Plane crashes in South Sudan, killing 20
A small aircraft carrying oil workers in South Sudan's Unity State crashed on Wednesday, killing 20 people, an official said.
The plane crashed at the Unity oilfield airport on Wednesday morning as it was heading to the capital Juba, Gatwech Bipal, Unity State's information minister, said.
Bipal said the passengers were oil workers of the Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC) a consortium that includes China National Petroleum Corporation and state-owned Nile Petroleum Corporation.
He said among the dead were two Chinese nationals and one Indian.
Bipal gave no more details on the circumstances that led to the crash. Media reports had initially put the death toll at 18 but Bipal told Reuters two survivors had later died. One person survived.
Several air crashes have occurred in war-torn South Sudan in recent years. In September 2018, at least 19 people died when a small aircraft carrying passengers from the capital Juba to the city of Yirol crashed.
In 2015, dozens of people were killed when a Russian-built cargo plane with passengers on board crashed after taking off from the airport in the capital Juba.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
an hour ago
- Al Etihad
Musk's father says Elon made a mistake 'under stress' and that Trump will prevail
9 June 2025 13:07 MOSCOW (Reuters)The row between Elon Musk, the world's richest man, and US President Donald Trump was triggered by stress on both sides and Elon made a mistake by publicly challenging Trump, Musk's father told Russian media in and Trump began exchanging insults last week on social media with Musk denouncing the president's sweeping tax and spending bill as a "disgusting abomination.""You know they have been under a lot of stress for five months - you know - give them a break," Errol Musk told the newspaper during a visit to the Russian capital."They are very tired and stressed so you can expect something like this.""Trump will prevail - he's the president, he was elected as the president. So, you know, Elon made a mistake, I think. But he is tired, he is stressed."Errol Musk also suggested that the row "was just a small thing" and would "be over tomorrow."Trump said on Saturday his relationship with billionaire donor Musk was over and warned there would be "serious consequences" if Musk decided to fund US Democrats running against Republicans who vote for the tax and spending bill. Trump had named Musk to head a controversial effort to downsize the federal workforce and slash spending.
Arabian Post
2 hours ago
- Arabian Post
Hang Seng Surges Amid US-China Trade Optimism While Bitcoin Faces Pressure
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index climbed past the 24,000 mark, reaching heights unseen since March, fuelled by renewed optimism surrounding US-China trade discussions. Investor sentiment improved as market participants weighed the possibility of easing tensions between the two largest economies, sparking a notable rally in Hong Kong's benchmark index. However, this upbeat mood contrasted sharply with the performance of Bitcoin, which struggled amid uncertainties over inflation dynamics and broader market volatility. The Hang Seng's advance reflected a growing belief that US and Chinese officials are making progress toward resolving key trade disputes. Early talks aimed at addressing tariffs, technology restrictions, and investment barriers have led investors to anticipate a thawing in one of the most consequential economic standoffs globally. The improving trade dialogue appears to be encouraging capital inflows into Hong Kong-listed shares, particularly in sectors sensitive to cross-border trade such as technology, manufacturing, and finance. Market experts highlight that investor focus remains fixed on the trajectory of these negotiations, with any breakthroughs potentially unlocking significant value in the region's equities. The rally also aligns with a more cautious but hopeful stance among traders that a prolonged trade conflict could ease, bolstering global economic growth prospects. Notably, blue-chip stocks led the gains, signalling confidence among institutional investors betting on recovery and expansion in the Asia-Pacific markets. Conversely, Bitcoin's performance diverged, as the leading cryptocurrency grappled with pressure from both macroeconomic and regulatory fronts. The digital asset has faced downward momentum partly due to investor apprehensions over persistent inflationary pressures in the United States. Inflation data remains a key focal point, as higher consumer prices could prompt the Federal Reserve to sustain or accelerate interest rate hikes, tightening liquidity conditions and dampening risk appetite in speculative assets. ADVERTISEMENT Bitcoin's volatility has also been compounded by shifting regulatory attitudes worldwide. Authorities in various jurisdictions are intensifying scrutiny of digital currencies, citing concerns over money laundering, market manipulation, and financial stability risks. Such regulatory tightening has contributed to a cautious investor approach, limiting Bitcoin's ability to capitalize on broader risk-on sentiment seen in equities. Analysts note that while Bitcoin has often been viewed as a potential inflation hedge, its correlation with traditional risk assets has increased, causing it to react sensitively to shifts in monetary policy and global economic uncertainty. This evolving dynamic challenges the narrative of cryptocurrencies as safe havens, complicating portfolio strategies for institutional and retail investors alike. The Hang Seng's rally has benefited from strong performances in technology companies listed in Hong Kong. Giants in the semiconductor and telecommunications sectors saw their share prices rise amid speculation that easing trade tensions could reduce supply chain disruptions and promote cross-border business activities. Additionally, financial stocks gained momentum as optimism grew about improving economic fundamentals and potential credit growth in the region. Meanwhile, traders are closely monitoring upcoming US inflation reports, which could significantly influence market direction. Persistent inflation could lead the Federal Reserve to maintain a hawkish stance, thereby exerting downward pressure on risk assets including equities and cryptocurrencies. Conversely, signs of easing inflation could provide further impetus for market rallies and reduce volatility. Hong Kong's role as a financial gateway between China and the global economy continues to underpin investor confidence. The city's markets are seen as a barometer for broader regional economic health, and the Hang Seng's rise signals expectations that cross-border trade and investment flows will stabilise or improve amid diplomatic progress. This optimism is tempered by awareness of ongoing geopolitical risks, including Taiwan tensions and global supply chain uncertainties. Bitcoin's challenges underscore the growing complexity of the global investment landscape, where traditional and emerging asset classes are influenced by an intertwined set of economic, regulatory, and geopolitical factors. While the cryptocurrency market remains dynamic, its path forward appears increasingly contingent on external economic conditions rather than solely on technological or adoption milestones.
Al Etihad
4 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Asian markets rally ahead of latest China-US trade talks
9 June 2025 08:45 Hong Kong (AFP)Stocks rallied on Monday on hopes that a fresh round of China-US trade talks later in the day will ease tensions between the economic superpowers, while investors were also cheered by forecast-topping US jobs gains extended a run-up across global markets in recent weeks as fears about Donald Trump's tariff blitz subside and countries make deals with eyes are on London, where top officials from China and the United States are due to meet for more negotiations aimed at preserving a fragile truce agreed last month that slashed eye-watering tit-for-tat talks come days after Trump and Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping held their first publicly announced telephone talks since the US president returned to the White were helped by news that Beijing had on Saturday approved some applications for rare-earth exports, while plane giant Boeing will start sending commercial jets to China for the first time since that the two sides will make a breakthrough boosted Asian markets, with Hong Kong up more than one percent, while Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei and Manila also gains followed a strong lead from Wall Street, where all three main indexes closed more than one percent higher after figures showing the world's largest economy created a forecast-beating 139,000 jobs last the figures for the previous two months were revised down, the data indicated that the economy remained robust, and tempered worries sparked by Wednesday's report by payroll firm ADP showing a big miss on private will now turn to the Federal Reserve as it decides whether to lower interest rates, with many economists warning that Trump's tariffs could reignite inflation, hit supply chains and drag on consumer sentiment."The May minutes and recent comments by several (policy board) members... suggest the Fed is highly attentive to the risk that tariffs will lead to a persistent inflation shock," wrote analysts at Bank of America. "Those risks could come into focus for markets by the fall." Stock Markets Continue full coverage
