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GOP senator questions FBI over reported Iranian hack attempt of Trump pick Kash PatelBy Takeru Tsuzuki and Kazuki Sato / Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writers 7:00 JST, December 25, 2024 * * A clear liquid in a flask turned opaque after carbon dioxide was injected into it. Bacteria in the liquid fed on the CO2 and multiplied. Hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria, a common type of microorganism, use CO2 as a raw material for the creation of biodegradable polymers used to make plastics. When these polymers are no longer needed, they can be broken down by microorganisms. Kaneka Corp., a major chemical company in Takasago, Hyogo Prefecture, has been researching such bacteria since the 1990s. Kaneka has developed the technology to produce bacteria that can absorb more CO2 and convert it into a greater variety of polymers. It can absorb 50 to 70 times more CO2 than algae. The company plans to begin experiments for mass production by 2030. The world’s plastic production is estimated to be more than 400 million tons per year. As the majority of plastic is made using fossil fuels and not recycled, it is a cause of climate change and ocean pollution. “The only raw material that can replace petroleum is CO2,” said Shunsuke Sato, 45, who is leading the research at Kaneka. “This will be a ‘straightforward’ technology that will help shape a recycling-oriented society.” The results of this research will be introduced at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, which starts in April, as an advanced technology that Japan can be proud of. It will be one of the main attractions of the Japan Pavilion, which will have recycling as its theme. The realization of a recycling-oriented global society is essential for pursuing sustainable economic growth while reducing the burden on the environment. The pavilion, which represents Japan at the Expo, will serve as a venue to convey this message. Since ancient times, Japan has nurtured a culture that values recycling. Takayuki Shiose, 51, an associate professor at the Kyoto University Museum who has been involved in the creation of the Japan Pavilion, said: “Japan has a culture of restoration, as in ‘kintsugi,’ the art of repairing broken pottery. It is an important mission for Japan to convey to the world the kind of recycling that we should strive for.” In addition to the Japan Pavilion, the Expo will also feature a number of other exhibits that focus on the concept of recycling. The highly efficient cultivation of algae, a raw material for biofuels, is demonstrated at one exhibit. Another explains the synthesizes of methane, a raw material for fuel gas used in homes, from CO2 and hydrogen. Japanese companies and research institutes will all showcase their latest technologies. The theme of the Expo is “Designing a Future Society Where Life Shines.” The concept goes along with that of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a collection of 169 targets which the United Nations aims to achieve by 2030. Osaka won the bid to host the Expo in 2018 largely because the concept got the international community’s understanding. However, the realization of the SDGs is a huge challenge. The Sustainable Development Solutions Network, an international research organization, estimates that only 16% of the 169 targets under the 17 goals are likely to be achieved. “Japan, where the spirit of “mottainai” [too good to waste] is deeply rooted, has the technology and potential to lead the way in solving environmental problems,” said Toshiya Hoshino, 65, professor emeritus at Osaka University, who served as Japan’s ambassador to the United Nations. “We should make the Expo, which will bring together people from around the world, an opportunity to strengthen cooperation toward achieving the SDGs.”
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With a new Republican governor and expanded majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate, conservatives in the State House will have the chance to deliver on long-sought-after priorities in 2025. While conversations around education and the state budget are likely to loom large in the next legislative session, bills on elections, energy and the environment and transgender-related issues are already surfacing, too. Here’s what to expect from the State House in 2025. The stakes are high for the fight over state aid for schools and calculating what an adequate education actually entails. The state if facing two lawsuits – one from school districts and another from taxpayers – accusing the state of downshifting costs by failing to fund its schools. Many lawmakers ran on a platform to fix the state’s education funding model, which currently relies heavily on local property taxes. Democrats say the state needs to contribute more instead of passing on costs to localities. The average cost per student exceeded $20,000 for the first time in 2024, and the state contributes about a quarter of that amount to local school districts. Republicans, on the other hand, continue to prioritizing school choice. They’ll push to make Education Freedom Accounts – the state-funded vouchers for families who choose alternative methods of education, like private school or homeschooling – universally available by removing the income limit. For Concord, the future of building aid could impact the school district’s decision to renovate or build a new middle school. While the district had originally requested $48 million in state aid for that project, that funding isn’t included in early state budget outlines and faces an uphill battle. Lawmakers generally support it, but it’s unlikely to see any increase from the $50 million that’s currently allocated annually for school construction and renovations across the state. It’s not just about the budget, though – New Hampshire is likely to see policy changes, too. House Speaker Sherman Packard has already filed a draft request for a parental bill of rights, which eight other Republicans have signed on as co-sponsors. Packard has not yet been available for interview requests from the Monitor on what that legislation might include. Bills are still being drafted and will be made publicly available in late December or early January. Article continues after... Cross|Word Flipart Typeshift SpellTower Really Bad Chess Another draft request from Tuftonboro Republican Glenn Cordelli would prohibit “obscene or harmful sexual materials in schools.” It’s likely similar to a bill Cordelli sponsored this past year that would’ve banned schools from having books that contain sexual conduct, nudity and other content. That bill was killed in the House. New Hampshire has until the end of the legislative session to build its budget for 2026 and 2027. The state faces a revenue shortfall, and Ayotte and outgoing Gov. Chris Sununu hope to cut the budget by about four percent and urged agencies to cut vacant positions. When presenting their budget requests for the next biennium, however, state agency leaders underscored staffing shortages in some of the state’s largest areas, like the Department of Corrections, Department of Safety and Department of Transportation. As legislators consider their options, several unknowns could have a huge impact on how they balance the budget: both the education funding lawsuits and hundreds of legal claims of sexual and other abuse at the former Youth Development Center could put the state on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars. Also on the list is a new men’s state prison, which could be the state’s largest capital project ever with an estimated $600 million price tag. After the state pushed off rebuilding the current men’s prison in Concord for years, corrections officials say its aging infrastructure is in dire condition. Republicans have already filed several bill draft requests on transgender-related issues, which could limit medication and surgery options for minors. Another big topic is energy. With New Hampshire’s high energy costs in recent years, lawmakers are searching for a way to lower them. Ayotte and Republican legislators have their eyes on nuclear energy as an alternative to lower costs, but they’ve emphasized a need to have a variety of options available for residents to use. Democrats tend to oppose nuclear while favoring more traditional low-carbon energy production like solar and wind. Several dozen bills requests have been filed on election law, spanning everything from election audits to campaign finance law to voter access. Drafts of bills will be released publicly in late December or early January, before the session starts on Jan. 8. Charlotte Matherly is the statehouse reporter for the Concord Monitor and Monadnock Ledger-Transcript in partnership with Report for America. Follow her on X at @charmatherly, subscribe to her Capital Beat newsletter and send her an email at cmatherly@cmonitor.com.
LOS ANGELES -- Doug Christie rapped along to the lyrics of Ice Cube's "It Was a Good Day" on Saturday morning as the song echoed through the gym at USC's Galen Center at the conclusion of his first shootaround as interim coach of the Sacramento Kings . More than 30 years after Christie was a rookie with the Los Angeles Lakers , he found himself back in L.A., preparing to face the Lakers -- his first game since taking over for Mike Brown who was fired Friday afternoon before the team's flight down the West Coast. It's been anything but a good season for the Kings thus far, No. 13 in the Western Conference with a 13-18 record -- having lost five games in a row and 12 of their last 17. However, Kings guard Malik Monk -- who credited Brown's "passion" in turning the Kings franchise around the last two seasons -- said that the coaching change resulted in an energy shift at the shootaround session. "All the vibes were high," Monk said. "Everybody is happy. Everybody is ready to play tonight." Included in the group ready to play was All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis . He missed Sacramento's last game Thursday with an illness, when the Kings failed to protect a 19-point second-half lead in a 114-113 loss to the Detroit Pistons . Sabonis did not join the team on its flight to L.A., as he was questionable to play because of the illness, but arranged his own travel Saturday morning to be a part of the first steps with Christie. Editor's Picks Kings fire Brown amid skid, name Christie interim 10h Malone: Kings showed 'no class' in firing Brown 10h NBA playoff seeding drama? Award season chaos? What league insiders predict for 2025 1d Tim Bontemps "I got here and went right onto the court," Sabonis said. "We're all focused on winning the game. But we obviously know we haven't been performing at our best. And we have to do a better job. Me as one of the leaders of the team, I got to make sure that that happens. We got to win all the games that we can." Following the Pistons game, Brown called out another one of Sacramento's leaders in De'Aaron Fox for him fouling Jaden Ivey on a 3-pointer in the waning seconds with the Kings up by 3. Ivey hit the 3 and the ensuing free throw, costing the Kings the game. Before Brown was dismissed, he led the Kings practice Friday and was seen by reporters having a conversation with Fox on the court. "We were talking about in-game stuff, what we would do towards the end of games," Fox said after shootaround. "Definitely didn't know that that little conversation -- that's really normal -- would have been the last one with him as a head coach." Brown was informed of the decision by Kings general manager Monte McNair, who called him when the 2023 NBA Coach of the Year had already left the practice facility to get ready for the flight to L.A. Sabonis, who said he was sleeping when the decision was made, called it "shocking." Monk said he found out on X, formerly known as Twitter, and was also shocked, but added: "It's the NBA. Anything can happen. So, next man up, I guess." Fox said he was "surprised" but was given a head's up of what was to come. "I found out a minute before everybody else did," he said. After Brown signed an extension in the offseason through 2026-27 -- adding more than $20 million in guaranteed money to what he was already owed -- Fox credited the continuity of the Kings organization. A reporter asked Fox on Saturday if he felt any "pressure or guilt" for the way things unraveled so quickly with Brown. "Any pressure or guilt? I mean, obviously we all know the job that we have," Fox said. "You can be traded at any point. Released. Cut. Fired. Whatever it may be. I mean, I wouldn't use the word 'guilt.' But that's the nature of the job that we have. "But I mean, obviously him signing his extension this summer, we felt like we would be together a whole lot longer but that's the decision that they made. But at the end of the day too, he's still being paid. A great part of being an NBA player, being an NBA coach is those things can happen but these contracts are guaranteed." Christie addressed the team before its flight to L.A. and again at the Galen Center. His message? "To come out and stick together, fight and just be us, be who we are and turn this thing around," Sabonis shared. And Monk had a message of his own for Kings fans who saw their team break a 17-year postseason drought in 2023, only to have their coach fired two seasons later. "Sorry, fans," Monk said. "We're going to turn it around. That's it. Short and sweet."Stock market today: Wall Street rises at the start of a holiday-shortened week
Pisces natives approach this last week of December 2024 with a dreamy optimism that gently intertwines with practical concerns. There are a number of shifts throughout the week: improved working conditions, an emphasis on family ties, and the potential for romantic interludes. On December 30, you’ll be busy finalizing tasks, possibly restructuring some part of your living space or daily routine. Look out for supportive elders or influential contacts who could help steer you toward fresh career opportunities. As 2025 draws closer, you sense a renewed dedication to personal ideals. The 31st is branded as one of the “best days of the week,” spotlighting opportunities for speculation, success in business, or simply a moment to shine socially. Expect occasional confusion or inner conflict, though: part of you might worry that the good times won’t last. Nevertheless, once you move into the first days of January, a wave of optimism reinforces your conviction in forging ahead. By the 2nd and 3rd, you’ll likely be weighing the pros and cons of a big decision—be it investing in property, undertaking a creative project, or reevaluating your relationships. The final stretch of the week calls on your signature Piscean empathy to navigate any bumps in the road and move forward with a calm spirit. Love & Relationship Romance glimmers for Pisces this week, starting with hints of a “romantic day” on the 1st. The fortunes also speak of harmonious moments with a spouse or partner—chances to share cozy routines or explore novel experiences together. For single Pisceans, these days can bring an unexpected romantic twist, possibly through social gatherings around the New Year . Warm compliments and genuine emotional exchanges set the stage for something more long-lasting if you choose to nurture the connection. Yet even amidst rising affection, be mindful of your partner’s emotional cues. There might be potential misunderstandings on the 3rd if you let insecurity overshadow honest communication. Should conflict arise, your ability to listen with compassion and respond with sincerity will swiftly mend fences. By the closing weekend, the mood turns softer, enabling deeper intimacy and renewed unity in your relationship. Whether you’re celebrating a newly formed bond or reinforcing an existing partnership, you’ll come away feeling cherished and capable of offering the same warmth in return. Education & Career Pisces students and professionals find themselves entering a notably supportive cosmic current. Around December 30, you may gain clarity on how to better concentrate in your studies or manage heavy coursework. If you’ve been trying to juggle academic demands and extracurricular commitments, the planets hint at improved discipline and a more confident approach. Group study sessions or seeking advice from a mentor can sharpen your focus and lighten your mental load. In the career arena, the planets highlight that your “working condition will improve,” possibly through networking with influential figures or receiving positive feedback from superiors. Should you be hoping for a raise, a promotion, or a chance to lead a project, the first few days of January amplify these possibilities. Embrace the supportive wave around the 31st through the 2nd, seizing opportunities to articulate your long-term goals. If you own a business, be prepared to handle new orders or prospective partnerships. Keep in mind that not all proposals are created equal: weigh each carefully, drawing on your keen intuition to discern which alliances will genuinely further your ambitions. Money & Finance This week places notable emphasis on financial prospects for Pisces. Beginning around the 30th, your planets indicate more balanced income or even the chance for a small windfall. The 31st is especially highlighted for speculation and potentially lucrative moves. If you’ve been studying investment strategies or eyeing property deals, this could be the moment to finalize your research and make a cautious, well-informed decision. That said, remain cognizant of a certain overconfidence that might creep in when money starts flowing. With so many seasonal and social obligations, it’s easy to overspend on entertainment, gifts, or celebratory outings. Keeping a watchful eye on your budget will prevent you from going into the red at the start of the new year. By the time you reach January 3rd or 4th, reflect on any financial experiments to refine your strategy. Ensure that your resources continue to bolster your professional endeavors, educational aims, and personal well-being rather than slipping through the cracks of impulse buying. In doing so, you’ll enter mid-January on firmer financial ground. Health & Well-being Overall, Pisces natives experience a fairly buoyant week in terms of health, but the planets do sprinkle in a few points of caution. Early in the period, you might find yourself busier than usual, juggling family responsibilities, work obligations, and social engagements. This can strain your nerves or disrupt your regular sleep schedule, so a focus on time management is essential to keep energy levels high. The midweek stretch from December 31 to January 2 fosters a mentally uplifting atmosphere. Social interactions, small successes at work, or simply the spirit of the holiday season can boost your mood. Consider channeling any excess energy into gentle forms of physical activity. A short walk, light yoga, or a relaxed swim can help maintain an equilibrium between mind and body. If tension creeps in—perhaps from last-minute tasks or unexpected travel—remember your innate Piscean gift for adapting to changing currents. By the 4th and 5th, your intuition sharpens, letting you sense when you need rest and when you have the stamina for extra chores. Trust these instincts; they will lead you to avoid burnout. Whether you’re spending time with loved ones, focusing on personal projects, or entertaining guests, the key is to pace yourself. With balanced self-care, you’ll greet the weeks ahead in January feeling spiritually centered, physically revitalized, and emotionally prepared to set new goals. Discover everything about astrology at the Times of India , including daily horoscopes for Aries , Taurus , Gemini , Cancer , Leo , Virgo , Libra , Scorpio , Sagittarius , Capricorn , Aquarius , and Pisces .