ships to avoid fees. Beijing responded. Premier Li Qiang has signed a declaration pledging to counter any discriminatory actions on Chinese ships and crews. Trump and Chinese president Xi Jinping will meet at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit (APEC), scheduled to take place in South Korea from late October until November 1. In the United States, fewer than ten commercial vessels were built in shipyards last year. China's shipyards, which produce both commercial and naval vessels, produced well over 1,000. Reporting by Lisa Baertlein, Los Angeles; additional reporting by Gus Trompiz, Paris; editing by David Gregorio
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Zelenskiy: Russia uses tankers to spy on them and sabotage
On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy accused Russia of using oil tanks for intelligence gathering and sabotage. In a Telegram post, Zelenskiy said that his country, after being briefed by Ukraine's chief of foreign intelligence, was cooperating in this matter with its allies. "At the moment, Russians use tankers to not only earn money for war but also for reconnaissance, and even sabotage. "It is possible to stop it," he added. Zelenskiy, in a video message he gave later that night, said that foreign intelligence chief Oleh Ivashchenko had described in his report the way Russia used tankers from its shadow fleet to "conduct destabilising and sabotage operations in Europe." He said that recent cases of drones launched from tanks are an example. "We share this information with our partners, and it's important that they respond to Russia in a real way." Reporting by Yuliia Dsya. Max Hunder wrote the article. Mark Potter, Ron Popeski, Mark Porter and Mark Potter) edited the work.
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The price of crude oil has increased despite the costlier shipment to India
The differentials between Urals crude and Brent for the date of February weakened on Monday due to rising shipping costs from Russia to India. This was driven by an increase in cargoes coming from Primorsk and Novorossiisk. Industry sources say that the current freight costs to transport Urals from the Baltic port of Primorsk to India for Aframax tanks rose from $6-6.5 millions for one-way trips in late August to middle September. The traders reported that the prices of Urals at western Indian ports remained constant. The exact plans for October remain unknown, but they expect Urals to continue exporting from western Russian ports at a level similar to September. Sources in the trade said that traders offering Russian oil are now asking Indian refineries to pay for their products in Chinese Yuan. They see recent signs of improved relations between New Delhi, China and Beijing as an opportunity to simplify transactions with Indian buyers. PLATTS WINDOW There were no bids or offers reported on Tuesday in the Platts window for Urals, Azeri BTC Blend or CPC blend crude. Nikolai Gorban, the head of CPC, said that this year's oil pumping target has been reduced to 74 millions metric tons.
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Sources say Boeing will win EU conditional approval for $4.7 billion Spirit deal
People with direct knowledge said that Boeing will receive EU antitrust approval of its $4.7 billion purchase of Spirit AeroSystems. Remedies to address EU concerns are expected to include the sale of some of Spirit AeroSystems' businesses. Boeing announced the agreement in July of last year. It aimed to streamline operations and improve the quality control years after the spin-off of the airline supplier. The people who spoke to Boeing said that Boeing's remedies for EU competition concerns are expected to be the same as those announced by the companies at the time of acquisition agreement. Spirit has sold its Europe-focused, loss-making activities to Airbus. It also divested of operations in Prestwick (Scotland), Subang (Malaysia), and Belfast, which support Airbus programs, as well those in Belfast, which do not. The European Commission (EC), which is the EU's enforcer of competition, will make a final decision on October 14. Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems have declined to comment. The British Competition Agency cleared the deal in August without any conditions. Boeing has considered purchasing its former subsidiary for some time. Analysts say that despite working with Airbus in Europe and other companies, the company has not been able to flourish independently. Boeing is trying to solve a corporate and industrial crisis which has affected one of its key suppliers. Reporting by Foo Yan Chee Editing Mark Potter
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Report says global renewable energy output has overtaken coal for the very first time.
A report from the think tank Ember revealed that renewable energy sources produced more electricity globally than coal for the first time during the first half 2025. This was due to rapid growth in China, India and other developing countries, the report showed. Most scientists believe that reducing coal power generation, since it emits twice as much carbon dioxide as the gas-based generation, will help to meet global climate goals. Ember reported that renewables such as solar and wind power provided 5,072 Terawatt Hours (TWh), or electricity, globally between January to June. This was more than coal's 4,896 terawatt hour supply. "We're seeing the first signs that a turning point is near," said Malgorzata Motyka. She's a senior analyst for Ember. Solar and wind power are growing at a rate that is fast enough to satisfy the growing demand for electricity in the world. The global electricity demand increased by 2.6% or 369 TWh during the first half 2025, compared to the same period of 2024. This was more than offset by an increase in solar energy output (306 TWh) and wind power output (97 TWh). China and India were the main drivers of this shift. The Ember report stated that China, as the largest electricity consumer in the world, has reduced its fossil fuel generation by 2%, while its solar and winds generation have grown by 43%, respectively. The report shows that India has seen a 29% and 31% increase in wind and solar power generation, respectively. This helped reduce the country's coal and gas consumption by 3.1%. During the same time period, fossil-fuel production increased in the United States as well as the European Union, due to a stronger demand and a weaker hydro- and wind power output. The report stated that in the U.S. coal-fired electricity generation increased by 17%, while gas-fired generation decreased by 3.9%, and in Europe, gas-fired energy generation increased by 14%, while coal-fired generation increased by 1.1%. The climate-change-skeptic U.S. president Donald Trump signed executive orders earlier this year aimed at increasing coal production. Last month, Trump also pledged his support for coal-fired electricity plants.
Panama Canal seeks LNG resurgence after 65% decline in traffic
The Panama Canal aims to restore vessel traffic bring U.S. liquefied natural gas to Asia as demand in that market rises and a brand-new appointment system allows carriers to secure slots, following a 65% decrease in the transit of its secondmost crucial sector, the Panama Canal Authority informed Reuters.
A U.S. LNG switch to Europe in the aftermath of Russia's. invasion of Ukraine, integrated with long waiting times and. costly charges to transit through Panama due to severe dry spell,. have actually kept many LNG ship of the canal.
Lots of gas exporters continue to take longer routes around. South America even after the waterway's authority raised the. limitations this year. The canal is the quickest route to Asia. for U.S. gas exporters, whose sales to Japan, China, South Korea. and India have grown considerably in the last decade.
In the case of LNG, we lost 65% (of traffic), which is the. traffic that now goes through Cape Horn, compared to what we had. in 2015, 2 years earlier, stated the Canal's administrator,. Ricaurte Vazquez, in an interview in Panama City.
Europe's big hunger for U.S. LNG and hold-ups licensing. brand-new LNG tasks in the United States have actually been the primary motorists. of the switch, he included, although the canal's drought-related. constraints likewise played an essential role, carriers said.
The obstacles of the last dry spell were extremely visible for. everybody, said Anatol Feygin, an executive vice president at. Cheniere Energy, the top U.S. LNG manufacturer.
Due To The Fact That the Panama Canal Authority charges a set fee per. passage, it can be easier for U.S. manufacturers to take. longer paths to Asia depending upon international LNG prices, shipment. terms in contracts and seasonal need.
Often individuals forget that going through the canal ... is. not a complimentary shortcut, Feygin said, describing transit charges. Financially, the option of going around the Cape is not far. from the economics of going through the canal.
But a recovery in Asian LNG need, likely to continue next. year, might require increased shipments through the canal.
We do think that development in LNG need will be driven by. Asia, Feygin included, referring to China, South Asia and. Southeast Asia. And we do believe that U.S. Gulf Coast volumes. will continue to be the single largest exporting node in the. world.
MORE PASSAGES REQUIRED
A new reservation system and lower expenses enabled the canal's. earnings to increase 9.5% to $3.45 billion in the fiscal year that. ended in September, in spite of the dry spell.
But commodities manufacturers think the canal's administration. still has space to set up more transits of LNG and liquefied. petroleum gas (LPG) vessels. The parties have been in touch. considering that in 2015 to think about propositions.
Panama now provides two transit slots each day for LNG ships,. however a long-term reservation system beginning in January will. enable manufacturers to reserve slots as much as a year ahead of time.
The first auction of this type, completed this month, raised. $ 394 million and will represent 40% of all transits through. its largest locks in 2025, administrator Vazquez stated.
Shorter waiting times and the set-aside of a minimal number. of slots for vessels getting to the canal without bookings. will allow Panama to much better manage arrivals. And some other. steps to enhance remain in conversation, including some in. anticipation of dry years, Vazquez added.
It (the canal) still has some constraints that we are. working through, like the truth that LNG carriers do not have. night-time transit capabilities through the new locks, Feygin. said.
The canal, which is monitoring the expansion of international LNG. fleets and the status of brand-new U.S. LNG projects, expects that. bigger LNG vessels, consisting of floating storage units that feed. LNG to onshore centers, will be going through Panama's. largest locks in the next 18 months.
(source: Reuters)