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Italians go on the streets to protest against Gaza flotilla
On Friday, tens of thousands Italians marched in the streets of the country as part of the day-long general strikes called by the unions to support a flotilla of aid carrying food to Gaza which was intercepted this week by Israel. After what I saw on the flotilla I felt I couldn't stand by and just do nothing. Mario Mascetti is a protester from Rome who said, "It's my first time going to such demonstrations." The CGIL union organized demonstrations in over 100 cities. The crowds in the capital marched with union and Palestinian flags as well as banners from central Piazza del Vittorio to the main train station. There were delays and cancellations on the Italian rail network. However, there were fewer disruptions in airports. Metro lines were still operating in Rome and Milan. This is not any strike. "We're here to defend brotherhood between individuals and peoples, put humanity back in the center, to say no genocide, a policy of rearmament," CGIL Leader Maurizio landini said. Israel called the aid float a stunt, and offered to send aid into Gaza on the boats. It has denied all allegations of genocide. The right-wing government of Italy has condemned the strike. Prime Minister Giorgia Melloi suggested that those who skipped work to go to Gaza were just using it as an excuse for a longer holiday. Italy has been the epicenter of protests to show solidarity with the convoy trying to break Israel’s naval blockade. Mattia Diletti is a sociologist at Rome's Sapienza University. He said that the Palestinian cause has always resonated with Italians, including the majority-Catholics and the left. He said, "Italy is a country that has always been very political and characterized by this element." The National Strike Watchdog stated on Thursday that unions did not give enough notice of their strike. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations are expected to continue Saturday with a large rally in Rome. This will cap off several days' worth of protests, which have often turned violent with clashes with the police. On Thursday evening, tens and thousands of people peacefully marched from Rome's Colosseum. In Turin, a conference center was vandalised, and in Milan, graffiti and red paint were daubed on a statue in front of the Duomo Cathedral. (Writing and editing by Sharon Singleton; Alvise Armellini)
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Iberian blackout is first blackout caused by over-voltage
In a report published on Friday, the European Network of Transmission System Operators ENTSO-E stated that the massive blackout which hit the Iberian Peninsula in April was the first blackout known to be caused by over-voltage. This first report was released before a legal deadline of Oct. 28, and focused more on the state of the power system that day, as well as the sequence of events. Like previous investigations, the report points to a surge of voltage as the immediate reason for the outage. The final report will be published by the first quarter next year. It will examine key issues such as root causes, the actions taken to control voltage and the performance of the power generators to help control voltage. MISSING DATA & UNEXPLAINED POWER GENERATION LOSES According to the report, it is not known why some of the initial losses in power generation occurred. According to the report, some important data remains missing, in particular, related to certain generation trips that occurred before the blackout. It added that the owners of power plants claim they do not have such data. The report states that "collecting complete and high-quality data proved to be very difficult for this investigation", in particular, from power operators in Spain. Reporting by Kate Abnett, Pietro Lombardi and Inti Landauro. Editing by Inti.
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Poland's connection with NATO strategic fuel pipeline will cost $5.5 billion
Poland announced on Friday that the cost of its plan to connect to a NATO pipe-line network designed to provide fuel to troops in case of war will be 20 billion zlotys (about $5 billion). The ministry and the Polish pipeline operator PERN had signed an agreement earlier in the day to connect the pipelines of the country to the NATO network. Cezary Cezary Tomczyk, Deputy Minister of Defence said: "We're talking about...construction pipelines covering a distance up to 300 km...we're talking about one the largest investments made in the security and safety of the Polish State in the past 30 years." Poland has been trying to connect with the Central Europe Pipeline System of NATO, which was built during the Cold War and transports jet-fuel, diesel, gasoline and naphtha through Belgium, France and Germany. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and, more recently, the drone incursions by Russia into Ukraine have increased the urgency for this NATO member on its eastern flank. NATO has allocated 60 millions zlotys (60 million dollars) to Poland for the completion of this project, which is expected take several years. Tomczyk said that the NATO has already made a decision on the design and planning of the investment.
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Intelligence service: Danes at high risk of sabotage, says
Thomas Ahrenkiel, Director of the Danish Defence Intelligence Service, said that there is a very high risk of sabotage being committed against Denmark's Armed Forces. Drone incursions Last week, six Danish airports (military and civilian) were temporarily closed in response to what Prime Minister Mette Fredericksen described as a hybrid assault on the country. Ahrenkiel, the Danish intelligence service, believes that Russia is waging an hybrid war both against Denmark and the West. Ahrenkiel, a reporter, said: "This means Russia is using military methods, including aggressively, to put pressure upon us without crossing over into an armed conflict." Troels Poulsen, Danish Minister of Defence, said that Denmark was not under any direct military threat. (Reporting and editing by Terje Solsvik, Anna Ringstrom and Jacob Gronholt Pedersen)
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Maguire: California's solar-battery combo is a game changer
California's rapidly expanding solar farms and batteries systems, although overshadowed by the booming demand for data centers and the U.S. Government's slashing of clean energy policies may still be 2025's biggest power story. California's massive solar farms have produced more electricity in 2025 than the fossil fuel power stations in the state for an unprecedented period of time. This is a milestone for the energy transition in the United States. The swell of solar-powered energy in California has led to the largest drop in fossil-fuel-fired electricity output year-over-year. California's solar- and battery-system output has risen dramatically in recent years. This will serve as a blueprint for other states, even if federal legislators scrape support for clean energy. CLEAN PUSH Ember data show that California's solar farm electricity supply during January-July jumped 15% compared to the same months of 2024, to a new record 54.709 gigawatt-hours (GWh). According to LSEG's data, the increase in solar energy supplies of about 7,200 GWh was accompanied by a 75% increase in California's storage capacity. This allowed utilities to reduce fossil fuel-fired electricity generation by 21%. Solar farms contributed a record amount of electricity to California during the period January-July, with a 39% share, up from the 33% in 2024. As a comparison, Texas, the state with the second largest solar footprint in the U.S.A., has secured 10,4% of its electricity this year from solar farms. The solar portion of California's energy mix has increased, while the fossil fuels share has fallen steadily and reached a new low of 26% in 2025. This compares with a national fossil fuel share so far of 55% in 2025. It cements California as the leader in clean electricity deployment. CRITICAL MASS California utilities are rapidly increasing the capacity of battery storage alongside solar power production since 2022 so that California's abundant solar energy can be used to its maximum effect. Solar output peaked in the middle of the afternoon, just as the state's total power consumption was nearing its lowest point. According to the data portal Cleanview, California utilities are now able to store excess solar power and use it at peak demand. FOSSIL FALLS California's growing solar and battery networks are enabling utilities to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels at a record pace. California has historically used fossil fuels at their highest levels during summer, when air conditioners are most power hungry. California utilities, however, have been able, thanks to the rapidly increasing solar and battery capacities, to reduce fossil fuel deployment, even during periods of peak demand. According to Ember, the total electricity generated from fossil fuels in July 2025 will be just 36,416GWh. This total was a 40% drop from July 2024 and 36% lower than the average July from 2019 to 2024. This steep decline in fossil fuel generation also had a commensurate effect on emissions. In July 2025, they were 2.1 millions metric tons less CO2 than in July 20,24 and the lowest ever for this month. Priced in? After years of retooling California's energy system to favour clean energy over fossil-fuels, its electricity costs have begun to reflect the impact of solar power in the state's generation mix. California's electricity prices are still higher than the national average but have risen less this year. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the state has seen a 1% increase compared to a national 3.3% increase. The price-depressing effect of California's large share of solar energy in its generation system will act as a drag for overall electricity costs even though power bills elsewhere are expected to continue to rise. California is also better placed than other states to deploy large-scale solar farms due to its high levels of solar radiation. Its vast desert areas are sparsely populated and have a lot of space. However, several states in the South and Southwest of the United States can also expect to reduce their fossil fuel dependence if they install large battery and solar systems. State utilities who can expand their solar and batteries systems will see quick returns. According to LSEG's estimates, benchmark U.S. Natural Gas prices are 37% higher this year than they will be in 2024. States that reduce their use of natural gases can expect to save a lot on fossil fuel purchases. California is the only state that can compete with its solar and battery network. But those who want to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and increase the production of clean, domestic power should look at the Golden State for inspiration. These are the opinions of the columnist, an author for. You like this article? Check it out Open Interest The new global financial commentary source (ROI) is your go-to for all the latest news and information. ROI provides data-driven, thought-provoking analysis on everything from soybeans to swap rates. The markets are changing faster than ever. ROI can help you keep up. Follow ROI on You can find us on LinkedIn.
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The death toll from Bualoi in Vietnam has risen to 51, and banks have been told to assist affected firms
According to a government report released on Friday, the death toll from the typhoon Bualoi in Vietnam and the flooding it caused has reached 51. The central bank also urged banks to provide assistance to businesses affected by the typhoon. Bualoi hit the northern central part of Vietnam on Monday, bringing with it huge sea swells and strong winds, as well as heavy rains. The storm also caused 14 deaths and 164 injuries, according to a report by the government's agency for disaster management. The agency has also increased its estimate of the property damage caused by typhoons and their flooding from $435.8 to $15.9 trillion dong (or $603 million) in its previous report, released on Thursday. The report stated that the typhoon caused severe damage to roads, schools, and offices. It also caused power grid failures, which left tens and thousands of families without electric power. It said that more than 230,000 homes were damaged or flooded, and almost 89,000 hectares (hectares) of rice and other crops had been destroyed. The report does not mention any significant damage to industrial property. Vietnam is the regional manufacturing hub. Large factories near or in the path of Typhoon Haiyan were owned by Foxconn and Formosa Plastics. Pham Thanh Ha, deputy governor of the central bank, said that on Friday banks were told to consider freezing or restructuring loans for companies affected by the typhoon. Reporting by Khanh Vu, Editing by David Stanway.
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FAA announces buffer zones at two airports in the Washington DC area
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration announced on Thursday that it would modify helicopter routes at two airports in the Washington area. This comes months after an American Airlines plane collided near Washington with an Army Black Hawk helicopter. The FAA has confirmed that the changes will affect Washington Dulles Airport and Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport. The FAA stated that "These changes will increase separation between helicopters, airplanes, and aircraft operating in and out of airports." The FAA also said that it would be making changes to the traffic around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The FAA was criticized by lawmakers, the National Transportation Safety Board, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy because it failed to act on near-miss reports before the mid-air collision that killed 67 people on January 29, 2013. The FAA banned the Army in May from helicopter flights near the Pentagon following a close call on May 1, which forced two civilian aircraft to abort their landings. At the time of the accident, the Army Black Hawk helicopter had exceeded the maximum altitude allowed. In March, the NTSB reported that there have been 15200 incidents of air separation near Reagan Washington National Airport involving commercial aircraft and helicopters since 2021. This includes 85 close calls. The FAA announced Thursday that it has reduced the boundary of zones around Reagan and added notes on the Reagan helicopter chart to "improve clarity regarding altitude and operation instructions." In April, the FAA has imposed new restrictions in order to prevent The collisions of helicopters with passenger planes at the busy Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas have raised serious safety concerns. The FAA also examined the flow of traffic around Hollywood Burbank Airport, Van Nuys Airport and other airports in Los Angeles. These are all less than 10 miles away and have a variety of aircraft that arrive and depart at close intervals. (Reporting and editing by David Shepardson, Jasper Ward)
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Venezuela accuses US combat planes of flying near its coast
Venezuelan Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino announced on Thursday that five fighter planes were detected near Venezuela's coast. He described this as an American threat. Padrino, speaking from an airbase, said that the imperialist planes were close enough to the Venezuelan coastline to be considered a threat. The comments were broadcast on the state television. He added that the information had been provided to a control center by a carrier. Padrino said that the presence of these planes near our Caribbean Sea was a vulgarity and a provocation, as well as a threat to national security. The Pentagon didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. The government released a statement later stating that the Colombian flag carrier Avianca had reported the planes to be approximately 75 kilometers away from the Venezuelan coastline. Avianca didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. Venezuela "urges U.S. Sec. of War Peter Hegseth immediately to cease his reckless and thrill-seeking posture," which disturbs the peace in the Caribbean. Washington claims to be fighting drug trafficking by sending a fleet warships across the Caribbean. The U.S. also killed those on board several boats that it claimed were transporting drugs from Venezuela. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro claims the U.S. wants regime change but also offers to talk with U.S. Envoy Richard Grenell. Trump has downplayed suggestions of regime changes, but has accused Maduro repeatedly of leading drug trafficking network, which the Venezuelan President denies.
Russian seaborne diesel exports drop in September, data shows
Data from market sources and LSEG show that Russia's seaborne gasoil and diesel exports fell 20% from August to 2.4 million metric tonnes in September, due to unplanned refinery shutdowns caused by Ukrainian drone attacks.
Several major refineries were hit by drones in August and September, including Surgutneftegaz's Kirishinefteorgsintez refinery, Lukoil's Volgograd refinery and Rosneft's Samara group of refineries.
In September, the Russian Baltic port Primorsk suspended all loadings following a drone strike.
Market sources reported that these disruptions resulted in a drop in diesel exports.
Due to fuel shortages on the domestic market, Russia has implemented a partial export ban for diesel, marine fuel, and other gas oil. However, traders are not expecting a major impact as Russia already has an export tariff prohibitive for non-producers.
Data from sources on the market and calculations show that in September, diesel exports via Primorsk - Russia's largest outlet for ultra-low-sulphur Diesel (ULSD) - fell 30% monthly to 0.93 millions tons.
The Black Sea ports Novorossiisk & Tuapse saw a decline of 12% & 17.5%, respectively.
In September, Turkey was the largest buyer of Russian gasoil and diesel. Imports fell 3% to 1,08 million tons.
Shipping data revealed that diesel shipments from Russian port to Brazil fell by 44%, to 190 000 tons.
LSEG data show that several diesel tankers leaving Russian ports still have not declared their destinations. (Reporting from in Moscow. Mark Potter is the editor.
(source: Reuters)