Latest News
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Brazil court recommends a two-stage auction for the mega Santos terminal as a blow to Maersk
The Brazilian Federal Audit Court (TCU), voting six to three, recommended that operators of existing container terminals in the Santos Port be banned from participating 'in the first stage of bidding for the planned mega terminal. This decision is a blow for companies like Danish shipping group Maersk and MSC, which already operate container terminals at the largest port in Latin America. These companies can only enter the second phase of auction if they do not receive any?valid bids. The two-phased model proposed by Antaq, the port regulator, and challenged in court by Maersk, could be beneficial to 'new entrants in Asia, or even JBS meatpacking companies, who entered the shipping industry?last year, as operators of a Santa Catarina container terminal. The Brazilian government expects that the Tecon 10 winner will invest more than 6 billion reais over a period of 25 years and increase container handling capacity at Santos to 50%. This will reduce?logistical bottlenecks. "Accepting this proposal increases the chances of an independent operator entering the port and reduces the risks that one operator controls the terminal," Augusto Nardes said, a TCU court member. Maersk stated that the TCU's decisions disregard technical studies performed by various Brazilian government agencies. It added that this "significantly reduces" the potential of the project in Latin America's biggest port. International Container Terminal Services (International Container Terminal Services), a Philippine-based operator of 33 terminals for container handling in different countries, has welcomed the TCU's decision. In a press release, it stated that "this is a well-known and traditional model in the infrastructure industry which encourages the effective entry of a?new player into the Port Santos". The TCU recommendation that the auction be scheduled by the Ministry?of?Ports was not unanimous. Benjamin Zymler defended a different model in which the winner would have to sell assets if he or she was already an operator at Santos. Cristina Machado said that excluding current operators from the first stage of the auction would violate the principle of competitive bidding. $1 = 5.4298 Reais (Additional reporting by Luciana Magnhaes; Writing by Ana Mano, Editing by Himani Sakar)
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Trump Administration wants airports and airlines to offer healthier food options
By David Shepardson ARLINGTON (Virginia), Dec. 8 - On Monday, the Trump administration stated that it wanted airlines and airports offering healthier food options and exercise equipment, as well as?family-friendly amenities like playspaces, and nursing facilities. Sean Duffy, Transportation Secretary, said at a Reagan Washington National Airport press conference that he called the majority of U.S. airlines CEOs to ask them how they could improve travel experiences. Duffy last week urged airlines not to serve salty pretzels or cookies with high calorie counts on board and to offer healthier options. Duffy responded on Monday that he couldn't do much to reduce the cost of food in airports. It was a matter of market demand and supply. Duffy explained that the airports have very few options and keep people in a tight space. "I am trying to provide healthier options." Duffy also urged airports?to add more spaces and exercise equipment for children, as well as to increase the number of places where mothers can nurse their babies. Duffy launched a new campaign last month to encourage people to dress and act nicely when traveling by air. They asked travelers to refrain from wearing pajamas or slippers at the airport. "This isn't about mandates. This is not a requirement. This is not a requirement. Duffy spoke on Monday. "How can we make our travel experience a little better, while we're all together? This is the conversation that we are having. But I won't force this down anyone's throat .... I won't fine anyone for wearing their pajamas to the airport." Duffy and Health Sec? Robert F. Kennedy did pull-ups in the airport, promoting the importance of exercising before flying. Duffy oversees a $12.5 billion overhaul to the air traffic control system of the United States and is working?to resolve a chronic shortage of air traffic controls. He is asking Congress to approve an additional $19 billion for the project. Duffy stated that he was unaware of any updates on the Transportation Department proposal, issued by President Joe Biden. The proposal would have prohibited airlines from charging fees for seating families with small children on U.S. flight if adjacent seats are available at time of booking. His department lists this proposal as "long-term action." Reporting by David Shepardson, Editing by Leslie Adler & Jamie Freed
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Brazil court recommends two stage auction of mega Santos Port Terminal in blow to Maersk
The Brazilian Federal Audit Court (TCU), on Monday, recommended that operators of other mega container terminals in Santos be banned from bidding for the first phase of the auction, citing possible concentration of the market. This decision is a blow for companies like Danish shipping group Maersk and MSC that operate container terminals at Latin America's biggest port. These companies can only enter the second phase of bidding if the first one does not receive valid bids. Maersk challenged the two-phase model proposed by port regulator Antaq in court. It could be beneficial to new entrants in Asia, or companies from the JBS group who entered the shipping industry last year by operating a container terminal at 'Santa Catarina. The Brazilian government estimates that the Tecon 10 terminal will cost "nearly six billion reais" ($1.11 billion) over 25 years. It will increase container handling capacity in Santos by 50 percent, thus reducing logistical bottlenecks. "Accepting this proposal increases the chances of an independent operator entering the port and reduces the risks that one operator controls the terminal," Augusto Nardes said, a TCU court member. International Container Terminal Services (International Container Terminal Services), a Philippine-based operator of 33 terminals for container handling in different countries, has welcomed the TCU decision. In a press release, it stated that "This is a well-known and traditional model in the infrastructure industry which encourages a new player to enter the Port of Santos". The decision that allows the Ministry of Ports to schedule the auction was not unanimous. Benjamin Zymler a member of court defended a different model in which the winner would be forced to sell assets if he was already an operator at Santos. Cristina Machado said that excluding current operators from the auction's first phase could violate the principle of competitive bidding.
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Spirit Airlines sells Chicago airport gates to American Airlines at a cost of $30 million
Spirit Aviation has agreed to transfer two airport gates for $30 million to American Airlines after a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge for the Southern District of New York granted the company's Monday request. Spirit filed for bankruptcy a second-time in August as it struggled to deal with its dwindling reserves of cash and increasing losses. The company has rejected over 80 leases and left 14 airports. Spirit Airlines has decided to optimize its network and no longer need all four preferential gate at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. It will keep two gates, while American Airlines gets two gates. According to a court filing in November, Spirit operated approximately 32 departures on peak days from O'Hare. Since then, the number has been halved. A court filing stated that the price of $15 million for each gate was considered reasonable by both parties, based on market conditions and "lengthy good-faith negotiations". (Reporting and editing by Doyinsola Oladipo, New York)
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Zelenskiy confirms that drones were seen near his path on flight to Ireland
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed on Monday that drones unidentified had been seen near his flight path during his recent trip to Ireland. "There will be a probe... He told reporters that there were indeed drones. He said that he had become used to the situation. Irish media reported Thursday that up to five drones were operating near the path taken by the presidential plane. The Journal, the first to report the sighting of drones at Dublin Airport, stated on its website that it reached the exact location where Zelenskiy’s plane had been expected to be, at the exact time when the plane was due to pass. The Irish Times reported that the aircraft was in no danger and arrived a little early. (Reporting and editing by Kevin Liffey, Tomaszjanowski, and Yuliia Dyesa)
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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)
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Tanzanians are urged to stay at home in anticipation of protests
Tanzania's Government warned on Monday, that the planned protests for Tuesday were illegal and would amount to a coup attempt. Security forces had been deployed in large numbers throughout major cities. Following the violent suppression during the October elections, in which hundreds of people were killed, activists and the opposition called for protests against the government on Tuesday. "Those protests were not allowed and are illegal... this is not a demonstration, it is a coup," said Home Affairs Minister George Simbachawene in a press briefing held in Tanzania's commercial heartland Dar es Salaam. "Our security organs are going to handle them." The U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights called on authorities to respect the fundamental rights before the planned demonstrations. They also demanded the lifting of an nationwide protest ban and warned against excessive force. Seif Magango said that security forces should allow Tanzanians the right to peaceful assembly and speech and not use force to disperse gatherings. Stay at home! The October protests were sparked by the exclusion from the presidential elections of the leading opposition candidates. Samia Hassan, the incumbent president with almost 98% of the votes, was declared to be the winner. The government acknowledged that people died, but did not provide its own death count. It rejected claims that the police used excessive force. In a video that was posted on X Monday, Mwigulu Nchemba, the Prime Minister, urged people to remain at home without mentioning directly the anticipated protests. He said that the government advised all citizens, who do not have an urgent need on December 9, to take the day off and enjoy it at home. Those whose jobs require them to work at their desks are exempt. Police said that Friday, any protest would be illegal as authorities had not been notified in writing by the organisers. Witnesses reported that heavy police and military deployments were visible Monday along major highways in Dar es Salaam, and Arusha to the north. Hassan appointed a commission for the investigation of election-related violence, but he has denied repeatedly that security forces had acted in an improper manner and accused protesters to try to overthrow government. Last week, the United States announced that it would be reviewing its relationship to Tanzania due to concerns over violence against civilians and religious freedom. Vincent Mumo Nzilani (Writing) Editing Elias Biryabarema Peter Graff Aiden Lewis
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Congress is considering requiring the US military to report near-misses and use helicopter safety alerts in close proximity to DC airport.
According to the annual defense policy legislation, which was unveiled on Sunday night, U.S. Military helicopters that are conducting training missions will need to send out alerts to commercial aircraft near Reagan Washington National Airport in order to avoid collisions. A Black Hawk Army helicopter that was on a training flight and not using the ADS-B safety system collided in January with an American Airlines regional plane near an airport outside Washington. 67 people were killed. The 3,000 page legislation would also require that the Pentagon disclose to Congress how many near misses military aircraft had with commercial planes in the past 10 years, and to issue future reports on incidents. The bill doesn't specify what type of alerts military helicopters would be required to use. The Defense Department can only waive this requirement after a thorough risk assessment has been conducted and the risks to commercial aircraft have been addressed. The Senate Commerce Committee passed a bill in October requiring the use of ADS-B following the collision that occurred in January. The annual defense bill, on the other hand, requires a feasibility report on installing ADS-B in all military helicopters. Ted Cruz, chair of the Senate Commerce Committee in October, said that the bill "closes an unsafe loophole which allowed military aircraft to fly in domestic skies and not communicate their position to other pilots quickly and accurately like commercial aircraft." Both partisan lawmakers and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy questioned the Federal Aviation Administration's failure to take action for years in response to close calls with military helicopters near Washington Reagan National Airport. The bill would mandate safety reviews at Reagan National Airport and other major airports, and direct the Army Inspector General's Office (AIG) to conduct a safety audit. In April, the FAA announced that government helicopters would be required to use ADS-B near Reagan National. After a close call, the FAA banned the Army from flying helicopters around the Pentagon in May. FAA also took steps to increase separation between jets and helicopters. Senator Maria Cantwell of the Commerce Committee, who sponsored the bill as well in October, cited a NTSB report from March which stated that there have been 15,200 incidents since 2021 involving commercial aircraft and helicopters near Reagan National, including 85 close calls. Cantwell's and Cruz’s offices declined comment on the provisions of the defense bill.
Sources say that GMR Airports in India plans to sell long-term bonds worth $245 million.
Three sources familiar with the development said that GMR Airports in India is planning to raise funds via its longest-tenor bonds issue before the end of this week.
Sources, who requested anonymity because the discussions are private, said that the airport operator is looking to raise approximately 22 billion rupees (245 million dollars) by selling bonds maturing within 15 years.
One source said that the proceeds would be used to refinance the debt of GMR - Hyderabad International and for corporate purposes in general.
GMR Airports did not reply to an email asking for comment.
Since a long time, the company has refinanced its expensive foreign currency borrowings using local debt.
Merchant bankers report that local funding for GMR Airports is now cheaper, after Abu Dhabi Investment Authority invested around 63 billion rupees last year in structured debts of GMR 'Enterprises', the holding company of GMR Group.
The 'company' raised a total of 59 billion rupees in August through bonds that matured in 18 months or three years, with an annual coupon rate of 10.50% for both.
GMR Airports bonds have been rated by Crisil as A+. $1 = 90,1550 Indian Rupees (Reporting and editing by Dharamraj Dhutia & Khushi malhotra)
(source: Reuters)