International airline leaders convened in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday for the annual International Air Transport Association (IATA) summit, confronting a more challenging outlook for the sector’s post-pandemic rebound than anticipated just months ago. The three-day gathering comes against the backdrop of escalating fuel costs triggered by the ongoing Iran conflict, which has also forced route adjustments and airspace disruptions. At the same time, airlines are grappling with c

In a raw display of muscle-flexing, Russian President Vladimir Putin has delivered a chilling ultimatum to longtime ally Armenia: keep flirting with the European Union, and Russia will slam the door on cheap oil and gas supplies. The threat dropped just days before Armenia’s parliamentary election on Sunday, where polls show Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan — a leader tilting strongly toward the West — is on track for victory. This isn’t bluffing. Landlocked Armenia, with just