Latest News
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Bali volcano causes cancellation of many flights
Officials said that several flights to Bali, an Indonesian island resort, were cancelled or delayed. The airport at Maumere (East Nusa Tenggara Province) was also closed because of the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki. The eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki, located in East Nusa Tenggara Province, on Tuesday sent ash soaring 11 km (6.84 mi) into the air, prompting the volcanology agency in the country to increase the alert level. The agency released a statement saying that it erupted once again Wednesday morning. It belched a 1 km (0.6 miles) high ash clouds. The website of the Bali International Airport showed that several international flights to Bali from India, Singapore, and Australia were cancelled because of the volcanic eruption. Singapore Airlines has cancelled four flights from Bali's Denpasar Airport to Singapore and Scoot, its budget airline, has cancelled flights for Bali and Lombok. JetStar, Qantas’ low-cost carrier, has cancelled morning flights from Australia to Bali and is expecting afternoon flights to be impacted. JetStar's midday travel bulletin said that the ash cloud should clear later tonight. AirNav, the airport operator, posted on Instagram that the government had closed the Fransiskus Xaverius Seda Airport in Maumere between Wednesday and Thursday to "ensure the safety of passengers". Avi Hallan, a local disaster mitigation official, said that the eruption forced the local authorities to evacuate residents of two villages located near the volcano. She said that the streets in both villages were covered with ash, gravel and sand. No casualties had been reported. The last eruption of the volcano was in May. Indonesia is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire. This area of intense seismic activity sits atop several tectonic plate.
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Antimony shortage affects battery makers after China's export restrictions
Sometimes the pain of China limiting exports is so severe that it can be crippling. This can cause a huge outcry to occur almost instantly. Sometimes the pain is felt immediately, while other times it can take longer. China's late-last-year restrictions on the critical mineral antimony have caused major headaches for lead-acid battery makers around the world. Their customers are also affected by these high costs, as they have to pay more. Steve Christensen is the executive director of the Responsible Battery Coalition in America, which includes battery manufacturer Clarios, Honda, and FedEx. He mentioned the importance of batteries in the industry and in civilian life. He also noted that antimony was used in military equipment. Antimony costs now more than $60,000. This has quadrupled in the last year. He said, "There are no easy solutions. We were caught completely off guard as an industry." According to the United States Geological Survey, China is likely to produce 60% of all antimony in 2024. Antimony from other countries is sent to China as well for processing. Beijing added antimony to its export control lists in September last year, and required companies to obtain licences for every overseas deal. In December, Beijing banned all shipments of antimony to the United States. This was seen as a retaliatory measure after Washington restricted exports of advanced semi-conductors to Chinese companies. China's antimony exports to the world are only a third as high as they were at this time last. Christensen stated that U.S. firms are heavily reliant on China to supply antimony, and that buyers will increasingly have to purchase from a "grey market" where sellers who are stocked with the material charge extremely high prices. China's antimony restrictions preceded its controls on rare Earths and rare-earth magnets, which were imposed as a response to U.S. president Donald Trump's new tariffs. They do not seem to have been discussed during last week's attempts to stabilise the truce between trade tensions in both countries. The talks last week between China and the U.S. did not produce any agreement regarding specialised rare Earths, such as samarium required for military applications. VULNERABLE Lead-acid battery, which is commonly found in vehicles with gasoline engines, is mainly used to start the motor and power low voltage instruments. These batteries are used in many industries as backup power and to store excess solar and wind energy. Antimony is essential for military equipment, such as night-vision goggles and navigation systems, in addition to batteries. According to Project Blue, the total antimony demand in the world is between 230,000 and 240,000 tonnes per year. Lead-acid batteries account for about one third of this. Project Blue estimates that while many battery manufacturers may have recycled antimony-lead materials available, they need to add around 10,000 tonnes of antimony per year to the alloy in order to achieve the desired battery properties. It could be difficult to secure the additional portion. Project Blue director Nils Backeberg stated that there was enough antimony outside China for non-Chinese buyers, but they had to compete with Chinese buyers such as China's massive solar industry and the smelters in China are able offer better terms. He said that with antimony prices nearly five times higher than normal, cost is a major factor. Also, due to a limited supply on the Western Market, there's a noticeable shortage. As of now, the antimony problems facing battery manufacturers have not led to a reduction in production. Companies like Germany's Hoppecke claim that they have been able to pass higher costs on to their customers. Japan's GS Yuasa has said that it has passed costs on to some of its customers, and is negotiating to pass them on to more. A source from an Indian battery manufacturer said that antimony was only a small part of the cost and any price increases would be passed on to customers. However, any further price hikes could cause trouble. The source, who declined to identify himself and was not authorized to speak with the media, said: "If prices continue to rise (in the industry), everyone will be at risk." Sources at both companies and the Indian battery manufacturer declined to reveal the exact size of the price increases. In a sign that profits are being affected, India's Exide Industries blamed high prices for antimony when it logged smaller-than-expected income for its fourth quarter. Christensen, of the Responsible Battery Coalition, said that policymakers should consider the issue to be one of national safety. He argued that Western countries have become "overly dependent on a geopolitical opponent for minerals fundamental to national defense and civil life." "For the U.S. the way forward includes onshoring of processing capacity, scaling up domestic recycling and building strategic minerals alliances with trusted partner. He added that if this crisis is not addressed, it will continue to repeat itself. Antimony is being imported from China in small quantities. Clarios, owned and operated by the global investment firm Brookfield said it was looking for locations in the U.S. to build a critical minerals recovery and processing plant that could cost up to $1 billion. The facility will be used, amongst other minerals, to extract antimony. Last month, Nyrstar, a global commodity trader, said it could produce the metal antimony in its South Australian metals-processing plant, but that government support would be needed. Reporting by Melanie Burton, with additional reporting from Eric Onstad, Neha Arora, Ernest Scheyder, Lewis Jackson, Yuka Obayashi, Tokyo, and Ashitha Shivprasad, in Bengaluru. Editing by Edwinn Gibbs.
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UAE warns against 'uncalculated and reckless steps' during Israel-Iran air conflict
According to a Tuesday statement from the UAE's foreign ministry, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed warned against "uncalculated, reckless actions" that might spill over beyond the borders with Iran and Israel. The Emirati news agency WAM later reported that the UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan spoke with the Iranian President Masoud Peshkian about the Israeli attacks on Iran. WAM reported that the Emirati President said the Gulf nation is holding intensive talks with parties concerned to calm down the situation. It added that he also expressed his solidarity with Iran and the Iranian people in light of current events. Abu Dhabi has recently normalized relations with Tehran following years of tension. In 2020, the Gulf nation, Bahrain included, will also normalise its ties with Israel. Reporting by Menna al-Din and Jaidaa taha, Editing by Gareth Jones & Chizu Nomiyama
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Signals jammed, oil tankers near Iran seem to be in rural Russia
Front Tyne was sailing in the Gulf of Oman between Iran and United Arab Emirates when, just after 9:40 am on Sunday morning, shiptracking data showed the vessel in Russia in fields that were better known as barley and sugarbeet fields. The ship's erratic signalling by 4:15 p.m. indicated that it was near Bidkhun in southern Iran, and then later moved it across the Gulf. Windward, an analysis company, says that since the beginning of the conflict between Israel & Iran, there have been mass interferences in the Gulf. On Tuesday, two tankers collided south of the Strait of Hormuz. This is a crucial shipping route for oil around the world. Both vessels caught fire. Data from the commodity data platform Kpler revealed that one of these ships, the Front Eagle, was on land in Iran on 15 June. It is a sister ship to the Front Tyne and, like it, measures more than three soccer pitches. Ami Daniel is the chief executive of Windward. "There are usually no jammings in the Strait of Hormuz, but now there are a lot," she said. The culmination of that is higher risks. This is a hot zone... If you don't geolocate you have a greater chance of having an accident." Automatic Identification System (AIS) transmitters, similar to GPS, are installed on ships to send signals about their location, speed, and other data. These signals are disrupted by jamming. Jim Scorer is the secretary general of International Federation of Shipmaster's Associations. He said that GPS jamming is a problem because most ships now use digitalised systems. If your GPS is not working, you are left with no other option than to navigate by your gut instinct. Spoofing is when a crew deliberately disrupts the ship's signalling. It may be an indication of illegal conduct such as an attempt to hide a cargo, or destination. According to Dimitris Apatzidis of Kpler, jamming is the term used when a third-party disrupts signals as it has been happening in Gulf. In conflict zones, this practice is becoming more common as militaries try to conceal the location of navy ships or other potential targets. Analysts said that jamming was observed in the Black Sea when Russian ships attacked Ukrainian ports in the Taiwan Strait, and in waters around Syria and Israel. Last month, several ships appeared on land in Port Sudan. Ampatzidis said, "If you do not know where the vessels are located, you will be unable to hit them." In March, the International Maritime Organization and other United Nations agencies issued a joint statement expressing their concern about an increase in cases of interference with global navigation. According to an analysis of maritime data platform Lloyd's List Intelligence, the oil tanker Xi Wang Mu that was under U.S. sanction appeared to be in India at a Hindu Temple earlier this year, when it spoofed his location.
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Algeria purchases around 420,000 T of wheat at tender, traders claim
European traders reported that Algeria's state grain agency OAIC bought around 420,000 metric tonnes of milling wheat at an international auction which ended on Tuesday. Some estimates were higher, claiming that 500,000 tonnes was purchased. They reported that the average purchase price per metric ton was around $244.50, including cost and freight. Wheat was to come mainly from the Black Sea Region, especially Romania Bulgaria and Ukraine. 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. Some traders claimed that the prices were too low. Others said they wanted to get rid of storage space before harvests arrived. Algeria is an important customer of wheat from the European Union and France in particular, but Russians and other Black Sea exporters are expanding rapidly on the Algerian market. Reporting by Michael Hogan, Hamburg; Gus Trompiz, Sybille De La Hamaide and Jan Harvey in Paris.
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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).
Grid operator: Britain will have sufficient energy this winter
The National Electricity System Operator of Britain said that it expected to have enough supplies this winter and gave an early forecast for the balance between supply and demand.
There is more power available due to the growth of battery storage on electricity networks, the availability of more gas-fired energy generation, the use of renewable energy, and the commissioning the Greenlink electricity link between Ireland and Wales.
Deborah Petterson is the director of resilience and Emergency Management at NESO. She said, "Our early outlook for the winter shows a good outlook with enough margins to last through the colder months."
The NESO anticipates a margin of de-rated capacity, which is a measurement of the excess capacity that will be expected over peak electricity demand. This margin will be 6.6 gigawatts. This is the highest forecast since the winter 2019/20 period, and over 1 GW more than the winter outlook figure from last year of 5.2 GW.
This is based on a total demand for electricity of 60.5 GW.
NESO has said that it will have tools such as market notifications for backup generation available.
The complete winter outlook will appear in October. Mark Heinrich, Nina Chestney and Mark Heinrich are responsible for the editing.
(source: Reuters)