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US Postal Service bids for last-mile delivery to increase revenue
The U.S. The U.S. Postal Service announced on Tuesday that it will launch an online platform for 'proposals to access its last-mile network. This would allow a wider range of customers to raise funds by opening up more than '18,000 destination delivery units nationwide and local processing centres to a broader audience. USPS had warned that it would run out of money as early as 2027. U.S. postmaster general David Steiner said last month he hoped Amazon.com, and other major retailers, would bid in the auction. Steiner stated that this could add millions of dollars to USPS's revenue. Amazon didn't immediately respond to a comment request on Tuesday. The US Postal Service delivers to over 170 million U.S. address six days a weeks, and the last mile is the most expensive part. The last mile can be very expensive for other companies such as FedEx, UPS, and Amazon. "We definitely?have a?precarious cash situation. Steiner stated in December that we would be out of money within 12-24 months. USPS currently sells about 1.7 billion capacity units from its last mile distribution. However, it has the capacity to deliver 3.5 to 4 billion. These deliveries generate $5.5 to $6 billion annually in revenue. Donald Trump, the Republican president, called USPS "a tremendous loser for our country" in February last year. He said that he would consider merging USPS with the U.S. Commerce Department. Democrats claimed this move would violate federal law. Steiner, the new postal chief who was appointed by the White House in July, said last month that privatizing USPS would be "never feasible." "There is no private company that would be interested in the Postal Service...? The delivery of mail is an unbelievably expensive endeavor." He said that the idea of merging USPS and Commerce "never really made sense from a commercial point of view." Government Accountability Office said USPS has lost $118 billion in net profits since 2007. First-class mail, its most profitable product, is at its lowest level since 1967. In 2022, the U.S. Congress approved legislation that would provide USPS with financial relief of about $57 billion. Reporting by David Shepardson, Washington; Abhinav Paramar, Bengaluru. Editing by Matthew Lewis.
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Amtrak receives $2.4 billion in funding to hire 2,500 new air traffic control officers as part of a US budget deal
Bipartisan funding agreement announced by U.S. legislators?Tuesday funds 2,500 air traffic control officers and $2.4 billion for U.S. passenger rail Amtrak while cutting funds for high-speed train and?electric vehicle charging? The funding agreement includes $514 millions to subsidize rural air services, also known as the Essential Air Service Program. This is in contrast to the White House's proposal to reduce the program by half. It also increases annual funding for modernizing air traffic control towers to $824 million. The budget bill includes $2 million for an independent study of the airspace around Washington, D.C. after a crash in January 2025 between a U.S. Army chopper and American Airlines passenger plane that killed 67 and revealed'significant flaws in aviation safety. Federal Aviation Administration has a shortage of about?3,500 controllers, many of whom work six-day weekends and mandatory overtime. Congress approved $12.5 billion last year to modernize an aging U.S. Air Traffic Control System, but Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is asking for another $19 billion. It also redirects $879 millions in funds for electric vehicle charging networks approved by then-President Joe Biden, to other infrastructure priorities and cuts $928 in high-speed train grants. The bill also provides $100 million in supplemental funding for transit agencies located in 11 U.S. host cities of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and $94 millions for transportation assistance related to the 2028 Olympics. The bill rejects also a funding reduction proposed by the White House for the Transportation Security Administration. They had requested a 3-4% decrease in?TSA personnel levels, with half of that amount going to staffing the exit lanes which allow people to enter public areas after leaving secure areas of an airport. The budget includes $300,000,000 to fund exit-lane personnel. (Reporting and editing by Andrew Heavens, Peter Graff, and David Shepardson from Washington)
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Sources say that Kazakhstan's Tengiz Oil Field will remain closed for 7-10 more days.
Three industry sources have said that oil production in Kazakhstan's vast Tengiz field, which is one of the largest in the world, may be stopped for 7-10 days after it shut down on Sunday. This would cut crude exports through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium. Tengizchevroil, the operator of Tengiz-Korolevskoye Field, announced on Monday that production had been halted due to problems with power supply. According to KazMunayGas, the state-owned KazMunayGas, a fire had broken out on January 18 at two turbine transformers located at GTES-4, the power station for this field. One source stated that "TCO's production is down until the end of the week but this could continue until February." Three sources said that, due to the incident?TCO already cancelled five cargoes totaling 600,000-700,000.00 metric tons of CPC Blend crude scheduled to be shipped out from CPC's terminal at Black Sea in January and Feb. Chevron, the largest shareholder of TCO, did not respond immediately to a comment request. Sources spoke on condition of anonymity. TCO's press service responded to an inquiry Tuesday by confirming that production has temporarily been suspended at?Tengiz & Korolevskoye, as a "precautionary measure". They did not specify the cause of fire or when production will resume. Source: Other producers are raising output. One source familiar with the data stated that the fall in Tengiz's oil production has not yet affected Kazakhstan’s overall production, as other producers have increased their extraction. Kazakhstan's crude oil production dropped by 35% between December and the first 12 days in January due to restrictions on CPC exports. According to the source, the output of two huge Caspian fields, Kashagan & Karachaganak began to increase rapidly in the days following. Kashagan's average daily production increased by 28% to 197,000 barrels between January 1-12 and January 1-19, while Karachaganak saw a 21% increase to 156,000 barrels. Tengiz's production increased by 6% in the period to 360,000 barrels a day. The press offices of Karachaganak Petroleum Operating, and NCOC did not reply to requests for comments. The source stated that "NCOC, KPO and CPC are partially compensating the Tengiz shut down. But in a few days CPC will start to reduce throughput." Kazakhstan exports the majority of its oil through CPC. However, due to damage at the marine terminal located in Yuzhnaya Ozereyevka to the infrastructure, some crude is redirected into the Baku-Tbilisi Ceyhan (BTC), and then to Germany via Druzhba. ExxonMobil, KazMunayGas, and Lukoil are also project partners. KazMunayGas holds 20% of TCO while ExxonMobil has 25%. (reporters in MOSCOW; additional reporting by Robert Harvey, LONDON. Editing by Guy Faulconbridge & Jan Harvey).
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EU to phase out high-risk technology targets Huawei and Chinese companies
According to a draft of a proposal released on Tuesday by the European Commission, the European Union intends to phase out equipment and components?from high risk suppliers in critical industries. This move is expected to impact Huawei and other Chinese technology companies. The revisions of the EU Cybersecurity Act are a response to an increase in cyber attacks, ransomware, and concerns over foreign interference, spying, and Europe's dependency on technology from third-country suppliers. The Commission of the 27-nation bloc did not mention any country or company. Europe has however been hardening their stance towards the use Chinese equipment. Germany, for instance, appointed an expert committee to rethink its trade policy toward Beijing and ban the use Chinese components in future 6G networks. The United States has banned the approval of new telecommunications gear from Huawei and ZTE by 2022, and encouraged Europe to follow suit. NEW MEASURES CREATE MORE SAFETY, TECH SOVEREIGNTY, EU ?SAYS In a press release, EU tech chief Henna Vikkunen stated that the Cybersecurity Package would allow the EU to not only better protect its critical supply chains (information and communication technology), but also combat cyber attacks in a decisive manner. China's Foreign Ministry, in response to an earlier report on the plans, called the restriction of Chinese firms without legal basis "naked protectionionism". It urged the EU provide a fair and transparent business environment that is non-discriminatory for Chinese companies. The new measures are applicable to 18 sectors that were identified by the Commission. These include detection equipment, connected vehicles and automated vehicles (including autonomous and connected cars), electricity supply systems, storage of electricity, water supply system, drones, and anti-drone systems. The list also includes medical devices, surveillance technology, semiconductors, and cloud computing services. In 2020, the Commission adopted a "toolbox" of security measures to limit the use of high-risk vendors like Huawei because of concerns over possible sabotage and espionage. Despite the high costs, some countries are still unable to remove high-risk devices. The Commission's proposal on Tuesday stated that mobile telecom operators would have 36 months to remove key components from high-risk vendors after the publication of this list. Later, the phase-out period for fixed networks including fibre optics, submarine cables and satellite networks will also be announced. "This is a?important step to ensuring our European technological sovereignty and ensuring a higher level of safety for everyone," Virkkunen stated. The draft proposal stated that restrictions on suppliers from countries with cybersecurity concerns would only be implemented after a risk analysis initiated by either the Commission or three EU member states. Any measures would be taken based on a market analysis and an impact assessment. Before the updated Cybersecurity act can become law, it will need to be approved by EU countries and European Parliament within the next few months. (Reporting and editing by Joe Bavier; Foo Yunchee is the reporter)
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What plans do shipping companies have for the return of Suez Canal to sea?
The major shipping companies are preparing strategies to'return to Suez Canal? after two years of disruptions? due to security concerns in the Red Sea. Since November 2023 they have been rerouting their vessels to more expensive routes in Africa, after Houthi forces in Yemen attacked commercial ships, in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza war. Some companies have resumpted plans after a ceasefire agreement was reached in October 2025. However, President Donald Trump’s warnings about?possible U.S. actions in Iran has renewed concerns since December. Here are the most recent updates: The Danish shipping company MAERSK announced in January that it will resume its Red Sea and Suez Canal services for one of their services this month after testing the route with two vessels in December and January. Maersk announced that its 'weekly service' connecting the Middle East, India and the U.S. East Coast 'will be the first in the group's staggered re-entry to the Suez Route. Starting on January 26, a sailing will depart Oman's Port of Salalah. CMA CGM, the world's third largest container shipping company announced on Tuesday that it will re-route ships on three of its services to avoid the Suez Canal because of global uncertainty. Plans to expand transits have been cut back. CMA CGM was preparing to increase its use of this route after a few sailings with naval escorts. It sent two large container vessels through the canal last month and aims to begin regular India-U.S. Transits in January. HAPAG-LLOYD German shipper Hapag-Lloyd has said that it will not adjust its Red Sea operations for the time being, according to a spokesperson in January. This was shortly after Maersk announced that they would resume their Red Sea sailings. The CEO of the group said that in December, the return of the shipping industry would be gradual. There would be a period of transition of 60-90 days for logistics to be adjusted and to avoid sudden port congestion. WALLENIUS WILHELMSEN A company spokesperson stated in December that the Norwegian car shipping group was still assessing its situation and would not resume sailing until a number of conditions were met. (Compiled by Mireia Mercino, Javi Larranaga and Gemma Guasch, Gdansk, edited by Milla Nissi Prussak).
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Ethiopian Airlines orders nine Boeing 787 Dreamliners for long-haul flights
Ethiopian Airlines, Africa's largest airline, has placed an order for nine Boeing 787 Dreamliners to meet the growing demand for long distance travel. Widebody jets are in high demand as airlines look to reduce operating costs and increase capacity. Ethiopian Airlines is planning to use the 787-9 jets in order to expand their network beyond the current 145 international destinations. As part of the?strategic plan to advance sustainable aviation, CEO Mesfin Tasew stated on Tuesday that "we will continue to purchase more aircraft and adopt new technologies." The airline also completed a?purchase of?11 737 MAX jets. The airline had committed to buy these jets at the Dubai Airshow in last year. (Reporting and editing by Shilpa Majumdar in Bengaluru.
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Snow blankets Russia's Far East, disrupting transport in China and Japan
The heaviest winter storm to hit Asia in 60 years buried Russia's Far East under metres of snow on Tuesday. A winter blast blanketed Asia with snow, causing flights in Japan's Northwest to be grounded and affecting Shanghai. The cold snap disrupted travel across the region. Roads were closed in China and air travelers were stranded in Japan. Parts of?Russian Far East are now paralysed. Scientists have said that the weather is related to the waves of cold air from the Arctic which are simultaneously affecting Eastern Russia, Asia and Eastern Europe. Theodore Keeping said that the jet stream, which is the air currents above the atmosphere that determine weather patterns, was wavy. The Arctic polar vortex - a massive mass of cold air that circulates in the 'Arctic - is weak at the moment, which means that it is driving the jetstream less intensely and this leads to cool air waves coming down from the 'Arctic, said Keeping, a researcher for World Weather Attribution, Imperial College Centre for Environmental Policy, London. RUSSIA FAR EAST: LARGE SNOWDRIFTS According to weather monitoring stations, in Russia's Far Eastern Kamchatka Peninsula large?snowdrifts up to several metres high have blocked building entrances, and buried cars. This is after 2 metres of snow (6.5 feet) fell in some places in the first half January, following an earlier 3.7 metre accumulation in December. Residents were forced to dig narrow pathways through the snow in order to reach apartment entrances. Some cars were submerged and others had traction issues. In the port city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, ?locals were filmed walking atop snowbanks beside traffic lights, with some jumping from the drifts for fun. "It's like a sand dune," resident and blogger Polina Tuichieva said of the mammoth snow in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, 6,800 km (4,200 miles) east of Moscow. RARE SNOW IN SHANGHAI A similar system moved southward into China where the same wave of cold temperatures brought snow to the financial center of Shanghai. Authorities warned that the cold weather could last at least three full days. Last time the east coast city experienced heavy snowfall was in January 2018. Li Meng, a 23-year old student from Shanghai, said: "It's the first time that I've seen such heavy snowfall." Local media reported that the wintry scenes were a stark contrast to a week ago, when Shanghai enjoyed temperatures as high as 20 degrees Celsius. Yu Xin, a Shanghai resident of 30 years old, said: "The weather is strange this year." "Last weekend, the temperature was over 20 degrees Celsius. This week, however, it has dropped below zero and it is snowing." The temperature has fluctuated a lot, and some people may feel uncomfortable. Chinese state media reported that temperatures dropped sharply in provinces to the south of Yangtze River and Huai?river, including Jiangxi Province and Guizhou. Zhejiang News reports that temperatures in Guizhou are expected to drop by 10 to 14 degree Celsius. CCTV reported that as ice conditions grew, sections of major highways in 12 provinces, including Shanxi and Inner Mongolia, were closed due to snowfall. Travel Warnings in Japan Strong winds and heavy snowfall in Japan disrupted travel on its northwestern coastline, causing dozens of flights to be grounded, as well as affecting popular ski areas at the height winter. The Japan Meteorological Agency has warned that heavy snow will hit the northern and western areas between January 21-25, urging people not to travel unless it is absolutely necessary. ANA Holdings canceled 56 flights affecting approximately 3,900 passengers. Japan Airlines cancelled 37 flights affecting about 2,213 travellers. ANA cancelled almost all its flights at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido. (Reporting and writing by Bureaus; Michele Kambas, Alison Williams; editing by Alison Williams).
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Environmentalists launch legal action against airport expansion in the UK
Campaigners are trying to stop the expansion of Gatwick Airport in Britain, which is the second-largest airport in the country, on grounds of climate change. Transport minister Heidi Alexander approved the opening of Gatwick Airport's second runway on September 1, hoping to allow thousands more flights and boost economic growth. Communities Against Gatwick Noise Emissions (CAGNE), a campaign group, claims that officials who approved the expansion of Gatwick Airport, located 30 miles south of London, failed to assess the impact of its expansion on Britain's climate goals. According to the government, 'the increased use of sustainable aviation fuel makes airport enlargements compatible with its net-zero goals. The government has backed the construction of a new airport runway at Heathrow Airport, which is the largest hub in the country, as well as at Gatwick. In the densely-populated southeast of England, airports have faced opposition in recent years from residents who are concerned about noise and air pollution. A previous plan to build an additional runway at Heathrow Airport was scrapped in 2010. Gatwick's plan involves moving the backup airport runway by 12 metres (39 feet), to meet safety standards. This will allow both runways to be operational and accommodate millions of passengers in the 2030s. It is also expected to boost trade and tourism, and create 14,000 new jobs. CAGNE claims that the damage the expansion will do to local communities is far greater than the economic benefits. A decision is expected to be made at a future date. Gatwick Airport is owned by VINCI Airports, a French company. (Reporting and editing by Barbara Lewis; Sarah Young)
Huawei criticises EU's plan to phase out high-risk technology
According to a draft proposal published by Brussels on February 2, the EU intends to phase out equipment and components from high-risk providers in critical sectors. This move has been criticised by China’s Huawei which will be one of those companies affected.
The European Commission's revisions of the EU Cybersecurity Act are a response to a growing number of cyber-attacks and ransomware, as well as concerns about foreign interference, espionage, and Europe's dependence on non EU technology suppliers.
The executive arm of the 27-nation bloc, the Commission, has not named any companies or nations.
Europe, on the other hand, has been increasing its scrutiny of Chinese technology. Germany appointed an expert committee to reassess its trade policy towards Beijing. It has also banned the use Chinese components in future telecoms networks.
The U.S. has banned the approval of new telecoms gear from Huawei and its Chinese rival,?ZTE, in 2022. It has also urged European allies follow suit.
NEW MEASURES CREATE MORE SAFETY, TECH SOVEREIGNTY, EU SAYS
Henna Vikkunen, EU's tech chief, said in a press release that "with the new Cybersecurity package we will have the means to better protect and combat cyber attacks."
Huawei has echoed criticisms made by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Huawei's spokesperson stated that "a legislative proposal to restrict or exclude non EU suppliers based on their country of origin, instead of factual evidence and technological standards, violates EU basic legal principles such as fairness, nondiscrimination and proportionality as well as WTO obligations."
She said, "We will closely follow the development of the legislative processes and reserve all our rights to protect our legitimate interests."
New measures will be applied to 18 sectors that were identified by the Commission. These include detection equipment, connected vehicles and automated systems, energy storage and supply systems, water delivery systems, drones, and counter-drones systems. Cloud services, medical devices, surveillance equipment and space services are also classified as crucial.
In 2020, the EU will adopt a "5G security toolbox" to reduce the use of vendors perceived as high-risk such as Huawei due to concerns over sabotage or espionage. Some countries are still using this equipment because of its high cost.
According to the proposals made on Tuesday, mobile operators have 36 months after the publication of a list of high-risk suppliers to phase out certain components. The phase-out period for fixed networks including fibre-optic cables and submarine cables as well as satellite network will be announced later.
"This is a significant step towards securing European technological sovereignty, and ensuring greater'safety for everyone," Virkkunen stated.
Restrictions on suppliers from countries that are deemed to be cybersecurity risks will only take effect after a formal assessment of risk initiated by the Commission, or at least three EU member countries. All measures will be based upon market analyses and impact assessments.
Connect Europe, a lobby group for the telecoms industry, warned that these proposals would add to the burden of the industry and result in additional regulatory costs ranging into the billions.
Before it can become law, the updated Cybersecurity Act will need to be negotiated in the next few months with EU governments and European Parliament. (Reporting and editing by Joe Bavier, Mark Potter, and Foo Yunchee)
(source: Reuters)