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Trump: Merger of Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern sounds good
Donald Trump, the president of the United States, said that he thought it was a good idea to merge Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern for $85 billion. The Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena and President Trump met in the Oval Office last week to discuss the railroad’s plan to buy out Norfolk Southern. Trump told reporters Friday in the Oval Office that "Union Pacific is an excellent railroad." The announcement in July of the merger of two of the major U.S. railroad operators shocked the market, which was already highly concentrated. Under the Biden administration's aggressive antitrust policies, such a proposal was unthinkable. Trump's backing could speed up the review process in an agreement that is facing opposition from rivals, and pushback by shippers worried about reduced competition. If approved, the tie-up could transform the U.S. rail freight industry, creating the first coast to coast single-line network. It would streamline operations and eliminate interchange delays at key hubs such as Chicago. Union Pacific is the dominant freight rail carrier in Western United States. Norfolk Southern, on the other hand, is the leading carrier in Eastern United States. Together they make up two of the major U.S. class I railroads along with BNSF Railway, CSX Corp, and BNSF. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, which owns BNSF Railway sent a strong message last month against more consolidation, and said he wasn't interested in buying another railway. BNSF and CSX are the two major U.S. railroads that do not operate a transcontinental network. Last week, the White House announced that it would nominate Surface Transportation Board member Michelle Schultz to a second term, and Richard Kloster, a transportation consultant who runs a private company, for an open seat in the agency. Last month, the White House fired Surface Transportation Board Member Robert Primus. Primus was appointed by former President Joe Biden.
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The death toll in the tanker truck explosion that occurred in Mexico City has risen to 25
MEXICO CITY (Sept. 19) - The death count from an explosion that occurred in the capital of Mexico involving a truck transporting liquefied petrol gas (LPG), has now reached 25, according to the city's Health Ministry. The truck carrying about 50,000 liters LPG overturned and crashed into a wall. A rupture released gas which ignited and caused an explosion. The fire then consumed around 30 cars. Since last Wednesday, the number of fatalities has increased. The truck exploded and burst into fire while driving on a busy highway near Iztapalapa in Mexico City. Mexico City Health Ministry: "In relation to the Iztapalapa accident, we can confirm 21 people are still hospitalized. 38 people have been discharged and 25 tragically died." The incident has sparked frustration about safety conditions on Mexico’s highways and led to calls for tighter supervision of hazardous cargo transportation and road maintenance. Residents expressed frustration with the challenges they face on the outskirts of the city, where commutes can be long and difficult. The driver of the truck died this week. One of the youngest victims is a two-year old girl who was transported last week to an American hospital in Galveston Texas. At least 11 minors were also injured by the explosion and treated locally. Initial investigations by the city authorities indicated that excessive speed and lack skill of the driver caused the accident. The investigation is ongoing. Reporting by Diego Ore, Writing by Aida Pelaez-Fernandez, Natalia Siniawski and Editing by Richard Chang
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US lawmakers want to sanction Russia's "shadow fleet"
On Friday, a group of Republican senators and Democratic senators in the United States introduced legislation that would increase sanctions against Russian energy. The legislation specifically targets a collection older oil tankers which lawmakers claim are used to avoid existing U.S. sanctions on energy. The "Sanctioning Harbors and Dodgers of Western Sanctions" or SHADOW Fleets Act is a response to President Donald Trump's statement that he wanted to discourage other countries from buying Russian oil. This fuels Russia’s economy and pays for its war in Ukraine. The bill was sponsored by Senators Jim Risch, a Republican from Idaho and Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire and the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Seven other Republican and Democratic Senators also signed the bill. The bill targets the shadow fleet by providing the U.S. with a list that can be used to identify vessels supporting Russian naval forces. It also establishes strict sanctions liability on any ship involved in a transfer involving a sanctioned ship. It also sanctions Russian Arctic Liquid Natural Gas Projects and the development of new Russian LNG projects. The Nord Stream II pipeline from Europe would also be terminated. This measure would also bring U.S. sanctioning more in line with the European Union. EU officials announced on Friday that the bloc intends to ban Russian LNG exports one year earlier than anticipated, as part a 19th set of sanctions against Moscow. Prospects for the bill were unclear. The prospects of a separate bill to impose tough sanctions on Russia were not clear. While the world was reacting to the Russian incursion in Estonian airspace that raised concerns of increased instability, several groups of senators introduced separate bills Friday to increase security in Eastern Europe as well as use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine.
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Trump administration strikes deal with Washington Union Station to regain control
The Trump administration announced late Friday that it had reached a deal with the federal government to regain control of Washington Union Station, located in the nation’s capital. The U.S. Department of Transportation, President Donald Trump’s latest initiative to increase federal control, announced last month that it would reclaim the management of Washington's Union Station. It is one of the nation's largest rail hubs. The federal government will assume control of Union Station under a new agreement signed by Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration. The FRA stated that "regaining control of the station will allow Amtrak the freedom to concentrate on its core mission, which is providing rail transportation." USDOT has said that it will increase security by focusing on short-term projects to address a backlog and long-term Union Station vision using private investment. The federal government owns the majestic, but worn-out Beaux-Arts-style station that opened in 1907 but it is run by a non-profit organization working with Amtrak. Amtrak is the government-owned rail passenger service. Washington Mayor Muriel bowser praised this decision last month, stating that the city couldn't afford to spend $8 billion or even more on renovating the station. (Reporting and editing by Franklin Paul, Lisa Shumaker and David Shepardson)
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US files court statements to support Enbridge pipeline in Michigan case
The Trump administration has taken a side with Canadian pipeline operator Enbridge, in its legal fight against Michigan. Last week the Trump administration filed a court declaration that challenged the state's attempts to shut down Line 5 oil pipeline. Enbridge and Michigan have been in a long-standing dispute over the Line 5 pipeline. This aging pipeline transports 540,000 barrels of crude oil per day from Superior, Wisconsin to Sarnia (Ontario). The Calgary-based firm proposes to build an approximately 4-mile (6 km) tunnel for the pipe, which crosses the Straits of Mackinac on the Great Lakes. Native American tribes, as well as environmental groups are opposed to the project. They fear that it could pose a threat to the Great Lakes. Enbridge stated in a press release that it is confident in the Michigan Public Service Commission’s permit process which approved the project.
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FAA orders ground stop at two Dallas airports due to telephone issue
After a communication problem caused more than 300 delays, the Federal Aviation Administration announced ground stops on Friday at Dallas Love Field Airport and Dallas Fort Worth Airport. The FAA reported that it was slowing down traffic because of a reported issue with local telephone equipment, which did not involve FAA-owned equipment. The FAA said it was working with the phone company to identify the cause. It is expected that the issues will continue for several hours. This year, the FAA faced a number of communication issues. The FAA has slowed down flights at Denver International Airport on Thursday due to automation issues. These issues were caused by a manual handoff procedure between the approach control tower and Denver Air Traffic Control. This resulted in delays of 30 to 45 min. In July, Congress approved an initial funding of $12.5 billion to upgrade the aging U.S. Air Traffic Control System. According to FAA officials, the system is experiencing tech problems almost every day. It has been years since the FAA's air traffic control network was in trouble. But a series of high-profile incidents, near-misses and staffing shortages as well as a January crash between a U.S. Army chopper and regional American Airlines plane that killed 67 people have sparked public concern. Reporting by Christian Martinez, David Shepardson and Ryan Patrick Jones from Los Angeles; Editing and proofreading by Caitlin webber and Franklin Paul.
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US threatens Boston and Chicago transit agencies with a cut-off of funds
The Trump administration announced on Friday that it could withhold federal funding from Boston and Chicago, if those cities do not take further steps to ensure the safety and security of transit workers and subway and bus passengers. The U.S. Transportation Department sent letters to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and Chicago Transit Authority, requesting that they respond within two weeks to incidents in which passengers were injured. Sean Duffy, the Transportation Secretary, said last month that he could withhold as much as 25% of New York City federal funding if they did not improve safety among subway workers. Duffy also wants to end New York City’s congestion mitigation program. Chicago and Boston have the third and fourth largest transit systems in the United States. Donald Trump, the president of the U.S., has condemned crime in major U.S. cities. He also threatened to deploy National Guard troops in additional cities following their deployment to Washington D.C. After a man charged with fatally stabbing a Ukrainian asylum seeker on a North Carolina rail last month, transit safety has received renewed attention. Duffy stated, "It's time for Chicago and Boston to improve their transit systems in order to keep Americans safe." Phillip Eng, the CEO of Boston's Transit Authority, stated in a recent statement that he had spoken to the head the Federal Transit Administration about "our shared commitment to ensuring the safety of every passenger and we are in accordance regarding providing the safest possible commute for all employees and riders." He stated that the authority will provide the requested information as well as continue to show significant progress. Chicago Transit Authority didn't immediately respond to our request for a comment. The U.S. Department of Transportation sent letters to transit agencies located in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles expressing concerns over safety and security. (Reporting and editing by Franklin Paul, Edmund Klamann and David Shepardson)
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The strike in Belem has slowed down construction of the COP30 hotel, which includes heads of state.
The strike of construction workers in Brazil's Amazonian City of Belem - the venue for a global climate conference in November - has disrupted some of the work on Leaders' Village, which is expected to host dozens of leaders from around world in six weeks' time. Cleber Rabelo, the president of the local union of construction workers, said that one section of the compound was about 60% stopped. The union is asking for an increase of 9.5% in the monthly wage. He added that "in the other section we were able to perform temporary shutdowns". The strike that began on Monday has caused Brazil to face new challenges in organizing the COP30 summit. The mood has been dampened by the high hotel costs and demand in Belem. Several country delegations, as well as civil society groups, have complained that they were shut out from the conference due to the cost. The compound which will house the government leaders must be finished in time for a summit of presidents that will take place November 6-7, ahead of the COP30 conference November 10-21. Images taken on Friday revealed that a large, multi-story building with a helipad was still in its final stages of construction. Sources within the federal government who monitor construction have confirmed that four out of five blocks are almost finished. The original intention was to open the compound in October. Sources acknowledged that the strike may delay the project but said that the government expected the construction work to be completed on time. Rabelo criticised employers for presenting an offer which the union rejected because it was too little. This led to workers continuing a strike that is now affecting construction work in the entire city. He added that COP construction sites were partly spared. Rabelo reported that the strike also affected hotel projects related to COP30. However, Rabelo added, companies managing those projects had reached agreements with their workers, allowing for work to resume Monday. Reporting by Lisandra paraguassu and Marx Vasconcelos, both in Belem. Editing by Manuela andreoni and Frances Kerry.
Mexico's new judges system is threatened by cartels after a murder
As they finished their day, clerical workers at an Acapulco Courthouse heard shots. Gunmen opened fire on Magistrate Edmundo Roman Pinzon - a former president in the highest court of Guerrero State - as he attempted to leave the parking lot.
The killing on December 11, happened months before the election of federal judges and magistrates. This election marks a major change in Mexico's judicial system, after years of lawlessness.
The increased public exposure of candidates for prestigious positions in a country which last year experienced the bloodiest elections it has ever seen, has raised fears that they will become easy targets.
In an interview conducted at his office, the courthouse in which Roman was murdered, Ynocente Orduno said, "Undoubtedly, we are all at risk of being attacked."
Roman's position will likely be on the ballot at the local judicial elections scheduled for 2027 in Guerrero.
Roman was a magistrate in Acapulco. According to two legal professionals who spoke with him and knew Roman, many people in the community believed that he had been targeted for his actions.
Local media reported that the Attorney General of Guerrero and Mexico's Secretary of Security have both announced three arrests, one being a suspect suspected to be linked to organized crime. The authorities have not revealed a motive, and the prosecutor has declined to comment. The elections on June 1 are part of the reform that was passed last year to overhaul the judicial system in the country. In June, more than 840 federal posts will be filled by around 5,000 candidates. This includes Supreme Court justices. In 17 states, another 1,737 candidates are competing for local positions. In the future, other states will also hold local elections.
Andres Lopez Obrador, the mentor of Claudia Sheinbaum and her predecessor, said that the reforms were necessary to eradicate corruption and serve the needs of the ordinary citizen. It has also raised concerns that criminal gangs will target judges. Human rights monitors attribute 37 assassinations to organized crime, ahead of the 2024 election that Sheinbaum's party and Sheinbaum won with a landslide.
Six judicial professionals and security experts as well as politicians and academics were interviewed to find out how the government plans to keep the elections safe.
Mexico faces a budget crisis and a National Guard that is depleted as it looks to collaborate with the United States on its shared border.
Former Mexican Supreme Court Justice Jose Ramon Cossio, a professor at Tec de Monterrey University, said that Mexico is experiencing a "very important" (deficit). There will be no money to cover these conditions.
According to Claudia Zavala an electoral advisor with INE, Mexico's autonomous elections body INE acts as a conduit for candidates to report threats to authorities. However, any protective measures are the responsibility of the federal government.
Sheinbaum spokeswoman reiterated INE’s role when it comes to requesting security. She said that "normally" if there's a request for security, the candidate is given security.
She did not provide any details on the plan or budget allocated to candidate security.
"JUSTICE BY STRONGEST"
Orduno is a judge who has been in the field for almost 30 years. He acknowledged that it would be difficult to protect all candidates, but urged officials to take this issue more seriously.
According to Mexico Evalua, at least 22 local judicial workers, including Roman Roman, were killed in Mexico between 2012 and 2015.
Mexico Evalua discovered that at least four of the murders were linked to the work of judges.
In February, when I visited the Acapulco courthouse located in the rough Las Playas area of Acapulco, an officer from state police stood outside. There were no cameras or security checks at the entrance. The public was free to move between floors. A car with broken windows was parked in the street.
Guerrero is one of most dangerous places to campaign in the country. In Coyuca de Benitez, a mayoral candidate was shot at point blank range during a rally days before the elections of 2024. In October, the newly-sworn in mayor of state capital Chilpancingo had been brutally killed and decapitated.
"I can imagine a situation where cartels support a certain candidate and another candidate from the opposite side is just as popular." Mike Ballard is the director of intelligence for Global Guardian, an international security firm.
Ballard stated that "you end up with judges who are in cartel pockets, which will not be good for democracy or fairness in Mexico."
Sheinbaum has been trying to contain a security crisis that is worsening in the country. According to TResearch, since Sheinbaum took office, there have been 78 murders per day on average.
Cossio said that cartels can force their opponents out of the game if they don't have real protection.
Cossio said, "If Mexico remains without justice, then you open the door for the strongest to bring justice."
Not Enough Police
Ramiro Solorio is an attorney and professor of law who has run unsuccessfully for mayor three times in Acapulco. He knows the risks. Solorio, who received death threats before the election last year, reported them to INE and they activated a protocol which prompted National Guard protection.
Solorio stated that there would not be enough police officers to monitor each candidate.
Solorio referred to the security of government officials, and asked why this should not be the case for those in judicial branches. Solorio stated that "the president, the secretary, and governor have their families protected."
On a recent trip to Acapulco the Governor of Guerrero Evelyn Salgado, flanked with members of her security staff as she was about to leave a busy street following a press conference, was flanked.
Salgado, when asked about the security of candidates, said that coordination with Sheinbaum’s administration had been "perfect".
Salgado stated that "as always, we will follow a security protocol for each election to ensure that elections are peaceful."
Her team then ushered her in an SUV and drove off. (Reporting and editing by Christian Plumb, Claudia Parsons, and Cassandra Garrison)
(source: Reuters)