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US FAA equips its airport vehicles with Transponders
The Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday that it would'spend $16.5m to install transponders on its airport vehicles following a fatal accident in March between an Air Canada Express plane and a firetruck at New York LaGuardia Airport. The fire truck lacked a transponder which would have sent its location to the?air traffic controller. Last month, the Port Authority of New York &?New Jersey (which oversees LaGuardia Airport and other airports in the area) announced that it would add transponders on its vehicles which?operate near runways. The FAA intends to immediately start equipping its 1,900 vehicles in 264 airports with surface awareness technology. Transponders are used by air traffic controllers to identify and track vehicles in the runways and taxiways. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated that the devices are "helpful in preventing dangerous runway accidents and we're closing a critical visibility gap?on our nation's taxiways and runways by accelerating deployment of this technology." The National Transportation Safety Board reported last month that the 'ground surveillance system' at LaGuardia did not alert drivers when they were near the runway. The FAA has noted that airports are able to use federal funds for 'equipment of vehicles with transponders. More than 50 airports already have expressed an interest. (Reporting and Editing by Franklin Paul, David Gregorio, and David Shepardson)
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NTSB: US airlines need to improve their pilot training in the event of smoke in the cockpit
After a 2023 smoke-in cockpit incident, the?National Transportation Safety Board recommended on Wednesday that pilots be better prepared for such emergencies. The?board cited a Southwest Airlines flight in December '2023 of a 737 MAX after a bird flew directly into the engine. Smoke quickly filled the cockpit. The NTSB warned that if such an incident occurred during nighttime or under instrument meteorological conditions the results could be disastrous. Southwest has not yet commented. The NTSB reported that the Southwest flight crew had difficulty seeing the instruments and items on the checklist as the visibility decreased within seconds. The pilots put on oxygen masks and completed emergency procedures. They declared an emergency, returned safely to the airport, and declared an emergency. The 139 passengers on board were not injured. The NTSB stated that passenger airlines do not have to simulate realistic smoke in cockpit training, even though the Federal Aviation Administration is notified of near-daily in-flight emergencies caused by smoke in the cockpit. The NTSB stated that "existing training is often verbal discussions of a smoke-event rather than immersive simulations involving reduced visibility and?elevated work load". The board recommended the FAA work closely with industry in order to "develop realistic, standardized smoke-in cockpit simulation training for pilots" and integrate that training into its guidelines for overseeing "airline training programs." The FAA decided not to take any immediate action in 2024 after convening a board of review to?consider the concerns regarding Boeing 737 MAX engine, including the '2023 incident. A bird strike caused smoke to fill the passenger cabin of a Southwest flight departing Havana in March 2023. Boeing published a bulletin in February 2024 to alert flight crews about possible flight deck and cabin impacts associated with severe engine failure. (Reporting and editing by David Shepardson)
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Carney will visit Calgary this Friday to announce a deal on industrial carbon pricing, sources claim
A source from the Alberta government and an industry insider with knowledge of this plan said on Wednesday that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney would 'visit' Calgary on Friday in order to announce details about a new agreement with Alberta regarding industrial carbon pricing. A third source familiar with the deal said that Canada and Alberta, its largest oil-producing province, are close to a deal which will increase the cost of credit in the industrial carbon market of the province to C$130 per metric ton by the year 2040. The Globe and Mail reported the credit cost and date agreed upon on Wednesday. Alberta frozen?its headline carbon price for industrial use in May 2025. Credits on its market are currently trading between C$20 to C$40 per metric ton. Experts say this is too low for polluters to be motivated to invest in technology to reduce emissions. Sources who weren't authorized to reveal the plans said Carney would visit the oil and gas?city, for the first since November when he agreed with Premier Danielle Smith to work together in order to boost investment in energy production. The sources said he ?will announce the new industrial carbon pricing plan, aimed at strengthening Alberta's pollution pricing regime while also clearing the path for Alberta's plan to propose a one-million-barrel-per-day crude oil pipeline to British Columbia's northwest coast. Third source: The agreement will include escalating price floors for carbon to ensure Canada's large emitters continue to be incentivised to reduce their emissions each year. Source: The agreement will see Alberta's carbon headline price increase to $100 a metric ton by next year, compared to the current $95 a metric ton. It will then rise to $130 per ton in 2030, and then escalate 1.5% each year beginning in 2036. The Prime Minister's Office did not confirm that the visit had taken place. Environmentalists want Alberta's carbon credit market price to reach C$130 in 2030 and not?2040. They have claimed that a shorter timeframe would encourage companies make immediate efforts to lower their emissions. Alberta and the oil and natural gas industry have been lobbying to delay the implementation date. They argue that a carbon price regime which puts Canada's oil sands industry at a disadvantage will slow down the growth of oil sands production at a time when the country wants to increase its energy exports while reducing its dependence on the U.S. The federal government said that?its approval for a new pipeline is dependent on Canadian oil companies investing in emission reductions through carbon 'capture technology. Adam Waterous, the executive chair of Canada’s fifth largest oil company, Strathcona Resources told reporters on Wednesday that companies would not invest in pipelines until the government lifted an existing ban on oil tanks off Canada’s northwest coast, and addressed other barriers. Reporting by Amanda Stephenson, Calgary; Editing and production by Aurora Ellis and David Gregorio
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Carney will visit Calgary this Friday to announce a deal on industrial carbon pricing, sources claim
A source from the provincial government and an industry insider with knowledge of the deal said on Wednesday that Canadian Prime Minister?Minister?Mark Carney would visit Calgary on Friday in order to announce details of a new agreement with Alberta regarding industrial carbon pricing. The Globe and Mail reported first that Canada and its main oil-producing Province of Alberta were on the verge of a deal which will increase the?effective credit cost of the industrial carbon market in the province to C$130 per metric ton by the year 2040. Alberta froze its industrial carbon price headline in May last year. Credits in the market trade for between C$20 and C$40 per metric ton, which experts say is too low to encourage polluters to invest in emissions reduction technologies. Sources who weren't authorized to reveal the plans said that Carney would visit the oil and gas city for the very first time since November when he agreed with Premier Danielle Smith of Alberta to boost energy production investment. They said he will announce the new industrial carbon ?pricing plan, which is aimed at strengthening Alberta's pollution pricing regime while also clearing the path for Alberta's plan to propose a new one-million-barrel-per-day ?crude oil pipeline to British Columbia's northwest coast. Environmentalists want to see Alberta's industrial carbon price reach C$130 in 2030 and not 2040. They argue that a shorter timeframe would encourage companies to take immediate steps to reduce emissions. Alberta and the oil-and-gas industry are lobbying for an earlier implementation date. They argue that a carbon pricing system would put Canada's oil sands industry at a competitive disadvantage, and slow the growth of oil sands production. This is at a time when the country wants to increase its energy exports while reducing its dependence on the U.S. The Prime Minister's Office spokesperson refused to confirm the visit.
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Traders say that the exports of Russian ESPO Blend crude oil from Kozmino will increase by 1.5% in May.
Three sources familiar with the plan say that Russia will increase 'ESPO Blend oil' loadings at its Far East Kozmino Port to 4.3 million metric tonne a month in May from 4.1 million metric tonne a month earlier. Calculations showed that ESPO loadings at Kozmino would increase by 1.5% per day in May compared with April. The planned amount is equal to 1,04?million barley per day. Since last summer, oil exports from Kozmino?have been increasing, and now stand at?around 1?million barrels per day, due to the increased capacity of the port and pipeline system, traders reported. Transneft, the operator of the Eastern Siberia-Pacific Ocean pipeline, said that it would expand the pipeline to Asia in order to increase exports through Kozmino. RIA reported this on 'Tuesday citing Transneft vice president Sergei Androninov. RIA reported that Transneft planned to finish the expansion in 2029. The ESPO Blend is the flagship oil grade of Russia for Asian markets. Russia is trying its best to increase?oil?exports to the East, as European countries have reduced their energy purchases from 2022. (by journalists in MOSCOW, edited by Kiro Donovan).
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FedEx to split freight units in two equal shares
FedEx announced on Wednesday that it would give its shareholders a share of the trucking company it is selling for every two shares they hold in the parcel delivery firm. FedEx Freight will be listed as an independent company at the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FDXF" on June 1. FedEx Freight is the U.S.'s largest provider of "less-than truckload" services. The company lists its list at a moment when the rate for truckloads has improved, and federal regulators have severely restricted commercial driver licenses for non-citizens. Most trucking executives, however, have stated that they have yet to witness a meaningful improvement in the demand. FedEx Freight announced?last week that it is expecting a 12% operating margin in 2026 on revenue projected at $8.7 billion, and an adjusted operating profit of $1.1 billion. Marshall Witt, FedEx Freight’s finance chief, said last month that FedEx Freight’s average revenue growth will be between 4% and 6% over the next few years. Core profit is also expected to rise between 10% to 12% per year. FedEx Freight is in competition with XPO, 'Saia' and Old Dominion Freight Line. FedEx Freight assets are not fully appreciated by FedEx, according to analysts. FedEx Freight will pay its parent FedEx a dividend in the amount of $4.1 billion as part of the spin-off. This is before its separation on June 1. (Reporting from Nandan Mandayam, Bengaluru. Editing by Leroy Leo.)
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Officials say that Russia launched a massive drone attack against Ukraine and killed three people.
Officials said that Russia launched a drone attack against Ukraine during the day on Wednesday. The attack targeted?critical infrastructure and killed at least three people in western Ukraine. NATO member Poland was also prompted to?scramble its fighter jets. HUR, Ukraine's military intelligence service, said that the drone attack was intended to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses and warned of missile attacks in the future. The attack could last a long time, according to the report. "Russia is continuing its strikes, and doing so brazenly. They are deliberately targeting our rail infrastructure and civil sites in our cities," said President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Telegram. "It's important to resist every attack with resilience." It's important to stand up for Ukraine and not be silent about Russia’s war." This was the first major attack since a ceasefire brokered by the United States between Ukraine and Russia that ended on Monday. The Polish army reported that Poland had scrambled its fighter jets in response to Russian air strikes against Ukraine. Zelenskiy reported that at the beginning of the attack more than 100 Russian drones entered Ukrainian airspace. There was no immediate data on the scale of the attack. HUR reported that Moscow targeted critical infrastructure, essential services, and government buildings in major cities. WESTERN UKRAINE: ATTACKS The governor and police reported that three people died and six others were injured in Rivne region, located to the northwest. Khmelnytskyi, a neighboring region, was also attacked, said its governor, adding that 3 people were wounded. The acting mayor of Lutsk said that explosions were also heard in the city located in the northwest. Serhiy Beksrestnov, a defence adviser, said that the strike showed how the use of drones has evolved by Moscow. The tactics have changed from attack to attack. He said that this time a large number of drones was moving between 5km and 10km from the Belarus border to overwhelm Ukraine's air defences and get to the western areas. Since the beginning of its invasion, Russia has carried out most major missile and drone strikes at night. It has, in recent months, sent more drones and missiles at daytime. Regional officials reported that Russian drones also targeted the southern cities Kherson and Odesa where nine people were injured. Moscow has denied 'intentionally' attacking civilians, but it is known that thousands have been killed during the conflict. It also claims that strikes on civilian infrastructures are justified if they reduce Ukraine’s fighting ability. Kyiv's long-range attacks against Russia's energy sector have intensified in recent months, though at a lesser scale. (Reporting from Anna Pruchnicka, Gdansk; additional reporting by Yuliia Dyesa, Kyiv; Editing by William Maclean).
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Snam is on course to reach its 2026 goals after quarterly gains in core profits
Gas grid operator Snam in Italy said that it was "fully on track" for its 2026 goals after posting a 1.8% increase in its quarterly core profit. It added that tensions in the Middle East, Ukraine and elsewhere had no significant impact on their business. Snam's first-quarter earnings (EBITDA), i.e. before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, were 775 million euros, which was in line with the company's consensus estimate of 771 millions euros. The results reflected the growth in revenues regulated, mainly in the gas infrastructure business, as well as changes within the group. It has now fully consolidated the terminal for liquefied gas offshore the Tuscan city Livorno. Snam stated that the adjusted net profit dropped?7.6%, to 375 millions euros. This was slightly higher than the 363 million euro consensus provided by Snam. The reason for this is due to increased depreciation,?amortisation? and financial charges. The group has confirmed its financial targets for?2026, which include a?adjusted EBITDA of approximately 3.1 billion euro and?adjusted?net profit above 1.45 billion euros. Gas storage level was 50% as of end-April.
Uber, Lyft drivers utilize Teslas as makeshift robotaxis, raising security issues
A selfdriving Tesla carrying a. guest for Uber rammed into an SUV at an. crossway in rural Las Vegas in April, an accident that. triggered brand-new concerns that a growing stable of selfstyled. robotaxis is making use of a regulative gray location in U.S. cities,. putting lives at risk.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk intends to show off plans for a. robotaxi, or self-driving cars and truck used for ride-hailing services, on. Oct. 10, and he has actually long considered a Tesla-run taxi network. of autonomous vehicles owned by individuals.
Diy variations, however, are currently multiplying,. according to 11 ride-hail chauffeurs who use Tesla's Complete. Self-Driving (FSD) software application. Many say the software, which costs. $ 99 monthly, has limitations, but that they utilize it because it. helps in reducing chauffeurs' stress and for that reason permits them to work. longer hours and make more money.
Reuters is very first to report about the Las Vegas mishap and. a related questions by federal safety officials, and of the broad. use by ride-hail drivers of Tesla autonomous software.
While test versions of self-driving taxis with human backup. drivers from robotaxi operators such as Alphabet's. Waymo and General Motors' Cruise are heavily regulated,. state and federal authorities say Tesla chauffeurs alone are. responsible for their automobiles, whether or not they utilize. driver-assist software application. Waymo and Cruise utilize test versions of. software application categorized as totally self-governing while Tesla FSD is. classified as a level needing motorist oversight.
The other driver in the April 10 Las Vegas mishap, who was. required to the medical facility, was faulted for failing to yield the. right-of-way, according to the cops report. The Las Vegas. Tesla driver, Justin Yoon, stated on YouTube the Tesla software. stopped working to slow his vehicle even after the SUV emerged from a. blind area produced by another automobile.
Yoon, who publishes YouTube videos under the banner Task. Robotaxi, remained in the motorist's seat of his Tesla, hands off the. wheel, when it got in the intersection in a rural part of. Las Vegas, according to footage from inside the vehicle. The Tesla. on FSD browsed the vehicle at 46 miles per hour (74 kph) and did not. initially sign up a sport-utility automobile crossing the road in. front of Yoon. At the last moment, Yoon took control and turned. the cars and truck into a deflected hit, the footage shows.
It's not perfect, it'll make errors, it will most likely. continue to make errors, Yoon stated in a post-crash video. Yoon and his passenger suffered small injuries and the car was. amounted to, he stated.
Yoon discussed using FSD with Reuters before he openly. published videos of the mishap but did not respond to requests. for remark afterward.
Tesla did not respond to ask for comment. Reuters was. not able to reach the Uber passenger and other chauffeur for. comment.
Ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft responded to. questions about FSD by saying chauffeurs are accountable for. security.
Uber, which said it was in touch with the motorist and. guest in the Las Vegas accident, cited its community. guidelines: Drivers are expected to preserve an environment. that makes riders feel safe; even if driving practices don't. breach the law.
Uber also mentioned guidelines by Tesla which alert chauffeurs. who use FSD to have their hands on the wheel and be all set to. take over at any moment.
Lyft said: Chauffeurs concur that they will not participate in. reckless behavior.
GRAND AMBITIONS. Musk has grand prepare for self-driving software based upon the FSD. item. The innovation will act as the structure of the. robotaxi product software, and Musk envisions developing a. Tesla-run autonomous trip service using automobiles owned by his. clients when they are not otherwise in use.
But the motorists who spoke to Reuters likewise described crucial. drawbacks with the innovation, including unexpected unexplained. acceleration and braking. Some have actually quit utilizing it in complex. scenarios such as airport pickups, navigating parking lots and. construction zones.
I do utilize it, however I'm not completely comfy with it,. stated Sergio Avedian, a ride-hail driver in Los Angeles and a. senior factor on The Rideshare Guy YouTube channel, an. online community of ride-hailing chauffeurs with almost 200,000. customers. Avedian avoids using FSD while carrying guests. Based upon his discussions with fellow chauffeurs on the channel,. however, he estimates that 30% to 40% of Tesla ride-hail chauffeurs. throughout the U.S. usage FSD routinely. FSD is categorized by the federal government as a kind of. partial automation that needs the driver to be completely engaged. and attentive while the system carries out steering, velocity. and braking. It has come under increased regulatory and legal. examination with a minimum of two fatal accidents including the. innovation. But utilizing it for ride-hail is not against the law.
Ride-share services enable making use of these partial. automation systems in business settings, and that is something. that should be dealing with substantial scrutiny, Guidehouse Insights. analyst Jake Foose said.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Security Administration stated. it was aware of Yoon's crash and had reached out to Tesla for. extra information, however did not respond to specific. questions on additional policies or guidelines.
Authorities in California, Nevada and Arizona, which manage. operations of ride-hail business and robotaxi companies, stated. they do not manage the practice as FSD and other such systems. fall out of the purview of robotaxi or AV regulation. They did. not comment on the crash.
Uber just recently allowed its software application to send guest. location information to Tesla's control panel navigation system - a. move that helps FSD users, composed Omar Qazi, an X user with. 515,000 fans who posts using the deal with @WholeMarsBlog and. frequently gets public replies from Musk on the platform.
This will make it even simpler to do Uber trips on FSD,. Qazi stated in an X post.
Tesla, Uber and Lyft do not have methods to inform that a motorist. is both working for a ride-hailing company and utilizing FSD,. industry professionals stated.
While practically all major car manufacturers have a variation of partial. automation technology, most are limited in their capabilities. and limited for use on highways. On the other hand, Tesla. says FSD helps the car drive itself nearly anywhere with. active chauffeur supervision however very little intervention.
I'm thankful that Tesla is doing it and able to pull it off,. stated David Kidd, a senior research study scientist at the Insurance coverage. Institute for Highway Security. But from a security standpoint, it. raised a lot of hairs.
Rather of new regulations, Kidd said NHTSA ought to think about. supplying fundamental, nonbinding guidelines to avoid misuse of such. innovations.
Any federal oversight would need a formal investigation. into how ride-hail chauffeurs use all driver-assistance innovation,. not simply FSD, stated Missy Cummings, director of the George Mason. University Autonomy and Robotics center and a former consultant to. NHTSA.
If Uber and Lyft were smart, they 'd get ahead of it and. they would prohibit that, she stated.
Meanwhile, ride-hail chauffeurs desire more from Tesla. Kaz. Barnes, who has actually made more than 2,000 trips utilizing FSD with. passengers considering that 2022, informed Reuters he was anticipating. the day when he might leave the vehicle and let Musk's network. send it to work.
You would simply kind of take off the training wheels, he. said. I wish to have the ability to do that with this vehicle one day..
(source: Reuters)