Latest News
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Taiwan's Evergreen claims ship struck by unknown object near Oman
Evergreen Marine, a Taiwanese firm, said that a ship owned by the company was hit by an unidentified object near Oman but has since safely left the Strait of 'Hormuz. The company made a statement at the Taiwan Stock Exchange, stating that the starboard-side of the Ever Lovely's bridge, which is owned by a Singapore subsidiary, had been hit by an unidentified object just 3.6 nautical miles off Oman, Khawr Naiwah. Damage was discovered around the bridge window after an initial inspection. The crew, vessel, and cargo are safe, the report said. The company stated that the main engine and navigation instruments were 'operating normally', and that there were no issues with seaworthiness. The ship followed the route recommended by the British Navy agency UKMTO when passing through the Strait. UKMTO announced on Thursday that "a cargo ship" had reported an attack while it was attempting to pass through Strait of Hormuz near the Omani coast. In a 'press release 'on Friday, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore stated that they were aware of the damage that?the Singapore flagged Ever Lovely sustained at?about 900 SGT on the previous Thursday and that they would be in constant contact with the management company of the vessel. It also said that it was "deeply concerned" about the incident. The incident was described as being "unprovoked and unjustified, a violation of international law". (Reporting and editing by Thomas Derpinghaus and Aidan Lewis; Reporting by Ben Blanchard)
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New Zealand's Capital, Wellington, is hit by a storm that cancels hundreds of flights
The storm that hit central New Zealand Friday knocked out power for 'thousands' of homes, caused flooding, and triggered landslides. MetService, the national?weather forecaster, issued multiple severe weather alerts as a system of low pressure swept across Canada. The warning was issued after wind speeds?exceeding?150 kph were recorded in some parts of the country over night. The?storm caused 200 flights to be cancelled in and out of Wellington. The airport said that "most flights into and out of Wellington Airport today have been cancelled, and most but not all scheduled flights tonight have also 'been cancelled". The winds are expected to calm tomorrow, which should allow for flights to resume. Air New Zealand has confirmed that it has cancelled all flights into and out of the capital as well as flights departing from New Plymouth Airport. The airline stated that "services will resume only when it is safe for them to do so." Wellington?Electricity reported 4,000 customers without power, and warned that 'further outages could occur' as the wind speeds peak in the evening. The utility reported that it had restored power to 3,000 customers earlier. On its website, it said that "it?may take several days to restore power?to all customers". Emergency services responded to reports of landslides and flooded roads in Lower Hutt (northeast of Wellington). (Reporting and editing by Christopher Cushing in Sydney)
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Maguire: How to monitor the stress on European power systems during heatwaves
Scores of European cities are experiencing record-breaking temperatures, which are forcing utilities to reduce power production in order to avoid outages. Data centers, electric vehicles (EVs) and heat pumps are all increasing their electricity consumption. This is putting a strain on power grids in the region. This is an overview of?how? to track the impact of the heatwave on Europe's energy systems. Power prices and generation mix are constantly changing as a result. PRICE SIGNALS Day-ahead prices and intraday price ranges are available on many of Europe's biggest power markets. These provide valuable clues about expected system conditions and can reveal multiple things at once. Demand is expected to continue to be strong, while the supply will remain tight. The so-called merit-order pricing system can reveal the power source that is setting the marginal prices for production in certain key markets by analyzing the rise in power prices. On most European electricity markets, the most costly power source to meet demand determines the price of the entire market. This is usually gas-fired power plants, but it can also be nuclear, hydro, and coal power systems. The high day-ahead price can indicate the technology that is setting the margin in a particular market, as well as what fuel and carbon prices will be fed through each system when power firms adjust output to meet market demands. Market data providers like LSEG allow subscribers to track energy prices for power applications. Websites such as EUenergy.live or electricitymaps.com provide more recent information on power prices. Power FLOWs Imports and Exports play a key role in Europe's energy markets. Countries?such France and Norway are normally major electricity suppliers to their neighboring countries. LSEG, for example, offers subscribers real-time information on power trading across borders, and the International Energy Agency provides tools that measure the direction of the trade between key nations. A sudden outage in a key exporter nation can have far-reaching effects throughout Europe. It can also trigger a rise in prices in the region if large exporters are unable to supply for long periods. OPERATOR ALERTS Grid operator notices are also important for power market watchers, as they inform participants about potential network issues. Heat-related alerts can include voltage control issues, which occur when air conditioner demand peaks and supply through infrastructure like transmission lines drops due to heat stress. Grid operators can also send alerts that call for a reduction in consumption by key users or at certain times. This is a way to monitor the health of important networks. The main French operator of nuclear plants has issued a warning this week that the high temperatures are reducing the amount of river water available to cool their reactors. This is forcing them to cut back on production. This week, the United Kingdom's grid operator issued a very rare notice about electricity margins. It warned that there may be fewer supplies than usual as demand for total system power increases. The extreme heat warnings that are in effect for the remainder of this week across Europe (including the UK), will put additional strain on the regional power grids, which can affect traders, utilities, and businesses. The signals are there for those who pay attention: rising prices, shifting power flows, changing production mixes, and grid operator alerts. The author is a columnist and his opinions are expressed here. You like this column? Open Interest (ROI) is your new essential source of 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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ROI-Hormuz oil shock echoes 1973 embargo lessons: Bousso
Oil and gas have now resumed flowing through the Strait of Hormuz. However, the closing of this vital waterway for more than 100 days may prove to be an important turning point on the global energy market. A similar supply shock in 1973, the Arab "oil embargo", offers clues as to where we may be heading. The latest Middle East Crisis tested the limits on the modern energy system. It has evolved over the past decades into an interconnected global market, held together by thousands trading houses, complex pricing systems, and thousands of tankers. The system was remarkably flexible during the U.S. - Israeli war against Iran that began on February 28, 2009. Rapid changes in supply and demand patterns have mitigated what was previously considered as a "doomsday scenario": the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow waterway is where nearly a fifth of 'world oil and liquefied gas supplies pass. This shock was not without pain, especially in Asia which relies on Middle East oil and gas for 60% of their imports. Market adaptations made during the crisis, such as the depletion of energy stocks and China's reduction in imports, were not sustainable. The global energy markets bought time. The global energy markets could have reached a critical point had the Strait not reopened at that time, when inventories were dangerously low. The calamity could have been avoided, but the Hormuz Crisis has forced nations to rethink energy strategies. Do we need to expect a drastic reduction in the use of fossil fuels? The comparison of today's crisis with the Arab oil embargo shows that the future will be much more complex, but that it could mark the beginning of an end to the oil age. BLACK GOLD Standard Oil was founded in 1870 by John D. Rockefeller. The modern age began in 1859 with the drilling of America's first commercial oil well. Oil consumption grew from almost nothing in 1900 to more than 100 million barrels a day in the 2020s. Control of the "black gold", as global consumption grew throughout the century, and new oil frontiers emerged, especially in the Middle East, became a source for friction between Western nations and oil producing countries, fueling countless wars, coups, and conflicts. After the Yom Kippur War of 1973, Arab members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries placed an oil embargo against the U.S. The oil price quadrupled almost overnight. This triggered a global inflation. Great Reshuffle The impact of the embargo was wide-ranging. It first pushed governments and companies to reduce fuel consumption. As Washington imposed fuel efficiency standards, U.S. motorists shifted to smaller and more efficient Japanese vehicles. European automakers promoted diesel engines and heavy industries shifted away from fuel oils to coal and gas. Western countries, in general, accelerated the development and production of oil and gas, especially offshore basins. It reduced their dependence on imports while also reducing the energy intensity of economies. In 1974, the crisis led to the creation of the International Energy Agency to coordinate global responses in the event of major oil disruptions. This included the management of newly-created national strategic petroleum reserve. It did not lead to economies abandoning fossil fuels but to using them more carefully. NEW ENERGY STRATEGY - DIVERSIFY AND BUY LOCALLY Fast forward to 2026 and a similar change appears to be taking place. There are more affordable alternatives to fossil-fuels available today than in the 1970s. This could reduce oil and gas consumption. Asia, which was most affected by the closure of the Gulf, responded with drastic measures. These included four-day work weeks, mandatory policies to work from home, and restrictions on car and air travel. Energy shortages forced some industries to reduce their capacity. These were only temporary measures that would be reversed when oil flow returned to normal. It is structural changes which will determine the future of the fastest growing energy market in the world. Asian economies have focused for years on finding the cheapest sources of energy to fuel growth. Hormuz taught us that energy security is more important than anything else, including price. In order to achieve this, India and Pakistan are now investing in their domestic oil reserves. They will follow IEA member countries and China. India, Pakistan, and Japan are all major energy importers who want to reduce their dependence on oil and gas. They do this by investing in renewables and nuclear power, and even coal. In South Korea, which is a major industrial and petrochemical powerhouse, the President Lee Jae Myung called for efforts to explore alternate supply chains, pursue long-term industrial restructuring, and move towards a "plastic free economy" as part of key national projects. Europe was not as badly affected by the Iran Crisis, but it has experienced two major energy supply disruptions in less than five years. Europe had to replace the sanctioned energy supply after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Gas prices rose and countries implemented energy-saving measures. Chemicals, glass, and steel industries also suffered as the high cost of fuel made them uncompetitive on a global scale. The European gas market dropped by more than 20% between 2021-2023, and it has barely recovered since. Renewables are now a larger part of Europe's energy mix. This trend is likely to be accelerated by the latest shock. Capital has already started to follow these new global energy priorities. Despite the Middle East conflict's destabilising effects, global energy investments are expected to reach $3.4 billion this year. This is up 5% on 2025. Most of the money is going to alternative fuels and systems that are more resilient. This suggests that the shift away from oil, even if it is only marginally, is gaining traction. According to the IEA, electric vehicle sales soared in the first three months of 2026. They increased by 30% in Europe, by 75% in Latin America, and by 80% in Asia Pacific. Solar trade flows also tell a similar story, with Chinese panels exports to Africa jumping 120% and to Southeast Asia by 150%. In Africa, 15 nations reported solar imports exceeding $400 million dollars in the first quarter, compared to $650 million by 2025. The policy agenda is moving towards a greater focus on energy efficiency. The global spending on this topic is already around $350 billion a year. And the scope of these?policies continue to expand. According to the IEA, approximately 20 countries announced new efficiency measures 'in response to the Hormuz Crisis. It is not true that oil and natural gas will soon be replaced as the mainstays of a global energy system. The oil industry is still deeply rooted in transportation, agriculture, and construction. Meanwhile, the gas industry has been boosted by an increase in electricity demand, fueled by air conditioning, industrial expansion, and AI data centers. It's all about the direction. The direction of fossil fuel usage was always up and to the left for most of the 20th century. The Hormuz Crisis may change this. You like this column? Check out Open Interest, your new essential source for global financial commentary. Follow ROI on LinkedIn 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 seven days a weeks.
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Taiwan's Evergreen claims ship struck by unknown object near Oman
The Taiwanese firm said that a ship owned by?Evergreen Marine, which was struck by an unknown object near Oman has now safely departed the?Strait?of Hormuz. The company made a statement at the Taiwan Stock Exchange, stating that the starboard side?bridge of Ever Lovely, which is owned by its Singapore subsidiary, had been hit by an unknown object just 3.6 nautical mile off Oman’s Khawr Naiwah. After a?initial crew inspection, damage was discovered around the bridge windows. The crew, vessel, and cargo were all safe. The company reported that the main engine, navigation instruments and seaworthiness are all working normally. The'ship' was said to be following the route recommended by the British Navy agency UKMTO while passing through the strait. UKMTO said on Thursday that an Omani cargo ship reported a suspected attack while it was attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
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IAEA announces that repairs have been completed at Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Plant
The?U.N. The?U.N. The repairs were carried out in two separate locations: the switchyard at the Zaporizhzhya thermal power plant, which supplies electricity to the ZNPP via the backup 330 kV Ferosplavna-1?line, according to the agency. The Dniprovska Line has not been brought back to operation yet due to?extensive damages at its connecting substation. The International Atomic Energy Agency's Rafael Mariano Grossi stated in a statement that the line had been repaired but still needed to be brought back into operation. The agency stated that repairs to the substation are ongoing but not expected to be completed in the near future.
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Honda CEO apologizes for loss of company, gains investor support at annual meeting
Toshihiro Mibe, the chief executive of Honda Motor, received support from shareholders at the annual meeting held on Friday for his reappointment as a member of the Japanese automaker’s?board after apologizing to them for the poor financial performance. Honda has been forced to restructure its electric vehicle business, which cost more than $9 billion dollars in restructuring costs. It is also facing competition from Chinese competitors. Mibe apologized to shareholders at the beginning of the meeting for the concern and inconvenience caused due to the net loss in the financial results from the previous fiscal year. In addition to Mibe, Honda shareholders also approved 10 other nominees for the board, nine of whom were up for re-appointment, and one who was a new?director. Glass Lewis and ISS had advised that all directors be supported. Honda, amidst a rollback of EV subsidies, decided to write down its EV-linked debt. The market share for battery-powered vehicles in the U.S. was far below what the company had forecasted, Mibe explained. This meant that the planned models would require large incentives. Mibe stated that if the company had sold its planned EVs it "would have meant the automotive business staying in the negative for at least five, and possibly even seven years," adding that this would have created a very?critical situation within the company. REIGNATION CALLOUTS People familiar with the situation have said that Mibe's mishaps in recent months has attracted scorn from retired Honda executives. Former chief executive Nobuhiko Kawasmoto visited Tokyo headquarters in April and urged him to resign. Former?executives criticised Mibe's neglect of China, the largest auto market in the world, as well as its failed bets on EVs, which led to Honda's loss, and showed a growing dependency on the motorcycle division. A shareholder filed a motion near the end of the meeting calling for Mibe to be fired. However, the chief executive refused 'to put the matter to a vote.' He said that the topic was not on 'the agenda. Mibe stated that talks between Nissan Motors and Mitsubishi Motors regarding cooperation on next-generation vehicles technologies, which have been ongoing since mid-2024 are at an advanced level.
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French and Benelux stocks: Factors to watch
Here are some company news and stories that could impact the markets in France and Benelux or on individual stocks. AIR FRANCE KLM: The Franco-Dutch carrier?Air France KLM?has successfully issued EUR 500 million senior notes under?its EMTN Program?with a 5-year maturity and a fixed coupon annual of 4.250%. These notes will be used primarily to fund general corporate purposes. LE SLIP FRANCAIS: French underwear manufacturer Le Slip Francais plans to trade its shares on the Paris stock exchange on Bastille Day, July 14. Michelin: The French tire manufacturer Michelin plans to phase out its BFGoodrich tire factory in Tuscaloosa in early 2027. LVMH/MARIE BRIZARD/PERNOD - The head of Paris police announced on Thursday that Parisians would be prohibited from drinking alcohol in public starting at midday on Friday to curb health problems arising from the current heatwave in France and Europe. VINCI: French construction and concessions group Vinci has won a EUR210m ($238.98m) contract for the second building at the new 'Reims Hospital. EUR157m was allocated to Vinci Construction, and the project will last 45 months. Pan-European market data: European Equities speed guide................... FTSE Eurotop 300 index.............................. DJ STOXX index...................................... Top 10 STOXX ?sectors........................... Top 10 EUROSTOXX sectors...................... Top 10 Eurotop 300 ?sectors..................... Top 25 European pct gainers....................... Top 25 European pct losers........................ Main stock markets: Dow Jones ............... Wall Street report ..... Nikkei 225............. Tokyo ?report............ London report ........... Xetra ?DAX............. Frankfurt items......... CAC-40................. Paris items............ World Indices..................................... Survey of global bourse outlook ......... European Asset Allocation........................ News in a glance Top News ............. Equities.............. Main Oil Report ........... Main currency report .....
Armenians are increasingly worried about war with Azerbaijan due to escalating ceasefire violations
Khnatsakh residents are anxious at nightfall.
Locals claim that every evening, around 10 pm, Azerbaijani soldiers fire into the night skies from their positions high above.
Villagers say that bullets have been hitting houses regularly, but no one has been injured so far. Azerbaijan has denied that its troops are firing across the border and accused Armenian forces of violating ceasefire.
Karo Andranyan (66), a retired mechanic, said, "It is very tense at home because we have children, little ones and elderly."
Azerbaijani flags and a military position on a hillside are only 100 metres away from his door. This is a reminder that Armenia's bitter enemy is close by. Since the early 1990s, the heavily militarized 1,000-km border is closed.
Two major wars have been fought in the last 40 years. This has destabilised the Caucasus, a region which is important for Russia, Iran, and Turkey because it contains major oil and natural gas pipelines towards Europe.
Experts say that the rising tensions along the border increase the likelihood of a new conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as the two countries approach a crucial juncture in their tortuous peace process.
In March, both sides announced that they had reached an agreement on the outline of a treaty of peace to be signed by 2026. This raised hopes for reconciliation. The draft envisages both sides delineating their shared borders, but requires Armenia to amend the constitution before Azerbaijan can ratify the deal.
After months of relative calm, the reports of ceasefire breaches along the border are now soaring.
Andranyan believes the gunfire at night is meant to intimidate both the local villagers and the small garrison Armenian troops that are stationed in the village. He said that the village, which according to census data had 1,000 residents, was emptying because locals were afraid of a return to war.
What are we to do?
Despite the fact that there has been no death on the border in over a year, cross-border gunfire is reported frequently. Azerbaijan has made the majority of accusations against Armenia since March. These include cross-border gunfire, and damage to property.
Both sides have denied claims of ceasefire violation.
Since 2020, the simmering conflict has decisively shifted in Azerbaijan’s favor. The oil and gas producer regained territory lost during the 1990s. It also progressively reestablished control over Nagorno Karabakh where ethnic Armenians established de facto autonomy since the collapse the Soviet Union. It retook Karabakh in 2023, causing 100,000 ethnic Armenians from the region to flee to Armenia.
Marco Rubio, the U.S. secretary of state, told a hearing of Congress last month that there was "a real risk" of war. He stated that the U.S. wished Azerbaijan to "accept a peace accord that doesn't cause them to invade a neighboring nation, Armenia."
Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev has been in power since 2003. He said that in January, Armenia was a "fascist menace" that must be eliminated.
Laurence Broers is an expert in Armenia and Azerbaijan from London's Chatham House. He said that a full-scale conflict was possible but more localised clashes are more likely.
He said Azerbaijan's population, which is 10 million, is three times that of Armenia. It has little incentive to sign a peace agreement quickly and could instead use smaller scale escalation to force its neighbor to make further concessions during the talks.
Ilham Aliyev's strategy of escalation and militarization was a great success, he said.
The Armenian authorities have insisted that there will not be a war. Nikol Pashinyan, the Prime Minister of Armenia, said in a speech delivered last month that "despite all arguments and all provocations", the two countries will not fight again.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry responded to questions regarding the tensions along its border by referring to previous comments.
In a May statement, Baku said it was committed to peace and had no territorial claims against Armenia. In a statement in May, it said that Yerevan’s actions "call Armenia’s commitment to peace into question".
The Azerbaijani Defence Ministry has denied Armenian reports that cross-border gunfire had taken place.
Tensions in the South
The conflict is centered in Armenia's southernmost region of Syunik, where the majority of ceasefire violations have been reported.
Syunik divides Azerbaijan's main body to the east and the Azerbaijani enclave of Nakhchivan in the west. It is also a crucial trade route between Armenia and Iran, with which it shares a border to the south.
Azerbaijan demands that Armenia build a route through Syunik and Nakhchivan since 2020. Baku said the passage would be Armenian territory, but with minimal control from Yerevan.
Azerbaijani officials also claim that the southern part of Armenia was historically Azerbaijani land, but they haven't made a formal territorial claim.
Armenia has closed its border with Azerbaijan and its frontier with Turkey, a close ally to Baku. This makes its border with Iran the lifeline of trade. Syunik's corridor could cut off the country's access to its remote mountainous border.
Armenia and Iran share a warm relationship, despite Armenia’s Christian faith and its increasingly pro-Western orientation. Iran was Armenia's largest importer in 2022. Tehran's Defence Minister visited Yerevan in May. Iranian media reported that he expressed Iran's opposition against redrawing borderlines in the region.
Armenia's tensions with its traditional ally Russia are a major problem. Russia opposes Armenian efforts to move closer to the west and has strengthened its ties with Azerbaijan.
"Armenia has open borders with Georgia and Iran. "This keeps the country moving," said Tigran Grizaryan, director at the Regional Centre for Democracy and Security, a think tank in Yerevan.
Grigoryan stated that Azerbaijani demands for the corridor may be the spark to future military escalation. He said that the ceasefire violation could be an attempt to force Armenia to make concessions over the issue.
He said: "If Armenia lost its border with Iran that would be a disaster."
Requests for comments from the Iranian and Russian Foreign Ministries were not answered.
The Iranian connection is evident throughout Armenia's south.
Iranian road workers work to widen a mountainside road that is clogged by lorries coming from the south, headed north toward Georgia and Russia.
Some locals are selling red wine in plastic bottles to newly-arrived truckers from Iran where alcohol is prohibited.
Meghri is the historic town at the southernmost point of Armenia, and the gateway to Iran.
Bagrat Zakaryan, Bagrat's deputy mayor, said that the town, which is only 16 km from Azerbaijan and has a population of 4,000, had its everyday life overshadowed due to tensions with Baku.
He said that "given the recent events of Karabakh and what President Azerbaijan says, there's this feeling of terror."
Opportunity for Peace
Some people are more optimistic than others about the prospects of peace.
Armen Davtyan, who was deputy director at Meghri railway station from 1993 to 1993, sat on a crossroads that connected Yerevan with Baku and Iran with the Soviet Union until its dissolution in 1991.
After the Karabakh War of 1988-1994 and the closing of the border, Davtyan began working as a borderguard.
A derelict train with an emblazoned Soviet emblem lingers in the parking lot of the station, just metres away from the Iranian border.
Davtyan said that he remembered fondly the days before the war, when Armenians worked with Azerbaijanis on the railways. He hopes to see cross-border trains again arrive at Meghri Station one day.
He said: "I understand that some people fear that the Azerbaijanis may return if the rail reopens."
"But if people in 2025 are still afraid of us opening up transport links, that seems a bit absurd." (Reporting and editing by Daniel Flynn; Felix Light)
(source: Reuters)