Latest news with #Casa
The Guardian
3 hours ago
- The Guardian
Could my power bank start a fire on board a plane? Here are the rules and the risks
Virgin Australia says it is considering changes to its rules around lithium batteries after a fire on a flight from Sydney was thought to have been caused by a power bank in a passenger's carry-on luggage. Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority (Casa) has said the average passenger travels with at least four rechargeable lithium battery devices, which can be contained in smartphones, laptops and portable power banks. If you're wondering what the rules are, and why lithium-ion batteries are considered a risk on flights, here's a quick overview. Yes. But rules vary, so you should check the airline's restrictions before you fly. Generally, laptops and cameras can be packed in checked luggage as long as they are completely switched off, according to Casa. But spare batteries and power banks should only go into carry-on baggage because batteries and power banks can short circuit, overheat and catch fire during a flight. Lithium-ion batteries that exceed 160Wh are not permitted at all, unless they are used for mobility aids. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email Smart bags with power banks or lithium-ion batteries are allowed as long as the battery can be removed before check-in and carried in a passenger's cabin baggage. Virgin Australia says any spare or loose batteries, including power banks, must be in carry-on baggage only and must be protected by placing them in their original retail packaging, or placing each battery in a separate plastic bag or protective pouch, or taping over exposed terminals. Qantas says passengers travelling with power banks, including Apple AirPod cases, and spare or loose batteries, must only take them in carry-on baggage. The airline says it does not recommend the use or charging of power banks onboard due to safety. Several international airlines have banned the use of power banks on board, including Thai Airways, South Korean Airlines, EVA Air, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Singapore Airlines and its budget subsidiary, Scoot. If you're flying with an international carrier, you should check its rules before your flight. Generally, passengers are required to pack their power banks in their carry-on luggage. But whether they can be used on the plane depends on the specific airline. Not necessarily. Prof Neeraj Sharma, a battery expert at the University of New South Wales, says lithium-ion batteries can have 20 different components, some of which are liquids, making them more volatile than other, solid parts such as the electrodes or casing. Applying pressure to a lithium-ion battery can lead to 'thermal runaway' – an uncontrollable increase in temperature – but a battery exploding is incredibly rare. Sharma says airlines still instruct people to carry batteries in their hand luggage as a way to mitigate risk, because there is a minimal pressure difference in a plane cabin compared to the baggage hold. Sharma says power banks and other lithium-ion battery devices that aren't as well regulated as mobile phones or laptops – such as e-scooters and vapes – pose more of a risk and may have lower quality batteries. Prof Amanda Ellis, the head of the University of Melbourne's School of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering, says lithium battery fires aren't more likely on planes. She says airline cabin pressure wouldn't get to the batteries because they are covered by 'multiple layers of casing' but any enclosed environment makes fires particularly dangerous, especially as a plane can't be evacuated mid-air. 'They give off a very toxic gas and in a confined space that's not ideal,' she says. Ellis says lithium-ion battery fires are difficult to extinguish because often the lithium metal catches on fire, along with all the casing and the plastic – high energy materials that can burn for much longer. 'You wouldn't want to put water on a lithium fire. And that's the first thing people [on a plane] might think of doing.' The batteries contain lithium ions suspended in an electrolyte solution. The ions flow through the electrolyte, travelling back and forth between two electrodes as the battery charges and discharges. Ellis says a common cause is from people overcharging their batteries, so they overheat, which results in thermal runaway. If there's too much energy in the battery, it can crack, causing the highly flammable electrolyte inside it to burst into flames when exposed to air. She says phones and other, more sophisticated lithium battery-powered devices have an internal 'trickle system' which slowly adds current into the battery to prevent overcharging. But cheaper power banks typically don't have this safeguard, Ellis says, making them more of a risk. 'Never charge your power bank overnight,' she says. 'Never charge it more than it has to be charged. In a way you've got to watch the power bank for when the light goes from red to green, and unplug it.' Ellis says that, overall, batteries are very safe if used appropriately and in the right conditions, and people shouldn't be worried about flying because of them.
TimesLIVE
7 hours ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
US court allows Trump administration to remove deportation protections for Cameroonians, Afghans
A federal judge on Monday lifted an order preventing the Trump administration from stripping temporary protected status (TPS) for thousands of Cameroonians and Afghans in the US. The Trump administration moved in April to end TPS for Afghans and Cameroonians in the US, saying conditions in Afghanistan and Cameroon no longer merited the protected status. The move affected an estimated 14,600 Afghans and 7,900 Cameroonians. Immigration advocacy organisation Casa filed a lawsuit against the department of homeland security and the US Court of Appeals for the fourth circuit granted an administrative stay on the termination until July 21. In Monday's ruling, the appeals panel agreed with a lower court that Casa has stated 'a plausible claim for relief with regard to the alleged 'preordained'' decision to terminate TPS. 'At this procedural posture, however, there is insufficient evidence to warrant the extraordinary remedy of a postponement of agency action pending appeal,' the panel wrote. The department of homeland security, which oversees the TPS programme, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Guardian
16 hours ago
- The Guardian
Fire in overhead locker on Virgin Australia flight believed to be caused by lithium battery in power bank
A fire that broke out on a Virgin Australia flight from Sydney to Hobart is believed to have been caused by a power bank in a passenger's carry-on luggage, prompting the airline to consider changes to its battery policy. The Virgin flight VA1528 was making its descent into Hobart on Monday when the fire started in an overhead locker, a spokesperson for the airline said. Video taken on board, reported by the online news outlet Tasmanian Pulse, showed a flight attendant using a fire extinguisher on a smoking bag as passengers attempted to assist with their water bottles. The Virgin spokesperson said cabin crew extinguished the fire before the plane landed and firefighters on the ground removed a bag from the locker. 'Safety is always our highest priority,' they said. 'We appreciate the swift and professional response of our flight and cabin crew, as well as the support of Airservices Australia firefighters.' No flight crew or passengers were injured. Hobart Airport chief operating officer Matt Cocker said all passengers safely disembarked the aircraft, with one person assessed by paramedics for suspected smoke inhalation. Virgin is investigating the incident with regulators the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and Civil Aviation Safety Authority (Casa). Spare lithium batteries including power banks are typically only permitted to be brought on planes in carry-on baggage because of the fire risk. Virgin has said the investigation could result in other changes to its battery policy 'to ensure the safety of our guests and team members'. The average Australian passenger travels with at least 4 rechargeable lithium battery devices, Casa has said. The agency previously issued a warning about flying with battery-powered devices urging passengers to pack them safely. Battery-powered devices such as laptops and cameras can be placed in checked luggage, as long as they are completely switched off, but spare batteries and power banks should always be placed in carry-on baggage only, Casa said. The agency said batteries and power banks could short circuit, overheat and catch fire during a flight and that lithium-ion battery fires could be very difficult to extinguish. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) saw a 92% increase in reported incidents involving lithium-ion batteries in 2022 compared to 2020, Casa said. In January, all 169 passengers and seven crew members were evacuated from an Air Busan Airbus on the tarmac in South Korea after it caught on fire before taking off. Investigators reportedly believed the fire, which destroyed the plane, was caused by faulty power bank. Several airlines have tightened their rules for flying with lithium batteries because of the risk of fires including Singapore Airlines, which has banned passengers from using power banks during flights.
Straits Times
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
US appeals court allows Trump administration to remove deportation protections for Afghans, Cameroonians
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Evacuated Afghan nationals arrives at Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Aug 19, 2021. WASHINGTON - A federal judge on July 21 lifted an order preventing the Trump administration from stripping temporary protected status (TPS) for thousands of Afghans and Cameroonians in the United States. The Trump administration moved in April to end TPS for Afghans and Cameroonians in the US, saying conditions in Afghanistan and Cameroon no longer merited the protected status. The move affected an estimated 14,600 Afghans and 7,900 Cameroonians. Immigration advocacy organisation Casa filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security, and the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit granted an administrative stay on the termination until July 21. In July 21's ruling, the appeals panel agreed with a lower court that Casa has stated 'a plausible claim for relief with regard to the alleged 'preordained'' decision to terminate TPS. 'At this procedural posture, however, there is insufficient evidence to warrant the extraordinary remedy of a postponement of agency action pending appeal,' the panel wrote. The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees the TPS program, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. REUTERS Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World US President Trump 'caught off guard' by Israel's strikes in Syria Opinion Singapore's vaping crisis lays bare the drug addiction nightmare for parents Singapore LTA seeks tailored solutions to improve Bukit Panjang LRT's maintenance inspections World US not rushing trade deals ahead of August deadline, will talk with China, Bessent says Multimedia 'It's very sad': She comforts loved ones turned away by inmates Opinion Sumiko at 61: 7 facts about facial skin ageing, and skincare ingredients that actually work Singapore Subsidies and grants for some 20,000 people miscalculated due to processing issue: MOH Opinion With Shatec cutting back operations, what's next for the hospitality sector?
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
RAKBank profit after tax rises 26.1% to Dh1.374 billion for first half
RAKBank on Monday announced that profit after tax rose 26.1 per cent to Dh1.374 billion for the first of the year, driven by non-interest income growth and robust asset quality. For the second quarter, profit after tax stood at Dh669 million, reflecting an increase of 22 per cent year on year. The bank recorded an operating profit of Dh1.68 billion, up 7.7 per cent year on year on the back of strong growth in balance sheet and continued non-interest income momentum. Operating expenses rose 12.9 per cent vs last year driven by continued investments in technology, data, people and customer experience. Cost to income ratio (CIR) at 34.6 per cent vs. 33.6 per cent for the first half of 2024. Total assets grew by 18.1 per cent year on year to Dh95 billion, with gross loans and advances increased to Dh51.3 billion, an increase of 17.4 per cent year on year. Growth in loans driven by all segments, with wholesale banking loans growing by 33.0 per cent year on year, aligning with the bank's diversification strategy. The current and savings accounts (Casa) deposit base grew to Dh40.4 billion, up 12.2 per cent year on year, with Casa1 ratio of 66 per cent, one of the highest in the industry Portfolio credit quality remains robust with net impairment charge to average loans and advances ratio at 0.7 per cent against 1.7 per cent during the same period last year, resulting from a strategic shift in business mix towards secured, low risk assets as well as favorable economic and credit environment. The impaired loan ratio for the first half of 2025 improved to 1.9 per cent against 2.4 per cent for the first half of 2024 while 'provisions to gross loans' ratio was 5.2 per cent compared to 6.2 per cent as of the first half of 2024, providing adequate coverage. Shareholder returns improved with return on equity (ROE) of 22.1 per cent against 20.4 per cent in the first half of 2024 and return on assets (ROA) of 3.1 per cent against 2.9 per cent in the first half of 2024. The bank remains well capitalised with capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of 18.8 per cent as at the first half of 2025 against 18.0 per cent as at the first half of 2024. Strong liquidity position was reflected by an eligible liquid asset ratio of 15.1 per cent vs. 15.5 per cent at the first half of 2024 and lending to stable resources ratio at 80.7 per cent vs. 79.4 per cent at the first half of 2024. Operating income for the first half of 2025 amounted to Dh2.6 billion, a 9.5 per cent increase vs the first half of 2024. Operating Income for the second quarter was Dh1.3 billion, an increase of 7.4 per cent year on year. Net interest income rose 0.8 per cent compared to the first half of 2024 due to growth in total assets by 18 per cent year on year, despite interest income being impacted by 100 bps rate cut in the second half of last year. Despite external pressures on the net interest margin, on a risk adjusted basis, RAKBank's net interest margin improved by 37 bps to 3.3 per cent in the first half of 2025 compared to 2.9 per cent in the first half of 2024, as the bank shifts toward secured, low-risk assets. Non-interest income increased by 35.6 per cent from last year to Dh795 million, driven by the bank's efforts to diversify its fee income, forex income and episodic gains in investment income. Net impairment charges fell 52.5 per cent compared to the same period last year to Dh173 million, as the bank's portfolio quality improved with impaired loan ratio dropping to 1.9 per cent from 2.4 per cent as at the first half of 2024. Net impairment charge to average loans and advances ratio was at 0.7 per cent for the first half of 2025 compared to 1.7 per cent during the same period last year. Raheel Ahmed, Group Chief Executive Officer, RAKBank, said: 'We have, once again, achieved strong balance sheet growth and fee income. This growth reflects the strength of our diversified business model and continued balance sheet momentum. Portfolio credit quality remains robust with cost of risk improving to 0.7 per cent in H1 2025 from 1.7 per cent in H1 2024. On the back of the UAE's strong economic fundamentals, we remain confident in delivering a solid performance in the second half of 2025, supported by our strategic execution and sustained business momentum. However, we remain cautious about the geopolitical and global economic uncertainties, including the loosening of monetary policy across key economies and its impact on margins.'
