Latest News
-
Oil giants rush in to help Italy's Meloni reduce energy costs by introducing fuel price caps
Kuwait's energy firm,?Q8, will cap the price of Italian petrol at the pump for a month beginning October 1. This follows similar commitments by Italy's Eni as well as?Azerbaijan SOCAR. Market analysts have interpreted the moves as an attempt to curry favor with Rome's government and discourage it from imposing windfall taxes on energy company profits. This was something that Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti, and other prominent politicians had proposed. Giorgia Melons is scrambling for resources to help families, firms and businesses cope with the rising energy costs. She's preparing to present her government's budget 2027 in October. It will be her last presentation before an upcoming election next year. Q8. Italy said in a press release that its cap would generate "tangible" benefits for motorists but didn't specify the price. Meloni, in a press release, said: "I'd like to thank Kuwait as well as the group operating the Q8 stations that operate in Italy for listening to the Italian government's request to energy companies about capping fuel prices." SOCAR and Eni have capped diesel prices at EUR2.19 ($2.48) a litre since Monday, while petrol is priced at EUR1.99 per litre. Equita and Intermonte, two brokers who provide brokerage services to energy companies and their clients, wrote in client reports that this initiative would reduce the risk of new taxation on windfall profits. Germany, Spain Portugal, Italy and Poland are calling for a windfall tax to be imposed on energy companies across the EU. They warn that oil prices are rising at a rapid rate, fueling voter unrest over the cost of living. Giorgetti is not ruling out the introduction of a domestic windfall-tax rather than waiting on a joint initiative. The National?Consumers' Union of Italy welcomed Q8's decision, stating that about half of Italy’s network of fuel stations will now be imposing price caps. The consumer group stated that the challenge is to "prevent the abuse" of dominant market positions, and to ensure that independent fuel stations are not squeezed out or forced to shut down. According to data from the industry ministry, price caps have had little impact on lowering fuel prices. The self-service price for petrol was EUR2.126 per 1 litre, down from EUR2.159 the previous day. Diesel prices were also slightly lower, at EUR2.335, compared to EUR2.377. The price of petrol on the motorway network was EUR2.180 and diesel EUR2.383.
-
TSA officers are not allowed to sit down during ID checks in US airports
The US Transportation Security Administration and a major US airport union announced on Tuesday that officers of the US Transportation Security Administration will not be able to'sit while checking IDs' at uS airport checkpoints. The TSA has removed chairs from checkpoints. According to the American Federation of Government Employees TSA Council 100 which represents workers, the removal is "a disregard for workers' safety and rights" and the chairs are "basic ergonomic and safety support to officers who stand and walk all day on hard surfaces." TSA announced the decision and said: "This welcome shift reinforces our security posture as well as?our commitment towards hospitality by keeping these officers alert and on their toes." To perform their vital role in national security, all officers must meet the fitness for duty requirements. In April, President Donald Trump proposed cutting 9,400 employees and just over $1.5 billion or about 20% from the budget of the TSA, which has 60,000 employees. Trump has also proposed that smaller airports use private security. This would reduce the TSA's payroll by over 4,500 jobs, and is a step towards privatizing the agency, which was created in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks. Since years, about 20 airports have used private security screening, including those located in San Francisco and Kansas City, as well as Sarasota (Florida) and San Francisco. The US Senate voted in August to 'confirm' David Cummins as the new head of TSA. Cummins is a senior Vice President at Serco, an international company based in UK that provides public services to governments. Trump fired TSA chief David Pekoske in 2025 on his first day in office and didn't nominate a successor for 16 months. The government shutdown forced 50,000 TSA workers to work without pay for six weeks. This caused major disruptions including four-hour or longer airport security lines. CNN announced the new security procedures on Tuesday.
-
Pentagon: Boeing has won the contract for next-generation US Navy fighters.
The Pentagon announced on Tuesday that Boeing had been selected to build the US Navy’s next-generation stealth fighter. This is Boeing’s second consecutive major victory in fighter jets, and it caps months of delays over a program which is crucial to countering China’s presence in the Pacific. Boeing won the $20 billion contract for test aircraft from Northrop Grumman Corp. Over the course of its life, the program's cost could reach hundreds of billions as production ramps-up and international customers place orders. Boeing won a contract to build the Air Force’s stealthy F-47 fighter in March of last year, making it its second major sixth-generation aircraft contract in consecutive years. Boeing's long-standing history of building carrier-based fighters, such as the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet it is replacing, made the company a strong competitor throughout the competition. This pedigree was a factor in overcoming concerns raised by officials about Boeing's ability to field enough engineers and vendors to build both the F-47 fighter and Navy fighter at the same time. Boeing shares rose?2.25% on Tuesday in extended trading, while Northrop stocks fell 3.5%. ST. LOUIS BUSINESS BOOST This contract represents a significant boost for Boeing's fighter-production operations in St. Louis (Missouri), which are closing down the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, and EA-18G Growler, production lines. Steve Parker, Boeing Defense, Space & Security's president and chief executive, stated in a press release that the company had made "investments in new facilities uniquely suited for building multiple products with next generation capabilities. Our dedicated and talented team are ready to execute this crucial program." The new jet, currently designated "F/A-XX", will be at the heart of the Navy’s Next Generation Air Dominance system family. Michael Duffey said that the jet was "a critical, non-negotiable, investment in America's long-term air combat capabilities and national security." Delays and Congressional Intervention Despite this, the program has faced delays and funding disputes over many years. Pentagon officials wanted to delay the program by three years, citing concerns about engineering and supply chain capacity. Congress intervened and allocated $750 million in the 2025 tax cut?and spending bill and $1.4 billion in fiscal 2026. Lockheed Martin Corp. was eliminated from competition in March 2025, after Navy officials determined that its design did not meet required criteria. Boeing and Northrop were the two finalists. China is rapidly developing advanced combat aircraft including what Beijing calls sixth-generation designs. The Navy was under pressure to move quickly or risk not having a modern fighter carrier in the 2030s. The new jet will feature improved stealth capabilities and range, as well as the ability to integrate with the Navy's carrier-based systems for air defense. The Navy plans to purchase?more then 270 Lockheed Martin F-35C aircraft for its carrier fleet. These will fly along with the F/A-XX when it is in service. The first production F/A-XX aircraft are expected in 2030s. Meanwhile, the Super Hornets in service since 1990s will continue to fly until 2040.
-
Smoke in the cabin causes emergency landing of a Boston bound Delta flight in Portugal
Delta Airlines reported that a flight from Barcelona to Boston made an emergency landing in Porto, Portugal on Sunday afternoon. The company reported that Flight DL251 had been diverted from Barcelona to Porto due to a mechanical problem and landed safely there. Flightradar24, a tracking service, indicated that the plane left Barcelona at 3:15 pm (1315 GMT), and landed in Porto at 5 p.m. (1645 GMT). A spokesperson for Portugal's emergency and civil protection authority said that eight passengers who were on board the Airbus A330 were treated at the Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport, while three others were transported to hospital. The Portuguese spokesperson said that the forced landing was due to "smoke" in the cabin.
-
Increased security at US Fairford Air Base in England
A witness said that security measures at an 'US airbase in southwest England have increased significantly in the last few days, with roadblocks and armed police blocking access, as well as emergency vehicles parked near. A spokesperson from the US Air Force confirmed that they are aware of the current reports but will not discuss specific measures to protect forces. The spokesperson stated that "the 501st combat support wing and our UK-based Wings will remain vigilant and take appropriate actions to ensure safety and security for?our US servicemen, civilians and contractors, as well as their families." "We continually assess a number of factors to determine which measures we implement?or change in order to protect our installations and our people, as well as their families." Britain declared?in July that its armed forces were ready to protect the country against any attack, after Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned not to allow US bombers fly out of Fairford. Fairford in Gloucestershire was used to launch operations against Iran during the Middle East Conflict.
-
Boeing flags 737 MAX Software Bug Affecting Landing Navigation Feature, WSJ Reports
The Wall Street Journal, citing documents from the company, reported that Boeing has discovered a previously unknown software bug in its 737 MAX aircraft. This glitch could cause an automated navigation 'feature' to fail on landing. Report said that the issue was caused by a software update in the cockpit and could occur when crews change their flight plan after a missed landing. Boeing, when asked for comment, said that it had informed 'all 737 operators' last month of the software problem under which pilots could not?have access to automated flight guidance in a certain landing scenario. Our engineers are working on a software update to 'permanently address the issue. Boeing stated in an email that engineers were working on a permanent software update. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that it was aware of a possible issue with a software update to the flight computers in certain Boeing 737 MAX aircrafts, and worked closely with Boeing as well as the airlines. The FAA issued a statement saying that it would convene a Corrective Action Review Board if a safety concern was identified. Boeing has come under heavy regulatory and safety scrutiny over the past few years, following two 'fatal 737 MAX crash incidents in 2018 and 2019, which led to a 'worldwide grounding of the aircraft. Also after a cabin panel blew out mid-air on a brand new Alaska Airlines MAX 9 in 2018. Southwest Airlines and 'United Airlines' have requested that Boeing not deliver new 737 MAX aircraft with the affected software, and instead request an earlier version. The report stated that it was not immediately clear how many aircraft were operating with the flawed software. Boeing, airlines, and regulators are evaluating the issue to determine if it poses a safety concern for flight, according to the report.
-
Russia claims it has struck Ukrainian defence industry vessels and facilities
On Friday, the Russian Defence Ministry said that 'its forces' had carried out drone strikes overnight on Ukrainian defence industry installations, logistic centres and vessels used in Ukraine by its armed forces. The 'Ministry' said that the strikes targeted a 'drone assembly and storage site, in the Kyiv region; logistics hubs in Odesa and port infrastructure in Reni along the Danube River. It was also reported that Russian forces had struck a cargo vessel carrying dual-use and military goods bound for the port of Odesa. Later, on Friday, the ministry announced that its forces had hit another cargo ship?in Odesa that was delivering a?logistics centre?to the port Chornomorsk. This centre is used by Ukraine's armed forces and security forces. It also houses a data center for the?processing of intelligence data and the transmission of it. Could not independently verify statements.
-
Volkswagen recalls 4 million cars, Handelsblatt reports
The Handelsblatt reported that Volkswagen, the German automaker, will recall 4 million vehicles from four different brands. This is the largest recall since the Dieselgate scandal. According to the German KBA, there will be a recall of 2.16 million VW and 700,000 Audi vehicles. The Handelsblatt reported that Volkswagen's Czech?brand Skoda, and Seat in Spain would also be affected by the action. Seat confirmed that the number. Skoda has not yet commented on the report. Volkswagen stated in an earlier press release that customers were asked to bring their vehicles to be repaired due to a?risk of corrosion associated with a screw within the steering system. If left unchecked this could affect the steering system's function in the long run. The company said that the recall is a precautionary measure, and that replacing the screw will take less than an hour. Volkswagen refused to comment on the cost estimate of the recalls.
How US freight rail became dirtier than coal-fired power plants
BNSF Railways, a crown jewel of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, claims to be an environmental leader within the U.S. railway industry, with the cleanest fleet of locomotives in North America.
In its latest sustainability report, BNSF urges people to "think green" when they see the steel wheels of orange locomotives and freight cars moving along steel rails.
The company has the biggest share in an industry with a serious pollution problem. According to government data, U.S. railroads emit more nitrogen oxides, the main component of smog than all of the coal-fired plants combined.
U.S. railways produced together about 485,000 tonnes of nitrogen oxides in 2024, compared with 452,000 tonnes emitted by U.S. power plants that burn coal, according to a calculation based on reported annual fuel consumption multiplied the EPA’s 2023 average weighted emission rates.
BNSF is the largest freight railroad in the United States. It accounts for a third of that total and will produce 161,500 tonnes of smog causing nitrogen oxide by 2024. "We don't dispute your number. BNSF stated in an email that it is the largest Class I railroad based on volume. Morningstar railroad analyst Greggory Warren believes that BNSF’s position as the largest rail company in the United States, and its profitability will be challenged if a $85 billion merger of Union Pacific with Norfolk Southern is approved by regulators. This would create the U.S.’s first coast-to-coast rail freight operator.
Four industry experts agreed that the calculations were fair. Class I railroads produce 80% of all NOx tonnes produced in the industry. Class I refers to six major railroads that generate more than $1 billion annually.
BNSF has not reported on its share of the recent NOx emission performance of the rail industry, or the factors that are driving the high levels of pollution.
According to the EPA’s Co-Benefits Risk Assessment Tool, railroad locomotive pollution costs the United States $48 billion annually in healthcare costs. It also causes 3,100 premature deaths.
Bill Magavern is the policy director for Coalition for Clean Air in California, an organization that promotes public health. He said that the EPA should force railroads to upgrade their fleets.
The EPA declined comment on rail pollution specifically for this article, but stated: "The Trump EPA has a commitment to enhancing its ability to provide clean air, land, and water for all Americans."
AGGING FREIGHT LOCOS
Railroads' poor performance in terms of emissions is mainly due to the fact they have stopped replacing their aging locomotive fleet. According to EPA reports and industry reports, the average age of U.S. trains is 28 years old, compared to 20 years in 2009.
This is a problem, because the federal emission?standards are based on the age of the locomotives. The oldest locomotives have the lowest limits.
The U.S. rail freight industry has been slow to buy new locomotives because there is no requirement for retiring old ones. This fear of new regulations that could be implemented by future administrations may have exacerbated the situation.
Edward Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat Senator, claims that railroads are no longer interested in innovation. Markey stated that the air pollution standards of railroads have a loophole the size of an engine, which is being used by companies to keep dirty, old trains on tracks.
Rail industry claims that rail is the most environmentally friendly option to transport freight on land. They cite data from the U.S. Department of Transportation. A locomotive can transport a ton (about 500 miles) of freight on one gallon of gasoline, which is up to three or four times as efficient as trucks.
The Association of American Railroads also said that it was unfair to compare rail with?powerplants, saying locomotives had little choice but diesel. The power plants in question have many other options to generate electricity - hydropower, wind, coal, natural gases, etc. The rail industry is different, the trade group said.
BNSF has said that it will reduce its emissions by improving efficiency and technology. It also stands behind its claim of having the cleanest fleet based on its number of modern locomotives.
BNSF reported that 360 of the 6,780 locomotives it owns are modern locomotives, Tier 4 engines, which meet the strictest federal emission standards. This is the largest number in the entire industry.
Surface Transportation Board data shows that only 5% of the total fleet is in use or stored. Analysts and CN press release about new locomotives claim that Canadian National's rival has about 300 Tier 4 engines, which make up 27% of their total fleet. BNSF's closest competitors operate about 270 Tier 4 locomotives at Union Pacific, and about 225 at CSX Corp. EPA data and company press releases, as well as trade industry reports, show that there are about 80 Tier 4 locomotives at Norfolk Southern and 270 at Union Pacific.
BNSF spent 394 million dollars on?165 rebuilt and new locomotives between 2020 and 2024. This was a 69% decrease from the previous five years, when the company spent $1.26billion on 558 engines. According to BNSF's annual reports filed to the U.S., the replacement of aging locomotives--some lasting as long as 40 years-slowed down sharply. Surface Transportation Board.
CLEANEST FEET?
BNSF's large size is not the only reason for its high emissions.
According to statistics submitted by the U.S. Department of Transportation, BNSF has the lowest fuel efficiency amongst the six largest railroads in the United States. Surface Transportation Board is the industry's economic regulator.
BNSF used 1.14 gallons per ton of weight moved over 1,000 miles in 2024. This industry metric is called a gross-ton mile. Union Pacific used 1.08 gallons of diesel to move the same amount of weight over the same distance. The most efficient railroad, Canadian National, consumed 0.88 gallons.
According to railroad industry analysts interviewed, BNSF's fuel efficiency is low because it transports more intermodal cargo than its peers.
The high-priority containers must move faster than normal freight, as they are usually more time-sensitive. This is according to Jason Kuehn a vice president and railroad analyst at the consulting firm Oliver Wyman.
BNSF will ship 5.3 million intermodal shipments in 2024. This is nearly 60% more than the No. According to the company's disclosures, Union Pacific is ranked No. 2.
Analysts say BNSF is likely to be less efficient due to its limited use of precision-scheduled railing. This industry practice aims at reducing fuel consumption and costs by using longer trains, fewer engines, and a shorter idle time. Fuel efficiency is also affected by mountainous terrain, and the congestion of a railroad network.
BNSF refused to comment on why it has a relatively low fuel efficiency, but maintained that it was an environmental leader 'in the industry based upon its adoption of the new locomotives which allows it to burn fuel cleaner.
The company said that it had the "cleanest fleet" of locomotives and platform locomotives.
It refused to give details about its fleet-wide emission intensity and could not verify whether it was better than competitors.
According to the EPA, Tier 4 locomotives reduce NOx by up to 80% compared with Tier 3 models.
Fear of Regulation
Railroads have stopped investing in new locomotives because of new regulations, including zero-emissions standard proposed by California. They are concerned that these new rules could make them obsolete.
Roger Nober, former chief legal officer of BNSF and director of George Washington University’s Regulatory Studies Center, said: "These locomotives are 40-45 years old, but you say they won't be able use them because we will have zero emissions."
"Railroads do not see this as an efficient use for their capital."
In 2008, EPA hoped that it could clean up the freight rail industry by setting higher standards for new locomotives. These standards included new Tier 3 models and Tier 4 models. Rail companies have slowed their purchase of new locomotives in order to encourage the replacement of older locomotives.
The EPA predicted in 2008 that by 2025, at least 30 percent of freight locomotives will be operating within the most stringent limits. According to the EPA, only 6.5% out of 19,303 locomotives that are currently active and operated by the six major railroads will meet this limit in 2023.
According to the U.S. Office of Transportation and Air Quality, American railroads had replaced their locomotives annually at a rate of 4% before 2008. By 2024 the replacement rate for the railroad industry had fallen to 0.5% annually.
Neither BNSF, nor its competitors provide precise data about the model year of?active locomotives within their national fleets.
The industry's biggest battle has been against California's proposed emission standard. This would have prohibited locomotives older than 22 years from operating within the state and required that all locomotives be zero-emissions in 2035.
California, with its large market size, can set a standard for the nation.
According to officials at the California Air Resources Board, the stricter regulations would reduce 7,400 tons diesel soot and 386,000 tons NOx by 2050. They also estimate that the cancer risk of those who live near rail operations could be reduced by 90%.
Rail officials claim that the bill would also have prohibited 65% of freight locomotives in operation from operating within the state.
California retracted the proposal a week before Donald Trump was inaugurated as U.S. President in January.
Trump is a frequent critic and would be expected to block this initiative by refusing California the waiver needed to establish state pollution regulations that are stricter than federal ones.
House Republicans introduced in May the Locomotives Act. This would prevent California from receiving such waivers. The bill was referred to Energy and Commerce Committee.
FIGHTING GREEN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Rail industry lobbyists have also been very active in opposing the adoption of new technologies. BNSF informed the EPA at a public meeting last year that its test of a battery electric locomotive did not deliver enough power to transport tons of freight across long distances.
John Lovenburg said that the battery contained two megawatts usable energy. This is about 1/40th the energy needed for locomotives that haul line-haul freight.
Alex Scott, professor of supply-chain management at the University of Tennessee, says that electric locomotives can be used for short routes, replacing diesel locomotives, and in switch yards. However, for longer distances, they are limited by their battery weight.
In the United States, and in other parts of world, battery-electric locomotives do not exist. In China, India, and Russia the majority of freight locomotives are powered by overhead electric lines or catenary system.
According to an Association of American Railroads study from February 2025, electrifying 139,000 miles of track by six major railroads in North America could cost over $1.1 trillion.
Scott explained that the railroad industry was slow to adapt new technologies because, if there are problems, they're not only yours. You're creating issues for your customers as well as other railroads, because they all share the same track.
(source: Reuters)