German aviation giant Lufthansa has announced plans to cut 20,000 short-haul flights across Europe this summer, citing surging jet fuel prices that have rendered many routes financially unviable. The move underscores the growing strain on the aviation sector as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East disrupt global energy markets.

Jet fuel prices have reportedly doubled since the onset of the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. The situation has significantly impacted fuel production and transportation across the region, particularly as critical supply routes face disruption. A key chokepoint is the Strait of Hormuz, through which a substantial portion of the world’s oil and aviation fuel passes. Iran’s effective closure of this route in response to military actions has intensified supply concerns.

Lufthansa stated that the flight reductions are expected to save approximately 40,000 metric tons of jet fuel. Most of the affected services will come from its regional subsidiary, CityLine, which operates a large share of the airline’s European short-haul network. As a result, several destinations—including Heringsdorf, Cork, Gdańsk, Ljubljana, Rijeka, Sibiu, Stuttgart, Trondheim, Tivat, and Wrocław—will see temporary suspensions.

Passengers impacted by the cancellations will be offered refunds or rebooked on alternative flights within Lufthansa’s broader airline group. This includes carriers such as SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and ITA Airways. However, the airline has indicated that some of these route suspensions could become permanent as it reevaluates its European operations.

The crisis is not limited to Lufthansa. Other major carriers, including Air France-KLM and Delta Air Lines, have also scaled back flight schedules or raised ticket prices to offset rising operational costs. Industry analysts warn that travelers should brace for continued disruption, including higher fares and additional cancellations, if fuel prices remain elevated.

Europe is particularly vulnerable due to its reliance on imported aviation fuel, with around half of its supply originating from the Gulf region. The ongoing conflict has therefore exposed structural weaknesses in the continent’s energy supply chain.

The International Energy Agency recently issued a stark warning that Europe could face jet fuel shortages within weeks if the situation does not stabilize. Despite this, some governments and airlines, including those in the UK, have stated they are not yet experiencing immediate supply disruptions.

In response to the growing uncertainty, the European Union has announced the creation of a fuel observatory. This initiative aims to monitor production, imports, exports, and stock levels of transport fuels across the bloc. Officials hope that improved transparency will help mitigate the impact of high prices and potential shortages on the aviation sector.

Lufthansa emphasized that while it is scaling back its European network, its long-haul operations will remain largely intact. The airline said passengers will continue to have access to its global routes, though operations will be conducted “significantly more efficiently” in light of current cost pressures.

The announcement follows a broader restructuring effort within the company. Just last week, Lufthansa revealed it would accelerate the closure of its CityLine unit, retiring 27 aircraft. The decision was attributed not only to rising fuel costs but also to ongoing labor disputes that have added further financial strain.

 

In an update from Ukraine, the UN’s top aid official there, Assistant Secretary-General Matthias Schmale, reports that half the population in Kherson city, about 30,000 or more residents, have been without electricity for several days.

It’s not the only city without power, he told UN News on Wednesday, while on mission to southern Ukraine:

“The big challenge is how do you support people if electricity is cut off for several days, more than a week, let’s say, in a row, like is currently the case in Odesa,” he said.

Sustained damage

“The authorities are fairly confident that they can deal with a couple of hours or even a couple of days in a row. but more than a week will be very challenging.”

The Humanitarian Coordinator said that one solution to the energy crisis was to ensure that schools and health centres are provided with generators and enough fuel, “so that people can gather there, if there is a crisis and if needed for several days in a row”.

Mr. Schmale was in the frontline city of Kherson on Wednesday, which lies directly across the Dnipro River from land occupied by Russian invaders in southern Ukraine.

While there, he met civilians at a UN humanitarian hub who had come seeking aid. One woman who is a power plant worker said she was very afraid of being targeted while on the job.

‘Almost everything has been destroyed’

She said there were five houses left on her street where people still live and “almost everything has been destroyed.”

“I don’t even think about it. My home, my dogs, my cats. The neighbours left after their houses were hit. They left their dog for a week. They have been gone for three years now.”

Another woman who Humanitarian Coordinator Schmale met said she was from there Kherson Island district and was living without gas for heat or cooking. Her mother died in hospital 10 days ago due to a landmine accident.

Six months before that, her husband died while using public transportation in Mykolaiv, during a drone attack.

She started crying while remembering all the people she had lost, and fears that it may not be possible for her to return home.

‘I prefer to smile rather than cry’

“Kherson used to be a very industrial city, but not anymore,” said another pensioner. When she was young, she worked on building weather instruments for ships.

Mr. Schmale complimented her on her great sense of humour in the face of adversity. “I prefer to smile rather than cry. I’ve already had a lot of time to cry,” she replied.

“I just want to go back home and die there,” she added poignantly.

Although food security has begun to improve in areas where fighting has subsided, famine has taken hold in conflict-hit locations that have been cut off from aid or under siege, according to the latest UN-backed IPC food security analysis. 

Famine conditions have been confirmed in Darfur’s El Fasher and Kadugli, where “people have endured months without reliable access to food or medical care,” the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and child rights agency UNICEF said in a joint release.

Ceasefire call

UN chief António Guterres called for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan on Tuesday as disturbing images of apparent mass killings in El Fasher and elsewhere continue to circulate online.

In a tweet, Mr. Guterres appealed to the Sudanese Armed Forces and the rebel paramilitary Rapid Support Forces “to come to the negotiating table to bring an end to this nightmare of violence”.

Heavy fighting erupted in Sudan in April 2023 between the rival armies which has created a massive humanitarian disaster.

Last week saw the fall of government held El Fasher after more than 500 days of siege by rebels.

Hundreds of civilians – including humanitarian workers – are believed to have been killed, and many others are trapped behind barricades.

Millions still going hungry

The IPC analysis confirmed that roughly 21.2 million people in Sudan – 45 per cent of the population – are facing high levels of acute food insecurity, representing a slight improvement.

Furthermore, an estimated 3.4 million people are no longer facing crisis levels of hunger.

The improvements follow a gradual stabilisation since May in three states – Khartoum, Al Jazirah and Sennar – where conflict has eased and families are returning, among other developments.

“But these gains are limited,” the UN agencies said.  “The wider crisis has shattered the economy and vital services, and much of the infrastructure people rely on has been damaged or destroyed.”

‘Fragile improvements’

Favourable crop growing conditions are also expected after the harvest and into next year, with crisis levels of hunger improving to 19.3 million through January.

They warned, however, that “these fragile improvements are highly localised” as many returning families in Khartoum and Al Jazirah have lost everything and will struggle to benefit from the harvest.  

At the same time, active conflict persists in western regions, notably North and South Darfur as well as West and South Kordofan.

Meanwhile, hunger is expected to worsen starting in February as food stocks run out and fighting continues. 

Famine in besieged areas

The IPC’s Famine Review Committee (FRC) found that famine conditions are occurring in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur state, and Kadugli in South Kordofan, which have been largely cut off due to conflict. 

The UN agencies noted that conditions in Dilling, South Kordofan, “are likely similar to Kadugli, but cannot be classified due to insufficient reliable data – a result of restricted humanitarian access and ongoing hostilities.”

In the Western Nuba Mountains, conditions have shown marginal improvement, but famine remains high unless humanitarian access improves.

The FRC projects a risk of famine in 20 additional areas across Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan, including rural localities, displacement camps and several new locations in East Darfur and South Kordofan.

Additionally, Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) rates are alarmingly high, ranging from 38 to 75 per cent in El Fasher and reaching nearly 30 per cent in Kadugli.

This is happening as outbreaks of cholera, malaria and measles continue to rise in areas where health, water and sanitation systems have collapsed. 

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Eating several kiwi fruit a day can help relieve constipation and is a better starting point than worrying about a high-fibre diet, according to new guidance on the condition.

The advice says drinking water high in minerals is better for constipation than tap water, and magnesium oxide supplements are good for improving symptoms.

Researchers from King’s College London, who looked at all evidence to date on what works and what doesn’t, said there are many more options for getting things moving than the standard advice to “just have more fibre in your diet”.

Constipation that doesn’t go away affects one in 10 people and can have a major impact on someone’s quality of life.

You are constipated if you haven’t had a bowel motion (poo) at least three times during the last week, or you’re going less often than usual, says the NHS.

Straining on the loo or feeling like you haven’t fully emptied your bowels may also be signs of constipation – but these aren’t the only ones.

“People can report up to 30 different symptoms of constipation,” says Dr Eirini Dimidi, lead study author and reader in nutritional sciences at King’s College London (KCL).

The best remedy is to focus on fruit and drinks first, rather than worrying about the latest probiotic in the supermarket, she says.

Dr Dimidi recommends eating two or three kiwis throughout the day or 8-10 prunes to improve constipation.

Skin on or skin off the kiwi?

“Even without the skin, it’s good and contains fibre,” she explains, but adds there’s no harm keeping the skin on either.

The fibre affects the gut in a way which increases the volume of stool, which can also induce contractions in the bowel.

“Kiwi also increases water content into the gut which may soften stools,” Dr Dimidi says.

Snacking on 8-10 prunes a day and some rye bread can also have a similar effect.

Mineral water “is better than tap water” to drink, she says, although bottled water in the UK is lower in minerals than water available elsewhere, such as eastern Europe.

The crucial mineral is magnesium, which has a laxative effect. And that’s why taking magnesium oxide supplements was found to have lots of benefits, according to the research.

These included reducing lower tummy pain, bloating, straining – and making it easier to poo.

Regarding probiotics, the guidelines suggest some types can improve some symptoms but there is also a lack of research on the impact of many different strains.

Up until now, guidance for doctors treating patients with constipation has been limited and outdated, and focused on advice to increase dietary fibre and water intake, say the researchers.

The new recommendations are based on evidence from 75 clinical trials – all those available – which have been analysed by a panel of experts.

Prof Kevin Whelan, senior research author and professor of dietetics at KCL, said the new guidance “marks a promising step towards empowering health professionals and their patients to manage constipation through diet”.

He said this meant people suffering from constipation could now access up-to-date advice to help improve their symptoms, wellbeing and quality of life.

The British Dietetic Association, which funded the project to produce the new guidelines, said they were an excellent resource for dietitians, doctors and nurses, and supported “a more diet-focused and evidence-based approach to the management of chronic constipation”.

The research and the new guidelines are published in the Journal of Human Nutrition & Dietetics.

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