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Toyota Motor Corp. has increased the size of its share buyback to 1.2 trillion yen ($8.3 billion) due to strong demand in Japan and Europe. The company plans to buy back as much as 3.93% of its shares, based on recent share price levels. This decision aligns with the Japanese government's efforts to encourage large companies to unwind cross-held shareholdings. Toyota's operating profit for the three months ended June 30 was 1.31 trillion yen, a 17% increase from the previous year, and its hybrid models are performing well in North America. [Extracted from the article]

Recent protests in Indonesia have highlighted the desire of the people to protect their democracy, according to former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The protests successfully prevented changes to electoral laws that were seen as a power grab by the country's largest parties. There are concerns about democratic backsliding and dynastic politics in Indonesia, but Yudhoyono believes that the country's democracy is still evolving and can be made more relevant to the aspirations of the people. He also expressed confidence in the smooth transition of power from outgoing President Joko Widodo to his successor, Prabowo Subianto, who will have time to prepare and continue the economic achievements of his predecessor. Yudhoyono also emphasized the importance of building human capital alongside infrastructure development for the country's economic growth. He believes that Prabowo, as a former military officer and the nation's defense minister, will be able to effectively manage Indonesia's positioning in the face of US-China tensions and disputes in the South China Sea. As a regional power and member of the G-20, Indonesia should have a say in dealing with regional problems. [Extracted from the article]

Recent protests in Indonesia have highlighted the desire of the people to protect their democracy, according to former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The protests successfully prevented changes to electoral laws that were seen as a power grab by the country's largest parties. There are concerns about democratic backsliding and dynastic politics in Indonesia, but Yudhoyono believes that the country's democracy is still evolving and can be made more relevant to the aspirations of the people. He expressed confidence in a smooth transition of power from outgoing President Joko Widodo to his successor, Prabowo Subianto, who is expected to continue the economic achievements of his predecessor while focusing on human capital development. [Extracted from the article]

Cathay Pacific Airways has removed three cadet pilots from its training program in the US due to their failure to comply with incident reporting requirements. The cadets were suspended from solo flights after several training incidents that caused damage to planes went unreported. The incidents included a wingtip collision, a bounced landing resulting in prop damage, and a complete runway excursion. Cathay Pacific stated that the decision to remove the cadets followed a comprehensive investigation conducted by the training school and relevant authorities. The airline emphasized the importance of a just and open reporting culture and stated that solo operations for sponsored pilots have now resumed. Cathay Pacific has been working to replenish its pilot ranks after a decline during the pandemic, and the company's rebuild and training schedule remain on track. [Extracted from the article]

Airlines are showing increased interest in IATA's turbulence awareness program following a recent incident on a Singapore Airlines flight that resulted in one death and numerous injuries. The program, called Turbulence Aware, was launched in 2018 to help airlines mitigate the impact of turbulence, which is the leading cause of passenger and crew injuries in the air. Currently, 21 airlines are providing data to the system, and IATA aims to collect turbulence reports from 150 million flights by the end of 2024. Despite recent turbulence incidents, industry experts believe that flying remains safe, but airlines are taking steps to review procedures and emphasize the importance of seatbelt use during flights. [Extracted from the article]

Supply chain issues in the aviation industry are expected to persist until 2026, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The delays in delivering new aircraft have frustrated airline CEOs and hindered their growth plans. The supply chain problems, which have been exacerbated by the Covid pandemic, have resulted in wait times of several months or even years for new jets. Despite these challenges, the industry remains focused on sustainability, particularly in terms of the inadequate supply of sustainable aviation fuel. [Extracted from the article]

One person has died and several others have been injured after a Singapore Airlines flight from the UK to Singapore experienced severe turbulence and was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok. The widebody aircraft, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, encountered the turbulence over Asia. Fatalities from turbulence incidents are rare, especially at cruising altitudes. The airline has not yet provided details of the accident, and Boeing has not commented on the incident. [Extracted from the article]

One person has died and several others have been injured after a Singapore Airlines flight from the UK to Singapore encountered severe turbulence and was forced to make an emergency landing in Thailand. The widebody aircraft, carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members, diverted to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport after encountering the turbulence. The airline is working with local authorities to provide medical assistance and support to those affected. Fatalities from turbulence are rare, and carriers advise passengers to keep their seat belts fastened at all times. [Extracted from the article]

Singapore's Immigration & Checkpoints Authority has announced that by the end of the year, all travelers entering Singapore will be able to use automated lanes for passport scanning and facial and iris recognition. This move is expected to reduce immigration clearance time at Changi Airport by about 40%. Around 600 automated gates have been installed at various checkpoints to facilitate the faster immigration process. Singapore has been one of the first countries in Asia to open up after the pandemic, using vaccinated lanes for travel. In March, Changi Airport saw a significant increase in passenger traffic compared to pre-Covid levels. [Extracted from the article]

Singapore Airlines will be rewarding its staff with a bonus payout equivalent to almost eight months of salary, following a second consecutive record annual profit. This bonus payout is higher than the previous year's earnings, which resulted in a profit-sharing bonus of 6.65 months' pay and a maximum of 1.5 months' salary as an ex-gratia bonus related to the pandemic. The airline reported a record annual profit of S$2.67 billion ($1.98 billion) in the fiscal year 2023-2024, a 24% increase from the previous year. Singapore Airlines' staff will receive a windfall similar to that of Emirates employees, who are reportedly receiving a five-month bonus after achieving a record annual profit of $5.1 billion. [Extracted from the article]

A major commuter bridge in Baltimore collapsed after being hit by a container ship, causing vehicles to fall into the water and potentially endangering the important port on the US East Coast. The bridge, known as the Francis Scott Key Bridge, is a crucial link on Interstate 695, encircling Baltimore. The ship involved in the collision is called the Dali and is registered in Singapore. The incident is expected to cause significant disruption to shipping and road traffic in the area. The Port of Baltimore is one of the busiest ports in the US and handles a large volume of cargo, including automobiles and light trucks. [Extracted from the article]

A commuter bridge in Baltimore collapsed after being hit by a container ship, causing vehicles to fall into the water. The bridge is an important entry point for commercial ships to the Port of Baltimore, which is one of the largest ports in the US for handling cars and light trucks. It is unclear how this incident will affect the movement of commercial ships in and out of the port. The ship involved in the collision, the Dali, was built in 2015 and its owner in Singapore has not responded to calls. [Extracted from the article]

The Hong Kong International Airport is still aiming to complete its HK$141.5 billion ($18.1 billion) expansion by 2024, according to the city's Transport and Logistics Bureau. The new third runway has already been commissioned, and the reconfiguration of the center runway is currently underway. However, there are reports suggesting that the expansion may be delayed until the end of 2025. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, the airport's traffic has recovered to about 80% of pre-pandemic levels and is expected to fully recover by the end of 2024. [Extracted from the article]

Billionaire Mukesh Ambani's conglomerate, Reliance Industries Ltd., owns a Boeing 737-9 Max variant jet that has a plugged mid-cabin exit door. This type of jet is currently under scrutiny after a fuselage section blew out mid-flight on another aircraft. While no fatalities occurred, the incident has raised concerns about the safety of this model and Boeing's overall record. Several carriers have grounded their fleets, and the Federal Aviation Administration has ordered inspections of certain Max 9 aircraft. Reliance Industries also has other jets and helicopters in its corporate fleet. [Extracted from the article]

The assessment made by Telstra's former boss Ziggy Swithlowski regarding the significant improvement in the range of telecommunication services in the country, is reported. It is said that the upgradation of the systems, infrastructure and the network can make Telstra offer TV through broadband and many more.

Solomon Trujillo would be Telstra's, a telecommunication firm, chief executive officer from July 1, 2005 whereby he would receive annually $10 million. Trujillo's appointment could result in mixed results for Telstra considering that his strong mobile experience with Orange could favor Telstra whereas his lack of political connections could be a problem.

The US is reportedly considering raising tariffs on Chinese electric cars and other goods in an effort to reduce reliance on China and protect its own green industry. While the Biden administration has maintained many of the tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, there is now a debate about increasing them. China is a major player in the electric car market, accounting for about 60% of global sales, which has led to tensions with other countries. However, the impact of raising tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles in the US is expected to be minimal, as the current 25% levy already limits their entry into the market. The Chinese government has criticized the potential tariffs as a violation of fair competition and market principles. The US is also considering raising tariffs on Chinese solar products and EV battery packs, while potentially lowering tariffs on certain Chinese consumer products. [Extracted from the article]

But from China's side, increasingly dovish sentiment toward the US hasn't translated into an embrace of US business. (Bloomberg) -- Concern about China's lackluster economy and troubled property market has led to rising discontent among citizens, a new study shows. [Extracted from the article]

Hillier said the incident responsible for last month's chaos was "fortunately extremely rare." (Bloomberg) -- The UK Civil Aviation Authority's review into a technical issue that saw hundreds of flights delayed and canceled in late August will take "months rather than weeks", Chairman Stephen Hillier said. [Extracted from the article]

The Hong Kong government has two observers on Cathay's board following a HK$39 billion ($5 billion) rescue package in 2020. A Weibo account under the People's Daily overseas edition lashed out at the airline in an online post late Tuesday, saying that Hong Kong is part of China and needs China's support. [Extracted from the article]

Read more: Jaguar Land Rover Risks Missing Debt Cut Goal on Chip Crisis In November, the loss-making manufacturer said it's cutting output of the Range Rover Velar and Jaguar F-Pace models made in the UK to focus on on higher-margin models. (Bloomberg) -- Jaguar Land Rover, the luxury British car brand owned by India's Tata Motors Ltd., expects free cash flow of around £500 million for the full financial year. [Extracted from the article]

China Southern Airlines Co. filled 72.7% of its seats in January, the highest passenger load factor among the trio, exchange filings show. (Bloomberg) -- Passenger loads at China's top three airlines are rebounding as travel picks up again, boosted by people flying back to their hometowns for the Lunar New Year holidays and celebrating the chance to reunite with families and friends after nearly three years of Covid restrictions. Air China Ltd. was next, with a passenger load factor of 69.9% for the month, followed by China Eastern Airlines Corp., at 68.3%. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Passenger loads at China's top three airlines are rebounding as travel picks up again, boosted by people flying back to their hometowns for the Lunar New Year holidays and celebrating the chance to reunite with families and friends after nearly three years of Covid restrictions. Air China Ltd. was next, with a passenger load factor of 69.9% for the month, followed by China Eastern Airlines Corp., at 68.3%. China Southern Airlines Co. filled 72.7% of its seats in January, the highest passenger load factor among the trio, exchange filings show. [Extracted from the article]

China Southern Airlines Co. filled 72.7% of its seats in January, the highest passenger load factor among the trio, exchange filings show. (Bloomberg) -- Passenger loads at China's top three airlines are rebounding as travel picks up again, boosted by people flying back to their hometowns for the Lunar New Year holidays and celebrating the chance to reunite with families and friends after nearly three years of Covid restrictions. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong has no plans as yet to personally invest any more money in VinFast, the carmaker's chief executive officer said, even as the Vietnamese electric vehicle firm falls behind on factory construction plans in the US and cuts staff. VinFast was founded by Vuong in 2017, and as of September, the EV maker's owners and lenders had invested about $7.5 billion to fund operating expenses and capital expenditures. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong has no plans to personally invest any more money in VinFast, the company's chief executive officer said, even as the Vietnamese electric vehicle maker falls behind on factory construction plans in the US and cuts staff. VinFast was founded by Vuong in 2017, and as of September, the EV maker's owners and lenders had invested about $7.5 billion to fund operating expenses and capital expenditures. [Extracted from the article]

Read more: Toyota Appoints Lexus Chief as CEO to Replace Akio Toyoda While Toyoda will remain as chairman, Sato, a Toyota lifer who joined the company more than 30 years ago, will be tasked with guiding the automaker through what could be the most challenging period in its 86-year history. (Bloomberg) -- The world's No. 1 automaker has a new chief executive officer, and the transition of power could not have come at a more pivotal time. Toyota Motor Corp. on Thursday surprised the market when it announced that Lexus President Koji Sato will take over from Akio Toyoda, the grandson of the venerable Japanese carmaker's founder, effective April 1. [Extracted from the article]

(Bloomberg) -- Chinese carmaking giant BYD Co. will start selling vehicles this quarter in the UK, where electric cars are seizing a growing share of the market. BYD's debut model will be the Atto 3 sport utility vehicle, and it will announce more dealer partners and pricing in the coming weeks. Read more: BYD Challenges Tesla for Global Electric Vehicle Sales Supremacy When including its plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, BYD already outsold Tesla in 2022, and its sales of fully electric vehicles soared to around 911,000 last year, from 321,000 in 2021. [Extracted from the article]