Transport Infrastructure

Italian high-speed train operator 'Italo' announced on Thursday that it will introduce SpaceX Starlink across its fleet, becoming the first major train company in the world to use the satellite connectivity service from low-Earth orbit. Elon Musk’s Starlink is gaining popularity among airlines that want to provide Internet access to their passengers. Other rail operators have also begun testing the system, but they are not yet ready to adopt it. Last year, the Italian state railway - Ferrovie dello Stato - ran a trial with two providers including Starlink. ScotRail, a Scottish rail company, also conducted a Starlink six-week trial...

Sources said that the Federal Aviation Administration made the decision to temporarily close El Paso Airport due to safety concerns regarding testing of a laser-based 'counter-drone' technology at nearby U.S. Army Fort Bliss. This was not the first incident where the problem affected flights. The FAA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security reported that in March, when the U.S. Secret Service tested counter-drone tech near Reagan Washington National Airport, it led to faulty alerts for aircraft potentially close by. Senator Ted Cruz. Cruz, the chair of the Senate Commerce Committee revealed at an hearing last year that the government...

Bombardier Canada announced on Wednesday that Dubai's Vista Global, a?private jet provider based in Dubai, has placed an order for 40 Challenger 3500 business jets worth $1.18 billion. Bombardier stated that the order includes a?option for an additional 120 aircraft, which would bring a total value of 160 planes to approximately $4.72 billion. The deal is part of a sustained 'demand for private flying', which has swollen the?order books of business jet manufacturers. The Challenger 3500, an upscaled version of Bombardier's Challenger 350 Business Jet that seats up to ten passengers, is a variant of the Challenger 350. Bombardier is...

A court in India has sentenced an Indian journalist to a year's imprisonment for his posts on social media about the Adani Group. The court said that the posts were?unverified, defamatory, and painted the group in a negative light. Adani Enterprises led by billionaire Gautam Adani filed a case against India journalist Ravi Nair at a Gujarat district court in 2021, accusing him for making statements that suggested "political.. patronage... financial irregularities and unethical.. conduct", according to an order.. seen on Tuesday. The court's order stated that "no documentary material, official records, or verified data have been produced" to support...

New York City has sued Extra Space Storage, one of the biggest owners of self storage space in the U.S., for "predatory practices" and bait-and switch pricing. It also accused it of letting its units suffer from vermin, water damage, and mold. The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection of the city accused Extra 'Space of violating false advertisement laws on Tuesday by misleading consumers with low prices for storage units, which it falsely claimed were "clean" and pest-free. According to the lawsuit?Extra Space "dramatically raised" prices shortly after many consumers moved in their belongings, often without prior notice. Some...

On Monday, a U.S. Judge in New York temporarily put her decision on hold. This forced the Trump Administration to lift the four-month-old federal funding freeze for the $16 Billion Hudson River Tunnel Project that connects New York City and New Jersey. U.S. district judge Jeannette Vargas had on Friday ordered that the funding be reinstated. Justice Department warned that it would have to pay up to $200m in funding for the Gateway Tunnel project by Monday at 1pm (1800 GMT), unless Vargas' order was halted. Vargas said that she would delay her order until Thursday, at?5 p.m., to allow...

A proposal document released on Monday showed that the European Union had proposed to extend its sanctions against Russia?to include ports located in Georgia and Indonesia which handle Russian oil. This would be the first time for the bloc to target ports in a third country. The EU proposal was reviewed by and would add Kulevi, in Georgia, and Karimun, in Indonesia, to the list of sanctions, barring EU individuals and companies from transacting with either port. These measures are part of 'EU's 20th package of sanctions over Russia's conflict in Ukraine. The package, which was jointly drafted and presented...

The German business magazine WirtschaftsWoche reported that a German court ordered French 'carmaker Renault to stop the sale of its 'Megane and Clio models due to a dispute with U.S. tech group Broadcom over patent rights. According to the magazine, the regional court of Munich found that Renault did not have a 'license' for certain ethernet cable connections on 'the two models. The court in Munich did not respond immediately to a comment request. Renault was not available for a comment immediately. The WirtschaftsWoche?also stated that the ruling would not be enforced until a deposit of "several millions" of Euros...

In response to a chronic shortage of air traffic controllers in the United States, the Office of Inspector General of U.S. 'Transportation Department announced on Thursday that it would open a?a??probe into high failure rate among air traffic control training trainees. The Trump administration has promised to act to combat a chronic shortage of air traffic control personnel. About 3,500 air traffic control positions are not filled by the FAA. The FAA's air-traffic control training academy is facing serious problems. Many of its trainees are working six-day work weeks and mandatory overtime. Inspector General said that "attrition, retirements and 'program...

Three Democratic U.S. Senators asked Thursday the Transportation Department if the head the Federal 'Aviation Administration had sold 'his -shares in Republic Airways, and if he would be forced to forfeit any gains resulting from not selling before a divestment deadline. Bryan Bedford, FAA Administrator, said in 'December that he had not sold his shares of Republic. However he would continue to recuse him from any issues which could affect the airline's finances while he worked to sell his holdings. Senator Maria Cantwell claimed that Bedford, the former CEO of Republic Airlines, violated his ethics agreement because he hadn't completed...

A?U.S. A judge will hear the emergency request of?New York?and?New Jersey?to force the restoration funding for the $16 Billion Hudson River Tunnel before the construction stops on Friday. The states filed a lawsuit late Tuesday and asked for a temporary injunction that would prevent the U.S. Transportation Department (USTD) from withholding funds for the rail project between New York City and New Jersey, approved under the presidency of Joe Biden. The lawsuit was filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Acting New Jersey attorney general Jennifer Davenport. They claim that there is overwhelming proof that USDOT suspended funding...

The companies announced on Wednesday that Union Pacific, a railroad operator, and Wabtec - a locomotive parts manufacturer - had signed a $1.2 billion agreement to modernize the AC4400 locomotives of the railway. The companies describe the agreement as "the largest locomotive investment in rail history." It is expected to begin deliveries by 2027. U.S. rail fleet replacement has been accelerated under the Biden administration, with infrastructure investments. Operators are replacing aging locomotives by more fuel-efficient and digitally enabled models. According to the companies, the fleet upgrade will reduce fuel consumption by more than 5% and increase locomotives' tractive efforts...

Three sources who are directly familiar with the matter have confirmed that CME Group will approve Taiwan and Hong Kong to be warehouse locations for aluminum. This is as the U.S. commodity exchange intensifies its competition against the London Metal Exchange (LME) Asia. The new locations planned would be a major expansion for CME, as the region accounted last year for two thirds of the global production of metals used in packaging and transportation. CME's Asian warehouse footprint is currently limited to Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea. C. Steinweg and Pacorini Global Services, warehouse operators in Taiwan's port of Kaohsiung...

Traders and LSEG data show that Russia has increased its naphtha exports to STS and port storage hubs, as key buyers reduce imports due to?Western sanction pressure. Since the European Union's full embargo against Russian oil products went into effect in February 2023?,?most? of?Russian naphtha is being directed towards the Middle East and Asia. India and Taiwan were among the largest Asian buyers. However, recent U.S. sanction have caused both countries to withdraw. According to LSEG, Taiwan hasn't imported Russian naphtha from the beginning of 2026. This compares with 2.7?million tonnes in 2025. Shipping data showed that traders were avoiding...

The Malaysian shipper announced on Wednesday that it and its Japanese partner had secured a 10-year charter agreement with Norway's Northern Lights joint venture to operate a new liquefied carbon dioxide carrier. The carrier will run on both LNG and conventional marine diesel. MISC announced this in a press release. The company said that it will transport liquefied carbon dioxide from industrial capture sites to permanent offshore storage in Norway. MISC announced that a second time-charter for a new-build CO2 liquefied carrier will be awarded by April. The new 'carriers' are expected to arrive between the second and first halves...

China warned Panama that it would pay "heavy" prices if a court decision in Panama annulled the contract of Hong Kong's CK Hutchison to operate?two port at the Panama Canal. China's Hong Kong & Macau?Affairs Office branded the ruling of Panama's Supreme Court as "absurd", "shameful, and pathetic" and vowed that it would defend the interests Chinese firms. The Panamanian authorities didn't immediately respond to our request for comment. The court's ruling last week invalidated a contract held by Panama Ports Company (a CK Hutchison subordinate) since the 1990s to operate container terminals on the Pacific and Atlantic entrances of...

Shipping data shows that Venezuelan oil exports increased to 800,000 barrels a day (bpd), from 498,000 in December. This was after the U.S. captured Nicolas Maduro, and the end of a blockade on oil, which allowed traders to carry the majority of exports. Washington imposed a crude oil embargo against the U.S. sanctioned country to put pressure on Maduro in December and seized 7 tankers. The blockade caused the accumulation of 40 million barrels crude oil and fuel in tanks and vessels onshore that couldn't be exported, forcing Venezuela's state energy company PDVSA (the Venezuelan government-owned energy company) to reduce...

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino stated?on Friday? that ports will continue to operate in the 'country despite a?Supreme Court ruling which annulled key port contracts by a Hong Kong-based subsidiary, CK Hutchison. The future of some key ports near the Panama Canal is still unclear after the ruling made on Thursday. Mulino stated that APM Terminals Panama (a Maersk subsidiary) has expressed a willingness to temporarily takeover the operation of the Balboa & Cristobal terminals, after a period of transition during which the current operator will remain. He stated that he has had discussions with multiple companies. Mulino stated during...

After India confirmed two cases of the deadly Nipah virus, authorities in Pakistan increased screening for people entering the country. Thailand, Singapore Hong Kong, Malaysia Indonesia and Vietnam also have tightened airport screening. Nipah can cause brain inflammation, fever and death. A vaccine is not available. Transmission from one person to another is difficult and requires prolonged contact. In a recent statement, the Border Health Services Department said that it was "imperative" to increase preventative and monitoring measures along Pakistan's border. The Department added that "all travelers must undergo thermal screening and a clinical assessment at the Point of Entry"...

Australia is committed to returning to Australian ownership a major northern port that has been leased to a Chinese firm for 99 years, said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday. This was after Beijing's ambassador to Canberra had warned of possible trade retaliation. The Northern Territory government sold Darwin Port in 2015 to Landbridge, a Chinese company for A$506 millions. This was criticized by the United States. The contract was awarded just a few short years after the United States deployed the first group of rotating Marines to Darwin. U.S. and Australia have expanded air bases in Australia’s north for...

Hong Kong and the Shanghai Gold Exchange struck a deal Monday to establish a central clearing system for gold, as well as to expand the warehousing capacity to support the city's market. The precious metal has reached a record price of $5,100 per ounce. The agreement signed between Hong Kong's Financial Services, the Treasury Bureau, and the Shanghai Gold Exchange at the Asian Financial Forum formalised the governance for the new Hong Kong Precious Metals Central Clearing Company. This system will begin its trial operation this year. The government announced that Hong Kong's airport authority - which runs the city’s...

Bloomberg News, citing sources familiar with the situation, reported that CK Hutchison was considering a restructured'sale' of dozens ports to a global consortium. This would involve breaking 'the transaction up into smaller parcels, each with a different ownership structure. CK Hutchison - based in the 'Chinese controlled territory' of Hong Kong - has been heavily criticized by Beijing after it announced plans last year to'sell 43 ports across the 23 countries including two near the Panama Canal, to a consortium headed by BlackRock - and Italian billionaire Gianluigi Aponte’s family-controlled MSC shipping group. The report stated that under the proposed...

The largest airline in Japan announced on Tuesday that strong winds and heavy snowfall caused the cancellation of dozens of flights to and from the northwestern coast. This includes popular ski regions. As of 1 p.m. local (0400 GMT), ANA Holdings cancelled 56 flights, affecting approximately 3,900 passengers. Meanwhile, as?of 11:00 a.m. (0200 GMT), Japan Airlines cancelled 37?flights affecting 2,213?passengers. ANA has said that there will be a delay at some airports because of the continued adverse weather conditions. The New?Chitose Airport in Japan's northernmost Prefecture, Hokkaido, was the most affected. 49 of ANA’s 56 flights were cancelled. Airport is...

A railway power outage in Tokyo disrupted Friday morning commutes for approximately 673,000 passengers as two lines serving some of the busiest stations around the world were shut down. East Japan Railway (JR East's) Yamanote and Keihin Tohoku lines were shut down for up to 9 hours on Friday. JR East reported that both lines were left without power early Friday morning after overnight maintenance work at Tokyo's Tamachi Station. A spokesperson confirmed that smoke was visible coming from an equipment box located near the station. Firefighters and railway staff helped passengers disembark from the Keihin Tohoku train that was...