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China claims that the Trump visit is a 'preliminary deal'
China's 'commerce ministry' described the tariff, aircraft and agricultural deals as "preliminary". This was in response to Donald Trump's visit this week. Trump left Beijing Friday, after two days of talks between President Xi Jinping and Trump that were filled with pageantry and warm words but with limited details on tangible outcomes in trade and investment. The ministry announced on its website that the two parties had agreed to create an investment board and?a trade panel to negotiate reciprocal tariff reductions on specific products, as well as larger cuts on unspecified goods, including agricultural products. Beijing also said that both sides will work together to resolve issues of non-tariff tariff barriers and market access. "FINALISED?AS SOON as possible" The ministry stated that the U.S. will "actively promote" the resolution of China's longstanding concerns about?the automatic removal of aquatic products from China, the export of bonsai plants in growing media to America, and the recognition of Shandong Province as a region free of avian flu. The Chinese side also pledged to actively resolve U.S. concerns about the registration of beef plants and poultry meat exports from certain U.S. States to China. The ministry didn't identify any companies, or give details about volumes, values or timelines. China released its first public statement on Saturday, describing the results of trade talks held this week in Beijing & Seoul. This comes amid concerns about what Trump's 'first state visit' to China has achieved. Trump said that China had?agreed' to buy 200 Boeing planes, but analysts questioned this lack of timeline. The Commerce Ministry confirmed "arrangements" on "Chinese aircraft purchases from the United States" and U.S. assurances regarding the'supply of aircraft parts and engines to China", but did not elaborate. The statement said that discussions were ongoing and the agreement would "finalised as quickly as possible". Reporting by Eduardo Baptista. Mark Potter (Editing by Mark Potter).
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In Thailand, a freight train collision with a bus has resulted in at least eight deaths and 32 injuries
Rescue officials and the deputy transport minister reported that at least eight people died and 32 others were injured after a train struck a bus in Bangkok and ignited a fire. Officials said that firefighters and rescue crews responded to the incident as fires consumed the bus and vehicles nearby near the Airport Rail Link station in Makkasan. They added that the crash involved motorcycles and cars. According to preliminary reports, the bus was stopped "on the tracks" at a red signal, which prevented the crossing barriers from closing. Deputy Transport Minister,?Siripong, Angkasakulkiat, told reporters that the preliminary reports indicated the bus had been parked?on the track?, and therefore, prevented the crossing barriers from being closed. He added that the train, which was carrying containers, could not stop in time to prevent colliding with?the bus. Eight people died and 32 were injured. The wounded are being treated at various hospitals. "All eight of the dead were on that bus," he stated. Social media videos showed the train dragging several vehicles and the bus along the tracks. The bus was stuck in a red-light situation, and so couldn't move. Wanthong Kokpho said that cars were also "blocked" and could not move forward. The fire broke out immediately. The damage would have been worse if this was a normal workday. Officials said that rescue teams pulled injured victims out of the wreckage while fire crews battled with water hoses. They said that the fire had been brought under control and that crews were cooling down the area and venting gas while continuing to search for survivors. Authorities are investigating what caused the incident. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Thailand's roads are among the deadliest in the world due to a lack of enforcement of safety standards. Reporting by Orathai Shriring, Panarat Thepgumpanat, and Tananchai K. Keawsowattana. Editing by Louise Heavens & Joe Bavier
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One dead in Comoros as clashes erupt over rising fuel prices
By Abdou Moustoifa MORONI, 16 May - Five people were injured and one person killed in clashes between protesters on the comorian island of Anjouan and security forces, as unrest over fuel price increases spreads throughout the archipelago. The prosecutor stated in a Saturday statement that the Public Prosecutor's Office of Mutsamudu informed the public about a tragic incident which occurred in Anjouan in the Mpage region, and resulted in the death of a person, as well as five other injuries. After a meeting with the mayor of Mirontsy, and the 'fishermen association' which had been on strike since Wednesday in protest at rising fuel prices, there were clashes. In Mutsamudu (the capital of Anjouan), roads were blocked by stones. A judicial investigation was opened to determine what caused the death. The unrest is a result of a wider strike that began on Monday, after the government increased gasoline and diesel prices by 46% each. Citing the "Middle East" conflict as the reason for the increase. The strike by transport workers and shopkeepers has paralysed the public transportation system in Moroni. According to the National Human?Rights?Commission,?39 people were detained since the beginning of the strike. In an effort to reduce tensions, the government announced "cuts" to official travel and a reduction of 40% in customs fees. (Reporting and editing by Abdou Moostifa)
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The rising cost of diesel fuel from the Iran war is straining US school budgets
The rising cost of diesel since the onset of 'the Iran war' is draining budgets already stretched by U.S. schools districts. It makes it expensive to transport students and run generators. Schools from Yakima Washington to Waco Texas are using emergency funds reserves to keep buses running. Interviews reveal that officials in remote Alaska are scrambling to secure enough fuel to run the lights. Trevor Greene, Superintendent of Yakima said: "It is more than a straw on a camel's...back. It's like a big haystack." The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran has had many knock-on effects, including the disruption of around one-fifth of world oil supplies. Fuel prices have risen at the fastest rate ever since the beginning of the war in late February. This spike has impacted economies all over the world. The spike has been so painful in the U.S. that it is a liability for Donald Trump in November's midterm elections, when the Republican Party is trying to hold onto a slim majority in the U.S. Congress. According to the American School Bus Council, U.S. bus operators consume more than 800 millions gallons of diesel per year. According to a new analysis by Samsara, a fleet management software provider, the cost to operate school buses in the United States has increased 67% since December. This is equivalent to an annual increase of $1.8 billion. James Rowan is the executive director of Association of School Business Officials International. He said that while districts can budget for higher costs in advance, the rapid swings in price make it difficult to do so accurately. "Even districts who have been able absorb costs through temporary measures or reserves this year may not have the same flexibility in the future." A survey of 188 U.S. School Districts, commissioned by AASA, and conducted in the week of May 4, revealed that close to a third are taking money from other funds to pay for their higher fuel costs. According to the survey results, school officials are looking for ways to cut costs. They consolidate bus routes, enforce anti-idling, change fuel buying practices, delay maintenance, and reduce administrative expenditure and staffing. "TREMENDOUSLY UNDERFUNDED" Yakima School district executives in Washington State said that the price of diesel they pay has recently increased by 64% on an annual basis to $6.30 per gallon. Greene said that at this price, the district's 60 buses would require an additional $213,000 in fuel costs per year. This is roughly equivalent to the salaries of two teachers. That is a big burden in an agriculture-dominated school district that has a poverty rate of 86%, and which is already "tremendously underfunded," he said. Jacob Kuper, district CFO, said that the district will instead buy its 30,000 gallon diesel tank in small quantities on days of low prices, rather than filling it. This is because it's "limping through the end" of the year. Christopher Mills of Thief River Falls Public Schools, in northwestern Minnesota said that diesel costs associated with transporting up to 800 students have increased around 30% since Iran's war began. Mills stated that the district was working to minimize direct impact on classrooms. "But if prices continue to rise, we may be forced to reduce support services for students." Even oil-rich Texas schools have not been spared. Waco Independent Schools District, which has over 80 buses, and average round-trip routes of 60 miles per day on average, reported an increase in diesel prices by 84% in early April. PRESSURE-PACKED Yupiit school district in Southwestern Alaska uses diesel generators to power the community and classrooms, not buses. Scott Ballard, Superintendent of the Yupiit District School Board in Akiachak, said during a phone interview that if they couldn't produce electricity then we wouldn't be able to run our school. The district, which has 550 students in it, is icebound most of the time, leaving a small window for fuel purchases. Ballard explained that leaders are now faced with a tough choice: Do they lock-in a price nearly 66% higher than the previous year, or do they gamble on prices falling? We're under a lot of pressure. Some of the biggest school districts in the United States are partially protected from fuel price fluctuations. Paul Quinn Mori is the president of the New York School Bus Contractors Association. He said that the district in New York City, which has the largest population in the country, outsources approximately 60%?of pupil transport. This arrangement often transfers fuel price changes from the district to the contractors. Los Angeles Unified, the second largest school district in the country, has been moving towards diesel-powered vehicles for many years. A district spokesperson revealed that 70% of its 1,300 bus fleet runs on batteries or alternative fuels. A spokesperson stated that "rising diesel prices continue impacting Los Angeles Unified’s transportation budget. However, the district has taken active steps to reduce dependence on fossil fuels by investing in clean transportation." (Reporting and editing by David Gregorio; Lisa Baertlein)
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In April, Iraq exported 10,000,000 barrels of crude oil through the Strait of Hormuz.
Basim Mohammed, Iraq's new Oil Minister, told a?press?conference on Saturday that the country exported 10 million barrels?of?oil via the Strait?of Hormuz?in?April. This is down?from 93 million barrels per month before the Iran War. Oil prices have risen sharply since the Iran war closed the 'Strait of Hormuz. Iraqi crude oil exports via the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline resumed in march, after Baghdad agreed to restart the flow. Mohammed said: "We currently export 200,000 barrels via Ceyhan, but we plan to increase that to 500,000 barrels". Iraq 'plans to engage OPEC in order to boost its production - and export capacity. 'The minister stated that Baghdad aims at a?production capacity of 5 million _barrels a day.
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New York's Long Island rail strikes halt the busiest commuter route in US
A union statement said that about 3,500 workers from the New York Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), who failed to reach an agreement on wages, went on strike Saturday. This halted the busiest commuter train system in the United States. The Long Island Rail Road is operated and owned by the state’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). It serves nearly 300,000 passengers per day. In a press release, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union stated that a group of five unions had launched a strike. This was 'the first strike in 32 years. The union said that the workers went three years without receiving raises in the course of the bargaining. Mark Wallace, President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers & Trainmen, said: "This strike wouldn't have happened if MTA and LIRR had offered our members the terms that the government repeatedly recommended." We hope LIRR takes action soon to prevent further?disruptions of hundreds of thousands New Yorkers. When they are ready, they know where to find us: on the street. After the unions requested that he intervene, President Donald Trump signed an executive order in January to appoint another emergency?board for mediation to avoid a stoppage of work at the Long Island Rail Road. Trump had initially named a board to end the labor dispute in September of last year. (Reporting and editing by Tom Hogue in Bengaluru, Mihika Sharma, Shubham Kalya)
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Berkshire purchases Delta and Alphabet, while shedding Amazon, UnitedHealth Visa, Mastercard, and Visa
Berkshire Hathaway announced a $2.65 billion investment into Delta Air Lines on Friday, as well as a small stake in Macy's. It also said that it had sold many of its smaller stock holdings such Amazon.com and UnitedHealth Group. These changes were made as part of the portfolio reshuffle that took place in the first quarter following the promotion of Greg Abel, who succeeded Warren Buffett at Berkshire. Berkshire announced in a regulatory filing that they also tripled their stake in Alphabet (parent company of Google), which is now one of the largest investments in common stocks. Berkshire has also increased its stake in New York Times to 9%. The filing included a list of?Omaha-based Berkshire’s U.S. listed stock holdings at March 31. This represented?most? of the $288 billion equity portfolio. Berkshire purchased $15.94 billion in stocks and sold $24.09 Billion of them between January and March. Abel is likely to have been the one who directed the majority of stock sales. According to previous disclosures, Abel inherited the equity portfolio of Berkshire, including that of Todd Combs. Combs was a Buffett protégé who joined JPMorgan Chase in December. Abel stated in February that he managed 94% of Berkshire stock holdings while Ted Weschler, the investment manager, handled 6%. Berkshire held an 11% stake in Delta Airlines, but sold it along with similar percentage stakes in American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines early in the pandemic, in April 2020. Buffett stated at the time that the aviation industry had undergone a "world-wide change". Delta is considered to be one of the best-run U.S. large airlines. After-hours, its shares rose by 3.2%, likely reflecting the 'approval stamp' that investors perceive from Berkshire. The Atlanta-based carrier did not immediately respond to a comment request. Macy's stock also gained a boost after-hours, with a 5.9% increase following Berkshire's announcement of a stake in 3 million shares worth $55 millions.
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Carney announces Alberta Carbon Pricing Deal that could pave the way for new oil pipeline
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta's premier on ?Friday signed a deal on industrial carbon pricing, ?part of a broader agreement meant to pave the way ?for ?construction of a 1-million-barrel-per-day crude oil pipeline to British Columbia's northwest coast to start by September 2027. Calgary's deal will raise the cost of carbon credits in Alberta's industrial market from C$95 to C$130 (94.59 USD) per metric ton in 2040. This is a measure to give oil companies a financial incentive for reducing pollution. It is unlikely that it will satisfy oil executives, who are concerned about the impact of any industrial carbon pricing on the industry, especially since the United States does not have a carbon price. Carney was in the city of oil and gas for the first time since November when he met with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to discuss a plan to increase investment, including funding a new pipeline. Carney said that Canada's carbon markets and incentives to boost?low-carbon oil output will attract the private sector. He said, "I believe there will be a great deal of interest." U.S. COMPETITION WORRIES Alberta frozen its headline industrial carbon prices in May 2025. It cited the need to "keep its companies competitive" in light of the threat that President Donald Trump's Tariffs pose. Alberta's carbon credits trade between?C$20 to C$40 per metric ton. Environmental?experts claim that this is too low a price to encourage polluters into investing in technology to reduce emissions. The plan announced on Friday includes an escalating carbon floor price to ensure that Canada's major emitters are continually encouraged to reduce their emissions. Alberta's carbon price will increase from C$100 to C$130 per ton in 2020, then by 1.5% each year beginning in 2036. Environmentalists had called for a faster timeframe. Tim Weis is the director of industrial decarbonization for Pembina Institute. The 'deal' ensures that Alberta will raise its carbon price in time, as other provinces must do. This is a condition Carney had set before he would allow his government to fast-track a new crude oil export pipeline. For the first time, the agreement provides a start date for a new crude export pipeline if governments meet their legal obligation to consult Indigenous People. Alberta plans to submit a proposal to build a second West Coast oil pipeline by July 1, according to the province. HURDS REMAIN Carney and Alberta agreed that a new pipeline would be contingent upon the oil industry building an carbon capture and storage project. However, under the agreement, the project could be phased-in over time, and the resultant?emission reductions would be less than what the companies who originally proposed the proposal pledged to achieve in 2022. The Oil Sands Alliance, which is made up of Canada's largest oil sands companies, has refused to pay for the carbon capture project. The group said on Friday that it did not support changes to Alberta's carbon tax system. British Columbia, as well as any First Nations that might be affected by this route, would have to approve of the pipeline. B.C. Premier David Eby has said that his government will not allow the oil tanker ban to be lifted off the northwest coast of B.C.
Global robotaxi deployments gain momentum as the driverless future grows.
Uber and Lyft have teamed up with Chinese technology company Baidu in order to test self driving taxis in the UK by 2026. They are the latest ride hailing platforms to team up with self-driving car firms.
Robotaxis is expected to become a safer form of transportation that reduces operational costs through reducing the reliance on drivers, and by optimizing routes using real-time data.
Robotaxi services are being tested in several cities and countries, including robotic food delivery, daily travel and last-mile logistics.
Here are some of the most significant robotaxi trials, tests and operations worldwide:
UBER, LYFT, AND BAIDU Uber partnered with Chinese technology company Baidu to test Apollo Go RT6 self-driving vehicles in the UK next year.
MOMENTA AND GRAB Momenta and Singapore's ride-hailing service Grab partnered in December in a deal which included an investment by Grab.
MOMENTA, LUMO AND MERCEDES-BENZ In December, Mercedes-Benz launched a robotaxi service with UAE taxi operator Lumo and autonomous driving company Momenta. The Mercedes S-Class-based fleet is expected to start operations in 2026 and expand to other markets.
WERIDE AND GRAB Chinese roboticaxi company WeRide, and ride-hailing firm Grab announced that Singapore's Land Transport Authority had approved autonomous vehicle tests for their Ai.R Ai.R in Punggol District in November. The partners plan to quadruple the number of robotaxi tests on shuttle routes in 2025. They began their trials mid-October.
WERIDE AND Uber WeRide and Uber began public rides in Abu Dhabi on Yas Island in November under a permit-backed launch. Uber Comfort, UberX or the new category "Autonomous", Uber's first self-driving option, are available to passengers.
WERIDE IN ZURICH
WeRide has received a driverless roboticaxi permit in November from the Swiss regulator for operation on public roads in Zurich’s Furttal Region. Safety-driver tests are underway, and the company expects to launch a fully driverless service in the first half of 2026.
ZOOX IN SAN FRANCISCO Amazon’s self-driving subsidiary Zoox started offering free rides in certain parts of San Francisco to selected early users, the company announced in November. Zoox invites people on its waiting list to test its point-topoint service in South of Market and the Mission District to improve it before a wider rollout.
BAIDU IN SWITZERLAND Baidu’s Apollo Go launched the AmiGo Robotaxi service in Eastern Switzerland in October, partnering with Swiss Post’s PostBus. Testing will begin in December, with a fleet of pilot vehicles mapping routes with safety drivers. Pilot rides will begin in early 2026 with safety drivers. Later, driverless tests are planned for late 2026. Early 2027 is the target date for full operations.
In October, PONY.AI and THE XIHU Group received Shenzhen’s first citywide permit for driverless robotaxi commercial services. The approval was granted jointly by the city's biggest taxi operator Xihu Group and will allow services to begin in Nanshan Qianhai Baoan, before spreading across the entire city.
WAYMO IN LONDON Waymo's autonomous unit Alphabet announced in October that it would launch a?autonomous ride-hailing service for London in 2026. The company has partnered with mobility fintech firm Moove in order to manage fleet operations and facilities as well as charging infrastructure before the roll-out.
ZOOX IN VEGAS In September 2025, Zoox began its autonomous ride-hailing services on and around Las Vegas Strip. The company offered?ride to the public free of charge while waiting for the state to approve the collection of fares. The vehicles will be able to run independently, and remote assistance is only available when they request it.
WeRide in Guangzhou has launched a fully driverless, 24-hour commercial operation in the Huangpu district of Guangzhou in September 2025.
WERIDE IS IN SINGAPORE WeRide announced in September that it had begun testing its GXR roboticaxis in Singapore's Centre of Excellence for Testing & Research of Autonomous Vehicles. The Centre was opened by Nanyang Technological University in 2017. The company hopes to launch the service on public roads designated by the government before the end of 2025.
PONY.AI IS IN SHANGHAI In August, Pony.ai launched a driverless ride hailing service in Shanghai, in partnership Shanghai Jinjiang Taxi. The launch followed the issuance eight demonstration permits during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference. Currently, the company operates robotaxis at designated areas in Pudong’s Jinqiao & Huamu.
PONY.AI IS BEIJING In July, Pony.ai announced that its robotaxi, the seventh generation from Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation, had begun road tests in Beijing. Multiple vehicles are now operating within Beijing's High-Level Demonstration Area for Autonomous Driving, which covers 225 square kilometers. The company stated that the trials are a step towards large-scale production, and commercial launch.
TESLA IN AUSTIN In June, Tesla launched a paid robotaxi service in Austin, Texas. Model Y SUVs were used in a city-restricted area and required a safety monitor to be onboard. Elon Musk's company tests its vehicles without safety monitoring onboard.
WAYMO IN TOKYO Waymo partnered in April 2025 with Japanese taxi and limousine company Nihon Kotsu to test autonomous cars in Tokyo. Nihon Kotsu's drivers operated the vehicles manually during the initial testing phase, which took place in seven Tokyo wards including Minato, Shibuya, and Minato.
BAIDU AND AUTOGO Baidu’s Apollo Go partnered in March with UAE-based autonomous vehicle company Autogo to test self driving vehicles at Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre. The plan is to gradually expand the testing, and eventually launch commercial operations.
In February 2025, Pony.ai will launch paid robotaxi services at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport as well as Guangzhou 'South Railway Station. The company was approved as the first to operate these routes.
PONY.AI IN HONG KING PONY.ai announced in January that it would be providing robotaxi services in Hong Kong. Initially, the service will serve airport staff at Hong Kong International Airport, before expanding to other areas of the city.
BAIDU HONG KONG Baidu has been granted a permit for its Apollo Go robotaxi to be tested in Hong Kong by November 2024. The approval will allow the company to test 10 autonomous vehicles on North Lantau according to a recent statement from Hong Kong's Transport Department.
WAYMO IN LOS ANGELES Waymo will be fully rolled out across an 80-square mile area, including Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood Boulevard and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, in November 2024.
UBER AND WAYVE Wayve is a British company that specializes in self-driving technology. It was backed by SoftBank, Nvidia and other investors. They partnered with Uber to launch advanced trials of AI in the UK in August 2024, with plans to conduct driverless tests as early as 2026.
WAYMO IN SAN FRANCISCO Waymo launched a commercial fleet of Jaguar I?PACE??SUVs in the city on June 20, 2024. The service is available throughout the San Francisco Peninsula in vehicles with cameras and sensors. According to third-party data, Waymo now has more than doubled Lyft's share of the San Francisco Bay Area ride hailing market.
BAIDU IN SHENZHEN Baidu has obtained a license for the operation of fully driverless ride hailing services in Shenzhen by June 2023. Shenzhen will be the fourth Chinese city to permit such services after Wuhan Chongqing and Beijing. Baidu's robotaxis can now operate without safety operators.
BAIDU IN CHONGQING & WUHAN
Baidu has secured the first permit in China to provide commercially driverless robotaxi service to the public by August 2022. Apollo Go can now operate in Chongqing, Wuhan and Chongqing without safety drivers.
WAYMO IN PHOENIX In October 2020, Waymo will launch its driverless robotaxi in Phoenix. The company started offering rides in minivans without a human on board as part of a gradual rollout.
(source: Reuters)