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Sources say that Noem's top aide entered the cockpit and fired the pilot for missing blanket.
Corey Lewandowski, a top homeland security aide in the United States, entered a government plane's cockpit without permission during a flight, and then fired a pilot over a misplaced quilt, two people with knowledge of the situation said. Lewandowski was travelling with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Nuem when they noticed her blanket missing. New details about the incident suggest that Lewandowski might have violated safety guidelines established by the U.S. Coast Guard which operated the aircraft. Lewandowski entered into the cockpit before the aircraft had reached 10,000 feet (3.048 meters), and while the seatbelt signal remained on. Federal Aviation Administration regulations, some of which were tightened following 9/11, limit cockpit access, and forbid interference with the duties of aircraft crews. A FAA regulation prohibits airline staff and pilots from engaging in non essential activities or conversations while flying below 10,000 feet. Civil aircraft operators who violate this rule may face fines of thousands of dollars, while pilots can be terminated. The U.S. Coast Guard is not legally bound to the FAA regulation known as the "sterile-cockpit rule," but it has a policy similar, which is spelled out by a 2021 operation manual: "No one shall engage in any activity or conversation that could distract or interfere?with a flight crewmember performing their assigned duties properly during critical phases of flight." The manual does provide specific penalties for violations of the rule. However, it states that in general, rule violations will be dealt with through internal disciplinary procedures. Lewandowski responded to a request for comment in a text message: "There was never a conversation in the cockpit when the flight took off." Lewandowski responded to a? Lewandowski denied the information provided by the sources, but did not comment on whether or not he entered into the cockpit when the plane was still climbing below 10,000 feet. Experts in aviation safety consider that the initial ascent is one of the most dangerous parts of a flight. Randy Klatt is a flight safety officer at The Foundation for Aviation Safety. He said that planes climb "low and slowly" to 10,000 feet during the initial ascent, so it's important for pilots not to lose focus. Klatt stated that this is a dangerous situation for any aircraft. You don't have enough altitude or airspeed to trade if necessary. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Coast Guard declined to comment about the flight. The Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard, which are both under DHS, declined to comment on the flight in question. The FAA didn't respond to our request for comment. Noem has been under scrutiny since federal immigration agents in Minneapolis killed two U.S. Citizens in January. The Wall Street Journal published a report earlier this month about the tensions and infighting at DHS, under Noem's leadership and Lewandowski's. The article also mentioned the firing of?pilot. PILOT RELEASED, THEN REINSTATED The White House responded to a question about Lewandowski's entry into the cockpit, and tensions within DHS by referring to comments made by Trump in late January praising Noem. It also referred to remarks from Karoline Leavitt who said that Trump had "the utmost trust and confidence" in her. Lewandowski is a Noem senior adviser who has accompanied her on several high-profile trips. The Wall Street Journal reported that the White House Counsel's Office had opened an investigation into Lewandowski's role as a quasi-government employee last year. Lewandowski is a volunteer at DHS, and the spokesperson stated that DHS was unaware of any investigation. Lewandowski refused to comment on his employment status when asked. One of the people who was familiar with the incident stated that during the flight on the Gulfstream jet last spring, the cockpit pilots asked Lewandowski not to leave the cabin until the plane had reached cruise altitude. Lewandowski, according to the two sources, asked the pilot who should be fired when he returned into the cabin after the flight because Noem’s blanket was left behind during the technical switch before takeoff. Sources confirmed the Wall Street Journal's report that the pilot, an accomplished flyer who had a long history of service, accepted responsibility for any mistake. Lewandowski then fired him immediately. Sources said that once Noem & Lewandowski arrived at their destination, Coast Guard leadership realized they would need the pilot to fly them home to Washington, and the agency reinstated him. DHS and Coast Guard declined comment on the pilot’s firing and subsequent reinstatement. The Coast Guard and DHS declined to comment on the pilot's firing and reinstatement. (Reporting from Ted Hesson and Erin Banco, Washington; Additional reporting by Kristina Cooey in San Francisco; Editing and Craig Timberg by Edmund Klamann and Craig Timberg)
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The terminals in Greece will supply Ukraine with at least 75 mcm LNG by March
Analysts at ExPro said that in March, gas traders such as state-owned Naftogaz would import at least 75 million cubic meters of?gas to Ukraine via a'vertical pipeline' from LNG terminals in Greece. Atlantic See LNG Trade is a joint venture of?Aktor, the Greek gas supplier DEPA and Atlantic See. It announced this month that it had signed a first contract to supply U.S. natural gas liquefied to Ukraine. Ukraine is facing a 'worst wartime energy crisis ever' as its 'energy sector collapses under Russian attacks, bitter cold and accumulated damages. ExPro reported in a recent report that gas imports from Greece’s Revithoussa terminal would be 2.41 mcm/day at a special transport rate. Naftogaz announced earlier this month that it had received a delivery of nearly 100 mcm U.S. Liquefied Natural Gas, the first such delivery since?2026. The company stated that the LNG was delivered 'in partnership with Poland's Orlen.?And that further deliveries were expected in either February or March. (Reporting and editing by Louise Heavens, Jan Harvey, and Pavel Polityuk)
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Uganda plans to connect a new railway line with Tanzania to open a new export route
A government document seen by revealed that Uganda is looking to connect a new rail line it's building with one being built in Tanzania. This could potentially open up a new export route for minerals like gold, iron ore, and copper. Uganda exports most of its goods via the Kenyan port in Mombasa. It has announced plans to connect its Standard Gauge Railway Project to the one being built in Kenya. This initiative is still in progress. Uganda hadn't previously stated that it would also seek to connect the railway with Tanzania's network? and its port in Dar es Salaam. According to the Ugandan Ministry of Works and Transport, the railway will run from the border of?Tanzania and continue through the south and southwest of Uganda before ending in the town of Mpondwe at the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The document stated that the main objective of this project was to connect the vast mineral-rich areas of both countries, (Uganda & Tanzania), to the port 'of Dar es Salaam... while saving time and transport costs." The document stated that the African Development Bank (AfDB), could finance the project, and that the Democratic Republic of Congo might seek to connect to it in the future. Unable to comment immediately, a spokesman from the Ugandan Ministry could not be reached. The AfDB informed? The AfDB told? The?bank could consider financing the?project, depending on?the results?of the study, if it is determined that the project can be banked," said bank official Epifanio Carrvalho de Meo.
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Renault buys out Volvo and CMA CGM to gain full control of Flexis, an electric van company.
Renault announced on Monday that it would buy out the stakes of truckmaker Volvo Group and shipping firm CMA CGM in Flexis, their joint venture for new-generation electric vans. The agreement is expected to take effect by the first half 2026 as Renault CEO Francois Provost accelerates his efforts in streamlining the group's operation. Two sources said in January that the automaker had already planned to fold back its Ampere electric vehicle unit into the group. It has also shut down its car sharing services as part of restructuring its division focused primarily on new transportation solutions. Flexis was founded in 2024, by the former Renault CEO Luca de Meo. He partnered with?Sweden’s Volvo. CMA CGM joined later as a minor shareholder. CMA CGM and Volvo own a combined 10%, while Renault holds 45%. We have different opinions on how this project should be driven. Volvo Group spokesperson said, "We think this is the most strategic solution moving forward." The recent market slowdown was also a factor in the decision. The European association of carmakers ACEA reported that new van registrations will fall by 8.8% between 2025 and 2025. Around 11% (or the newly registered vans) are electrically charged. Volvo spokesperson refused to comment on financial details or purchase price. CMA CGM and Renault did not respond immediately to requests for comment. Volvo and Renault each committed to investing 300 million euros over a period of three years, while CMA planned to invest 120 millions euros. In its annual report, the Swedish group reported that it had invested 240 million Euros in Flexis by 2024. This was on top of the initial 2.4 billion Swedish crowns (approximately $265?million). The production of the Renault Trafic Van E-Tech Electric, the first model in the range, is expected to begin as planned by the end 2026 at Renault's Sandouville factory?in France. Volvo will market the vehicle through Renault Trucks (part of the Volvo Group) from 2027, as part of a long-term agreement for light commercial vehicles.
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Soccer-Four matches are postponed following violence sparked by the death of a Mexican cartel leader
Violence flared up near Guadalajara - one of Mexico's host cities for the 2026 World Cup - after a military operation that killed cartel leader Nemesio "El Mencho" Oseguera on Sunday. Oseguera (60), the mastermind behind the powerful Jalisco New Generation Cartel, died in custody following an injury sustained in a special force operation in Jalisco, a state on Mexico's Pacific Coast. Mexican league announced on social media that two games scheduled for Sunday, Queretaro against FC Juarez (men's?) and Chivas against America (women's) league, have been postponed. Local media also reported that two second division matches scheduled to be played on Sunday were cancelled. The match between Queretaro and?Necaxa in?Aguascalientes on Sunday was called off after the players left the field when they heard loud noises coming from outside Estadio Victoria. Media reports described these sounds as gunshots. Necaxa won 2-1 in the re-match. Mexico's national team will face Iceland in an amiable match on Wednesday at the Corregidora Stadium in Queretaro. The Mexican Open Men's Tennis Tournament in Acapulco will begin as scheduled on Monday, according to established security protocols. Merida's women's tennis event is also set to begin on Monday. After hearing of El Mencho’s death, suspected members of the cartel blocked highways in burning cars and torched business in more than a half dozen states. No civilian deaths were reported. Social media users in Jalisco's popular beach town of Puerto Vallarta reported plumes of dark smoke rising from the bay. Air Canada, United Airlines Aeromexico, and American Airlines have suspended flights to the area. (Reporting by Karan Prashant Saxena; Additional reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
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British citizen among 19 dead in Nepal bus crash
Police said that a passenger 'bus' fell from a sloping road in West Nepal just before dawn on?Monday morning, killing 19 people, including a British citizen. They said that only nine of the dead had been identified to date, and added that the bus was carrying 44 people. Police said that a New Zealander, as well as a Chinese, were among the 25 people injured when the bus, which was headed to Kathmandu from Pokhara, the tourist town, fell 200 meters (650 feet) off the road in Dhading District, 80 kilometers (50 miles), west of Kathmandu. It said that the 'injured' are being treated in hospitals in Kathmandu. In Nepal's mountainous regions, road conditions are often poor. ?Hundreds die ?in road crashes in Nepal annually. (Reporting and editing by YPrajesh; Gopal Sharma)
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Wall Street Journal, February 23,
These are the top stories from the Wall Street Journal. The?Wall Street Journal has not?verified? these stories, and does not vouch? for their accuracy. Ed Garden, an investor, has acquired a stake in Fortune Brands Innovations, a building products supplier. He is now looking to replace the incoming CEO. Winter storms in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic have caused more than 8,000 flights to be canceled on Sunday and Monday. Most of these were routes into or out from Boston and New York. A military raid in Mexico on Sunday resulted in the death of a notorious drug lord, "El Mencho" or 'Nemesio' Oseguera. Airlines such as United Airlines and Air Canada halted flights to Mexico's Puerto Vallarta. Dassault Systemes announced that Chief Executive Pascal Daloz will replace co-founder Bernard Charles in the role of executive chairman. (Compiled by Bengaluru Newsroom)
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Two people were killed and three injured in the Russian attack on Odesa, Ukraine
Ukraine's emergency service and a government official confirmed that a Russian attack on Ukraine's southern Odesa area overnight killed two people and injured three, respectively. Two people were killed when a Russian Drone fell on a truck-stop, causing an fire, according to the Telegram messenger. Oleksiy Kuleba, Infrastructure Minister Oleksiy Kuleba, said on 'Telegram' that Russia has attacked the port infrastructure in Odesa?region. "This is another blow to port infrastructure and civilian logistics." Kuleba said that Russia is attacking non-military facilities to undermine the economy of the area and the country as a whole. He claimed that the storage area for freight transport was damaged. Since the beginning of Russia's full scale invasion in 2022, the Odesa region, home to a major shipping hub, with terminals at the Black Sea ports Odesa and Chornomorsk as well as Pivdennyi, has been "targeted". Russia Sharply Increased The intensity of its attacks on Black Sea ports by late 2025, when?President Vladimir Putin threatens to "cut Ukraine from the sea". Sources in the transport industry who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the subject said last week that the strikes at the Odesa port?in the past few months had reduced the export capacity up to 30 percent from its pre-war levels. (Reporting and editing by Sonali & Gareth Jones.
An oil pipeline fight shows US gains in Iraq
In mid-July Iranian drones flew through the mountains of northern Iraq's Kurdistan Region, zeroing in on their target: American oilfields.
One of the missiles was fired by a militia group in Iraq that is likely to be Iranian-backed, and probably as retaliation against the U.S. strike on Iran's nuclear facilities weeks earlier. It hit the Sarsang oil field, which is operated by HKN Energy. This company belongs to the son Ross Perot, a Texas billionaire.
A second hit was reported in a field near Dallas, operated by Hunt Oil.
Nearly half of Kurdistan's production was halted by the end of a four-day offensive that also affected operations at DNO and a local company.
Nine sources with knowledge of the situation claim that Washington was enraged by Baghdad's direct attack on U.S. interest. It felt Iraq had not done enough to combat pro-Iranian forces and stepped up its pressure campaign.
This campaign led to Iraq reopening an important export pipeline for Kurdistan’s oil. It was a major concession, which indicates a shift in the balance of power within Iraq from Tehran to Washington.
Sources within the Trump administration said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio sent some strong messages to Baghdad in order to make it clear to Baghdad that the time for decision was near.
Sanctions Threat
Since 2023, when the pipeline was shut down due to a dispute between Baghdad's Kurdistan Regional Government and the federal government over oil sales, Washington has been pushing for its reopening.
The closure of the pipeline was done to reduce global oil prices and to aid U.S. companies operating in Kurdistan. It also served to divert crude to the south and feed smuggling rings that bring huge amounts to Iran and its proxy networks.
The drone strikes led Donald Trump, the U.S. president, to escalate Washington's campaign.
One of the sources involved with the pressure campaign said that in the two months after the attacks, his representative threatened Iraq's highest energy officials with sanctions, if the pipeline wasn't restarted.
The senior State Department official did not confirm the threat of sanctions, but stated that the U.S. exerted "extremely intense" diplomatic pressure to restart the pipeline.
The White House refused to comment if it had threatened sanctions against Iraq. Hunt Oil, the KRG, and the Iraqi government declined to comment. HKN Energy did not respond to requests for comments.
After two months of intense U.S. pressuring, oil started flowing on September 27, after a preliminary agreement was announced to restart the pipeline on July 17, the last day of the drone strikes.
The details of the U.S. press campaign were not reported previously.
No group has claimed responsibility. A source in the Iraqi government, citing a security investigation, claimed that they were the work a powerful pro Iranian militia group. He declined to identify them.
Baghdad, according to a source in the Iraqi security sector, warned the group of any future attacks that would place it directly in conflict with the government.
US EXPECTS A 'SIGNIFICANT RETURN" ON ITS INVESTMENT
This episode reveals the U.S.'s energy ambitions for the Middle East. Iraq is the second largest oil producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Trump has repeatedly criticised the organization for its efforts to keep the price of oil high.
This also highlights the close ties between U.S. diplomatic interests and U.S. commercial interests under Trump.
The U.S. source stated that "having invested so much into this country...in terms of national treasures and the loss of U.S. life alongside our Iraqi partner in the defeating of terrorism...we expect there to a significant return on investment."
Iraq's concession is a sign of a change in the balance in the country.
Baghdad has walked the diplomatic tightrope for years between Washington and Tehran, its two key allies.
Iran, under U.S. sanctions and Western sanctions because of its nuclear ambitions backs 10 hardline Shi'ite militias in Iraq, with 50,000 fighters. It also holds a lot of political power.
Israel's attacks on its regional proxies and Iran have severely damaged Iran's power and reputation.
COMPLICATIONS
The pipeline deal is not certain to last or whether the power shift will continue.
Baghdad will review the agreement at the end December.
A 1973 agreement between Iraq, Turkey and the United States that established the legal basis for oil exports expires in July.
Baghdad continues to oppose the two Kurdistan Gas deals that HKN Energy, a Vancouver-based company, and WesternZagros signed with KRG in May.
HKN is a part of Dallas-based Hillwood, a real estate and energy company founded by Ross Perot Jr. Ross Perot was Texan billionaire Ross Perot's son and he ran for president twice.
According to public records, the Perot family has been a major donor to the Republican Party. They have donated more than $3,000,000 in 2025 and 2024.
Baghdad claims that agreements regarding Iraq's natural resource can only be reached with the federal government. Baghdad filed a lawsuit on May 26 against the KRG for the deals, and signed an agreement with China's Geo-Jade Petroleum in the same week to expand a southern Iraq oilfield.
There are still signs that the U.S. and Iraqi relations are improving.
Washington sent a new Special Envoy to Iraq to the UN on October 19. This was just days after Exxon Mobil, the U.S. energy company, agreed to return to Iraq to expand production there.
Exxon CEO Darren Woods said at a conference held in London, on October 13, that "it's a very important first step in terms the work we intend to do." "We have a long way to go before anything comes to fruition but we are optimistic and look forward to evaluating this." Ahmed Rasheed reported from Baghdad; Maha El Dahan from Dubai; Humeyra Pauk and Timothy Gardner were in Washington; Dmitry Zhdannikov, Anna Hirtenstein, and Nerijus Adomatis in Oslo. Richard Valdmanis, Mark Potter and Richard Valdmanis edited the article.
(source: Reuters)