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• American Airlines will resume US flights to Haiti by November

  American Airlines announced Friday that it would resume flights to Haiti on 1 November after major U.S. airlines ceased service in the Caribbean nation by late 2024. American will resume service in Haiti this fall. It is the first U.S. airline to announce that it would be resuming its service. Since November 2024, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned flights to Port-au-Prince in Haiti's capital due to a perceived threat from "armed groups" to civil aviation. Later, the FAA allowed flights to resume at'six other airports located in northern Haiti. But it kept its ban on Port-au-Prince. Haiti is the only Caribbean nation that does not have direct flights from U.S. carriers. American said it also plans to offer a second Venezuelan airport flight option. FAA restrictions in Port-au-Prince will continue until at least September 3rd. The FAA suspended flights to Haiti in November 2024 after three commercial U.S. jetliners were hit by gunfire. The FAA continues to restrict access to Haiti's capital, citing the inability of security forces in Port-au-Prince or surrounding areas to prevent aircraft attacks. U.S. planes are allowed to fly over Port-au-Prince at a height of 10,000 feet (3,048 meters). According to a U.N. Report earlier this year the death toll has risen each year as independent and powerful armed groups have clashed with security forces and local vigilantes. According to the FAA, since September 2025, Haitian groups used small arms fire to 'attack' at least three aircraft in the area where U.S. Civil Aviation is prohibited. The agency permits flights to six airports: Port-de-Paix (Cap-Haitien), Pignon (Jeremie), Antoine-Simon, and Jacmel. (Reporting and editing by Susan Fenton; David Shepardson)

• Channel Tunnel owner threatens to take legal action against UK for tax hike

  The Channel Tunnel's owner announced on Friday that it would "challenge" the British government by all means possible after its business rates had tripled in the past three years, resulting in a decision to no longer invest in the UK. Eurotunnel, owned by Getlink of Paris which operates car and lorry trains through the tunnel between England & France. * Yann Leriche, CEO of the FT, told them that they are facing a rise from PS40million a yearly to PS118million a yearly increase in their rateable value. * In a press release, the company stated that it had "no justification" for its near-tripling of its business rates over the past three years, which is a property tax. Leriche, a BBC Radio presenter, said: "We will use all legal options available to us to contest that." The company said, "At the current level of uncertainty we will not invest in the UK." Leriche claims that Getlink, between corporate taxation and business rates, will pay 69 cents for every new pound in revenue generated within the UK. * A number of business and employer groups warned the government that costs are rising and higher taxes would lead to inflation. Rain Newton-Smith, CEO of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), said earlier in June that "business is not like a cash faucet which can be opened?without consequences". The British tax office stated that its methods of valuing properties were well-established and reflected "the specific facts" of each property. A HMRC (tax office spokesperson) said: "If ratepayers believe their valuation is wrong, they can challenge it, and if necessary, appeal to an independent Valuation Tribunal."

• India opens the way for safety cars and self-driving technology to reduce road fatalities

  India has removed licensing requirements for radio frequency used in crash-avoidance systems and self-driving cars. This removes a commercial barrier to automakers, as the country seeks safer roads. India, which is the third-largest car market in the world, has reported over 177,000 road deaths in 2024. The government announced on Thursday that it would waive the licence requirements for radar sensor in the frequency range 77GHz-81GHz, allowing businesses to use spectrum without a separate allocation from authorities. Separate notices were issued for systems operating in the 5.9 GHz range, which allow vehicles to 'communicate' with one another and with roadside infrastructure. INDIA ALIGNS ITS STANDARDS WITH GLOBAL STANDARDS This aligns India with the standards in use in the United States. The European Union and India allow carmakers to use standardised hardware instead of building more expensive local versions. This lowers costs and speeds up adoption. Mercedes-Benz, BMW and other luxury carmakers that offer radar-based assistance to drivers abroad can now introduce the same system in India. Maruti Suzuki and Mahindra & Mahindra, domestic players, could introduce advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) more easily. This would allow them to push premium?safety?features into cheaper models. Also, suppliers such as Germany's Bosch, Continental, and Qualcomm chipmaker will benefit. Radar sensors are used to measure safe distances. They also enable features like emergency braking, adaptive cruising control, and blind-spot alerts. This is the foundation for autonomous driving. Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) ?systems warn drivers of hazards beyond their line of sight, such as a car braking around a blind curve or an approaching ?ambulance. According to a 2023 government panel, the majority of traffic problems are caused by these situations. V2X is a good alternative to most sensors in such situations. The panel recommended that V2X be added to India's voluntary Bharat ncap safety ratings, which evaluate crash performance instead of mandating?specific features. India's roads are crowded and drivers face many hazards, from pedestrians to cattle. Lane discipline and speed limits, however, are often ignored and poorly enforced. Reporting by Munsif Vegattil, Aditi Shah. Clarence Fernandez, Mark Potter and Clarence Fernandez edited the report.

• Hamburg Airport: Delays and cancellations after evacuation due to security concerns

  A spokesperson for the airport said that there would be significant delays on Friday at Hamburg Airport after a terminal was evacuated because of a security issue. "The federal police's precautionary measure has now ended, and passengers are passing through security again." The spokesperson confirmed that flight operations have resumed. "However, there will be a number of delays, some significant, all day long. "Flights will be cancelled all day long," she said without specifying the number of cancellations. A federal police spokesperson confirmed that the incident took place at 0945 local time (0745 GMT), when a man accidentally pressed an "emergency" button that opened escape routes and allowed unauthorised entry into a'security hazard area. The man was likely to have simply lost his way, said the spokesperson. (Reporting and editing by Linda Pasquini, Thomas Seythal - Additional reporting).

• Fire disrupts flights at Wellington Airport in New Zealand

  On Friday morning, a fire broke out at Wellington Airport in the capital of New Zealand. Flights were diverted and passengers evacuated from the main terminal. Fire and Emergency New Zealand spokeswoman said that crews attended the fire "alongside" the airport's fire brigade. Five?fire apparatus, two ladder trucks, and a command center were said to be?at scene. Wellington Airport said that the main terminal and southwest pier had been evacuated, and that no injuries were reported. It said that "Flights to Wellington have temporarily been diverted, and passengers are advised to contact their airline for specific information about specific flights." Air New Zealand, Wellington's largest airline, has said that its flights into and out of Wellington have been halted until further notice. According to Fire & Emergency New Zealand, the fire was reported around 7:15 pm (0715 GMT). Reporting by Lucy Craymer and Christine Chen, both in Sydney. Editing by Aidan Lewis.

• Police: Eight people killed in Hungary highway crashes.

  Police said that seven people died and two were injured in western Hungary on Friday morning when a minibus with nine passengers crashed into a truck which was idling due to an accident on the M1 road. The accident near Gyor, which is 122 km from Budapest, was a follow-up to an earlier incident in the same area, in which a construction vehicle collided with truck, resulting in one death and a traffic jam. In a post on Facebook, the Hungarian Premier Peter Magyar stated that the victims are foreigners. He said, "I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families." Magyar didn't specify the nationality of the victims and the police didn't?respond immediately to questions. The police told the news site '24.hu' that all the victims were men and that the minibus was displaying Moldovan plates.

• From corn fields and cargo ships, early interest in ethanol as a marine fuel

  Maersk, Vale and other shippers are using ethanol to reduce emissions. Its low cost and abundant supply make it more appealing than other fuels with lower carbon content. Further commercial use is expected to begin as soon as next year. The use of ethanol in shipping can open up a new market for the fuel which is in some countries blended with gasoline. It also offers'shipowners' another way to reduce conventional fuel consumption to meet emission targets. The global shipping industry is under increasing pressure to manage the uncertainty of oil prices as the hostilities in Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz - a vital waterway - highlight the risks of conventional fuel supply. Chris Chatterton is a maritime advisor at the Global Centre for Green Fuels. The ethanol can be blended into existing methanol ready vessels without requiring major retrofits or capital investment in a single fuel?strategy. Shipping industry tests alternatives to fuel oil, including ammonia and biodiesel. ETHANOL TRIALS FOR SHIPS WITH METHANOL ENGINES Maersk, a shipping company, completed its first two 100% ethanol sailings?in the quarter and last year. This followed earlier tests on 10% and 50% blends of ethanol on a vessel that was designed to run either on methanol or on fuel oil. Maersk sees ethanol as a complementary fuel to methanol. Maersk's spokesperson said that ethanol is a good candidate for exploration because of its established global market, existing infrastructure and similar properties to methanol. Singapore shipping group XPress?Feeders also said that it had tested a marine fuel mixture consisting of 90% methanol and 10% ethanol on a container ship in Rotterdam. Vale, a Brazilian company that uses ships to transport ore, has announced a contract with China's Shandong Shipping Corp. for the construction of two vessels capable of running on ethanol, heavy fuel oil, or methanol. According to Everllence, a Swiss engine manufacturer, ethanol can be used in existing methanol compatible engines without requiring major retrofits. DNV data shows that the number of vessels capable of using methanol is expected to increase from 107 by 2025 to 450 in 2030. Around 313 of the 450 vessels on order are newbuilds. Chatterton, GCGF's Chatterton, said that green methanol, derived renewable resources, faces short-term supply restrictions. Chatterton stated that "Maersk is explicit in its assertion that methanol is a major challenge to scaling up alternative fuels. That is why ethanol has been introduced." CORN ABUNDANT IN THE U.S. AND BRAZILIAN The main feedstock for ethanol is corn. Top producers like the U.S.A. and Brazil have plenty of it. Methanol derived from fossil sources is conventional?methanol. As yields per acre increase, the U.S. Department of Agriculture projects a domestic corn supply of 17 billion bushels in 2025-2026. This is the highest ever. The Renewable Fuels Association (a U.S. group of ethanol producers) said that if ethanol captured 5% market share in the marine fuels sector, it would increase corn demand by up to 1.5 billion bushels and demand for ethanol by between 4 billion and 5 billion gallons. Growth Energy, a U.S. trade group for biofuels, has been lobbying for tax rules to encourage the use of more ethanol. ETHANOL EFFICIENCY Ethanol has a higher energy content per kilogram than Methanol. This means that ships need less fuel to cover the same distance. Despite this, the energy content of ethanol is still lower than conventional fuel oil, which requires about 50% more fuel to reach the same output. Depending on the location and volume, ethanol costs are comparable to low-sulphur conventional fuel oil (LSFO), but it is less expensive than green methanol. The U.S. Grains and Bioproducts Council reported that ethanol cost $700 per metric tonne if it was imported from the U.S. and more than $800 if it came from Asia. According to industry sources, LSFO in Asia can cost more than $750 per tonne, while green methanol is easily over $1,000 per tonne. Chatterton anticipates that more commercial ethanol-bunkering operations will emerge in the next 12-24 months. The first to move are likely to be Brazil's Santos, and Singapore as a top bunker hub. Singapore is developing standards and infrastructure to scale up alternative marine fuels. Rostom Merzouki is the global sustainability vice-president at ABS. He said that additional early activity in the U.S. Gulf will be linked to exports driven by ethanol supply chains. Merzouki anticipates that the first-pilot operation in Northwest Europe will expand to other important bunker hubs by late 2020.

• From corn fields and cargo ships, early interest in ethanol as a marine fuel

  Maersk, Vale and other shippers are using ethanol to reduce emissions. Its abundant supply and low cost make it more appealing than other fuels with lower carbon content. Further commercial use is expected to begin as soon as next year. The use of ethanol for shipping could 'open up a new market for the fuel which is?in certain countries blended with gasoline. It also offers shipowners a way to reduce conventional fuel use in order to meet emissions reduction targets. The global shipping industry is under increasing pressure to manage the uncertainty of oil prices as the hostilities in Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz - a vital waterway - highlight the risks of conventional fuel supply. Chris Chatterton is a maritime advisor at the Global Centre for Green Fuels. The unique thing about ethanol is that, in this context, it can be blended into methanol and used on vessels already equipped with methanol. This does not require a major retrofit or a capital investment to implement a single fuel strategy. The shipping industry has been testing alternative fuels to oil, including ammonia and biodiesel. ETHANOL TESTS ON SHIPS EQUIPPED W/METHANOL ENGINES Maersk, a shipping group, completed its first two voyages using 100% ethanol last week. This follows earlier tests with 10% and 50% blends of ethanol on a vessel that was designed to run either on methanol or on fuel oil. Maersk sees ethanol as an addition to methanol which has been gaining popularity in recent years?as a shipping fuel alternative, though green methanol is still in limited supply. Maersk's spokesperson said that ethanol is a good candidate for exploration because of its established global market, existing infrastructure and similar properties to methanol. Singapore-based shipping company X-Press Feeders has said that it also tested a marine fuel mixture consisting of 90% methanol and 10% ethanol on a container ship in Rotterdam. Vale in Brazil, which transports iron ore by ship, has signed a contract with China's Shandong Shipping Corp for the construction of two vessels that can run on ethanol, heavy fuel oil, or methanol. According to Everllence, a Swiss engine manufacturer, ethanol can be used in existing methanol compatible engines without major retrofits. DNV data shows that the number of vessels capable of using methanol is expected to increase from 107 by 2025 to 450 in 2030. Around 313 of the 450 vessels on order are newbuilds. Chatterton, GCGF's Chatterton, said that green methanol, derived renewable resources, faces near term supply constraints. Chatterton stated that "Maersk is explicit in its assertion that methanol is one of the main challenges to scaling up alternative fuels. That is why ethanol has been introduced." CORN AVAILABLE IN BRAZIL AND THE U.S. The main feedstock for ethanol is corn. Top producers like the U.S.A. and Brazil have plenty of it. Methanol conventionally produced is derived from fossil-fuels. As yields per acre increase, the U.S. Department of Agriculture projects a domestic corn supply of 17 billion bushels in 2025-2026. This is the highest ever. The Renewable Fuels Association (a U.S. group of ethanol producers) said that if ethanol captured 5% market share in the marine fuels sector, it would increase corn demand by up to 1.5 billion bushels and demand for 4 billion to 5 billion gallons. Growth Energy, a U.S. trade group for biofuels, has been lobbying for tax rules to encourage the use of more ethanol. ETHANOL EFFICIENCY Ethanol has around 35% more energy per kilo than methanol. This means that ships need less fuel to cover the same distance. The energy content of ethanol is still lower than conventional fuel oil, which requires about 50% more fuel to reach the same output. Depending on the location and?volume of ethanol, it is comparable to low-sulfur fuel oil (LSFO), but cheaper than green methanol. The U.S. Grains and Bioproducts Council reported that ethanol cost $700 per metric tonne on a U.S. loading base and more than $800 for imports from Asia as of early June. Industry sources?said that LSFO in Asia costs more than $750 per tonne, whereas green methanol is easily priced at over $1,000 per tonne. Chatterton anticipates that more commercial ethanol-bunkering operations will emerge in the next 12-24 months. The first to move are likely to be Brazil's Santos, and Singapore as a top bunker hub. Singapore is developing standards and infrastructure to scale up alternative marine fuels. Rostom Merzouki is the global sustainability vice-president at ABS. He said that additional early activity in the U.S. Gulf will be linked to exports driven by ethanol supply chains. Merzouki anticipates that the first-pilot operation in Northwest Europe will expand to other important bunker hubs by late 2020.

• After Alpine appeal, motor racing penalties in Monaco are being reviewed

  On Thursday, two time penalties for pitlane speeds that cost Pierre Gasly the podium at last weekend's Monaco Grand Prix were being reviewed after it was revealed Formula One made a measurement error. In a statement made at the Barcelona-Catalunya grand prix, the Stewards stated that the Frenchman’s Renault-owned Alpine Team was able to submit a petition for review in both cases. A second hearing could be held. The stewards also accepted that there were significant new elements that they did not have at the time the decisions were made last Sunday. Alpine argued that the stewards were not aware of the issue with the timing loops at the pit lane, but that the governing FIA (Foundation One Management) and the governing FIA knew about it before the race. SPEED MEASUREMENT IS INACCURATE OR OVERESTIMATED Alpine said it also had data that showed Gasly had activated his car's speed limiter before entering pit lane, and had stayed inside the limit. The submission stated "FOM as Official Timekeeping supplier to the Competition provided evidence that distance?used in calculating F1 Official Timing was inaccurate and underestimated the speed of the Car 10 (Gasly). The Stewards confirmed that the incorrect distance measurement was only confirmed by the?FOM on Wednesday, after the race. The team also noted that they had raised concerns during the race following three initial 'pitlane speeding violations and asked race control whether there was a problem with the system. They said that "Race Control reported back that they raised the issue with the official timekeeper, and were reassured there was no problem." Gasly was third in the Monaco road race, which is a home race of sorts for him and his team. However, he was demoted to 7th after two 5-second penalties. Gasly was recorded at 60.1 kph and 60.4 km/h, when the speed limit is 60 kph. Gasly stated that he felt "absolutely broken" by the penalties, and that "a dream I've had for my entire life of being on the podium in Monaco was taken from me because of reasons I cannot understand". Red Bull's Isack Hadjar could have been reinstated, but that would be problematic, as other drivers were also penalised. Eight of the eleven teams, except for Alpine, requested to attend the virtual hearing. The final decision was still pending. "I thought in the race, it was fairly obvious." "I thought there was something strange going on, because you only get a penalty if you have two or three cars in the same race. But not if you had seven or eight," said Oscar Piastri of McLaren. It's obvious that it has affected the outcome of the race one way or the other. If I hadn't received a penalty, I would not have pitted. "They can't change the outcome now, because it has happened?before" (Gasly’s penalty). George Russell of Mercedes, who was out of points in a race that his teammate Kimi won, claimed he had pleaded to the FIA for a post-race punishment rather than the drive through he received, which could not be reversed once it had been served. (Reporting and editing by Alex Richardson, Clare Fallon, and Alan Baldwin)

• Grupo Mexico, U.S. partner eye Argentina grain freight network in Milei privatization push

  Mexico's Grupo Mexico Transportes (GMXT), has signed a contract with the United States. Wabtec, a rail technology company, will bid jointly for Argentine's state-run cargo operator Belgrano Cargas y Logistica BCYL (BCYL), a GMXT employee said on Thursday. Source requested anonymity as they were not authorized by GMXT to discuss the deal. The privatization of BCYL, which is proposed by President Javier Milei, is part of his drive to transfer state owned companies into private ownership. Argentina will soon publish the documents for the privatization of BCYL. BCYL operates three of the largest freight trains in Argentina. The company didn't respond to our request for comment. Grupo Mexico?Transportes is a unit within Grupo Mexico. This conglomerate based in Mexico. Local media reported that several other companies had also expressed an interest in bidding. Rio Tinto, Bunge,?Cargill Company, Asociacion de Cooperativas Argentinas, and Aceitera General Deheza are among the companies that have expressed interest in bidding. Argentinian firm operates?Urquiza and Belgrano freight lines that together?transport?7.5 millions tons of produce each year, of which 60% are agricultural products or derivatives. The privatization plan aims to improve 'the transport of goods, such as grains, from the north and western parts of the country to the key export ports in the Rosario region. Argentina is a major grain supplier in the world and its mining sector is growing. (Reporting and editing by Inigo Alexandre and Sanjeev Miklani; Lucila Sigal)

• US and Canada delay opening new bridge after Trump raised concerns

  U.S. president Donald Trump had threatened earlier this year to block the crossing. The U.S. government and Canada have now decided to postpone the opening of the $4.7 billion bridge that connects Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario. According to invitations, a formal ribbon-cutting was planned for Friday at the Gordie Howe international bridge. Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority: "Canada and the United States agreed to delay opening the bridge. They will take the time necessary to resolve any outstanding issues." WindsorMayor Drew Dilkens told X that although officials wanted to?see this bridge open, Canada did not have to beg for it. Pete Hoekstra is the U.S. Ambassador to Canada and he told The Detroit News that he, along with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, are leading the discussions with Canada regarding the opening of the bridge. Lutnick’s office didn't immediately respond to an inquiry for comment. Mark Carney, Canadian Prime Minister, said that the new bridge would benefit Canadians, Americans and business people, as well as tourists, residents, and visitors for many decades. "Everyone is working hard to make sure that the bridge opens as soon as possible. No big drama. Carney stated that if it takes a bit longer, then it will take a bit longer. The White House did not comment. Trump in February said that Canada's refusal of to stock certain U.S. alcohol beverages on Canadian shelves, Canada tariffs on dairy and trade talks with China were reasons why he may not allow the bridge's opening. Matthew Moroun is the owner of a rival Ambassador Bridge that connects Detroit to Windsor. He met with Lutnick in February and had given $1 million weeks earlier to a Trump-aligned PAC. House Democrats claim that Moroun has used his influence in order to "jeopardize American trade"?to protect the bottom line of his company. Canada financed the construction of the bridge that began in 2018 because?the U.S. refused?to?pay for?it. Tolls will cover the costs over a period of 30 years. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin stated at a Senate Hearing last week that his department was "ready to go" for staffing the Gordie-Howe Bridge. The new bridge is expected to ease the truck traffic on the privately-owned Ambassador Bridge, which leads into Detroit. Detroit is the largest border freight port in the U.S. and Canada, with a value of $126 billion traded by trucks. According to a study by the University of Windsor, it will reduce the crossing time by 20 minutes, saving truckers $2.3billion over 30 years. In his second term, Trump has threatened Canada and dramatically increased tariffs against the U.S. neighbor to the north. Trump has said that he may not renew the free trade agreement with Mexico and Canada. Reporting by David Shepardson, Editing by Chizu nomiyama and Mark Porter

• Gasly's Monaco penalty is reviewed by the Alpine team and cleared of its first hurdle

  The Alpine Formula One Team has overcome the first hurdle in a review of the Monaco Grand Prix pit-lane speeding penalties which cost Pierre Gasly his podium place. Stewards said in a statement the petitions for review were admissible and that they accepted that there was an important and new element which was not available to them when the decisions were made last Sunday. The virtual hearing moved on to the second stage of the event ahead of the "Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix". Renault-owned Alpine argued that the stewards were not aware of the 'issue' with the timing loops on the pit lane before the race. In the statement, Alpine said it also had data showing Gasly engaged the speed limiter on the car before entering the pits and stayed within that limit. Alpine claimed in a letter that "FOM as the Official Timekeeping Supplier of the Competition provided evidence that distances used to calculate the F1 Official Timing and therefore the pit lane speeds were inaccurate, and that Car 10's speed was overestimated". Gasly, a Frenchman, finished 'third on the road' in Monaco. It was essentially a home race for him and his team. However, he was demoted to'seventh place after receiving two 5-second penalties due to pit lane speeding. Gasly was one of many drivers who were penalised by the court for similar offenses. He had been doing 60,1, and 60,4 kph, when the speed limit?was only 60 kph. Gasly later said that he was "absolutely devastated" by the penalties, and "to see my lifelong dream of being on the podium in Monaco taken away for reasons I cannot understand". (Reporting Alan Baldwin, Editing Alex Richardson).