Floods paralyze Indonesia's capital (the rain will continue for another seven days)

 Parts of Indonesia's capital have been paralysed by floods after torrential downpours swamped the city overnight.

Heavy rain disrupted transportation throughout the city. Thousands of train passengers were left stranded when two of Jakarta’s main stations flooded, some areas left 2-1/2 feet deep in water.

Ukraine’s Naftogaz sues Gazprom for $6 billion in Stockholm arbitration (Gazprom’s report)

The Ukrainian national energy company Naftogaz is claiming $3.2 billion compensation from Gazprom in a lawsuit filed with the Stockholm Arbitration Tribunal for lower gas transit via Ukraine and related interest, according to a report released by Gazprom on Thursday...

Eurostar suspends all train services after smoke detection. -- Channel tunnel reopens

All services of Eurostar were suspended Saturday due to smoke detection in the Channel Tunnel, Eurostar announced Saturday.

Snowstorm hits west Canada, leaving thousands without power

Thousands of residents in Canada' s western province of British Columbia (B.C.) remained without power on Tuesday, one day after a winter storm swept through the region, BC Hydro spokeswoman said.

The heavy snowstorm has left up to 40 centimeters of snow in some areas and highway and schools closed. Monday was supposed to be the first day back to class after the winter break.

China builds first high-speed railway through karst region

Construction of China's first high-speed railway running through the country's southwest karst regions was completed on Sunday.

The 857-km railway linking Guiyang, capital of landlocked mountainous province of Guizhou, with south China's economic powerhouse Guangzhou, is expected to become operational on Friday.

Commissioner for Transport Violeta Bulc makes road safety a priority in EU transport policy (EC - 16.11.14)

European Commission - Statement,  Brussels, 16 November 2014:
On the occasion of the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, Violeta Bulc, the EU's Transport Commissioner made the following statement:

China approves new railway in Tibet

China has approved construction of a railway linking Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region to Nyingchi in its east, local authorities said Friday.

According to the plan approved by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Lhasa to Nyingchi section of the Sichuan-Tibet railway runs 402 km from Nyingchi to Xierong, a stop on the Lhasa-Xigaze line.

The 32-km section from Xierong to Lhasa will be electrified.

Europe should respond to Ukraine’s statement on gas transit guarantees. ("Ukraine grants itself the right to steal Russian gas intended for European consumers")

Europe should respond to a statement by Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk that Ukraine can give no guarantees for safe Russian natural gas transit to Europe, Gazprom Deputy CEO Alexander Medvedev said on Friday.

“Yatsenyuk said yesterday that Ukraine will not be able to ensure the safety of gas supplies from Russia to Europe,” he said.

Russia to supply enough gas to Europe in winter — (Putin)

The gas supply will only be cut in case Ukraine taps gas from the export pipeline system without authorization....

BELGRADE, October 16. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia will provide enough gas to Europe in winter.
“We would very much like to prevent any crises in the fall-winter period,” Putin admitted at a press conference after talks with the Serbian leadership.

Ukraine Demands Gas Transit Contract With Europe, Refuses to Guarantee Safe Transit

KIEV, October 16  – Ukraine will not guarantee uninterrupted transit of Russian gas to Europe via its territory unless it signs a gas transit contract with EU partners, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said Thursday.

“Ukraine declares that we are a state that guarantees uninterrupted transit of natural gas, but in order to guarantee it, we need to sign an agreement with European companies,” he said.

Russia and Finland Sign Icebreaker Deal for Baltic Sea

Russia and Finland have signed an agreement on the provision of mutual icebreaking services in a bid to improve navigation in the eastern Gulf of Finland.

The new rules will allow Finnish icebreakers to operate in Russian territorial waters in return for financial compensation, said a statement posted Monday on the Finnish Transportation Ministry website.

Shell won't take part in establishing operator for Ukrainian gas system. (the company is not ready to ruin its reputation in Russia)

Shell refused to take part in the creation of the operator of the gas transportation system of Ukraine.

Shell, which is a partner of Russia's Gazprom in "Sakhalin-2" and "Gazprom Oil" project to extract oil Salym Petroleum, will not apply to participate in the creation of the operator of the gas transportation system of Ukraine, the head of the department of public relations of Shell-Ukraine, Anna Dumanskaya said.

European Commission to Discuss Idea of Buying Gas on Border With Russia, Ukraine

MOSCOW, August 12 (RIA Novosti) - The European Commission believes that Naftogaz' idea for European companies to purchase Russian gas on the border between Russia and Ukraine would require a review of contracts and is ready to discuss the suggestion with the two countries in the fall, European Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger said in a statement.

"Naftogaz' idea that European gas companies could buy Russian gas at the Russian-Ukrainian border instead of getting it delivered through Ukraine requires a renegotiation of the transit contracts. As this cannot be done in the short term, it is a question that would need to be discussed in a trilateral meeting between the European Commission, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. We are working for such a meeting taking place in early autumn. At the moment, gas transit to the EU is unaffected," Oettinger's statement said.

China to upgrade transport infrastructures in Tibet (will also build more airports in Tibet)

China has vowed to further promote the development of transport infrastructures in Tibet to make travels on "the roof of the world" much easier.

The Ministry of Transport (MOT) said in a guideline that China aims to expand highways in the autonomous region to 110,000 kilometers by 2020.

China plans to complete a primary network of railways by then with 1,300 kilometers of rails in operation. The country will also build more airports in Tibet.

Environment: Ljubljana European Green Capital 2016

European Commission, Press release, Brussels, 24 June 2014:

The capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana, has won the European Green Capital Award for 2016. The award was presented this afternoon by EU Environment Commissioner, Janez Potočnik, at a ceremony in Copenhagen, which holds the 2014 European Green Capital title. Ljubljana received recognition for raising environmental awareness amongst its citizens, for its sustainability strategy 'Vision 2025', its implementation of a range of urban green measures over the past decade and its impressive transportation network.

L'Ukraine veut modifier le tarif pour le transit du gaz

La compagnie ukrainienne Naftogaz a l'intention de modifier la structure tarifaire pour le transit du gaz russe par l'introduction du principe de « pomper ou payer », a déclaré le gouvernement de l'Ukraine.

Selon le chef de Naftogaz Andreï Kobolev, en plus de changement du niveau tarifaire, une « mise en œuvre de la structure tarifaire correcte, ce qui permettra à la société Ukrtransgaz (filiale de Naftogaz) de recevoir la part du lion du revenu, peu importe la quantité de gaz transitant par Ukraine » devient importante.

Ukraine can’t guarantee gas storage and transit to Europe. - Alexander Novak, Russian minister

“Ukraine cannot guarantee supply of gas to European consumers, that is, its transit in the amount that is provided for in the contracts between Gazprom and European consumers,” Russian minister adds

Russia urged Europe to share responsibility for storing natural gas in Ukrainian underground gas storage facilities, as Ukraine is unable to guarantee the transit of gas to Europe in necessary amounts, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said.

Russia, EU, Ukraine fail to reach agreement at gas talks

Russia, Ukraine, and the European Union failed to reach an agreement on gas supply issues during three-party talks in Warsaw on Friday. Kiev vowed to fulfill its gas transit obligations, but did not say when it plans to repay debt to Russia’s Gazprom.
According to EU energy commissioner Guenther Oettinger, the sides have agreed to hold two more rounds of consultations, in two and four weeks. During their next meeting in mid-May, the sides will focus on gas prices for Ukraine, Oettinger told journalists on Friday.

New EU rules for safer and greener lorries: European Parliament endorses Commission proposal

European Commission, Press release, Brussels, 15 April 2014:

The European Parliament has endorsed today the Commission's proposal for new EU rules for safer and greener lorries. Vice-President Siim Kallas, in charge of transport, said: "I am pleased with this vote which supports the Commission's goal to make road transport cleaner and safer, allowing innovative designs for the greener trucks of the future."

The European Commission proposed in April 2013 new rules, revising the current legislation on weights and dimensions of certain road vehicles, to allow manufacturers to develop more aerodynamic lorries which will reduce fuel consumption by 7-10%, cut emissions of greenhouse gases, and also enhance the safety of vulnerable road users.

Environment: Essen, Ljubljana, Nijmegen, Oslo and Umeå shortlisted for European Green Capital 2016

The European Commission today announced that Essen (Germany), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Nijmegen (The Netherlands), Oslo (Norway) and Umeå (Sweden) have been selected as the five finalists to advance to the next stage of the European Green Capital 2016 Award. The Award is presented to one European city every year, commending its achievements in environmental sustainability. For the first year since its conception, cities across Europe with more than 100,000 inhabitants were eligible to apply; previously only cities with a population of 200,000 or more qualified.