Latest News
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US traffic fatalities fell by 8.2% in the first half of 2025 - lowest number since 2020
Officials announced on Tuesday that the number of traffic fatalities in the United States has fallen by 8.2% since the beginning of 2020. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 17,140 people died in car crashes between June 30 and July 31, down from 18,680 during the same period last year. The number of road deaths in the United States increased dramatically during the COVID pandemic 2020 and continued to rise for many years, prompting calls for action. The first half of this year saw the lowest fatality rate since 2014. NHTSA Chief Counsel Peter Simshauser stated that the preliminary numbers are encouraging. These numbers, even though we are seeing progress, are still too high. We remain committed to reducing traffic deaths even further. In 2024, traffic deaths dropped by 3.8% to below 40,000, the lowest level since 2020. Experts said that as the roads in the United States became less congested during this pandemic, some drivers perceived police to be less likely than usual to issue tickets. This led them into more risky driving. Experts said that some drivers also drove more dangerously when they were impaired by alcohol and drugs taken at home. The U.S. death rate was much higher during the pandemic than other developed countries. The Congress has approved $5 billion in five-year installments as part of the $1 trillion infrastructure law for 2021 to address road safety. U.S. traffic fatalities Jumped 10.8% in 2021 The number of pedestrians and cyclists killed on American roads has risen to the highest level in more than four decades. The number of pedestrians and cyclists who were killed on American roadways has risen to its highest level in over four decades. In 2023, a NHTSA report found that crashes cost the taxpayers directly $30 billion and society in general $340 billion. The total cost of crashes to society was $1.37 trillion, or 1.6% of the U.S. economy. (Reporting and editing by Chris Reese, Richard Chang, and David Shepardson)
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Trump names board to mediate New York rail dispute
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive directive to create an emergency board that will conduct mediation in order to prevent a strike at the Long Island Rail Road. The rail road serves more than 300,000 passengers each day. Five unions claimed to have asked Trump for intervention on Monday. The unions threatened to strike the New York commuter railroad this week. A spokesperson for the White House said that Trump had acted on the unions' requests "to bring both parties back to the negotiation table and prevent an strike which could have crippled New York City and disrupted upcoming Ryder Cup in Long Island." The union leaders stated that the White House Board would be appointed and a 120-day period would begin during which it would make its recommendation. During this time, no work stoppages could take place. The White House can name a second panel with a cooling off period up to May 2026 if no agreement is reached. The White House stated that the National Mediation Board, which consists of two Democrats and one Republican, voted in August to release MTA and LIRR workers unions from negotiation. This opened the door for a possible strike. This action does not mean that a strike will never happen. Gil Lang, the general chairman of BLET's LIRR Engineers, said that it is unlikely to happen in the near future. The LIRR is the largest commuter rail system in the U.S. The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) criticized unions on Monday. If these unions really wanted to protect riders, they would settle or agree to binding arbitral... This cynical delaying serves no one." New York Governor Kathy Hochul says both sides need to resume talks. She said, "There's a fair deal on the table and I have instructed the MTA that they are ready to negotiate anywhere, anytime." Both sides must continue to negotiate and work around the clock until it is resolved. (Reporting and editing by David Shepardson)
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Drone attacks on Russia could lead to a reduction in oil production, as Russia's output is expected to remain stable.
Industry sources say that the differential between Urals crude and Brent crude dated Tuesday remained unchanged, but Russia is on its way to cutting oil production due to drone strikes. Transneft, the monopoly Russian oil pipeline company, has warned that oil producers may be forced to reduce oil production following Ukraine's drone strikes on key export ports and refineries. Oil prices rose by over $1 a barrel Tuesday as traders assessed the risk that Russian oil supplies could be disrupted if Ukrainian drones attack its ports and refineries. They also awaited Federal Reserve's interest rate decision. PLATTS WINDOW On Tuesday, there were no bids or offers made on Urals, Azeri BTC Blend or CPC blend in the Platts Window. Ship tracking data from LSEG/Kpler revealed that the sanctioned tanker Spartan discharged Russian crude at India's Mundra Port despite a restriction by Adani Group to the entry of ships on the blacklist at the terminal. Data released on Tuesday showed that Kazakhstan's condensate production rose 13.6% from January to August 2025. Richard Chang (Reporting)
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Administrator says construction of the LPG pipeline under the Panama Canal could begin in 2027.
The Panama Canal's head said that construction of a pipeline for moving liquefied gas (LPG), across Panama, could begin in 2027. The Canal Chief Ricaurte Vasquez stated that initial bidder interest could be received as early as the first quarter next year. The process will continue until 2026. He said that the canal was looking at the pipeline for moving U.S. LPG bound to Asia from one end of the canal the other. Vasquez estimated that the total investment for completing a "corridor" of energy, which would include pipeline segments for moving different types gas, ranges between $4 billion to $8 billion. After the expansion of its territory in a Supreme Court ruling The waterway offers different projects to companies so that it can provide more services to its clients. Vasquez's presentation showed that the pipeline would, once operational, represent a boost to Panama's GDP of 3.6%. (Reporting and writing by Elida Moreno; Editing and proofreading by Marguerita Chy)
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United Airlines CEO rejects bid for Spirit Airlines
Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, said that his company will not bid on the assets of bankrupt Spirit Airlines if those assets become available. Spirit Airlines filed for bankruptcy last month, for the second consecutive year. A previous restructuring failed to improve its financial standing. Discount carrier will be restructuring its fleet and network, which could lead to a number of assets being offered for sale by competitors. Kirby said that Spirit's aircraft, slots, and routes just "don't work" with the Chicago-based carrier. United Airlines would be "unpractical" if it took two to three year to reconfigure Spirit's fleet. He added that there were not enough gates in key Spirit markets, such as Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Kirby stated in an interview that "it's not our wheelhouse." "We're not going try to do this." Reporting by Doyinsola Oladipo, writing by Rajesh Kumar Singh and editing by Chizu Nomiyama.
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India's Dreamfolks stop domestic airport lounge service
Dreamfolks Services announced on Tuesday that it has discontinued its airport lounge service in India. However, the company's other domestic services, as well as global lounge business, will continue to operate as normal. The company did not provide any further details, but said that the move would have an impact. Dreamfolks began to face challenges when airport operators decided to directly offer lounge access. In August, three of the company's customers -- Encalm Hospitality Adani Digital, and Semolina Kitchens - had been notified that they were going to be unable to continue their business. They would terminate their contracts It is also expanding its focus on the global lounge business. Dreamfolks announced earlier in July that it would be discontinuing some programs for Axis Bank clients and ICICI Bank customers. Dreamfolks said on Tuesday that its contracts with customers are active, and that there are ongoing discussions to explore alternatives services for clients. In 2025, its shares will be down by 65%.
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The U.S. restores Hungary to full status under the visa waiver program
Trump's administration announced on Tuesday that the United States had fully restored Hungary’s status as a visa-free country after the Hungarian Government took steps to address its security vulnerabilities. This decision is one the first tangible evidences of improved relations between President Donald Trump and the Hungarian government. Hungarian Prime Minster Viktor Orban is a long-time Trump ally. Visa Waiver Program allows citizens of about 40 countries to visit the United States without a Visa for a stay up to 90 Days. In 2021, U.S. Homeland Security Department revoked all electronic approvals already issued to Hungarian passport holders who were born outside Hungary, and continued to reject new applications from Hungarian applicants. The Biden Administration reduced, in August 2023 the validity period of Hungarian travellers from two to one year. They also limited electronic approvals to only one use. The restrictions placed by the previous administration on Tuesday have been lifted, DHS stated. "Now that Hungary has taken the actions requested by the U.S. Government to address security weaknesses, the restrictions imposed from the previous administration are no longer in place," DHS added. Orban and Trump may have a good personal relationship, but the relations between their countries are not free of friction. Orban's country, which is a member of the European Union, had hoped to have a broad-ranging Economic agreement It has yet to materialize. The U.S. On July 27, a framework agreement that imposed a 15 percent import tariff on the majority of EU goods was signed, averting an even bigger trade war. The deal was not without its flaws. Hungary, because its auto exports had previously been subject to a 2.5% tariff. Hungary is also heavily dependent on Russian crude and gas supplies. Trump's policies are not helping. Pressuring The EU should accelerate its efforts to stop all energy imports coming from Russia. Orban's antiimmigration policy has also earned the admiration of MAGA circles within the United States. Orban welcomed Trump's earlier decision to close USAID, which is the U.S. main foreign aid agency.
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Sources say that the Permian pipelines of Plains All American in Texas are facing quality problems.
Plains All American crude oil pipelines connecting the Permian basin to Corpus Christi's export hub, Texas, are experiencing quality problems due to high levels of mercaptans or naturally occurring sulfur compounds. This is according to sources who have been familiar with this matter, and an official notice. Plains, which has pipelines along the Gulf Coast, will begin charging a fee of a half dollar per barrel that does not meet the mercaptan specification. This is according to an notice sent to shippers and two sources. Sources requested anonymity in order to discuss confidential data. Plains didn't immediately respond to our request for comment. One source said that the quality issues may force Gulf Coast refiners to look for alternatives, particularly those in South Texas' Corpus Christi area, in order to obtain Midland crude oil from the Permian, which is delivered via the affected Plains pipelines. Plains is still trying identify the source of the contamination. It is therefore too early to say if this will have an impact on U.S. crude oil exports. According to the port website, Corpus Christi exports over 2 million barrels per day of crude oil. Plains has interests in several long-haul oil pipelines, which move roughly 2.1 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude out of the Permian basin to Corpus Christi, and then to Cushing, Oklahoma, the storage hub. Shariq Khan and Nicole Jao reported; Emelia Sithole Matarise, Liz Hampton, and Franklin Paul edited.
New Zealand scraps clean, green policies to enhance economy
New Zealand's green credentials are at threat as the federal government rolls back ecological reforms in a bid to improve a flailing economy and satisfy guarantees made to its voters.
Since taking power in 2015, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's centre-right coalition announced it will reverse a restriction on oil and gas exploration, press the prices of farming emissions back 5 year and encourage more mining.
This is part of a federal government shift in top priorities towards increasing exports to support an economy that grew simply 0.3% in the year to March 2024, its lowest development for the exact same duration since the pandemic hit in 2020, which has a current account deficit at 6.8% of GDP.
Exports comprise almost a quarter of New Zealand's economy.
The financial circumstance for me, is probably the worst of the set of circumstances that I can keep in mind in my adult life, Resources Minister Shane Jones stated.
So when the opportunity arose to champion the re-emergence of the mineral sector it was driven by quite a ruthless understanding of what our financial circumstance is, he added.
The farming sector consisting of fishing contributes 5% to the economy, and represent about 80% of overall exports. The farmers who helped Luxon's government concerned power had actually stated the environmental policies that the coalition federal government are reversing would have made dairy and meat too costly to produce.
However while farmers and business have actually cheered the changes, environmentalists criticised the union for what they stated were shortsighted policies.
They are not looking at both sides of the journal here, and the financial effects of damaging the joint for a couple of quick dollars for the federal government of this day, and therefore jeopardizing the prosperity of future generations of New Zealanders, said Nicola Toki, president of environmental organization Forest and Bird.
Last week, the national provider Air New Zealand dropped its 2030 emissions target, mentioning hold-ups in new airplane and the high costs of environmentally friendly fuel. The opposition Green Party stated it was concerned that the federal government's low. ambition approach to environment modification would encourage more. business to do the same.
A report from the government Environment Commission released. last week stated there were significant threats to New Zealand. fulfilling its 2030 and 2035 domestic emission targets and its. promised reduction in methane from animals and waste.
It noted any shortage in satisfying these targets would. increase the need for more overseas mitigation to satisfy the. nationally identified contribution. Treasury in 2015 projection. mitigation could cost as much as NZ$ 23.5 billion ($ 14 billion).
EMISSION THREATS
The government has stated it is working on a climate modification. plan that consists of the planting of more trees, increasing. renewable energy supply and investing in cutting edge innovation. to lower emissions.
Environment Minister Simon Watts stated the government expects to. fulfill the 2030 target but confessed more work was required to meet. the 2035 target.
The Federal government is devoted to satisfying our climate change. targets, however the method which we do this will be different to. former New Zealand Federal governments, he stated. This Government is. using a least-cost method to fulfill our climate targets. We will. not shut down sectors that are enhancing our economy and. exports.
Ecologists, nevertheless, say this is not enough.
University of Otago Climate Change Research Study Network. co-director Sara Walton said New Zealand would face considerable. reputational and financial damage for not meeting the targets.
It's more crucial than ever for companies to be reducing. their emissions in order to remain competitive globally. in terms of supply chains, said Walton.
After the rural vote helped the 3 celebration coalition. government sweep to power last year, the government assured to. pull agriculture from the emissions trading plan.
Agricultural emissions would still be taxed from 2030. but rules around safeguarding considerable natural areas to. support biodiversity are being suspended.
Other sectors the federal government is targeting are energy and. mineral resources.
It has said it would enable oil and gas exploration again,. which previous Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern prohibited in 2018, in a. bid to reduce imports of coal, increase fuel exports and keep. energy costs for the public and small companies low.
The federal government has likewise set a target to double mineral. exports to NZ$ 2 billion over ten years and has revealed a. stocktake of its resources.
It has likewise proposed a fast lane consenting procedure that. would allow the similarity mines to prevent current resource. permissions if they can win ministerial approval.
Cindy Baxter, chair of ecological group Kiwis against. Seabed Mining, is stressed this will allow a questionable seabed. mining job to go ahead on New Zealand's west coast.
It's a beautiful piece of ocean with reefs and sea life ... which could be definitely destroyed by seabed mining, Baxter. stated.
(source: Reuters)