Passenger Ground & Sea Transportation

Matthew McConaughey, who has been away from the spotlight for several years, returned to the big-screen on Friday with the Toronto International Film Festival's world premiere of "The Lost Bus," a new documentary. The film is based on Lizzie Johnson’s book about the Camp Fire of 2018, the deadliest fire in California’s history, which claimed 85 lives. It gives a glimpse of the magnitude and intensity of this destructive fire. McConaughey is a struggling father and school bus driver who risks his own life to save 22 children. He races against the flames, which threaten their escape. Wildfires are still...

The Federal Communications Commission chair proposed Wednesday to end subsidies for wireless technology on school buses, which were originally created as part of a COVID program. FCC chair Brendan Carr requested that the commission reverse policies implemented under former-President Joe Biden, allowing subsidies for WiFi on school buses as well as for wireless hotspots which could be borrowed from libraries to access online. Carr stated that the proposal would "end the FCC funding unsupervised screentime for young children." Carr also said that the FCC "failed to prove that these funding decisions will advance legitimate classroom or libraries purposes." In May,...

U.S. officials and European sources have confirmed that the United States has warned countries not to accept a United Nations deal on cutting marine fuel emissions or else face tariffs and visa restrictions. The Trump administration wants to increase the economic power of the United States, which includes taking a larger role in global shipping. It has also used tariffs to force Washington's trading partners to offer better terms. In April, the International Maritime Organization of the U.N. (IMO) reached a draft agreement that would impose a charge on ships that violate global standards for carbon emissions. Washington withdrew from...

After canceling $4 billion of federal grants in July for California's ambitious, but long-delayed, high-speed railway project, the U.S. Transportation Department announced on Tuesday that it will cancel $175 million of funding for four projects. The Trump administration announced Tuesday that it would withdraw funding from grade separations, overcrossings, design work, and the construction of a high-speed train station in Madera. California sued in July to contest the withdrawal of funds, calling it illegal. The USDOT has threatened to revoke $33 million of safety funding to California after it claimed that the state was not following federal regulations requiring truckers...

Police said that a tour bus with about 50 passengers rolled when the driver lost his control on a highway in western New York, causing dozens of injuries and multiple deaths. James O'Callahan is a Trooper with the New York State Police. He told reporters that they believe there was a child among those who died. The majority of passengers were Asians or people of Asian descent. This included Chinese, Indians, and Filipinos. The accident occurred on Interstate 90 in Pembroke (New York), about 30 miles east from Buffalo, while the bus was travelling from Niagara Falls to New York...

These are the most popular stories from the Wall Street Journal. These stories have not been verified and we cannot vouch their accuracy. McDonald's has reached an agreement with its franchisees to reduce the price of combo meals by 15%. They will also launch value deals between $5 and $8. The aim is to regain their affordability image among inflation-weary customers. Hertz is selling used cars on Amazon's automotive market, increasing retail access while boosting margins. This move is part of an overall push to sell vehicles directly to customers. Meta has frozen its hiring in its AI division, amid...

Hertz Global Holdings announced on Wednesday that its car sales division was partnering Amazon.com’s automotive retail platform Amazon Autos to sell used vehicles. The car rental company's stock rose 7% at the opening of trading. Avis Budget Group shares fell 6%. Carvana's shares dropped 4.2%. CarMax lost 1.4%. Hertz stated that the collaboration is a result of Amazon Autos recent expansion into used vehicle sales. Amazon Autos was launched last year by the company to extend its online retail platform to include pre-owned and used vehicles. The program has dealers participating in over 130 U.S. Cities. Hertz Car Sales and...

If the U.S. Transportation Department does not improve, it could withhold up 25% of federal funding for New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority's track maintenance workers. According to the agency, the Federal Transit Administration of the Department issued a directive to New York City Transit in August 2024 after the MTA failed to improve safety measures following the death in November 2023 of a track-maintenance employee and the second serious injury in June 2024. The MTA is required to submit a comprehensive risk assessment for its Rail Transit Roadway Worker Protection in 30 days. This was announced by the Department on...

Saudi Arabia's nearly $1 trillion sovereign wealth funds sold their stakes in several U.S. listed companies, including Meta, Shopify, and PayPal, in the second quarter. Securities filings published on Thursday confirm this. The 13F filings also show that the Public Investment Fund sold its stakes at Nu Holdings, FedEx and Alibaba Group during a period when U.S. stocks recovered from a drop in April tied to U.S. Tariff policies. The filings revealed that PIF had no shares remaining in Meta, Shopify PayPal, Alibaba Nu Holdings, FedEx, or Nu Holdings. The fund's last filing revealed that at the end March it...

Joby Aviation announced Monday that it will purchase Blade Air Mobility's helicopter ride-share business, which includes passenger services, for up to $125 Million. Joby is working to accelerate the deployment of commercial air taxis. Blade's medical transplant division will not be part of the deal. It will remain a public company rebranded Strata Critical Medical. However, Joby will partner with Blade on medical transport. Joby is working hard to get its electric vertical takeoff-and-landing aircraft, or eVTOLs, certified by the Federal Aviation Administration. Joby CEO JoeBen Bevirt stated that the company was on track to start FAA Type Inspection Flight...

Bloomberg News reported Thursday that railroad operator CSX was working with Goldman Sachs in order to explore possible strategic options after a merger of its two main rivals. The report was based on people who were familiar with the situation. Union Pacific announced on Tuesday that it will buy the smaller rival Norfolk Southern for $85 billion. This deal will create the United States' first coast-to-coast rail freight operator, and transform the movement of goods across the nation from grains to automobiles. reported Last week, CSX announced that it was in discussions to hire financial advisors. CSX CEO Joe Hirichs...

Alphabet Waymo announced on Monday that it would launch its autonomous ride-hailing services in Dallas by 2026. This will accelerate its U.S. growth as Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturer, pushes its newly launched robotaxi service. Waymo, after years of cautious expansion, has recently accelerated its pace. It is now launching in more cities, through partnerships with ride hailing platforms and fleet operators. Waymo announced in a blog that it will be operating in Dallas through a multi-year partnership between the car rental company Avis and Budget Group. Avis will manage fleet operations including maintenance, depot infrastructure and depot management. Waymo...

Turkey broke ground on a rail connection between its Kars province in the northeast and Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan Exclave. The move was made to take advantage of an American-brokered agreement signed by Azerbaijan, Armenia and Azerbaijan this month. The railroad will be a part of the Southern Caucasus Transit Corridor, for which the U.S. has exclusive development rights. The aim is to increase economic ties and energy exports between Azerbaijan, Armenia and the U.S. The initial peace effort was hindered by the management and development of what is called the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity. This route will connect...

Transport services were halted in Tunisia Wednesday as workers demanded better working conditions, higher wages and urgent reforms. This added pressure to President Kais Said to address the deepening crisis. Tunisians have suffered from poor public services for many years, particularly in the sectors of health, education, transportation and investment due to a lack of funding and public investments, as well as frequent interruptions in water and electricity supply. Saied, a man who has been in power since 2021 and tightened it, accuses those he believes are conspirators, seeking to undermine the government and exacerbate social tensions. The three-day strike...

Air taxis could soon be available for Dubai commuters to avoid traffic. Joby Aviation has conducted its first test flight in the emirate of its fully electric air taxi this week. This is a significant milestone in the efforts by the city to integrate airborne transportation into existing mobility networks, as early as next. Joby is hoping that its air-taxis can ease the pressure on Dubai's existing ground transportation system and provide travelers with a faster alternative, as Dubai continues to experience increasing congestion. Anthony Khoury said, "We want people to commute differently." The company estimates that a journey from...

Shipping sources reported on Wednesday that commercial ships were sailing near Oman, and maritime agencies are advising them to avoid Iran's water around the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict between Israel, and Iran is at risk of escalating. Iran has threatened in the past to close down the Strait of Hormuz in response to Western pressure. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz could affect trade and global oil prices. Ships sailing to Hormuz have taken the latest precaution to reduce risks. They are now sailing near the coast of Oman for most of their journey. The Gulf of Oman...

On Wednesday, Iran and Israel both accused one another of endangering the commercial activity around the Gulf and Red Sea in the UN's Shipping Agency as their military conflict escalated. Iran's delegation said at a meeting of the International Maritime Organization security committee that Israel has recently extended its "unlawful attack" to include petrochemicals and gas infrastructures in Asalouyeh, along Iran's Gulf Coast. Iran's livestreamed statement to delegates of the IMO said that "These actions directly threaten international maritime security as well as the global energy supply chains." If the international community does not take immediate and concrete steps to...

Pasifik Eurasia Lojistik announced that it had signed a railway transportation agreement with a subsidiary China Railway for the launch of cargo train services on a corridor connecting China to Europe via Turkey, bypassing Russia. The initial plan is to operate 10 train services, and eventually 1,000. It is anticipated that the Middle Corridor will see a significant increase in freight volume thanks to the partnership with China's state-owned railway logistics company. The Middle Corridor, a China-Europe freight route that is promoted by the West, includes Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia, as well as Turkey. Fatih Erdogan, Chairman of Pasifik Holding's...

The Brazilian federal police has officially accused former president Jair Bolsonaro of illegally spying on the authorities by the spy agency ABIN during Bolsonaro’s presidency. They have also named his son Carlos Bolsonaro as well as other individuals in a probe. The federal police, without naming names, confirmed the results of the investigation. They detailed the "existence" of a criminal group that was focused on illegally monitoring public authorities and producing fake news using ABINS systems. According to a statement from the federal police, although it has been delivered to the Supreme Court, its final report is still under seal....

Sources from maritime unions and maritime sources confirmed on Thursday that 200 seafarers stuck aboard 15 ships for weeks near the port of Ras-Isa in Yemen are now preparing to unload their cargoes and depart thanks to a truce agreement between Houthi militias and the U.S. Officials from the maritime sector said that the threat level for shipping was still high, given the Houthis' declaration that Israeli assets were open to attack, and the associated risks to shipping in general. In the past, ships with no connection to Israel were targeted and there was no guarantee of safe passage. On...

Archbishop Anastasios, head of the Orthodox Church of Albania, died at a hospital in Athens at the age of 95 on Saturday, the church announced. Anastasios played a crucial role in reviving the church in Albania, an independent branch of the Eastern Orthodox Church, after being chosen to lead it in 1992 following the fall of the communist routine which had actually ruled the Muslim-majority nation for decades. Anastasios was admitted to a health center in Tirana with influenza in early December however his condition shabby and he was airlifted to Athens to be dealt with at Evangelismos Health center....

A subsidiary of a German vehicle provider has asked U.S. car safety regulators for approval to deploy up to 2,500 self-governing electrical buses each year that are operated without steering wheels and other human controls, a. U.S. company said Thursday. HOLON, a system of German vehicle provider Benteler Group,. asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for an. exemption from federal auto security standards for its automated. electrical bus that does not have pedals, manual turn signals or. mirrors needed by a human motorist. NHTSA stated it will accept public discuss the petition. till early January. The petition, which will...

At least 12 individuals were eliminated and 33 injured in Egypt on Monday after a bus overturned on a. highway linking Cairo to the Red Sea coast, the Egyptian. health ministry said. It said in a declaration that 28 ambulances were sent out to the. scene of the accident which occurred on Al-Galala highway. linking Cairo to Red Sea coastal towns including Ain Sokhna. Domestic media consisting of the state-owned Al-Ahram paper. reported the mishap included trainees from Galala university. located in Galala city, one of the government's national. tasks in the Suez governorate. The independently owned pro-state Sada al-Balad...

A merchant vessel reported being approached with making use of small arms fire in waters 92 nautical miles northeast of Eritrea's Massawa port in Red Sea waters adjacent to Yemen's coast, British maritime security company Ambrey said on Thursday. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) stated quickly after that it received a sighting report of a little boat with armed persons onboard, running in close proximity to a. small coastal truck, approximately 95 nautical miles. northeast of Massawa. Authorities are examining, UKMTO's advisory note added. No group has actually yet claimed the attack. The Iran-aligned Houthi militants have launched repeated....