South African Court Halts Approval for TotalEnergies Oil Block
The Western Cape High Court ruled that the environmental impact assessment for Total's Block 5/6/7 was 'deeply flawed, failing to address key risks, legal requirements, and public participation,' Green Connection, one of the environmental groups that brought the case, said in a statement.
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Fox News
22 minutes ago
- Fox News
Armenia and Azerbaijan leaders seek to ease Russian and Iranian concerns after US-brokered peace deal
The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan brushed off any threat of backlash from neighboring powers Iran and Russia following a U.S.-brokered peace accord – an agreement hailed as the start of a new era, ending more than three decades of war and hostility in the South Caucasus. In exclusive Fox News Digital interviews, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev both praised President Donald Trump and his envoy for their role in brokering the framework agreement. They emphasized that the deal, which promised increased regional economic integration and political cooperation, is not directed at any third party – and may actually provide strategic advantages to Moscow and Tehran. "This is not a zero-sum game," Pashinyan said. The agreement "contains quite tangible benefits for Iran and for Russia as well." "Iran would have access through railway from the Persian Gulf to the Black Sea and Russia and Iran will have opportunity to have a railway connection between the two countries." Russia – a long-standing ally of Armenia and a presence in the region through its border guards – welcomed peace but sent a warning about U.S. involvement. Its foreign ministry described the accord as "positive," expressing hope for stability in the Caucasus, but warned that foreign involvement should complement, not complicate, the peace process. The ministry emphasized that regional solutions should include neighbors like Russia, Iran and Turkey, and cautioned against repeating the pitfalls of Western-led interventions in the Middle East. Aliyev echoed Pashinyan's remarks and declined to see U.S. diplomatic involvement as a provocation toward Moscow. "It will be very difficult for any country – whether far away or in our region – to say something bad about today's agreement," he told Fox News Digital. "We've taken the final step toward peace." He added: "It's not against anyone. It's a connectivity project which will be one of the most important parts of international transportation." At the heart of the pact is the planned Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) – a roughly 27-mile transit route linking mainland Azerbaijan with its Nakhchivan exclave, passing through Armenian territory. Armenia has granted the U.S. exclusive development rights via a 99‑year lease, allowing for infrastructure projects such as roads, rail lines, pipelines, fiber optics and possibly power transmission, aimed at opening new trade and transit paths in the region. This bold move shifts regional dynamics, offering Washington a powerful strategic foothold while bypassing traditional Russian and Iranian routes. Iran, in contrast, has responded with hostility. Ali Akbar Velayati, a key advisor to Iran's supreme leader, warned of serious consequences if the "Zangezur Corridor" – as Iran calls the route – is enacted, asserting that it "will not become a passage owned by Trump, but rather a graveyard for Trump's mercenaries," according to the semi-official news agency Tasnim. Iran has even signaled readiness to use military means to block the route. Domestically, Pashinyan faces opposition. Armenian nationalists, already fierce critics of any deal with Azerbaijan, view the agreement as a betrayal. The Republican Party of Armenia has declared that Pashinyan lacks the mandate to sign such a treaty, demanding full transparency and an end to concessions made under external pressure. Pashinyan, however, is undeterred. He said the accord could transform Armenia's investment climate and attract foreign capital. "We expect to have some criticism, and that's part of democracy," he told Fox News Digital. "But we are confident we made the right decision." Once the dominant power in the South Caucasus, Russia is losing its grip. The war in Ukraine, mounting sanctions and resource strains have depleted its regional influence, enabling the U.S., Turkey and the European Union to expand their diplomatic reach. Relations with Azerbaijan particularly soured following the December 2024 downing of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243. Aliyev accused Moscow of accidentally shooting the passenger jet with Russian air defenses during operations against Ukrainian drones, killing 38 people. Aliyev told Fox News Digital he didn't believe the incident was an intentional attack by Russian leadership, but demanded a formal admission of guilt, punishment for those responsible and full compensation – moves Russia has resisted, apologizing only vaguely for what they called a "tragic incident." And amid political divisions, Pashinyan finds himself in a conflict with one of the country's most respected institutions – the Armenian Apostolic Church, where figures like Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan have led public protests against Pashinyan's decision to return border villages to Azerbaijan. On June 25, authorities arrested Galstanyan, a leading figure in the church and of the "Sacred Struggle" opposition movement, accusing him of orchestrating a terrorist plot to overthrow the government. Armenia's Investigative Committee alleged he had recruited more than 1,000 former police and military personnel to stage bombings, disrupt power grids and paralyze transportation networks. Pashinyan assured that the judiciary system acted independently of his government and "in full accordance with the law of Armenia, respecting all the rights of all people."
Yahoo
43 minutes ago
- Yahoo
1 Magnificent High-Yield Stock Down 15% to Buy and Hold Forever
Key Points A post-coronavirus pandemic rally has petered out, leaving the oil giant down some 15% from its highs. The stock's dividend yield is above the industry norm, suggesting it is an attractive income choice. Plus, some company-specific headwinds that had been holding the shares down are abating. 10 stocks we like better than Chevron › An inflation spike coming out of the coronavirus pandemic helped to boost the profits of energy companies. But after hitting a peak, oil and natural gas prices have come back down. That has taken the wind out of the sector's sails, but one of the industry's largest competitors -- Chevron's (NYSE: CVX) -- performed even worse than its closest competitor and is still down over 15% from its highs. There's still a chance to buy the stock while it has a well above average yield. Here's what you need to know. What goes up always goes down Oil and natural gas are commodities prone to large and often rapid price swings. So the ups and downs around the pandemic aren't really that unusual. Still, investors react to the price swings in fairly predictable fashion. When energy prices rise, Wall Street tends to boost the shares of oil and gas producers. The reverse happens when energy prices fall. That's the big picture for Chevron's price decline since the oil price rally turned into an oil price decline. However, there are some other factors at play with this energy industry giant. Notably, a large acquisition (Hess) got stuck in court because of complaints about the deal from Chevron's competitors. And Chevron's investment in Venezuela is an off again/on again political headache. Both issues were negatives not too long ago, helping to keep Chevron's shares depressed. Even more so than its closest peer, ExxonMobil. The end result is that, even now, Chevron is offering an attractive investment opportunity. Notably, the stock's dividend yield is 4.4%. Exxon's yield is 3.7%. The average energy stock's yield is 3.2%. And the S&P 500 index's yield is a scant 1.2%. This is an opening you won't want to miss if you are looking to invest in the energy sector. Chevron is built to survive the energy cycle For starters, Chevron's company-specific headwinds are abating. Its deal to buy Hess has been approved and completed. And while Venezuela will always be a sore point, the headwinds have evened out around this investment for the time being. Thus, the overhang from these issues is largely gone, which helps to explain Chevron's recent stock price rally, which has been stronger than the rally of Exxon's shares. What's more, it is important to keep in mind that the outsized yield is on very solid ground. Chevron has increased its dividend annually for a huge 38 consecutive years. And it has one of the strongest balance sheets among its integrated energy peers. This diversified and financially strong energy giant is built to survive the inherent ups and downs in the energy patch. There's still time to act, if you act quickly To be fair, there will always be risk here because of the nature of the energy sector. But the reward today looks very attractive, given the relatively attractive yield Chevron is offering. If you are looking for an energy investment, this one should be close to the top of your buy list. And given the strength of Chevron's business and the success it has had navigating oil price volatility, it is the kind of energy stock that even a conservative dividend investor can buy and hold for the long term. Should you invest $1,000 in Chevron right now? Before you buy stock in Chevron, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Chevron wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $649,544!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,113,059!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 1,062% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 185% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of August 13, 2025 Reuben Gregg Brewer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Chevron. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 1 Magnificent High-Yield Stock Down 15% to Buy and Hold Forever was originally published by The Motley Fool Error al recuperar los datos Inicia sesión para acceder a tu cartera de valores Error al recuperar los datos Error al recuperar los datos Error al recuperar los datos Error al recuperar los datos
Business Wire
44 minutes ago
- Business Wire
Agentic AI Takes Center Stage at Cognite's Global Impact 2025 Conference to Showcase Industrial Value
PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cognite, the global leader in industrial AI, announced today its annual conference, Impact 2025, will return to Houston from October 13-16. This year's event will focus on accelerating business value from agentic AI, bringing together AI-driven leaders from the energy, manufacturing, and life sciences sectors. Speakers will share proven strategies for moving from vision to implementation and demonstrating tangible business value with agentic AI solutions. "Impact connects innovators to share ideas, learn together, and grow faster," said Josh Dotson, Industry 4.0 Capability Leader, Koch. "In a rapidly changing Industry 4.0 environment, partnerships and knowledge sharing are essential." Share Agentic AI-driven automation is rapidly becoming a requirement for industrial organizations to remain competitive. According to a 2025 report from Capgemini, 82% of organizations are planning to integrate AI agents into their operations by 2027. This surge in adoption is driven by the fact that early adopters are already seeing measurable business value, including 25-40% efficiency gains in automated workflows. "Impact connects innovators to share ideas, learn together, and grow faster," said Josh Dotson, Industry 4.0 Capability Leader, Koch. "In a rapidly changing Industry 4.0 environment, partnerships and knowledge sharing are essential. The connections we make at Impact give us the insights and confidence to accelerate our transformation with more speed and less risk." Following last year's sold-out inaugural conference, Impact is returning with more sessions, networking opportunities, and additional industries. This year's sessions include: Keynote Plenaries and Executive Speakers who will demonstrate how AI is being harnessed to accelerate growth, transform industries, and realize value from digital transformation, including: Karl Johnny Hersvik, CEO of Aker BP Noriko Rzonca, Chief Digital Officer of Cosmo Energy Holdings Sameer Purao, Global CIO & CDO of Celanese Bjørnar Erikstad, General Manager, Foundation VI Breakout Sessions & Workshops delivered primarily by customers to address key themes such as: Agentic AI for Industry: See how industrial organizations are using AI agents to increase operational efficiency and learn what it takes to build and scale trusted AI agents. Driving Business Impact: Separate the AI hype from reality, see how organizations are getting started with agentic AI, and learn how to track the business outcomes of your digital strategy. Achieving Operational Excellence: Explore how AI integration can increase production capacity, enhance operational efficiency, and reduce risk. Leading Innovation: Hear from digital transformation experts about driving organizational change, the future of operations, and new operating paradigms. Building a Scalable, AI-Ready Data Foundation: Discover how to solve the industrial data problem by contextualizing data and how to scale digital initiatives from sites to enterprise. "To truly unleash agentic AI in industrial operations, Cognite has emphasized an AI-ready data foundation and an open ecosystem," said Girish Rishi, CEO, Cognite. "At Cognite, we're building the bridge from AI's potential to proven business value. Join us at Impact 2025 and witness how real-world leaders, customers, and partners are leveraging our leading industrial AI platform to create a more efficient, sustainable, and profitable future." Conference speakers will also illustrate how they are accelerating their journey towards autonomous operations, scaling AI, and gaining more business value by incorporating Cognite Atlas AI ™, a no-code workbench for building industrial AI agents. Integrated with the robust data foundation provided by Cognite Data Fusion, Atlas AI makes agentic AI capabilities easily accessible for industrial organizations to use and improve their existing workflows. Space is limited. For more information and to register, please visit Impact 2025. About Cognite Cognite makes GenAI work for industry. Leading energy, manufacturing, and power & renewables enterprises choose Cognite to deliver secure, trustworthy, and real-time data to transform their asset-heavy operations to be safer, more sustainable, and profitable. Cognite provides a user-friendly, secure, and scalable platform that makes it easy for all decision-makers, from the field to remote operations centers, to access and understand complex industrial data, collaborate in real-time, and build a better tomorrow. Visit us at and follow us on LinkedIn and X.
