Latest News
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Sweden inks French war ship order
Sweden's Defence Material Administration?signed an?order?for four Naval Group navy frigates?on Monday during a ceremony in Stockholm - attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristiersson. In May, Sweden announced that it had ordered the vessels in a $4-billion deal with?the French firm. This will?triple its air defence capability in the face of security threats on the Baltic Sea. Sweden, NATO's new?member, has been rushing to?upgrade its military in the wake of Russia?s invasion of Ukraine. The first of four new frigates - which will be the largest ships in the Swedish navy - is expected to be delivered by 2030. The deal comes at a moment when France and Sweden are deepening defence ties. They want to push for greater 'European military independence', as doubts about the commitment of U.S. President Donald Trump -to Europe- have prompted governments on the continent to reconsider their dependence on American weapons and security guarantees.
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School head: Last-minute flood warnings saved more than 900 Nepalese students
Last Wednesday, Headmaster Rajendra Dawadi, was at his school in Bidur, Nepal, when his accountant entered and shouted: "The flooding is coming!" The flood is coming, the flood is coming! Teachers at Tribhuvan Trishuli secondary school began to receive panicked calls from family and friends. A roaring wave mud water had already made its way upstream through the valley, flattening whole towns. The accountant received a phone call from a family member in Rasuwa. Rasuwa was the first to be hit, and had only 14 minutes to evacuate. This decision saved both students and teachers lives. The school was rebuilt in Nepal after the devastating 2015 earthquake, which killed 9,000 people. It is located on a peninsula, wedged between the Trishuli River and a Hydropower Canal. In an interview, Dawadi said that "we immediately said: stop the class and ring the bell." The school is no more and the former site of its location lies within the riverbed. A PANICKED Escape At the time of the initial warning, over?900 students were present on campus. Dawadi claimed that he had instructed buses carrying more students towards the school to move to safer grounds and began to evacuate the building. Dawadi reported that at least one fainted as chaos spread. Motorbikes were used by parents, teachers and students to collect their children. Some were transported to safety by bus, while others ran up higher or climbed to safety. The 60,000-person town was flooded by the time the final?bus had crossed the nearby bridge over the river, approximately 14 minutes later. Dawadi reported that the old bridge collapsed as "our bus crossed over the new bridge". Headmaster Dawadi, who was a student at this school before becoming its 'headmaster', now wants authorities to rebuild it in a secure location as quickly as possible. Only God can do this Many parents credit Headmaster Dawadi for saving their children. "He was a god. He gave my daughter, and many other children's lives. "Only God can do it," said Man Maya Tamang (50), who thought initially that she had lost Sushmita. Many others in Bidur were not warned until it was too late. Dawadi reported that at least one staff member?and mother of the school accountant are missing. The accountant was able to take his father uphill, but when he returned to get his mother the house had been swept away. Dawadi claimed that he managed to get his father up the hill, but his house was destroyed when he returned with his mother.
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Shipper: Danube queue to Ukrainian ports has grown to 80 vessels
A shipper reported on Monday that the queue of vessels waiting to enter?the?Danube to reach Ukraine's river ports?has increased to around 80 in the last five days. However, the number allowed to pass through the route has also been increasing. Russian attacks on Ukraine have effectively blocked the main Black Sea ports that handled 90% of Ukraine's grain exports. Kyiv has been forced to divert cargo via Danube river -ports which have far less capacity. Last week, shipping agencies reported an increasing backlog at Sulina Canal's entrance. This is the only Danube canal deep enough to allow vessels to travel to Ukraine's port of Reni or Izmail via the Black Sea. The delays have been attributed to the shortage of pilots as well as to the necessity to prioritize certain cargoes including fuel shipments. Traffic through the canal has improved. Last week, only five vessels per day entered the canal. This is expected to increase to at least seven on Monday. Since this morning, seven vessels have been piloted. "We expect that around noon, more vessels will enter the canal after the pilots depart vessels heading out to sea", said KaterinaKononenko, from Avalon Shipping. She added, "in theory, if 10 vessels can be moved into Sulina each day, then we will be able clear the queue, which is?about 80 ships." Kononenko stated that it could take up to several weeks for the queue to be reduced to 10 vessels. A rise in the inbound traffic may create bottlenecks at departures as more vessels are required to exit the canal for mandatory inspections. More Shipments Last week, officials at Ukrainian railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia stated that exports could increase via the Danube. However, operations are still?hampered' by frequent air raid alerts and vessel shortages. According to a monitoring service, the Odesa region has experienced 300 air raid alerts in total since August began. These alerts lasted a total of 238 hours. The alerts can prevent entire days from being spent without unloading a single grain truck. Ukrzaliznytsia has said that it can transport up to 500,000 metric tonnes of grain per month to Izmail or Reni. Analyst data revealed that the volume of grain headed to Danube port increased by 35% in the past week.
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Turkey has a Black Sea grain plan, and is in touch with Russia and Ukraine
Hakan Fidan, the Turkish Foreign Minister, said that the country has prepared a 'plan for the safe passage of grain through the Black Sea. It is in contact with both Russia and Ukraine about it. The Turkish government has expressed its willingness to revive an?agreement? brokered by the U.N. that allowed grain to be removed from Ukraine during wartime. "We are working on a plan and we're in touch with both sides about this plan," Fidan said at a press conference in Istanbul. "If necessary conditions are met, we will work to reach another agreement similar to that of the grain deal." The United Nations and Turkey helped to mediate the so-called Black Sea Grain Initiative, which was agreed on in July 2022. This initiative allowed the safe exportation of nearly?33 millions metric tons (about 66 million pounds) of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea. In 2023, Russia withdrew its agreement after complaining about'serious obstacles' to?its own food and fertilizer?exports.
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Sources say that India's Fly91 is close to ordering 20 ATR turboprops.
Three sources with knowledge of the matter have confirmed that Fly91, an Indian regional airline, is on its way to ordering at least 20 turboprops from ATR in order to expand its fleet. The deal represents a significant wager on the Indian regional aviation market, where the government is trying to connect dozens of smaller towns through a "subsidised connectivity scheme", despite the fact that many routes have already been discontinued. Two sources said that the order could include options to purchase several additional aircraft. Two sources said that an announcement could come as soon as this week. ATR's spokesperson declined to comment. Fly91 did not respond immediately to a comment request. Sources spoke under condition of anonymity, as the negotiations were?confidential. The sources said that the deal was not finalised, and that the number of planes and timing of the announcement may change. ATR HAS DOMINATED THE TURBOPROP MARK This deal is a major boost for ATR. It dominates the turboprop market but relies on a small number of markets to place its orders. India and Indonesia are two of the most active markets for turboprops, which are economical for short domestic or island-hopping flights and prized for supporting regional development. Fly91 operates ATR 72 600s from Goa’s Manohar International Airport to a dozen or so destinations. The airline has said that it will induct 30 aircraft to connect over 50 cities within 5 years. Convergent Finance, a private equity firm, is backing the airline. India, which is the fastest-growing aviation industry in the world, announced earlier this year that it would invest $3 billion to expand air travel in underserved areas of the country. The scheme is called Ude Desh Ka?Aam nagrik or "let the average citizen fly." India will continue to subsidise routes that are otherwise unviable and develop 100 airports using existing airstrips.
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EU Aviation Safety Agency narrows Gulf Airspace Warning
The European Union's?Aviation Safety Agency extended Monday its warning for airlines to avoid airspace over the waters of the Persian Gulf in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar, while reducing an earlier advisory which recommended avoiding all airspace within the four countries. The latest advisory comes just hours after U.S. and Iran resumed hostilities, the first since late July. EASA's newest advisory to the Persian Gulf nations stated that "while risks remain high over the waters of this region, operations necessary for arrivals or departures at aerodromes in the affected Flight Information Regions can be carried out with enough mitigation." The agency asked that operators exercise caution when flying over the land of these nations and to avoid operating in the Gulf of Oman within Oman's Muscat Flight Information Region. The agency has lifted its previous advice that airlines should avoid Jordanian airspace but still advised them to be cautious until 'September 30. EASA has also extended its recommendation that airlines do not operate in Iran, Iraq and Lebanon's airspace until the end of September. The agency said that flights landing or departing the Lebanese Capital Beirut were 'permitted' if they'start from the sea or end over the sea.
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Ground crews at Qantas Airways in Australia vote to strike over "rock-bottom" pay
Ground crew members at Australia's biggest airline, Qantas Airways voted on Monday for strike action due to pay and conditions. The 'Transport Workers Union' said that 97% of the 350 workers who voted supported a?industrial action?, including work stops?ranging from an hour to 24 hours. A strike date has not been announced. Before taking industrial action, the union must give at least three days' notice. Michael Kaine, national secretary of the union, said that although ground workers didn't want strike, after falsely being promised by this airline that they would be treated with respect, there was no other option. The union said that the workers' "pay, safety, and conditions" had fallen to the lowest levels. The strike threat follows Qantas long-haul flight pilots who voted for industrial action in early August before reaching a wage agreement with the airline. Qantas stated in a press release that it was "committed to reaching an agreement" with its employees that included annual pay increases. The details of the airline's proposal were not made clear. The Fair Work Commission said that the discussions with the Fair Work Commission were constructive, and that negotiations continue. We are focused on a deal that addresses the issues employees told us were most important, such as pay and full-time employment opportunities. Qantas said it has contingency plans in place to minimise any impact on its operations, if there is a strike. The subsidiary Qantas Ground Services employs its ground staff as casual or part-time workers. They do not work on mainline or international services. The Transport Workers Union stated that "QGS employees are calling for job stability, a fair wage rise after years in which wages were frozen, and to bring back the scattered work groups under a single Qantas banner instead of pitting them against each other." Qantas' ground staff and the Fair Work Commission of Australia are due to meet on September 18 for talks. Qantas reported A$2,06 billion ($1.47billion) in annual underlying profits before tax on Thursday, a fall of 14% attributed to an increase in fuel costs due to the Middle East conflict.
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Honda and Nissan aim to roll out joint vehicle software by fiscal 2029
Nissan and Honda, two Japanese automakers, announced 'on Monday that they will jointly develop electronic control units (ECUs), standardised for software defined vehicles (SDVs). This is a step forward in their collaboration on more advanced car technology. In a joint statement, the companies said they plan to integrate the ECUs developed jointly and the software into next-generation cars starting in the financial year 2029. Automakers are increasingly focusing on software as their vehicles adopt more autonomous driving and connected features. The cost of development is increasing as carmakers invest heavily in operating systems to support features such as driver assistance, entertainment and over-the-air upgrades. This move reflects the growing pressure of Chinese automakers, such as BYD. They have made significant gains in Europe and Southeast Asia by introducing electric and hybrid vehicles with sophisticated software. This agreement is the result of talks that began 2024 when Honda and Nissan announced they would?jointly research next-generation platforms. The agreement comes after more than a yr of abandoning?merger discussions that would have created a?fourth-largest automaker in the world. Honda and Nissan have stated that they are working to create common specifications for the core ECUs in their vehicles' electrical and electronic architecture. They also plan to standardize operating systems, middleware software and other parts. Nissan's alliance partner, Mitsubishi?Motors, said in a press release that it was considering joining the collaboration. It remained in discussion with both automakers about potential areas of cooperation.
Fuel sales from the US to Cuban businesses bring a taste of capitalism to Havana
Gasoline for $38 per gallon is sold in cramped apartment. Diesel is being sold on Instagram to reggaeton music by a celebrity. Cuba's communist sector of energy is experiencing capitalist cracks six decades after Fidel's revolution.
The exception that permits U.S. companies to export fuel directly to Cuban private businesses, under Washington's crippling?oil embargo against Cuba has triggered a chaotic black-market and opened up a tightly controlled energy sector by the government since Dwight Eisenhower occupied the White House. After the U.S. ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from office in January, oil shipments to Cuba's traditional supplier Venezuela and Mexico abruptly ceased. U.S. Coast Guard cutters are patrolling the waters near Cuba while sanctions and threats have discouraged tankers from setting sail.
The embargo is affecting essential services run by the state, such as healthcare, public transportation and schools. Under the Commerce Department's exception, however, only a small amount of fuel is now reaching restaurants, retailers, and taxis. This is the first time that U.S. fuel has been landed on the Caribbean Island since Castro nationalized the refineries following the 1959 Revolution.
It is not possible to determine which U.S. oil companies are supplying fuel to Cuba. However, there are no signs that major oil traders have been involved. Some of the fuel is sold on the black-market, allowing those with the means to maintain their gas tanks and home generators. This helps the public transport system, rolling blackouts and the faltering water supply in the country.
The new system, while providing some relief to the poor, is increasing wealth disparities. Amarilis Sánchez, 53, spent hours waiting at a Havana bus stop on a recent afternoon in July. She had come to Havana to celebrate the birthday of her daughter, but was now losing hope that the bus, which costs 2 pesos to take home, would arrive.
A few taxi drivers were leaning against antique cars across the street. Ismael, one of the taxi drivers, offered to take Sanchez but said the trip would be 1,000 pesos. This is 500 times more than the bus because of the black-market price of diesel and gasoline, the fuel that many Cuban cars run on.
Sanchez, who is unemployed, could not afford to do this. She said that her plan was for her to wait until the sun went down and if it didn't arrive, she would sleep at the house of her daughter and then return the next morning.
Backroom Deals and Social Media Ads While the 900k barrels of U.S. Fuel imported between February and May were only enough to meet the country's needs for energy for nine days, they have led to "big" changes. Reporters found this out during their visits to legal wholesalers and black market distributors as well as in discussions with business owners and economists. Havana fell into darkness when the national grid failed just before 11 pm on a Sunday night this month. However, generators powered by imported fuel kept a few shops and restaurants lit. In plain view, a thriving resale marketplace has sprung up.
In a central Havana convenience store, stocked with sodas, beer, and crackers, on another day customers played pool at the entrance. The shopkeeper keeps gasoline in a large room at the back of the store. She sells it for $5 per liter, or $19 per gallon.
In a nearby tenement, a man advertises gasoline online and hoards the fuel?in his tiny apartment, despite the dangers of fire, explosions, and toxic fumes. WhatsApp groups devoted to?illegal fuel sales are on the rise.
The black-market price peaked this spring at an eye-watering $10.00 per liter ($38.00 per gallon), before falling as imports increased. In February, in an effort to avoid the paralysis caused by the oil blockade the government allowed private companies to import fuel to use themselves. Cuban legislators approved in June a comprehensive package of economic reforms to open the energy sector up to foreign and private investors. Although this package is not yet fully implemented, it was approved by Cuban lawmakers in June. The reforms would open up the energy sector to private and foreign investors.
In a social media viral advertisement for such a company, a model who is the ex-girlfriend a Cuban reggaeton singer struts around a warehouse full of industrial bulk containers filled with diesel while Daddy Yankee's "Gasolina", a hit song by Daddy Yankee, plays in the background.
A spokesperson from the company that created the advertisement, A Granel said they only sell to registered private businesses. The company charges $2.50 per liter for a 940-liter tank.
CUBA GAS STATIONS UP TO GRABS? Manuel Marrero Cruz, Cuba's Prime Minister, said late in July that Cuba had approved the first foreign venture to import and sell fuel on the Island. He didn't identify the company.
Cuban law prohibits companies from reselling fuel imported without express authorization. Cuba has not yet approved retail sales despite the reforms that indicate private companies may be able soon to operate some of the distinctive Cupet red and green gas stations.
Oniel Diz, the founder of Havana's consulting firm Auge, stated that some state-run gas stations store U.S. gasoline, which they can only disburse to vehicles registered with specific private companies. Cuban authorities have not responded to requests for comments. On July 29, President Miguel Diaz Canel denounced Washington's "genocidal" siege of the island. He said that the United States was not behind economic reforms and promised no "massive" privatization of assets. In response, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott stated that Washington acknowledged "the significant humanitarian need" of Cubans while accusing Cuban officials of incompetence, diverting resources without evidence. He stated that private businesses, non-governmental organizations, and diplomatic missions import fuel, mainly from the United States. However, he did not respond to questions regarding the impact of U.S. policies on Cuba's high prices and black market.
The average monthly government salary is only $10 (roughly 6,700 pesos), so imported fuels are out of reach for most of the island's nine million residents.
Fuel sold on the blackmarket is illegal in Cuba and violates U.S. export regulations, which state that fuel can only be used by the private sector and not the Cuban government.
Jorge Pinon, an energy expert and former oil executive from Cuba who works at University of Texas at Austin, stated that "it looks good on paper but there is no monitoring of the people's compliance" with the restrictions.
The news agency was not able to determine the amount of U.S. gasoline that reaches the black markets, nor could it find any evidence that the fuel ended up in Cuban officials' hands or government entities sanctioned by the U.S.
Diaz stated that other countries such as Mexico and Panama have also exported small amounts to Cuba's Private Sector in recent months.
STATE CONTROLS?PORTS and GAS STATIONS
Fuel destined for U.S. private buyers is currently required to pass through state-owned ports and storage tanks controlled by entities sanctioned by the U.S.
Diaz says that private Cuban companies enter into service agreements for the use state infrastructure with these entities, paying?11 cents per liter. No evidence was found that fuel is being diverted in this process.
Jeremy Paner is a former U.S. Treasury Department Investigator who advises businesses.
Cuba has said it will continue to relax restrictions and encourage private investment but it is unclear how far these reforms will extend.
Mayra Espina is a Cuban sociologist who specializes on poverty. She says that the few supplies of expensive U.S. gasoline don't even begin to compensate for the volume of fuel Trump's embargo has kept out.
She said, "At least it has prevented the country from being paralyzed." For the vast majority who depend on public services, "it increases and entrenches inequalities." Reporting by Laura Gottesdiener in Havana and Ayose Naranjo in Mexico City. Claudia Parsons edited the piece.
(source: Reuters)