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US Judge to hold Friday hearing in suit for restoration of New York Tunnel funding
A?U.S. A judge will hear the emergency request of?New York?and?New Jersey?to force the restoration funding for the $16 Billion Hudson River Tunnel before the construction stops on Friday. The states filed a lawsuit late Tuesday and asked for a temporary injunction that would prevent the U.S. Transportation Department (USTD) from withholding funds for the rail project between New York City and New Jersey, approved under the presidency of Joe Biden. The lawsuit was filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Acting New Jersey attorney general Jennifer Davenport. They claim that there is overwhelming proof that USDOT suspended funding to punish New York Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries for refusing to accept President Donald Trump’s budget. U.S. district judge Jeanette Vargas scheduled a hearing on Friday at 1 pm. ET and stated that the Justice Department had to file any opposition to the states' requests by 11 am on Friday. The Gateway Development Commission (which is managing the project) filed a lawsuit on Monday after stating that it would be forced to stop construction by Friday if funding was not restored. This will result in the loss of employment for about 1,000 workers and $2 billion spent. White House and USDOT didn't comment. However, the White House said last week that Democrats were "standing in the way of an agreement for the Gateway Tunnel Project" by refusing negotiations with the Trump Administration on immigration issues. Trump's Republican Administration has repeatedly targeted major transit and infrastructure in Democratic-led States. The Hudson Tunnel, built in 1910 and heavily damaged by hurricane Sandy in 2012, is used daily by more than 200,000 commuters and 425 trains. It produces 10% of America's economy. The project, which has received federal funding of about $15 billion, will involve the repair and construction of an existing tunnel for Amtrak passenger trains and state commuter lines between New Jersey, and Manhattan. Trump, an ex-New York City developer, refused in his first term to approve funding for tunnel project. The Trump administration also tries to kill Manhattan’s congestion pricing program, which aims to reduce traffic and raise billions for mass transportation. (Reporting and editing by Chris Reese, Bill Berkrot, and David Shepardson from Washington)
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US Justice Department removes attorney who told immigration judge 'this job stinks'
According to a source familiar with the matter, the U.S. Justice Department has removed a government attorney from a Minnesota assignment after she complained to a federal court that her "job stinks" and that immigration authorities failed to follow court orders. Julie Le, an immigration attorney at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security was assigned to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Minnesota when hundreds of lawsuits were filed in the district court by people who had been detained during the Trump administration's immigration enforcement blitz. U.S. district judge Jerry Blackwell ordered her to appear in front of him on Tuesday in a St. Paul Courtroom to explain why administration officials had failed to comply with court orders repeatedly in several cases, including those directing the release detainees. Le informed the judge that she "stupidly volunteered" to begin working at the U.S. Attorney's Office on January 5, to assist it in addressing hundreds of lawsuits which had been received?challenging detention of those people caught up in Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota. What do you want me do? She said. She said. "This job is a sucker." A Justice Department spokesperson said that the Trump administration is complying with court order "and fully enforcing Federal Immigration Law", and blamed high caseloads to "rogue judges." The source said that the Justice Department cut short Le's job, but didn't say if she returned to her former position at the Department of Homeland Security. DHS and Le didn't respond to comments. Le told the court on Tuesday that she has worked day and night to make sure that all court orders are followed. She said that she did not receive proper training from the Justice Department and struggled to ensure U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) complied with all court orders "which they had not done previously or currently". According to a transcript, Le said: "Sometimes I wish that you would hold me in contempt so that I could have 24 hours of sleep." The U.S. Attorney's Office of Minnesota is under pressure as it deals with a flood of immigration petitions and cases accusing protesters of assaulting federal agents. Six prosecutors resigned this month, including senior officials, in protest at the way President Donald Trump's government handled the investigation into the fatal shooting by an immigration officer of Renee Good. Blackwell was appointed by Democratic President Joe Biden. He said that he "understood the concerns regarding the amount of energy the DOJ is spending, but with respect, you are responsible for some of this by not following orders." Le shared her concerns with him about the way immigration cases are handled. She said, "You can see that I am not white." "My family is at the same risk as anyone else who might be picked up, so I shared that concern and took it to heart."
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INTERVIEW - President Vucic says Serbia is seeking EU gas deals to reduce Russian supplies.
In a Wednesday interview, Aleksandar Vucic stated that Serbia was diversifying its energy sources away from Russia. The country is already in discussions to purchase natural gas through a European Union buying mechanism. Over 80% of the country's natural gas comes from Russia. The EU is trying to cut down on cash flowing to the Ukraine war chest of President Vladimir Putin. Last year, Serbia was unable to sign a long-term agreement with Russia's Gazprom. A short-term agreement reached in December will expire on March 31. Vucic stated that he understood EU policies towards Russian energy. He said, "We have to adapt our energy policy to certain requests and demands." Vucic, flanked with an EU flag, said in an interview given at the Belgrade presidency that "we will still have large?quantities" of Russian gas. He said Serbia aimed to secure 500 millions cubic metres of natural gas per year, or about a fifth, through the EU's collective gas-buying program, which Serbia joined last year. He said that Serbia already purchases gas from Azerbaijan via Bulgaria. Construction of a pipeline from North Macedonia to Serbia, which would allow Serbia to access liquefied gas from Greece, should begin this year. A pipeline connecting Serbia with neighboring Romania should be completed by 2027. Vucic stated, "This is an important diversification." BALANCE RUSSIA AND THE EU Serbia has a long history of cultural and religious ties with Russia. Moscow is behind Belgrade's opposition to Kosovo's independence, an ex-province in the south of Serbia that was populated primarily by Albanians. Vucic has tried to strike a balance between his relations with the Kremlin, and Serbia's EU bid. Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022 of Ukraine, it has become more difficult to maintain this line. Sanctions imposed by the United States on Serbia's NIS oil company, owned by Russians, forced its sale to Hungary's MOL. Vucic has also stated that he is committed towards joining the EU. He claimed that the economy, living standards, and debt levels had all improved. He said: "No doubt that since I'm president, Serbia will be on its EU road." If Serbia wants to become a member of the EU, it has demanded for years that Serbia improve its rule of law and media freedoms as well as root out organized crime and corruption. Critics claim recent reforms in the judicial system would reduce its independence and complicate Serbia's path to EU. Vucic stated that the authorities were ready to "scrutinise", with European institutions, the set of judicial law disputed. Looking for a Legacy Vucic suffered a major political blow in 2024 when the roof of a Novi Sad railway station collapsed, killing 16 people. The tragedy sparked nationwide protests calling for the end of corruption and early elections. Vucic acknowledged that corruption is a serious problem in Serbia, and he is "dissatisfied with" efforts to eradicate the problem. "It's about corruption within?our state-run institutions... including politicians." He dismissed the protests, saying they were a plot of international security agencies, including those in neighbouring Croatia and Albania, to topple the government. But he did not provide any proof. These accusations have been denied by officials from these countries. Vucic’s final and second term ends in 2027. He has announced that he will hold snap elections in this year amid street protests. He did not know what he'd do next but he didn't rule out going back to politics, or running for prime minister. We'll see. "I wish I was less involved in politics, or even not engaged at all. But taking care of my family legacy may require that I be more involved. (Reporting and editing by Alexandra Hudson, Edward McAllister)
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Merz, a German company, heads to the Gulf region in search of new partners
On Wednesday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz started a tour to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to form energy and arms partnerships as Europe's largest and richest economy tries to reduce its dependence on the U.S. Merz, at the beginning of his three-day visit, said that such alliances are needed more than ever in a world where politics is increasingly determined by the major powers. He added that the goal of these alliances is to preserve freedom, safety, and prosperity. He added, "Our partners might not share the same interests and values but they all agree that we need a global order where we can trust agreements and respect each other." The tour is part of an broader German initiative aimed at diversifying global alliances. Merz said, "In a network like this, we can reduce our dependence on one another, minimize risks, and find new opportunities together to benefit us all." Merz stated that he wished to see a deeper level of cooperation between the energy and arms sectors in the Gulf. He also said Berlin would be adopting a more relaxed approach towards exports. Last week, Germany's Economy Minister prepared the ground. QATAR IS ALREADY ONE GERMANY’S LARGEST FOREIGN INVESTORS After the murder of Saudi Arabian Journalist Jamal Khashoggi, in 2018, relations with Saudi Arabia began to deteriorate. Merz stated that while there had been some improvements in the human rights, more could be done. He would discuss this. Gulf States, which have large sovereign wealth funds?, already play a significant role in Germany's economic development. Qatar is one the biggest foreign investors in Germany. It holds stakes in Volkswagen, RWE, and Hapag-Lloyd, among others. Merz said that he would be addressing broader regional issues and calling for peace, stability, and cooperation including normalization with Israel. Merz said that Israel would one day be included in the order and not rejected as a foreign entity. Merz stated that he has three demands for?Iran: Tehran must stop violence against its people, end its nuclear military programme, and cease destabilizing activities throughout the region. Germany is Israel's strongest European ally, but Gulf states have taken different approaches to Iran since the Gaza War. (Written by Madeline Chambers, edited by Bernadette B. Baum)
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Spirit Airlines wants to transfer two Chicago airport gate to United Airlines for $30 Million
Spirit 'Aviation has filed a court document asking the 'U.S. Bankruptcy Court' for the Southern District of New York for approval to transfer two O'Hare Airport gates to United Airlines at a cost of $30.2 million. Spirit filed for bankruptcy in August 2025 - a second attempt - as it struggled to deal with mounting losses and dwindling reserves. In an effort to shed its non-core assets, the company has already left 14 airports. It also'rejected leases on over 80 aircraft. Spirit Airlines, as part of its network optimization program,?determined that it did not need all four preferential airport gates at Chicago O'Hare International Airport. In December, the airline reassigned these gates to American Airlines. According to the filing two major airlines made bids on gates G12 and G14. Spirit claimed that United had the best price-performance combination. According to a court filing in November, Spirit had approximately 32 departures on peak days from O'Hare, which have since been halved. If approved by the court ?in late February, Spirit said it ?will use the $30.2 million assignment fee to prepay term loans as defined in its ?debtor-in-possession credit agreement. Spirit obtained an additional $100m in emergency funding to support its operations. (Reporting and editing by Aurora Ellis, Emelia Sithole Matarise, and Doyinsola Oladipo in New York)
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Spirit Airlines wants to transfer two Chicago airport gate to United Airlines for $30 Million
Spirit Aviation has filed a court document requesting court approval to transfer two airport gate?to United Airlines. The cost is $30.2 million. Spirit Aviation determined that it did not need all four of the preferential gates at Chicago O'Hare International Airport as part of its network optimization. In December, the airline had reassigned 2 of these gates to American Airlines. Spirit filed for bankruptcy a second-time in August 2025 as it struggled with dwindling reserves and mounting losses. In an effort to reduce non-core assets, the company has already left 14 airports. It also rejected leases on over 80 aircraft. According to the filing, two major carriers submitted bids. Spirit claimed that United had the best and highest?combination? of price and operational fit. Spirit has said that if the court approves the assignment, it will use the $30.2 Million fee to pay off debt. Reporting by Doyinsola Oladipo, New York; editing by Aurora Ellis
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IndiGo is under investigation by India's Competition regulator after a mass cancellation of flights
IndiGo's flight cancellations that occurred in December rattled India's air travel industry, and the competition regulator ordered an investigation. IndiGo, India’s largest airline based on market share, cancelled 4,500 flights during the first two weeks of December. This left tens and thousands of passengers stranded across the country, raising concerns about the lack of competition in one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world. The?Competition Commission of India published an order on its website on Wednesday stating that IndiGo has a "dominant" position in the domestic aviation market due to its extensive network, large fleet and financial strength. CCI: "By cancelling thousands of flights, IndiGo effectively withheld their service from the market. This created an artificial scarcity and limited consumer access to travel at times of 'peak demand. The regulator issued an order after allegations of antitrust violation against the airline. A lawyer filed the complaint, alleging that IndiGo's cancellations of hundreds of flights led to a huge increase in prices and inconvenience for passengers. The regulator stated that due to the airline’s strong dominance on the market, consumers were locked into using their services and had no viable alternatives. IndiGo's behavior 'appeared adversely to affect competition in India. The CCI?said. This prompted a formal investigation. The airline didn't immediately respond to our request for comment. In January, India's aviation regulator fined IndiGo $2.45m for the first time. It also issued warnings to senior managers and ordered the airline to remove its head of?operations? control from his position. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation conducted an investigation into the airline following the implementation of stricter rules on pilot rest and duty last year. (Reporting and editing by Nishit Navin, Anil D'Silva, Shilpa Majumdar).
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CK Hutchison initiates arbitration against Panama Canal Ports Contract ruling
Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison announced on Wednesday that its 'Panama Ports Company' unit had initiated international arbitration proceedings against Panama, after the country’s top court annulled their licences to run two Panama Canal port. The Supreme Court of Panama ruled last week that the contracts were in violation of the constitution because they gave the company "exclusive privileges" and tax exemptions. Analysts said that it is not clear how long arbitration proceedings will last, but given the political sensitivities between the U.S., China, and the complexity, they could go on for several years. This is a good example of how international trade, geopolitics, and law are increasingly interconnected, said Jason Karas. He is a specialist in international disputes and the managing partner of Karas So LLP, which works with Mishcon De Reya. The company's $23 billion plan to sell their port businesses and its decision to seek arbitration and to file for arbitration has been cast into doubt by the company. In a Hong Kong Stock Exchange statement, CK Hutchison stated that "the board strongly disagrees" with the decision and corresponding action in Panama. The group is still consulting with its legal counsel, and reserves the right to pursue additional legal actions at national and international levels. The Panamanian Government did not respond immediately to a comment request. Ja Ian Chong is an associate professor of Political Science at the National University of Singapore. He said: "International arbitration proceedings take about a year, and a state can choose to honor the arbitral decision. "Panama could ignore CK Hutchison. I believe that's obvious to CK Hutch. He said that they probably wanted to show their shareholders that they were doing everything they could legally. He added that the conglomerate might also want to show Beijing and Hong Kong government it is doing everything it can to avoid "blame" in China-U.S. tension. Hang Seng Index fell 0.4%, while CK Hutchison shares rose 2% in early trading on Wednesday. The Court's 'SHAMEFUL and PATHETIC" Decision China warned Panama on Tuesday that it would pay "heavy" prices for the court decision, which was called "absurd", "shameful" and "pathetic". On Wednesday, Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino rebuffed Beijing's claim, saying that "Panama respects the Judicial branch which is independent of the central government" and is governed by law. Mulino said that the Panamanian foreign ministry will issue a press release and take "corresponding decisions". BlackRock and Mediterranean Shipping Company are leading a bid of $23 billion to buy out CK Hutchison 43 ports across 23 countries. BlackRock and MSC didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. After Beijing criticized the deal, in July the conglomerate announced that it was in discussions to include a Chinese "major investor" as a strategic partner in the consortium. Sources say that the Chinese investor was COSCO. It wanted a majority stake while others preferred a minority shareholding. This position 'became a sticking-point in negotiations. The future of the deal is unclear due to the court's ruling, but some analysts believe that the transaction can still be completed without including the two Panama Canal Ports in the "portfolio" of assets. The deal could continue with the other ports. "The twist is that the deal could be easier to complete, now that the Panama Supreme Court has clarified the situation of the two major ports," said Winston Ma. He said CK-Hutchison can use the arbitration process in order to obtain damages and compensation if the contracts are?annulled. The deal has opened up a new front of contention between China and the United States, who are fighting for control over the most important trade routes in the world. CK Hutchison Balboa & Cristobal Ports are strategic assets for the Panama Canal. The canal is the main seaborne trade route into the United States. Balboa lies at the Pacific entrance of the canal, while Cristobal is located at the Atlantic. Some U.S. legislators welcomed the Panamanian court's decision as a "win" for America. Donald Trump, the president who originally celebrated the proposed sale of ports for $23 billion, now calls on the U.S. government to "take back the Panama Canal" in response to Chinese influence. APM Terminals Panama (a subsidiary of Maersk) said Friday that it would be willing to temporarily operate the Balboa Terminal and Cristobal Terminal to avoid any negative impact on regional or global trade. Reporting by Clare Jim in Hong Kong, Kane Wu and Roushni Nai in Bengaluru. Writing by Scott Murdoch. Editing by Neil Fullick Stephen Coates Sonali Paul
What we know about the Panama court decision as CK Hutchison launches an arbitration
Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison announced on Wednesday that its Panama Ports Company division has initiated international arbitration proceedings against Panama, after a Panamanian court annulled the company's licences to run two?Panama Canal port.
Panama's Supreme Court canceled last week CK Hutchison’s contract to run two Panama Canal Ports at the core of a $23 billion deal?to sale the Hong Kong conglomerate’s global port assets.
Court said that the contract of Panama Ports Company, a subsidiary of CK Hutchison, violated 'Panama’s 'constitution because it gave the company exclusive tax exemptions and privileges.
Analysts said that it is difficult to predict how long arbitration proceedings will last, but given the complexity and political sensitivity of the agreement, they could go on for many years.
What We Know:
CK Hutchison - controlled by Hong Kong’s richest man Li Ka -shing - announced a March 2025 sale covering 43 ports across 23 countries including two near Panama Canal - to a group headed by BlackRock, and Italian Gianluigi Aponte’s family-run MSC shipping company.
After Beijing criticized the deal, in July the conglomerate announced that it was in talks with a Chinese "major investor" to be included in the consortium.
Sources say that the Chinese investor was COSCO. It wanted a majority stake while others wanted it to be only a minor shareholder. This position became a sticking-point in the talks.
COSCO has not responded to a comment request.
CK Hutchison shares have fallen more than 8% in the time since the court's deciding, but they are still at their highest level since June 2021. Investors believed that the sale would bring in more than $19 billion cash for the company. It has risen by nearly 60% since it was announced.
TENSION BETWEEN CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES The deal created a new front of contention between the United States, and China as they fight for control over the world's major trade routes. CK Hutchison’s?Balboa? and Cristobal? ports are considered strategic assets for the?Panama Canal, which is the main seaborne trade route into the United States. Balboa lies at the Pacific entrance of the canal, while Cristobal lies at the Atlantic.
The canal is a vital part of the U.S. supply chain, as it accounts for more than 40%, or $270 billion, in annual container traffic.
Donald Trump at first welcomed the proposed sale of CK Hutchison to BlackRock and MSC. He said he wanted retaken control of this strategic waterway.
CK Hutchison was deemed a security threat to canal operations by American legislators.
John Moolenaar of the U.S. Select Committee on China called it a win for America'.
Beijing, in a sign of China's dismay, warned Panama on February 3 that it would have to pay "heavy" prices after the court ruled against CK Hutchison.
Hong Kong's Government said that it was strongly against any foreign government who used "coercive means" to harm the territory's interests.
What's at Stake and what Comes Next:
Although the two ports only account for 5% of Hutchison Port Holdings earnings before interest tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITA), they are still very important.
Although it is not clear how the loss of Panama's ports will impact CK Hutchison’s global ports deal. Some analysts, such as JPMorgan and Citigroup said that parties would find it easier to reach an agreement if Panama was no longer in the picture.
A person who has direct knowledge of this transaction and spoke on condition of anonymity said that all parties are still in discussions regarding the sale of CK Hutchison’s ports.
Ports in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Barcelona, Spain, Mexico, and the Bahamas are also included in the sale of strategic assets.
CK Hutchison’s China ports are important, but they are not included in the sale.
Another source familiar with the situation said that one option being discussed is to break up the portfolio so the three bidders can have stakes in separate ports.
CK Hutchison MSC and BlackRock have not responded to comment requests.
According to sources, it may take two years or more to overcome all regulatory obstacles. This is because of the many challenges involved. For example, obtaining approval from anti-competition authorities in over 50 jurisdictions. Reporting by Clare Jim in Hong Kong and Kane Wu, Scott Murdoch at Sydney; Editing done by Anne Marie Roantree & Clarence Fernandez
(source: Reuters)