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Italy declares a state of emergency following storms in the southern regions
The Italian government declared a state-of-emergency on Monday for the southern regions that were hit by a violent storm a week ago. It promised to provide financial assistance quickly to help rebuild roads and businesses damaged by this'severe weather. For two days, Sicily, Sardinia, and Calabria were battered by relentless rain, powerful wind, and waves up to?nine metres (?30 ft). The water was pushed inland, and coastal defences overwhelmed. The damage is estimated to be more than one billion euros (1,19 billion dollars) by the authorities. However, despite this scale of destruction there were no reported casualties. Civil Protection Minister Nello Musumeci stated in a press release that the government of Prime Minister Giorgia?Meloni? had set aside an initial 100 millions euros to meet the immediate needs of the most affected areas. Musumeci stated that the government would adopt a new?interministerial measure to allow for the reconstruction and restoration of the infrastructure damaged. Last week, the regional government estimated that Sicily suffered damage worth 740 million Euros. However, Renato Schifani, the island's Governor, warned that the final amount could be twice that. Seawater flooded streets near Taormina in popular tourist hotspots, destroying infrastructure like wastewater treatment plants and raising concern about the upcoming tourist season. A section of the sidewalk on Catania's seafront collapsed. The town of Niscemi in central Sicily is under threat from land subsidence that was probably caused by bad weather. Around 1,000 people were evacuated. Sardinia has also been?damaged. Beniamino Garau said that the sea had moved about 100 metres into the interior of the island. The regional administration in Calabria said that the storm had "serious repercussions for the rural economy", as it was one of the least developed regions in Italy. In recent years, extreme?weather events in Italy have increased. In recent years, flooding has devastated cities in Italy. Dozens of people have died and the risks of landslides or floods are now more prevalent. Locals say that regional civil protection alerts sent out before the storm persuaded many people to stay home and prevent any serious injuries or deaths.
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Airbus Helicopters announces higher orders and delivery
Airbus Helicopters received almost 20% more orders in 2014, as the market for military helicopters grew across Europe. Airbus' helicopter division booked gross orders of 544 or net totals of 536 in 2025. This compares to 455 gross orders and 450 in 2024. Delivery?rose by 8.5% from 361 units in 2024 to 392 units. Airbus Helicopters' CEO Bruno Even said in a press release that the emphasis on security and defence had "never before been so sharp". In December, Spain ordered 100 military helicopters. Airbus' share of the military helicopter market is expected to grow from unspecified levels in the previous year, to 28% by 2025. Meanwhile, its share of civil helicopters will fall from 57% to 51%. Airbus Helicopters is scheduled to report its financial performance on February 19, as part of the group's earnings. Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said in a memo to staff last week that Airbus Helicopters is "remarkably consistent" in its performance, according to a report on Sunday. (Reporting and editing by Andrew Heavens; Tim Hepher)
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Officials say that US aircraft carriers enter the Middle East region
Two U.S. officials said on Monday that a U.S. aircraft carriers and accompanying warships had arrived in the Middle East. This would allow President Donald Trump to expand his capabilities for defending U.S. troops or taking military action against Iran. Officials have confirmed that the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, along with several guided-missile destroors, has crossed into the Middle East, which is under the U.S. Central Command. Trump told reporters on Thursday that a "armada" of US ships was heading towards Iran. He hoped, however, that he wouldn't have to use it. Warships have been deployed from the Asia-Pacific region this month as tensions escalated between Iran and the United States following the crackdown of protests in Iran. Trump repeatedly threatened to intervene in the event that Iran continued to murder protesters. However, since then, demonstrations across Iran have ceased. The president claimed that he was told the killings are subsiding, and he does not believe there is a plan to execute prisoners. In the past, the U.S. Military has sent more troops into the Middle East during times of increased tensions. These moves were usually defensive. The U.S. military, however, staged a major building up last year before its June strike against Iran's nuke?program. The Pentagon has also sent fighter jets and air defense systems to the Middle East in addition to warships and carriers. The?U.S. The?U.S. military announced on Saturday that it will conduct an exercise in the area "to demonstrate its ability to 'deploy, distribute, and sustain combat aircraft power." Last week, a senior Iranian official stated that Tehran would view any attack as "all-out war against us." United Arab Emirates announced on Monday that it will not allow its airspace, territorial waters or territory to be used in hostile military action against Iran. Al Dhafra Air Base, located south of Abu Dhabi in the UAE, has served as a vital hub for the U.S. Air Force to support key missions against the Islamic State as well as deployments of reconnaissance across the region. Reporting by Idrees?Ali and Phil Stewart, Editing by Sharon Singleton
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After the Mideast retreat, budget carrier Wizz Air is seeking US approval for UK to US flights
Budget carrier Wizz air has applied for U.S. approval in order to fly between the UK and United States. The company is looking to tap into the lucrative transatlantic markets after reducing its Middle East expansion plans. A?filing on Friday showed that the airline's UK-based subsidiary had petitioned for a foreign air carrier license to allow flights between the US and UK "as quickly as possible". Wizz Air UK sought permission to launch passenger service under the?2020 Air Transport Agreement, also known as the Open Skies Agreement. The carrier is making a second attempt to enter the U.S. market, after its Hungary operations had applied for a foreign carrier permit to operate all-cargo flight to the U.S. by 2022. The carrier declined comment. The U.S. The U.S. US FOCUS AFTER MIDDLE EST RETREAT Wizz's low cost model will benefit as global tourism spending increases. This is because Europeans are becoming more interested in U.S. destinations such as Nashville and Boise. This trend is a result of the Trump administration's immigration crackdowns, and the rising tensions over trade. These have led to a slowdown in travel to the traditional tourism hotspots. The upcoming soccer?World Cup is also expected to increase travel to the U.S. Wizz Air initially planned to offer only passenger charter services based on seasonal demand and customer demands. The airline announced in July last year that it would be closing its Loss-making Abu Dhabi operations and focusing on its eastern European main market as political tensions in Middle East had wiped out the airline's ambition to expand in the region. Wizz Air will report its third-quarter results on Thursday. (Reporting from Raechel Thankam Job in Bengaluru and Rishab Shju; additional reporting from David Shepardson, Editing by Shilpa Majumdar and Bernadettebaum)
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Ministry of Transport: Russian Airlines forced to cancel flights due to a system failure
The transport ministry reported that Russian airlines had to cancel some flights due to an outage in the Leonardo system, which was fixed. Aeroflot and other major Russian airlines had warned about possible disruptions to their schedules. In a statement, the transport ministry did not identify?the affected airlines or destinations? but said that officials would meet on Monday to "analyse what happened and minimize the impact on passengers." The Russian state-owned industrial conglomerate, Rostec,?said the problem with the Leonardo Booking System was caused by an "internal problem" at its provider, Sirena Travel. Aeroflot has been hit by a major cyberattack In?July of last year, a?travel disruption was experienced in the largest country on earth. At the time, two Ukrainian hacking groups claimed responsibility. (Reporting and writing by Marina Bobrova; editing by Andrew Osborn).
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Western Balkan truckers block border cargo terminals due to EU entry rules
On 'Monday, truck drivers from four Western Balkans countries began a blockade at border cargo terminals in protest against restrictive EU entry rules that could lead to drivers being deported for exceeding Schengen visits limits. The blockade halted transport along a vital corridor connecting the EU to Turkey and the Middle East. According to a report by?Bosnia’s Logistika which represents 47,000 workers, more than 100 truckers were deported last year for exceeding 90 days their stay was allowed in the EU. Another 100 deportations were announced this week. Around 100 trucks, all with North Macedonian flags, blocked the cargo terminal in Gevgelija. Bosnian, Montenegrin and Serbian drivers blocked the borders of their countries. Truckers are asking for an extension of the time they can stay in Schengen, because they have a lot of cargo to transport and they will soon reach their visitation limit. "It puts our economy - and the entire Balkans economy - at risk." "The drivers could lose their jobs and the transport companies would shut down," Filip Stojanov said in English, a 26 year old truck driver from North Macedonia. (Additional reporting from Ivana Sekularac, in Belgrade, and Daria Sito - Sucic in Sarajevo. Editing by Bernadette B. Baum)
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Sources say that the Russian Urals oil is trading at a discount close to the largest since 2022, in India
Two sources reported that Russian crude oil cargoes dated February Urals traded in Indian ports at discounts close to the largest since 2022 compared with dated Brent, amid increased pressure from Western sanctions. The two sources claimed that the 'cargoes' of Urals oil to be supplied in February will trade at a discount of $10 per barrel compared to Brent for delivery to Indian ports. This is a rise from the estimated cargoes loaded in the fall months last year by $3-5 per barrel and close to the largest discount ever recorded. The U.S. targeted oil majors Lukoil & Rosneft in late '2025, imposing the toughest sanctions yet on Russia's Energy Sector. The U.S. also imposed 25% additional import tariffs on Indian products, which it attributed to New Delhi's continued importing of Russian oil. The U.S. Treasury secretary Scott?Bessent signaled on Friday that the additional 25% tariffs could be removed from India as a result of a dramatic reduction in Indian oil imports. New Delhi has cut its oil imports in recent months from Moscow, as sanctions have pushed more Russian barrels towards China. One of the traders stated that a wide discount may help attract more Indian refiners, and place?more barrels, with them. However, he added?that New Delhi, under Western pressure, is looking for alternatives. Two sources familiar with the issue said that Indian Oil Corp., the country's largest refiner, purchased 7 million barrels from Brazil's Petrobras for loading in March to replace Russian oil. Urals crude is a major feedstock for Indian refiners, since 2023 when Moscow diverted flows to Asia following the European Union's curtailment of Russian energy consumption. (Reporting and Editing by Jan Harvey).
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FAA: Seven dead and one seriously injured in plane crash on Sunday in Maine
The Federal Aviation Administration announced on Monday that seven people died and one was seriously injured when a private plane crashed in Bangor, Maine as it took off. The FAA reported that the crash of the twin-engine turbofan jet Bombardier Challenger 600 at Bangor International Airport occurred around 7:45 pm on Monday. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating this crash that occurred during snowy weather conditions and low visibility. Bombardier has referred all questions to the NTSB. The Bangor Airport remained closed on Monday morning. An official from the government said that the plane had arrived at?Maine, Maine from Texas. The company listed as the registered owner of this plane shares an address in Houston with Arnold & Itkin, a personal injuries law firm. FAA records indicate that the plane was put into service on April 2020. (Reporting and editing by Doina chiacu and Hugh Lawson; Reporting and Editing by David Shepardson, Ryan Patrick Jones)
Kazakhstan announces that the vast Tengiz fields will resume production soon, but at a scale that is uncertain
The energy ministry announced on Monday that Kazakhstan was poised to restart production at its largest oil field. However, industry sources reported that volumes were still very low, and there was still a force majeure in place for CPC Blend exports.
Tengiz is Kazakhstan's biggest oilfield. It was recently affected by a number of incidents including drone attacks and power outages.
Tengizchevroil led by Chevron temporarily halted the production of oil at Tengiz and Korolev fields on January 18.
Chevron announced on Monday that it has resumed oil production without naming the specific field.
OIL FIELD POWER RESTORED
A Chevron spokesperson announced on Monday that "Tengizchevroil confirms the safe start-up of the site power distribution system, and the resumed of initial crude production."
Separately on Monday, Kazakhstan's Energy Ministry said that Tengiz is preparing to resume oil production soon and that the Korolev Oilfield has already been operational.
The ministry announced that the Tengiz Field?will soon be brought online again.
At least two sources in the industry expressed their doubts about the'scale of the initial production.' They noted that TCO had yet to lift the force majeure imposed on CPC Blend after the field was shut down.
Chevron has said that it will not comment on the specifics of its operations.
According to one source, the fields are now producing only 8,000 metric tonnes per day. This is equivalent to about 60,000 barrels of oil per day. This is only 6% of their usual production levels.
JPMorgan reported on Friday that Tengiz could remain offline throughout the month. It estimated Kazakhstan crude to be averaging between 1 million and 1.1 millions barrels per day in January, as opposed to the usual level of 1.8 million barrels.
KAZAKHSTAN GOVERNMENT MEETS WITH EXXON
Kazakh officials said that earlier Monday, Prime Minister Olzhas bektenov met with ExxonMobil vice president Peter Larden to urge the U.S. company to speed up work to resolve the problem and prevent future incidents.
ExxonMobil, with a 25% share, is the second largest shareholder in TCO, behind Chevron which owns 50%. KazMunayGaz, a Kazakh company, holds 20% of the group. Lukoil from Russia has 5%.
CASPIAN PIPELINE CONSORTIUM RESUMES SPM-3 OPERATIONS
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which operates Kazakhstan's major exporting pipeline, announced on Sunday that its terminal?on the Russian Black Sea Coast had returned to its full loading capacity after maintenance at one of three moorings points known as SPMs.
A source in the industry said that the Paschalis DD crude oil tanker is'scheduled' to dock at the terminal on Monday, at 2 p.m. (1100 GMT) for loadings of the repaired SPM-3.
According to an industry source the CPC's oil exports dropped by 24 percent in December compared to the previous month. This equates to around 1,02 million barrels of crude oil per day. Reporting by Felix Light and Vladimir Soldatkin; Additional reporting by Stephanie Kelly in London, Robert Harvey, and Ron Bousso; Editing and production by Guy Faulconbridge and Andrew Osborn; David Goodsborn and Tomaszjanowski.
(source: Reuters)