Latest News
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The mayor of Novorossiysk in Russia’s Black Sea port says that drones have hit residential buildings.
According to the mayor of Novorossiysk in Russia, six residential buildings have been damaged by drone debris. On Telegram, Mayor Andrei Kravchenko stated that the injured received medical attention and that a commercial property was also damaged. Unverified posts on Telegram claimed to show photos of an enormous?tower? of flames rising from Novorossiysk. Mikhail Razvozhayev said on Telegram that more than 30 drones had been shot down in Sevastopol, Crimea. The attack damaged a few houses, but no one was injured, the governor said. Ivan Fedorov, regional governor of the region, posted pictures of the burning building on Telegram. Fedorov said that the attack had cut power to about 1,200 Zaporizhzhia consumers. In response to Kyiv’s attacks on Russian energy, port, and logistic hubs, Moscow has recently intensified its strikes on Ukraine’s food and agricultural facilities. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukraine's President, said on Tuesday that Kyiv has submitted proposals to U.S. negotiators regarding a plan for ending the 'war' which began with Russia's invasion of Ukraine at full scale in February 2022. (Reporting and editing by Edwina G Gibbs in Tokyo)
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US freight railroads lose their appeal against the new rule that requires at least two-person crews
Six U.S. railways and a pair of industry groups have lost their appeals against a new rule requiring many 'trains to operate with at least two crew members. This ruling was issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit. The Federal Railroad Administration has imposed crew requirements on freight railroads. This includes Union Pacific, Berkshire Hathaway's BNSF and other rail companies. This rule was enacted after organized labor fought for crew levels in the face of a heightened scrutiny on railroad safety, following a derailment that occurred in East Palestine, Ohio?in 2023, which caused cars containing toxic vinyl chloride and other hazardous chemicals to spill out and catch fire. The railroads, among other things argued that the rule on crew size fell outside of the FRA’s general rulemaking powers. The agency also refused to take into account the costs that the rule would have on railroads who would have otherwise switched to a single-person crew. They said that the final rule was arbitrary and capricious because it didn't consider a major cost category. The court denied the railroads? petitions for review of the rule. One judge dissented from the ruling, stating that the FRA's analysis and research did not support the minimum crew size rule and that its cost-benefit analysis had failed to account for the labor costs railroads would face if they were required to comply with the rule. Reporting by Lisa Baertlein, Editing by Chris Reese
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Ryanair expands AI use in airline operations with a five-year Google Cloud agreement
Ryanair announced on Wednesday that it will 'deploy Google Gemini AI tools, and DeepMind models throughout its operations as part of a five-year cloud partnership. The technology is used to help manage crew scheduling and make operational decisions. Ryanair, Europe’s largest airline based on passenger numbers, announced that it would offer Alphabet’s Google Workspace services and Google Cloud to 35,000 of its employees. This will support its efforts toward a goal to?carry 300 million passengers per year by 2034. Eddie Wilson, Ryanair's CEO, said: "To support our growth, we must ensure that we have excellent infrastructure reliability. Our new dual-cloud approach provides this, along with technology partners who match our speed and relentless emphasis on efficiency." Ryanair's agreement with Google Cloud is an addition to the Amazon Web Services it already uses as part of its strategy to reduce risk of technology failures. The Irish airline announced that it will use Gemini Enterprise's custom AI agents in order to automate certain decisions, improve crew scheduling, and reduce disruption. The carrier stated that it would also use Google DeepMind Models, including AlphaEvolve, and WeatherNext to support fleet operation and maintenance scheduling. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. This agreement shows 'how deploying generative AI at scale...can help industry leaders scale secure, reduce operational costs and redefine the 'travel experience, said Maureen Costello. Google Cloud Vice President for the United Kingdom Ireland and Sub-Saharan Africa. According to aviation technology provider SITA, and airline trade group IATA studies, the aviation industry is increasing its use of AI for customer service, operations, and maintenance. Airlines are looking to improve efficiency and reliability. (Reporting and editing by William James; Sam Tabahriti)
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Air Canada restores its annual core profit forecast
Air Canada restored its core profit targets on Tuesday, but at a lower rate than its previous outlook. It expects that oil supply disruptions related to the 'war in Iran' will continue to impact jet fuel prices. The cost of jet fuel, which accounts for about a quarter of airline operating costs, soared after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz as a response to 'the U.S. and Israeli strikes in late February. This waterway is responsible for a fifth of the world's oil supplies. The disruption has led to higher fuel costs across the airline industry. Air Canada stated that the disruptions to international shipping routes have further increased pressure on jet fuel prices and supply. Canada's largest airline?now anticipates a core adjusted profit of C$2.9 billion (2.08 billion) up to C$3.2billion in 2026. It had previously projected C$3.35 to C$3.75billion. LSEG data shows that the airline posted a profit adjusted of C$0.40, which was higher than Wall Street's estimate of?C$0.13. This was due to the strength of premium and corporate travel as well as fare increases and cost-control measures. Air Canada announced earlier in the day that funds managed by Blackstone, three Canadian asset managers and other Canadian fund managers would make a C$2.5billion minority equity investment in its travel loyalty program Aeroplan. Aeroplan is valued at C$10billion by the 'investor group led?by Blackstone, Quebec's La Caisse and PSP Investments, as well as British Columbia Investment Management Corporation and PSP Investments. ($1 = 1.3926 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Nandan Mandayam and Aishwarya Jain in Bengaluru, Allison Lampert in Montreal; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar)
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Judge stops US Postal Service from restricting voting by mail
On 'Tuesday,' a federal judge blocked the U.S. Postal Service from implementing a part of the President Donald Trump executive order which aims to tighten voting rules by mail in advance of the November elections that will determine control of Congress. The decision by the?U.S. The ruling by?U.S. District Judge Indira?Talwani in 'Boston expanded upon an earlier order that she issued in June, which prevented the?Trump administration from implementing it in 23 mainly Democratic-led States. She was urged by several voting rights groups to prevent USPS from implementing a proposed rule that would require states to provide lists of voters and adopt new?balloting procedures before the mail agency made deliveries. USPS could have refused to deliver ballots if states didn't comply. Plaintiffs had argued that USPS would not have any legal basis to refuse. Reporting by Nate Raymond and Luc Cohen, both in Boston.
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Alpha Compute says it will purchase Pennsylvania land and gas rights to build a $55 million datacenter campus in Pennsylvania.
Brittany Kaiser, CEO of Alpha Compute's AI infrastructure company, announced on Tuesday that the company had signed a "binding" agreement to purchase land in Pennsylvania and natural gas rights for $55,000,000 to build a campus with 200 megawatts of data centers. Data center developers are scrambling to find power sources in the United States due to the surge in demand for artificial intelligence. Pennsylvania, with its natural gas abundance from the Marcellus Shale Basin, existing power infrastructure, and proximity to major population centers on the East Coast has become one the most sought after locations in the United States for new data centres. Amazon announced last year that it would invest $20 billion into the state. Kaiser stated that Alpha Compute anticipates the northern Pennsylvania site to include gas-fired generation of power, and begin operation in the third quarter 2027. Kaiser said that the facility could be expanded in the future to produce one gigawatt of power. The project will 'combine data centers development with on-site natural gas production, a popular approach to connecting large AI facilities quickly to the grid. Kaiser stated that the deal includes undeveloped Marcellus rights covering approximately 1,800 mineral acres. The agreement grants the British Virgin Islands company a sole option to purchase the assets. However, the transaction is still subject to due diligence and other agreements such as financing, permits, and final agreements. Kaiser stated that she expected to close the transaction after a diligence period of 60 days. The project's details have never been reported before. This project will also require local approvals, at a moment when certain communities have tightened their restrictions on data centers due to their high 'electricity and water consumption. Kaiser stated that local communities have been open to the proposal. The exact location of the data center has not yet been revealed. While Alpha ?Compute has traditionally provided confidential-computing services, it is a recent entrant to data center ?development. If the Pennsylvania project is approved, it would be Alpha?Compute's first US data center. Kaiser stated that after the initial investment of $55 million, she expected the construction of the data center campus to cost a total amount of $500 million over several years. Kaiser stated that potential users were interested in secure computing solutions which use end-toend encryption. These services are used by government, military and increasingly private sector organizations to protect sensitive information.
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Malta flights disrupted by ash cloud from Mount Etna in Sicily
On?Tuesday an ash cloud from Sicily’s Mount Etna volcanic eruption drifted over?Malta, forcing some airlines to cancel flights to the Mediterranean Island at the height tourism season. Malta International Airport posted a message on Facebook saying that "we're experiencing flight delays due to volcanic ash clouds" over the Maltese Islands, following recent activity at Mount Etna. A spokesperson stated that 19 flights were cancelled by mid-afternoon Tuesday, and a number of?other flights?were significantly delayed. Malta Airport is located 220 kilometers (140 miles), south of Mount Etna. Mount Etna is the most active volcanic mountain in Europe. It erupted again last week and forced the closure of Sicily’s main airport, in the city Catania, for several days. Catania Airport, Italy's 5th busiest airport by passenger traffic, announced?on? Tuesday that it would extend the halt on all arrivals and departures to 11:00 a.m. (0900 GMT) on Wednesday. Before travelling to either airport, passengers with flights out of both?Catania or Malta were advised to check the status of their flight. Reporting by Chris Scicluna, Crispian Balmer and Jan Harvey.
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Sources and data show that Russia's oil exports via the Arctic route to Asia are starting strongly.
According to three sources of trade and LSEG shipping information, Russia began shipping crude oil 'via its Arctic sea routes' this year at a quicker pace compared to a year earlier. Seven cargoes containing 6 million barrels are already headed to Asia. The Northern Sea Route is usually open between July 1 and October 1 every year. It connects Russia's western port with Asian markets via Arctic waters. The route is being used more frequently by Russia because it allows its cargoes to be delivered to China and other parts in Asia without having to transit waters where they would face inspections, detentions, or other restrictions from?European Authorities linked to Ukraine related sanctions against Russia. According to Rosatom, the Russian state-owned nuclear corporation that oversees the NSR, the volume of about 850,000 tons of oil represents almost half of the roughly 13 millions barrels of oil shipped via the Arctic Route during last year's navigation period. In 2025, crude shipments along the route fell 4% on an annual basis. Rosatom has declined to comment. The arctic route reduces the time it takes to travel from Asia Traders said China, the primary destination for Russian crude transported via this route, may increase its purchases if Middle Eastern supplies are disrupted by the Iran conflict. The NSR reduces the journey time to China by two weeks when compared to the traditional route via Suez Canal. One trader who supplies NSR said that the ice conditions this year are mild and facilitating navigation. Logistical issues in both the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the Black Sea, support Arctic shipments of Russian crude oil to China. Another trader said he also expects the oil supply via the?NSR this year to be higher than 2025 because of economic and geopolitical reasons. The traders say that China's ports are close to the Russian Far Eastern export terminals, making it the biggest beneficiary of the NSR during navigation season. Seven?tankers are currently sailing through the NSR to Asia. Six of them are Aframax vessels with a capacity of approximately 750,000 barrels, while one Suezmax tanker has a capacity of about 1 million barrels. According to LSEG, three of the tankers fly the Russian flag, while the others are flown by Oman?and Cameroon. According to traders, the expected launch of the first phase of Rosneft's massive Vostok oil project in Russia could also increase oil supplies through NSR. The amount of oil that will be exported from this project in 2018 is still unknown. (Reporting and Editing by Jan Harvey).
Carmakers and rental firms urge EU not to mandate EV fleet targets
BMW, Toyota and other automakers and leasing companies from Europe have urged the European Commission to not set mandatory targets on electric vehicle purchases by corporate fleets. They argue that it would be prohibitively expensive and counterproductive.
On December 16, the EU executive will unveil a number of proposals that could allow more flexibility for the European automotive sector to meet CO2 emission targets and ease an effective ban on sales of new internal combustion engine vehicles in 2035.
The package will include plans for corporate fleets such as company cars which account for 50-60% or the new car sales in Europe.
In a letter sent to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission and other Commissioners, the 67 signatories stated that the major obstacles to the adoption of EVs are high purchase and operation costs as well as a lackluster charging infrastructure.
In the letter, it was stated that a mandatory target could be "highly detrimental" and that companies would have to choose between retaining older cars for longer or reducing their new vehicle purchases due to high costs.
Instead, it said that the key to success in European countries where the EVs are updated the fastest is a combination between incentives and investments in charging infrastructure.
Second-hand EVs also need incentives, as many leased vehicles are sold after two to three years.
The signatories include BNP Paribas Arval, Societe Generale Ayvens and Avis Bolt and Hertz, as well as some national rental and lease associations.
Climate Group, a campaigning association, supports a mandated goal and points out that more than 120 companies have committed to 100% electric fleets. These include EDF, Ikea and Siemens.
Lobbying has been frenetic for the EU's Automotive Package, whose publication has been delayed a week. (Reporting and editing by Jan Harvey; Philip Blenkinsop)
(source: Reuters)