Latest News
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Domodedovo Airport to be nationalized by Moscow court
Court documents show that a Moscow court on Tuesday ruled to give the assets of Russia's third largest airport, Moscow Domodedovo to the Russian State at the Prosecutor's General's request. Dmitry Kamenshchik, a Russian businessman or one of his companies owned Domodedovo. According to Russian media Kamenshchik was also a citizen of Turkey and United Arab Emirates. And according to court documents, prosecutors were concerned that the ownership structure of the airport could expose it to foreign influence. Domodedovo has not responded to comments immediately. The Domodedovo investigation is part of a long line of asset seizures that prosecutors have initiated. In January, the court had ordered that several large companies, including grain traders Rodnie Polya and Raven Russia as well as oil service company Borets, be transferred to the state. Igor Krasnov, the Prosecutor-General, said that Moscow began seizing property in Russia from both foreign and Russian owners shortly after the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine. By March, the government had transferred property valued at 2.4 trillion Russian roubles (30.48 billion dollars) to it. Reporting by Gleb Stoliarov. Alexander Marrow, David Evans and David Evans edited the article.
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No outward flights for stranded Israelis
Israel's Airlines said Tuesday that the government had given them permission to begin flights to bring people back who were stranded overseas during the conflict with Iran. Israel's airspace is closed after Israel and Iran started trading attacks on Friday. Tens of thousands were stranded when their flights to Tel Aviv cancelled. El Al Airlines, Israel’s flag carrier, announced that it will operate flights from Larnaca to Israel on Wednesday, as well as to Athens, Rome and Milan. It added that there would be no more passenger flights departing Israel. El Al has canceled all scheduled flights until June 23. It said: "We are aware of the stress, anxiety and difficulty experienced by El Al passengers who have been abroad, trying to return to Israel. We also understand those whose plans for travel were interrupted." El Al's customers in other countries will need to be patient as the rescue flights are being operated slowly. "We recommend making arrangements for extended stay and lodging." Arkia, a smaller rival, said that it would bring Israelis back from Karpathos (Greece), Larnaca (Cyprus) and Tivat (Montenegro). It said that Arkia was ready to work during any time period approved by security authorities. This includes Fridays and weekends. The company is also working with the authorities to expand the rescue operation. Israir announced that it would offer three flights to Israelis on Wednesday from Larnaca, Athens, and Varna in Bulgaria. It hopes to add more flights soon. The airline has cancelled all domestic and international flights until June 30. Israel's Transportation Ministry said that there could be as many as 150 000 Israelis living abroad. Around 50,000 of these Israelis are seeking to return home. El Al reported that more than 60,000 passengers had registered electronically within 90 minutes after the portal was opened for those who wanted to fly home. Mano Maritime's "Crown Iris", which carries 2,000 passengers on board, announced that it will make two crossings between Cyprus and Israel's Mediterranean port of Haifa. The number of people who have congregated in large numbers is staggering Cyprus The European Union country closest to Israel is Luxembourg. The flight from Larnaca, a coastal city on the Mediterranean coast, to Tel Aviv takes 50 minutes. Boat crossings take 15 hours to reach Haifa. During Israel's conflict with Hamas militants, foreign carriers often cancel flights, leaving El Al and Arkia to fill in the gaps for travelers. (Reporting and editing by Timothy Heritage, Andrew Heavens and Steven Scheer)
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Waymo robotaxi service expands to more areas of the San Francisco Bay Area
Alphabet's Waymo unit announced on Tuesday that it will expand its operations to include more of the San Francisco Peninsula and Silicon Valley as the only commercial robotaxi operator operating in the U.S. aims to scale up. Tesla is preparing to launch its robotaxi service, which will be paid, in Austin, Texas, as the self-driving tech firm received approval last month from California to expand operations. Waymo will expand its autonomous ride-hailing services to include new areas on the peninsula starting Tuesday. These include Brisbane, South San Francisco and San Bruno. Waymo expands its reach in the Silicon Valley to include more areas of Palo Alto, Menlo Park and other nearby cities. Alphabet said that it will expand to more areas of Los Angeles beginning Wednesday, including Playa del Rey and Ladera Heights as well as Silver Lake, Silver Lake Park, Echo Park and the entire stretch of Sunset Boulevard. Although the company has been given approval to expand to San Jose, they have not revealed any plans for the launch of the service. Waymo, the only U.S. company to offer robotaxi services that charge passengers, is the only one in this country. It operates more than 1,500 cars, providing over 250,000 rides per week in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Arizona, and Austin, Texas. (Reporting from Akash Sriram, Bengaluru; Abhirup Roy, San Francisco; editing by Leroy Leo).
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Air India's Boeing 777 fleet is not a cause for concern, according to India's regulator
India's aviation watchdog said Tuesday that surveillance of Air India's Boeing 777 fleet revealed no major safety concerns days after a crash in which at least 271 passengers were killed. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued a statement saying that the aircraft and maintenance systems associated with it were found to comply with safety standards. A Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with 242 passengers on board, bound for London, crashed in Ahmedabad just seconds after takeoff. The plane hit nearby buildings. The plane crashed in Ahmedabad, killing all but one of the 242 passengers on board. About 30 people were also killed on the ground. The DGCA said that 24 of Air India’s 33 Boeing 787 aircraft completed the "enhanced inspection" they had ordered. In a meeting with Air India's senior officials, the regulator raised concerns over recent maintenance issues that were reported by the airline. The letter also advised the airline to "strictly adhere" to the regulations, improve coordination between its various businesses and make sure that there are enough spare parts to minimize passenger delays. The DGCA met with senior officials from Air India and Air India Express in order to evaluate their operations, given the increasing number of flights. (Reporting and editing by Abhijith Gaapavaram; Manvi Pant; Chris Thomas.
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Bolsonaro and others are officially accused in the spy agency case
The Brazilian federal police has officially accused former president Jair Bolsonaro of illegally spying on the authorities by the spy agency ABIN during Bolsonaro’s presidency. They have also named his son Carlos Bolsonaro as well as other individuals in a probe. The federal police, without naming names, confirmed the results of the investigation. They detailed the "existence" of a criminal group that was focused on illegally monitoring public authorities and producing fake news using ABINS systems. According to a statement from the federal police, although it has been delivered to the Supreme Court, its final report is still under seal. Bolsonaro is already the president of Brazil. defendant According to a federal source, Abin, in a case involving a coup, was aware of Abin’s illegal surveillance scheme, and had benefited from it. He said that he had no knowledge of the case, and hadn't seen the report from the federal police. Carlos Bolsonaro was arrested on suspicion that he used information illegally obtained through the scheme in order to target targets using social media. Indicted were Alexandre Ramagem and Luiz Fernando correa, both former heads of ABIN during Bolsonaro’s administration. Correa is accused of obstructing an investigation by the Federal Police during the administration of President Luiz inacio Lula da So. Abin declined comment. Ramagem’s press office didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. Carlos Bolsonaro was not reachable. According to a reliable source, the government is closely monitoring Correa's condition, but has not yet made a decision on whether he will remain in office or be replaced. Last year reported The parallel structure set up in Abin under the Bolsonaro administration monitored at least three justices of the supreme court. The attorney general will decide whether or not to charge Bolsonaro, and others in the case. Reporting by Ricardo Brito from Brasilia, Additional reporting by Eduardo Simoes, Writing by Isabel Teles and Editing by Alex Richardson & Natalia Siniawski
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Sources say that the cost of insurance for Israel war-risk ships has risen after Iranian attacks
Industry sources reported on Tuesday that war risk insurance premiums are up to three times more expensive for shipments going to Israel as the conflict between Israel and Iran enters its fifth day. They said that the cost of a 7-day trip to Israeli ports ranged from 0.7% to 1.00 % of the ship's value, as opposed to around 0.2% last week. Underwriters may price risks and rates differently. This will result in tens or thousands of dollars extra per day for each voyage. David Smith, the head of marine at insurance broker McGill and Partners said that rates for calls to Israel depend on a number of factors, including cargo, port, and ownership. Israel imports most of its goods via sea routes. These include Ashdod in the Mediterranean, near Gaza, Haifa to the north and Eilat on the Red Sea. Israel's Bazan Group closed its Haifa refinery on 16 June after an Iranian attack damaged its power station. MarineTraffic's ship tracking data showed that on Tuesday, nearly 30 vessels - many of them general cargo ships - were anchored in Haifa Bay. An Israeli source in the port industry in Haifa said that all terminals were fully operational and operating normally. Due to the increased risk, many shipping companies have already decided to avoid sailing to Israel. Yemen's Iran backed Houthis said they would attack any Israel linked vessels in spite of a ceasefire reached over U.S.-UK-linked ships on the Red Sea. In response to Israel's continuing conflict in Gaza, the militia announced a "maritime blocade" of Haifa in March. (Reporting and editing by Emelia Sithole Matarise and David Evans).
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Algeria buys milling wheat at tender, traders claim
European traders reported that Algeria's state grain agency OAIC began buying milling wheat after a Tuesday international tender closed. They said that the initial cost of a metric tonne, including freight and costs (c&f), was around $244.50. Initial, the exact size of the order in terms of tonnage was not clear. Traders added that negotiations are continuing and additional purchases could be made. The reports reflect the opinions of traders, and it is still possible to estimate prices and volume later. Algeria usually buys much more than the nominal volume. Wheat can be supplied from any approved origin. Wheat is shipped in two phases from the main regions of supply, including Europe: 10-20 August and 21-31 August. The shipment date is one month earlier if the wheat comes from South America or Australia. Algeria is an important customer of wheat imported from the European Union and France in particular. However, Russian exporters as well as those from other Black Sea regions have seen a strong expansion on the Algerian market. Reporting by Michael Hogan from Hamburg and Gus Trompiz from Paris
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US Transportation Chief wants to bring back zero-tariffs in civil aviation
Sean Duffy, the U.S. Transportation secretary, said that he wants civil aviation to go back to a zero-tariff agreement from 1979 but added that it was part of broader talks on trade. Duffy, speaking at the Paris Airshow said that the White House is aware that the U.S. has a large aerospace export market, but that it faces a complex tariff situation. Airline companies, plane manufacturers and other U.S. trade partners are lobbying Trump for the restoration of the tariff-free regime that was established under the Civil Aircraft Agreement in 1979. This agreement has resulted in an annual surplus of $75 billion dollars to the U.S. industrial sector. Look at the impact of free trade on aviation. They've had a remarkable experience. It's an area of great net exporters. The White House is aware of this, but when you visit and see what's going on there you'll realize that it's pretty intense. "I believe we should remove aviation from the negotiation table and go back to 1979. That will only help us." We would also benefit from taking some tools from our trading partners. The U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 10% tariffs on almost all aircraft and parts imports. In early May, the Commerce Department began a national security investigation under "Section 232", which could lead to even higher tariffs. Aerospace Companies in many countries Trump has been urged to refrain from imposing new tariffs. Trump's executive orders on a deal signed with the United Kingdom include tariff-free treatment for airplanes and their parts. GE Aerospace CEO Larry Culp stated that the "U.S. - U.K. Trade Deal eliminating tariffs on aerospace sector is a major step forward in preserving a duty-free environment." He praised the "Trump Administration for recognizing that aerospace is a critical part of the U.S. economic engine and for supporting this deal as an example for future trade deals." Reporting by Joe Brock and David Shepardson, Washington. Editing by Mark Potter & Franklin Paul.
Finland prohibits the use of e-scooters by children and requires rental companies to be licensed
Finland banned the use of electric skateboards by children younger than 15 years old on Tuesday. Scooter rental companies must now obtain municipal licenses in order to continue providing their services.
The legislation approved by the parliament on "micromobility" last month is part a larger ramping up on regulations for e-scooters, whose use has increased rapidly in Europe in recent years.
Italy, for instance, requires that riders of e Scooters wear helmets and have insurance. Authorities in Paris and Madrid also banned the rental of e Scooters.
Lulu Ranne is Finland's Transport and Communications Minister. She said: "This situation has gotten out of control and it needs to be controlled."
She added, "I hope we can all enjoy scootering in a safe and legal manner and save lives at the same time."
The Finnish authorities estimate around 1,600 serious injuries each year in accidents involving electric scooters. They say that there have been six fatal incidents over the last five years and 600 children were injured in hospital during this time.
Traficom, the Finnish transport and communication agency, said that the new law also limits the speed of e-scooters to 25 kph (15,5 mph) and prohibits the use of e-scooters while under the effects of drugs.
Renting e-scooters in Finland is possible with Neutron Holding Lime from the U.S., Voi Technology of Sweden, Ryde Technology of Norway, and Tier Mobility, Germany.
The licensing requirement was not immediately apparent and how it would impact their operations in Finland.
The ministry warned that companies could be fined if they don't respect the new driving age. Parents can also be held responsible for allowing a minor to drive. (Reporting from Anne Kauranen, Helsinki; Editing and proofreading by Joe Bavier.)
(source: Reuters)