Hyperloop has been in the news for 10 years now and now it's back in the spotlight. The cutting-edge travel technology, which represents a bold and exciting vision for the future of transportation, is set to cut journey times between cities from hours to minutes. Here's more.

Hyperloop could revolutionise the way people travel

While cases of coronavirus are declining all over the world, the economic losses faced by the pandemic seem to be adding up.<o:p></o:p>

In addition to several other industries, the transport industry has urged global leaders and the United Nations (UN) to pay attention to their worsening situation.<o:p></o:p>

IRU, the world road transport organisation, IATA, the International Air Transport Association, ICS, the International Chamber of Shipping, and ITF, the International Transport Workers' Federation came together to draft this letter and make an urgent plea on behalf of the whole transport industry.

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"Our collective industries account for more than $20 trillion of world trade annually, and represent 65 million global transport workers, and over 3.5 million road freight and airline companies, as well as more than 80% of the world merchant shipping fleet," the chiefs said in a joint letter.<o:p></o:p>

As the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">coronavirus pandemic</a> took over the world in the beginning of 2019, all kinds of transportation came to a halt. This has negatively impacted the industry and companies have had to bear huge amount of losses.<o:p></o:p>

Calling for aid in these difficult times, the global transport chiefs have urged the UN to out an end to all travel bans and other Covid-related restrictions.

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The joint open letter by the global transport chiefs have alleged world leaders of not offering them enough support in these difficult times, especially since it is the transport industry that has been putting their lives in risk to ensure timely delivery of medicines, PPE kits, masks and much more.<o:p></o:p>

"Transport workers keep the world running and are vital for the free movement of products, including vaccines and PPE, but have been continually failed by governments and taken for granted by their officials," the letter reads.<o:p></o:p>

The chiefs have asked for freedom of movement for transport workers and have urged the world leaders to ensure that they follow protocols that have been set up and motivated by international bodies. <o:p></o:p>

Keeping their safety in mind, they have also requested governments to prioritise transport workers when it comes to Covid vaccinations.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/can-vitamin-a-help-in-treating-covid-caused-loss-of-smell-experts-answer-416845">Can Vitamin A help in treating Covid-caused loss of smell? Experts answer</a></o:p>

"We ask that our transport workers are given priority to receive WHO recognised vaccines and heads of government work together to create globally harmonised, digital, mutually recognised vaccination certificate and processes for demonstrating health credentials (including vaccination status and COVID-19 test results), which are paramount to ensure transport workers can cross international borders,"&nbsp;letter read.<o:p></o:p>

The industry has blamed world leaders of putting more strain on the transport workers by engaging in a blame game and failing to take quality decisions.<o:p></o:p>

"Heads of government have failed to listen, to end the blame-shifting within and between governments and take the decisive and coordinated action needed to resolve this crisis,"&nbsp;the letter accuses.<o:p></o:p>

They chiefs have also warned about an incoming massive delay in all sorts of transport deliveries as the consumer demand is alarming increasing and the trend is expected to get worse with Christmas right around the corner. This delay is expected to continue at least till 2022.<o:p></o:p>

"It is of great concern that we are also seeing shortages of workers and expect more to leave our industries as a result of the poor treatment they have faced during the pandemic, putting the supply chain under greater threat," the chiefs warned.<o:p></o:p>

While cases of coronavirus are declining all over the world, the economic losses faced by the pandemic seem to be adding up. In addition to several other industries, the transport industry has urged global leaders and the United Nations (UN) to pay attention to their worsening situation.

While cases of coronavirus are declining all over the world, the economic losses faced by the pandemic seem to be adding up. In addition to several other industries, the transport industry has urged global leaders and the United Nations (UN) to pay attention to their worsening situation. IRU, the world road transport organisation, IATA, the International Air Transport Association, ICS, the International Chamber of Shipping, and ITF, the International Transport Workers' Federation came together to draft this letter and make an urgent plea on behalf of the whole transport industry. Also read | Vietnam lockdown hits iPhone delivery; shoe & car companies also suffer "Our collective industries account for more than $20 trillion of world trade annually, and represent 65 million global transport workers, and over 3.5 million road freight and airline companies, as well as more than 80% of the world merchant shipping fleet," the chiefs said in a joint letter. As the coronavirus pandemic took over the world in the beginning of 2019, all kinds of transportation came to a halt. This has negatively impacted the industry and companies have had to bear huge amount of losses. Calling for aid in these difficult times, the global transport chiefs have urged the UN to out an end to all travel bans and other Covid-related restrictions. Also read | Are virtual classrooms in post-pandemic world turning your kids into introverts than extroverts? The joint open letter by the global transport chiefs have alleged world leaders of not offering them enough support in these difficult times, especially since it is the transport industry that has been putting their lives in risk to ensure timely delivery of medicines, PPE kits, masks and much more. "Transport workers keep the world running and are vital for the free movement of products, including vaccines and PPE, but have been continually failed by governments and taken for granted by their officials," the letter reads. The chiefs have asked for freedom of movement for transport workers and have urged the world leaders to ensure that they follow protocols that have been set up and motivated by international bodies. Keeping their safety in mind, they have also requested governments to prioritise transport workers when it comes to Covid vaccinations. Also read | Can Vitamin A help in treating Covid-caused loss of smell? Experts answer "We ask that our transport workers are given priority to receive WHO recognised vaccines and heads of government work together to create globally harmonised, digital, mutually recognised vaccination certificate and processes for demonstrating health credentials (including vaccination status and COVID-19 test results), which are paramount to ensure transport workers can cross international borders," letter read. The industry has blamed world leaders of putting more strain on the transport workers by engaging in a blame game and failing to take quality decisions. "Heads of government have failed to listen, to end the blame-shifting within and between governments and take the decisive and coordinated action needed to resolve this crisis," the letter accuses. They chiefs have also warned about an incoming massive delay in all sorts of transport deliveries as the consumer demand is alarming increasing and the trend is expected to get worse with Christmas right around the corner. This delay is expected to continue at least till 2022. "It is of great concern that we are also seeing shortages of workers and expect more to leave our industries as a result of the poor treatment they have faced during the pandemic, putting the supply chain under greater threat," the chiefs warned.

Transport chiefs warn world leaders and UN about incoming collapse of global supply chain

Germany&#39;s highest court on Thursday referred a case seeking to ban Uber&#39;s sedan services with licensed drivers to the European Court of Justice to decide whether a ban of the &quot;Uber Black&quot; service would violate broader European Union laws.

The court said the service by the transport app company violated German competition, adding that it wanted clarification from the higher European court before it could issue a final ruling.

Uber already suspended its low-cost ride-hailing service in Germany in 2015 after court challenges and was focusing instead on its &quot;Black&quot; service staffed by professional drivers in black sedans.

Uber, which allows passengers to summon a ride through an app on their smartphones, expanded into Europe five years ago but has been challenged in the courts because it is not bound by the same strict licensing and safety rules as some competitors.

Last week, Uber met the biggest challenge yet to its European roll-out after the region&#39;s top court was advised to rule that the U.S. ride-hailing firm is actually a transport service not an app.

(Reuters)

German court wants clarification from the higher European court before issuing a final ruling

Germany's highest court on Thursday referred a case seeking to ban Uber's sedan services with licensed drivers to the European Court of Justice to decide whether a ban of the "Uber Black" service would violate broader European Union laws. The court said the service by the transport app company violated German competition, adding that it wanted clarification from the higher European court before it could issue a final ruling. Uber already suspended its low-cost ride-hailing service in Germany in 2015 after court challenges and was focusing instead on its "Black" service staffed by professional drivers in black sedans. Uber, which allows passengers to summon a ride through an app on their smartphones, expanded into Europe five years ago but has been challenged in the courts because it is not bound by the same strict licensing and safety rules as some competitors. Last week, Uber met the biggest challenge yet to its European roll-out after the region's top court was advised to rule that the U.S. ride-hailing firm is actually a transport service not an app. (Reuters)

Germany refers case on Uber to European Court of Justice

Uber provides a transport service and must be licensed, the European Union&#39;s top court said on Thursday, in a potential blow to the US&nbsp;firm which says it is merely a digital enabler.

&quot;The Uber electronic platform, whilst innovative, falls within the field of transport: Uber can thus be required to obtain the necessary licences and authorisations under national law,&quot; the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) said.

While the opinion of the Advocate General is non-binding, the court&#39;s judges follow it in most cases and a ruling would mean EU member states can regulate Uber and other such companies as a transport rather than &quot;information society&quot; service.

The case was brought by an association of Barcelona taxi drivers which&nbsp;argued that Uber engaged in unfair competition with its UberPOP service - which used&nbsp;unlicensed drivers.

Uber, which no longer operates UberPOP in Spain, said it would await a final ruling later this year, but added that even if it is considered a transportation company, this &quot;would not change the way we are regulated in most EU countries as that is already the situation today&quot;.

However, such a ruling would &quot;undermine the much-needed reform of outdated laws which prevent millions of Europeans from accessing a reliable ride at the tap of a button,&quot; an Uber spokeswoman said in a statement.

Uber, which allows passengers to summon a ride through an app on their smartphones, expanded into Europe five years ago. But it has been challenged in the courts by established taxi companies and some EU countries because it is not bound by strict local licensing and safety rules which apply to some of its competitors.

The Advocate General said Uber drivers &quot;do not pursue an autonomous activity that is independent of the platform. On the contrary, that activity exists solely because of the platform, without which it would have no sense.&quot;

Uber could not be regarded as a mere intermediary between drivers and passengers because it controlled economically important aspects of the urban transport service, Maciej Szpunar said in the opinion.

&quot;The service amounts to the organisation and management of a comprehensive system for on-demand urban transport,&quot; the ECJ statement said.

(Reuters)

A ruling would mean EU member states can regulate Uber and other such companies as a transport rather than information society service

Uber provides a transport service and must be licensed, the European Union's top court said on Thursday, in a potential blow to the US firm which says it is merely a digital enabler. "The Uber electronic platform, whilst innovative, falls within the field of transport: Uber can thus be required to obtain the necessary licences and authorisations under national law," the Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) said. While the opinion of the Advocate General is non-binding, the court's judges follow it in most cases and a ruling would mean EU member states can regulate Uber and other such companies as a transport rather than "information society" service. The case was brought by an association of Barcelona taxi drivers which argued that Uber engaged in unfair competition with its UberPOP service - which used unlicensed drivers. Uber, which no longer operates UberPOP in Spain, said it would await a final ruling later this year, but added that even if it is considered a transportation company, this "would not change the way we are regulated in most EU countries as that is already the situation today". However, such a ruling would "undermine the much-needed reform of outdated laws which prevent millions of Europeans from accessing a reliable ride at the tap of a button," an Uber spokeswoman said in a statement. Uber, which allows passengers to summon a ride through an app on their smartphones, expanded into Europe five years ago. But it has been challenged in the courts by established taxi companies and some EU countries because it is not bound by strict local licensing and safety rules which apply to some of its competitors. The Advocate General said Uber drivers "do not pursue an autonomous activity that is independent of the platform. On the contrary, that activity exists solely because of the platform, without which it would have no sense." Uber could not be regarded as a mere intermediary between drivers and passengers because it controlled economically important aspects of the urban transport service, Maciej Szpunar said in the opinion. "The service amounts to the organisation and management of a comprehensive system for on-demand urban transport," the ECJ statement said. (Reuters)

Uber a transport service, says EU court