Vance takes on a more visible transition role, working to boost Trump’s most contentious picksThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enhanced enforcement efforts this year, doubling financial penalties issued to polluters and issuing the first-ever arrest for a climate change-related crime, the agency said in a report Thursday. The EPA said it concluded more than 1,850 civil cases, a 3.4% increase over 2023, and charged 121 criminal defendants, a 17.6% increase over the previous year. The “revitalized enforcement and compliance efforts” resulted in the reduction or elimination of more than 225 million pounds of pollution in overburdened communities, the agency said in its final report on Biden-era enforcement actions before President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January. The agency said it issued $1.7 billion in fines and penalties, more than double the 2023 total and the highest level in seven years. Bolstered by 300 new employees hired since last year, the enforcement program focused on “21st century environmental challenges,” including climate change, environmental justice, and chemical waste, said David Uhlmann, EPA’s assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance. More than half the agency’s inspections and settlements involved poor and disadvantaged communities long scarred by pollution, reflecting the Biden administration’s emphasis on environmental justice issues . | Enforcement efforts included first-ever criminal charges for a climate change-related crime. A California man was charged in March with smuggling climate-damaging air coolants into the United States. The case involved hydrofluorocarbons, a highly potent greenhouse gas also known as HFCs, a gas once commonly used in refrigerators and air conditioners. A 2020 law passed by Congress prohibits importation of HFCs without allowances issued by the EPA. The law is part of a global phaseout designed to slow climate change. Uhlmann called enforcement of the HFC law a high priority for the United States and the world. “Alongside methane, HFCs are one of the most significant near-term drivers of climate change. And the criminal program is front and center there,” he said. In other highlights, engine maker Cummins Inc. paid more than $2 billion in fines and penalties —and agreed to recall 600,000 Ram trucks—as part of a settlement with federal and California authorities. Cummins was found to use illegal software that let Ram trucks—manufactured by Stellantis—to skirt diesel emissions tests for nearly a decade. The fine is the largest ever secured under the federal Clean Air Act. The EPA and Justice Department also reached a $241.5 million settlement with Marathon Oil for alleged air quality violations at the company’s oil and gas operations on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota. The settlement requires Marathon to reduce climate- and health-harming emissions from those facilities and will result in over 2.3 millions tons worth of pollution reduction, officials said. Uhlmann, who was confirmed as head of the enforcement office last year, said in an interview that with the help of a spending boost approved by Congress, the agency has made “consequential changes in how we approach enforcement at EPA.” “We’ve revitalized an enforcement program that suffered more than a decade of budget cuts and was badly hampered by the [COVID-19] pandemic,” he said. The agency also weathered a series of actions by former President Donald Trump’s administration to roll back environmental regulations and reduce overall staffing. “We’ve strengthened the partnership between the criminal and civil programs, and we’ve also focused on moving our cases with greater urgency so that we provide meaningful results to communities in time frames that make sense to the people who are harmed when unlawful pollution occurs,” Uhlmann said. With Trump set to return to the White House, Uhlmann said he hoped enforcement would not suffer, noting that a host of civil and criminal investigations begun in the past two years could bear fruit in 2025 and beyond. Trump, who has named former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin to be EPA administrator, has said he will again slash regulations and target what he calls onerous rules on power plants, factories, and oil and natural gas production. Uhlmann declined to speculate on how enforcement will change under Trump but said, “Upholding the rule of law and making sure that polluters are held accountable and communities are protected from harmful pollution is not a partisan matter. We do enforcement at EPA based on the law, based on the facts, without regard to politics. “So, you know, communities should expect that EPA will continue to protect them from harmful pollution.” —Matthew Daly, Associated Press The application deadline for Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas Awards is this Friday, December 6, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
PaulMcKinnon Shares of The Gap, Inc. ( NYSE: GAP ) jumped 8% on Friday after the company reported strong quarterly results ahead of the important holiday shopping season. Shares are now up 26% over the past year, though there has been significant volatility Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.GDP, durable goods orders, and jobless claims top Wednesday's economic calendarRA Capital Management Announces Close of $1.4 Billion Acquisition of Aliada Therapeutics by AbbVie
NoneLautaro Martinez ends goal drought as Inter keep pressure on Serie A leaders
In a bizarre incident, two men were injured when a container truck reportedly dragged them for about 400 metres after striking their motorcycle, in Agra on Sunday night. A video purportedly of the incident, which was widely shared on social media, shows the duo hanging by the front licence plate and bumper of the truck even as the driver recklessly continues to drive. Also, he pays no heed to the shouts of both the men and other commuters. Their motorcycle was also dragged with them. As the vehicle gradually slowed and stopped, the driver was thrashed by the people around. Said to be inebriated when caught, he was later arrested and the injured were hospitalised. The incident took place near Ram Bagh crossing across the Yamuna within the limits of Chatta police station in Agra. Assistant commissioner of police (ACP-Chatta Circle) Hemant Kumar confirmed that the video was of the Trans Yamuna area in Agra and when the truck driver recklessly hit the motorcycle. “The driver of the container has been arrested and a case registered was against him. The injured motorcycle driver and passenger were hospitalised and their treatment is underway,” he added. While the truck driver was identified as one Deepak from Firozabad, Zakir and Rabbi, both from Agra, were on the bike.Dogecoin DOGE/USD is now in the spotlight as its ever exchange-traded product (ETP) is listed on Sweden's Spotlight Stock Market. What Happened: DeFi Technologies Inc ., through its subsidiary Valour Inc ., has introduced the first-ever Dogecoin ETP in the Nordics. Now listed on Sweden’s Spotlight Stock Market, this ETP provides investors secure and streamlined exposure to DOGE without the need for direct ownership. With a competitive management fee of 1.9%, this initiative is part of Valour's mission to democratize access to digital assets. Dogecoin, which began as a parody cryptocurrency, has evolved into a popular digital asset with real-world applications in microtransactions, tipping, and payments. Endorsements from influential figures like Elon Musk have bolstered its status in the crypto market Also Read: Dogecoin Drops 12% In A Day: What Is Going On? Why It Matters: Johanna Belitz, Head of Nordics at Valour, remarked , "In light of the recent U.S. presidential election results and the subsequent surge in demand for Dogecoin, the launch of the Valour Dogecoin ETP on the Spotlight Stock Market aligns with our mission to provide investors with timely access to high-demand digital assets." Prominent cryptocurrency venture capitalist Andrew Kang recently put the odds of an eventual Dogecoin ETF approval in the United States recently at 90%. However, no applications for such an investment product have been submitted to date. Upping my odds of an eventual $DOGE ETF to 90% Moon soon https://t.co/nyYnO0MnVW pic.twitter.com/ZZJe6bA3DB Read Next: Dogecoin Is ‘Harder Money’ Than Bitcoin, Says Raoul Pal: Here’s What The Numbers Say Image: Shutterstock © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Arsenal delivered the statement Champions League win Mikel Arteta had demanded as they swept aside Sporting Lisbon 5-1. Arteta wanted his team to prove their European credentials following some underwhelming displays away from home, and the Gunners manager got exactly what he asked for. Goals from Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Magalhaes, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard got their continental campaign back on track in style following the 1-0 defeat at Inter Milan last time out. A memorable victory also ended Sporting’s unbeaten start to the season, a streak of 17 wins and one draw, the vast majority of which prompted Manchester United to prise away head coach Ruben Amorim. The Gunners had failed to win or score in their two away games in the competition so far this season, but they made a blistering start in the Portuguese capital and took the lead after only seven minutes. Declan Rice fed overlapping full-back Jurrien Timber, who curled a low cross in behind the home defence for Martinelli to finish at the far post. Arsenal doubled their lead in the 20th minute thanks to a glorious ball over the top from Thomas Partey. Saka escaped the clutches of his marker Maximiliano Araujo to beat the offside trap and poke the ball past advancing goalkeeper Franco Israel for Havertz to tap home. It was a scintillating first-half display which completely overshadowed the presence of Viktor Gyokeres in Sporting’s attack. The prolific Sweden striker, formerly of Coventry, has been turning the heads of Europe’s top clubs with his 24 goals in 17 games this season – including a hat-trick against Manchester City earlier this month. But the only time he got a sniff of a run at goal after an optimistic long ball, he was marshalled out of harm’s way by Gabriel. David Raya was forced into one save, tipping a fierce Geovany Quenda drive over the crossbar. But Arsenal added a third on the stroke of half-time, Gabriel charging in to head Rice’s corner into the back of the net. To rub salt in the wound, the Brazilian defender mimicked Gyokeres’ hands-over-his-face goal celebration. That may have wound Sporting up as they came out after the interval meaning business, and they pulled one back after Raya tipped Hidemasa Morita’s shot behind, with Goncalo Inacio netting at the near post from the corner. Former Tottenham winger Marcus Edwards fired over, as did Gyokeres, with Arsenal temporarily on the back foot. But when Martin Odegaard’s darting run into the area was halted by Ousmane Diomande’s foul, Saka tucked away the penalty. Substitute Trossard added the fifth with eight minutes remaining, heading in the rebound after Mikel Merino’s shot was saved, and Gyokeres’ miserable night was summed up when his late shot crashed back off the post.
ASIA-PACIFIC: Mixed economic signals from the Asia-Pacific region left markets in a state of flux on Friday, as investors digested a range of data from China and Japan, with notable developments in inflation and industrial profits. The trading session saw a return to action in Australia and New Zealand following the Boxing Day holiday, while markets across Asia reacted to a mix of economic reports. In a Sharecast news report, Swissquote Bank senior analyst Ipek Ozkardeskaya summed up the sentiment: “Those glued to their screens, hoping for Santa’s arrival, were left disappointed.” Despite a mixed set of U.S. job data showing a rise in jobless claims—the highest in three years—there was no immediate boost for equity markets or dovish sentiment from the Federal Reserve. In China, equities saw some support after the government announced a massive fiscal stimulus plan, including the sale of a record 3 trillion yuan in special treasury bonds aimed at bolstering consumption and investment. However, economic data revealed ongoing struggles, with industrial profits down nearly 5% year-on-year and a major workforce contraction in the property sector, underscoring the bumpy road ahead for the country’s recovery. Nikkei soars while South Korea, and Hong Kong struggle Japan’s Nikkei 225 index surged 1.8%, closing at 40,281.16, with notable performances from companies like DeNA and Nidec Corporation, which jumped 15.58% and 4.14%, respectively. The Topix also gained 1.26%. China’s Shanghai Composite managed a slight uptick of 0.06%, closing at 3,400.14, while the Shenzhen Component dipped 0.13%. Stocks like Fujian Dongbai Group and Anyuan Coal Industry Group saw impressive gains, rising over 10%. In contrast, South Korea’s Kospi 100 fell 0.61%, dragged down by sharp losses in Korea Zinc and Samsung Securities. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index also saw a minor dip of 0.04%, with declines in Zhongsheng Group, Nongfu Spring, and JD.com contributing to the lacklustre performance. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 managed a modest 0.5% rise, driven by strong performances from Mesoblast and Iperionx, while New Zealand’s S&P/NZX 50 outperformed with a 1% gain, buoyed by advances from Pacific Edge and Ryman Healthcare. Currency markets, oil prices show small moves In the currency markets, the U.S. dollar showed a mixed performance, slipping 0.16% against the yen to JPY 157.74 but gaining 0.14% against the Aussie to AUD 1.6097. The Kiwi fell slightly by 0.1%, trading at NZD 1.7765. Oil prices saw modest gains, with Brent crude futures up 0.76% to $73.82 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate rose 0.8% to $70.18. In economic news, China’s industrial profits fell at a reduced rate in November, declining 7.3% year-on-year—an improvement over October’s 10% drop. However, industrial profits were still on track for their steepest decline in over 20 years, reflecting persistent weaknesses in domestic consumption and a sluggish housing market. On a more optimistic note, the World Bank slightly revised China’s 2024 growth forecast upward to 4.9%, offering some hope for the year ahead, though the industrial sector remains in a tough spot. Meanwhile, Japan saw its core inflation accelerate to 2.4% in December, up from 2.2% in November, driven by sustained inflation in services. Factory output, however, fell in November, marking the first decline in three months, pointing to weak external demand. Japan’s labour market remained steady, with the jobless rate holding at 2.5%, but the broader economic outlook faces pressure as the government unveiled a record budget for the upcoming fiscal year. This ¥115.5 trillion budget, focused on debt servicing and social security costs, faces political hurdles as the ruling government lacks a parliamentary majority. Looking ahead As markets enter the final stretch of the year, the mixed economic data from China and Japan, coupled with ongoing inflation concerns, leaves investors uncertain about the direction of global recovery. With China’s road to recovery expected to be challenging and Japan’s inflationary pressures mounting, the region remains in a state of economic flux, with markets waiting for clearer signs in the new year.ISRO’s SpaDEX mission to achieve a historic space docking feat: Jitendra Singh
NEW YORK (AP) — If you’re planning on ringing in the new year quietly at home, you’re not alone. A majority of U.S adults intend to celebrate New Year’s Eve at home, according to a new poll by . “As I’ve gotten older over the last few years, it’s like if I don’t make it to midnight, it’s not a big deal, you know?” says Carla Woods, 70, from Vinton, Iowa. Nearly 2 in 10 will be celebrating at a friend or family member’s home, and just 5% plan to go out to celebrate at a bar, restaurant or organized event, the poll found. But many U.S. adults will celebrate the new year in a different way — by making a resolution. More than half say they’ll make at least one resolution for 2025. There’s some optimism about the year ahead, although more than half aren’t expecting a positive change. About 4 in 10 say 2025 will be a better year for them personally. About one-third don’t expect much of a difference between 2024 and 2025, and about one-quarter think 2025 will be a worse year than 2024. Relaxed New Year’s Eve plans for many Kourtney Kershaw, a 32-year-old bartender in Chicago, often fields questions from customers and friends about upcoming events for New Year’s Eve. She said this year is trending toward low-key. “A majority of who I’ve spoken to in my age range, they want to go out, but they don’t know what they’re going to do because they haven’t found anything or things are just really expensive,” she said. “Party packages or an entry fee are like a turnoff, especially with the climate of the world and how much things cost.” As expected, younger people are more interested in ringing in the new year at a bar or organized event — about 1 in 10 U.S. adults under 30 say they plan to do that. But about 3 in 10 older adults — 60 and above — say they won’t celebrate the beginning of 2025 at all. Anthony Tremblay, 35, from Pittsburgh, doesn’t usually go out to toast the arrival of the new year, but this year he’s got something special cooked up: He and his wife will be traveling through Ireland. “I don’t do anything too crazy for New Year’s, usually. So this is definitely a change,” he said. “I wanted to do something unique this year, so I did.” Woods will be working New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. She answers calls on The Iowa Warmline, a confidential, noncrisis listening line for people struggling with mental health or substance use issues. “Holidays are really hard for people, so I don’t mind working,” she said. “I’m passionate about it because I have mental health issues in the family and so being able to help people is rewarding to me.” Younger Americans are more likely to make a resolution Every New Year’s also triggers the eternal debate about resolutions. A majority of U.S. adults say they intend to make a New Year’s resolution of some type, but millennials and Gen Z are especially likely to be on board — about two-thirds expect to do so, compared to about half of older adults. Women are also more likely than men to say they will set a goal for 2025. Tremblay hopes to lose some weight and focus more on self-care — more sleep, meditation and breathing exercises. “It’s probably a good year to focus on mental health,” he said. Many others agree. About 3 in 10 adults choose resolutions involving exercise or eating healthier. About one-quarter said they’ll make a resolution involving losing weight and a similar number said they’ll resolve to make changes about priorities of money or mental health. Woods’ resolutions are to stay social and active. As a mental health counselor, she knows those are key to a happy 2025 and beyond: “Probably one of my biggest resolutions is trying to make sure I stay social, try to get out at least once a week — get out and either have coffee or do something with a friend. That’s not only for the physical but also for the mental health part.” Kershaw, the bartender, says weight loss and better health are the top resolutions she hears people make. “Mental health is the new one, but I think it’s high up there as well as with regular health,” she said. She prefers more goal-oriented resolutions and, this time, it’s to do more traveling and see more of the world: “I don’t know if that’s really a resolution, but that’s a goal that I’m setting.” And how will she welcome the arrival of 2025? Usually, she takes the night off and stays home watching movies with plenty of snacks, but this year Kershaw has a different plan, maybe one of the most Chicago things you can do. This die-hard sports fan will be on Tuesday watching the Chicago Blackhawks take on the St. Louis Blues. “Hockey’s my favorite sport. So I will be watching hockey and bringing in the new year,” she said. ___ The AP-NORC poll of 1,251 adults was conducted Dec. 5-9, 2024, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. ___ Sanders reported from Washington.ATLANTA (AP) — The Atlanta Falcons are back in first place in the NFC South and again in control of their playoff hopes. Rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. showed the poise in his first NFL start the Falcons will need to take advantage of their opportunity to end a six-year playoff drought. Powered by a big-play defense that produced two pick-6s, a solid starting debut by Penix and two rushing touchdowns by Bijan Robinson, the Falcons cruised past the hapless New York Giants 34-7 on Sunday. On Sunday night, the Falcons (8-7) received the assist they needed when Tampa Bay lost at Dallas . Because the Falcons swept the Buccaneers, they hold the tiebreaker advantage if they remain tied atop the division. The Falcons have games remaining at Washington on Sunday night and at home against Carolina to close the regular season. If Atlanta wins both games, it would win the division and have a home playoff game. The Falcons are assured of their best record since a 10-6 finish under coach Dan Quinn in 2017, their most recent playoff season. Quinn is in his first season as Washington's coach and has led the Commanders (10-5) to three straight wins, including Sunday's 36-33 victory over Philadelphia. Penix, the No. 8 overall pick in this year's NFL draft, was promoted after coach Raheem Morris benched Kirk Cousins. Penix completed 18 of 27 passes for 202 yards with one interception on a pass that should have been caught by tight end Kyle Pitts. Penix is not a dual-threat quarterback, but he showed the ability to escape pressure in the pocket that Cousins lacks following his 2023 Achilles tendon injury. The left-hander's superior arm strength also was immediately obvious. What’s working Robinson's production provided a safety net for the offense which helped make for a smooth transition to Penix. Robinson had scoring runs of 2 and 4 yards. Robinson has rushed for 10 touchdowns this season. He's the first Atlanta player with 10 more more rushing touchdowns since Devonta Freeman during the 2016 Super Bowl season. Robinson ran for 94 yards on 22 carries and had 103 yards from scrimmage. His 11th game this season with at least 100 yards from scrimmage are the most for the Falcons since Warrick Dunn's 11 in 2005. Morris said Robinson deserves to be considered with Philadelphia's Saquon Barkley in discussions regarding the league's top running backs. “Bijan has been outstanding all year in the things that he’s able to do," Morris said. “He’s special. If it wasn’t for this other guy out in Philly, he’d get a lot more recognition across the league. But that guy is having a special year, and Bijan’s not far behind him.” What needs help With kicker Younghoe Koo on injured reserve and watching from the sideline, Riley Patterson was wide left on his first field-goal attempt from 43 yards. Patterson rebounded to make attempts from 52 and 37 yards. Stock up Jessie Bates III and Matthew Judon each had a pick-6 to highlight a day of big plays for the defense. Arnold Ebiketie had his fifth sack of the season and added a fumble recovery. Kaden Ellis added a strip-sack. He also has five sacks this season, including sacks in four consecutive games. It is the longest streak for Atlanta since Patrick Kerney had sacks in five straight games in 2001. Stock down There was some thought that a change at quarterback could be good news for Pitts, who often seemed to be missing in action with Cousins running the offense. After all, a tight end often is a natural target for quick passes from a rookie making his first start. Instead, Pitts had a poor start to the Penix era when he bobbled his first pass from the left-hander, creating an interception by cornerback Cor’Dale Flott. Pitts caught a 7-yard pass on his only other target. For the season, Pitts has 41 catches for 543 yards and three touchdowns. Injuries There will be much interest in this week's injury report after WR Drake London (hamstring) was hurt in the second half. Morris provided an optimistic postgame outlook on London. CB Antonio Hamilton (quad) did not return after leaving the game in the first half. Key number 8: Bates has four interceptions and four forced fumbles. His combined eight forced turnovers lead the NFL. Next steps The game against Jayden Daniels and the Commanders is a reminder Penix was only the fourth of six quarterbacks selected in the first round of the NFL draft. Daniels, from LSU, was the No. 2 overall pick behind Caleb Williams by Chicago. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Charles Odum, The Associated Press
NEW YORK — The huge rally for U.S. stocks lost momentum Thursday as Wall Street counted down to a big jobs report that’s coming Friday. The crypto market had more action, and bitcoin briefly burst to a record above $103,000 before pulling back. The S&P 500 slipped 11.38 points to 6,075.11, down 0.2% from the all-time high it set the prior day — its 56th of the year so far in what’s set to be one of its best years of the millennium. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 248.33 points, or 0.6%, to 44,765.71, while the Nasdaq composite slipped 34.86 points to 19,700.26, down 0.2% from its own record set the day before. Bitcoin powered above $100,000 for the first time the prior night, after President-elect Donald Trump chose Paul Atkins, who’s seen as a crypto advocate, as his nominee to head the Securities and Exchange Commission. The cryptocurrency fell back toward $99,000 Thursday, according to CoinDesk. After rising as much as 9% in early trading, MicroStrategy, a company that’s been raising cash just to buy bitcoin, swung to a loss of 4.8%. Crypto exchange Coinbase Global fell 3.1% after likewise erasing a big early gain. Elsewhere on Wall Street, airlines helped lead the way. American Airlines Group soared 16.8% after saying it’s making more in revenue during the last three months of 2024 than it expected, and it will likely make a bigger profit than it forecast. The airline also chose Citi to be its exclusive partner for credit cards that give miles in its loyalty program. Southwest Airlines climbed 2% after saying it’s seeing stronger demand from leisure travelers than it expected. It also raised its forecast for revenue for the holiday travel season. On the losing end, Synposys tumbled 12.4%. The supplier for the semiconductor industry reported better profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected but warned of “continued macro uncertainties” and gave a forecast for revenue that fell short of some analysts’ estimates. American Eagle Outfitters fell 14.3% after the retailer said it’s preparing for “potential choppiness” outside of peak selling periods. Friday’s jobs report from the U.S. government will show how many people employers hired and fired last month. Expectations are high that the Federal Reserve will cut its main interest rate again when it meets in two weeks. The Fed began easing its main interest rate from a two-decade high in September, hoping to offer more support for the job market. In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury edged down to 4.17% from 4.18% late Wednesday. Crude oil prices slipped after eight members of the OPEC+ alliance of oil exporting countries decided to put off increasing oil production. Get local news delivered to your inbox!House approves $895B defense bill with military pay raise, ban on transgender care for minors
AP Sports SummaryBrief at 4:44 p.m. EST
Judging by his most recent scientific production, Doctor of Science José Antonio Guardado Chacón has not wasted time or space in insisting on the potential of using anaerobic biodigesters, not only as a tool for the treatment of waste, but as a renewable energy source (RES). He has just done so, as the organizer of the 3rd Workshop: Biogas, Water and Sanitation Movements or Networks, held within the 2024 Cubasolar International Workshop , held between November 19 and 21 at Quinta de los Molinos. The scientific event had 160 participants from all Cuban provinces and speakers from Brazil, Guatemala, Spain and Colombia. The poor national media coverage is striking, right in the middle of an energy crisis that forces us to urgently look at the RES, a field in which Cubasolar has worked for 30 years. The workshop organized by Dr. Guardado Chacón was divided into three panels, which showed successful experiences of the Biogas Users Movement (MUB), both individual and in communities and pork production entities, according to the event’s rapporteur . But, although there is talk of Movement ― and since 2017 a book published by Cubasolar abounds on the subject ― the use of this RES is not widespread nor does it show the same results in the country. In fact, among the questions that presided over the panels of Cubasolar 2024 was a specific one: How have the MUB and other Renewable Energy Sources in some territories been able to overcome obstacles and become a thriving popular energy model and in other territories, this has not been possible? Guardado himself had, in part, answered the question in 2021, in an article cited by the IPS news agency. When asked why biogas was among the least developed renewable sources and how this could be reversed, given that Cuba needs to boost national food production, the article responded: According to the first projections of the RES, to produce electricity given the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, biogas is among the least developed (27 MW). This may be due, among other reasons, to the lack of knowledge of what can be contributed from the locality with many small solutions and social inclusion, based on scientific-popular criteria. Related Posts Oscar Paglieri: the anointed one of “La Estrella de Italia” in Cuba December 1, 2024 What is there to celebrate on Economists’ Day in Cuba? November 30, 2024 Pork in Cuba, in sustained decline November 28, 2024 Nafsika Mouzakiti, from the International Barlady Competition: “Cuba is the country of cocktails” November 26, 2024 var jnews_module_314295_0_6752348541399 = {"header_icon":"","first_title":"Related Posts","second_title":"","url":"","header_type":"heading_1","header_background":"","header_secondary_background":"","header_text_color":"","header_line_color":"","header_accent_color":"","header_filter_category":"","header_filter_author":"","header_filter_tag":"","header_filter_text":"All","post_type":"post","content_type":"all","number_post":"4","post_offset":0,"unique_content":"disable","include_post":"","exclude_post":314295,"include_category":"13903,13904,13906,13905,13907","exclude_category":"","include_author":"","include_tag":"","exclude_tag":"","sort_by":"latest","date_format":"default","date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","force_normal_image_load":"","pagination_mode":"nextprev","pagination_nextprev_showtext":"","pagination_number_post":"4","pagination_scroll_limit":0,"boxed":"","boxed_shadow":"","el_id":"","el_class":"","scheme":"","column_width":"auto","title_color":"","accent_color":"","alt_color":"","excerpt_color":"","css":"","paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"jnews_block_21"}; In addition, biogas is not precisely for generating electric power, but to stop consuming electricity. Its direct use is much more efficient than if we transform it into electric power. To reverse this position, biogas technology must be assessed integrally, taking advantage of all its final products. This includes the supply of basic nutrients for the fertilization of soils that directly affect food production. In this regard, work is being done on the organization approved by the highest leadership of the country, which foresees greater participation of the actors of Cuban society, both at the state and non-state levels. At that time it was estimated that there were about 5,000 biodigesters in Cuba, and the institutional design aimed at each municipality having “a development program and strategy regarding biogas, whose management and implementation must be articulated with the plans of the province.” For this note, we found no evidence that these strategies exist in all the Cuban municipalities, as indicated by Ministerial Order 395 of April 2021, of the Ministry of Energy and Mines. They must not be very complete when the Cubasolar 2024 Rapporteur lists as one of the key questions of the event: What hinders the development of local energy self-sufficiency in the municipality? Why are other urgent issues put before energy in the strategies? Maximizing the contributions of biogas, on paper The truth is that of the best-known RES, biogas is the only one that, in addition to its energy potential, has a very high component of environmental sustainability, by using polluting waste from the agricultural and agri-food sectors. Scientific production on this topic is abundant. From the one that explores the introduction of technologies and their economic and environmental feasibility ( Biogás y sostenibilidad en Cuba ) — “in the 1970s, around 550 small biogas installations were built, with traditional Chinese and Indian technologies, in dairy farms and pig farms” — through to recommendations for the construction of biodigesters ( Diseño y construcción de plantas de biogás sencillas ) — published in 2007 — to the assessment of the potentials and the preparation of a Atlas de Bioenergía. Cuba Edición 2022 . Reading this latest article, with its detailed analysis of the calculation of the biogas production potential — from excrement associated with the raising of pigs, poultry, and cattle — it is difficult to assimilate that this RES has not advanced further along the path that, right now, is proposed as mandatory by Decree Law 110/2024 of the Council of Ministers, whose First Transitional Provision establishes that “high consumers existing at the time of publication of this Decree in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Cuba, have a period of up to three years to install renewable energy sources, to generate at least fifty percent of the electricity they consume during peak daytime hours.” According to Atlas , “the total biogas production potential, which includes the associated agricultural and industrial production, amounts to 615,595 m3/year, which is equivalent to 189,227 tep/year or 710,095 MWh/year. 63% of the total corresponds to agricultural production.” Of this potential, more than half is concentrated in six provinces: Matanzas, Holguín, Mayabeque, Santiago de Cuba, Ciego de Ávila, and Cienfuegos, as shown in the map prepared by the group of authors. The chapter dedicated to biogas concludes by stating that, “taking into account the potential for biogas production and the structure of electricity and fuel consumption, it has been found more reasonable to consider that biogas be used for electricity production rather than for replacing fuels in furnaces and boilers.” Likewise, the analysis of the potential impact that can be achieved by using biogas for power generation, confirmed the researchers, “allows us to see that 44% of the electricity consumed by the three sectors included in this report can be generated. The power generation potential in AZCUBA is 34% of its total consumption; in the agricultural and forestry sector it is 117% and in the food industry 6.5%.” In other words, three sectors that consume a lot of electricity in Cuba have the energy potential to be self-sufficient in their own backyards — or at least to reduce their dependence on the National Electric Power System — and, nevertheless, the experiences of its application can be counted on one hand. All this even though the Policy for the prospective development of renewable sources and the efficient use of Energy 2014-2030 , approved a decade ago, proposes in its Strategic Objective (SO) 6: “maximize the use of renewable energy sources with a circular economy approach to contribute to food security, sustainability and sovereignty and the reduction of the environmental footprint of the agro-industrial and food production sector”; and in SO 7: “maximize the energy contributions of the agro-industrial and forestry sector.” Even so, the practical and validated examples of the use of biogas are concentrated, fundamentally, in the microlocal scenario. This is the case of the El Colorado Porcine Base Business Unit (UEBP) and the surrounding rural community, located in the Cabaiguán municipality, in the province of Sancti Spíritus, where the GEF-UNDP Biomas-Cuba project (of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation) made it possible to build two fixed dome biodigesters (modified Chinese model) in 2020, with 45 m3 and 50 m3 of digestion, respectively. Both biodigesters treat the excrement of 600 pigs (50% of the animal mass of the UEBP). The 90 m3 of biogas produced daily not only supplied the porcine entity but also reached more than 30 homes through a high-density polyethylene network that distributed the biofuel. Electricity consumption automatically decreased by between 30 and 60%, equivalent to 18.3 MWh/year. From an environmental point of view, “the daily consumption of 90 m3 of biogas for cooking made it possible to avoid felling 24 ha/year, avoided the emission of 59.8 t of CO2eq/year, or 1,255 tons of methane, and produced 4 t/year of effluents, which is used as biofertilizers for soil improvement.” An example of biodigesters on another scale is being developed in the Martí municipality, in Matanzas. In April 2023, the IPS agency elaborated on the scope of the local development project with international cooperation (European Union and UNDP) that would put public buses into circulation with biomethane as fuel, while producing electricity and biofertilizers for organic crops, with direct benefit for the 22,000 inhabitants of the municipality and surrounding areas. Although the local press has recently referred to the project, the progress of the investment is not specified, which is expected to be completed this year according to the initial design. But, just as one swallow does not make a summer, isolated good practices in the use of anaerobic biodigestion of waste do not allow for the qualitative and quantitative leap with this technology. Hence, in July 2021, Doctor of Science Roberto Sosa Cáceres, deputy director of the Center for Information Management and Energy Development (Cubaenergía), stated in the Renovable.cu bulletin that Cuba has untapped biogas potential, both in the state sector and in the cooperative and individual farmer sector. In Sosa’s opinion, the country does not have the necessary technologies to build industrial biogas plants and it is necessary to create “a technological culture of efficient use of this resource, high knowledge and production of specialized equipment.” A decade ago, the same expert, then director of the Center for Promotion and Development of Biogas at the Porcine Research Institute, was more optimistic. In an interview with Granma , he spoke of a national program to manufacture a thousand biodigesters annually until 2020. There would be, at least, 6,000 new sites to date, but ― as we pointed out at the beginning ― in 2021, less than 5,000 were estimated. Although there has been a gradual increase in gross power generation from waste since 2019 (from 2.5 Gigawatt/hour to 159 in 2023), biogas plants (plus emerging groups, according to the nomenclature of the Statistical Yearbook. Cuba. Mining and Energy. 2023 Edition ), barely produce 1.03% of the total electricity in Cuba. The current levels of pork and beef production in the country, with a sustained decrease in mass, also constitute a major obstacle to the generation of energy through anaerobic biodigesters, as the waste from these activities is the main source of energy. However, any organic waste can be converted into fuel. That is why experts continue to firmly believe that “anaerobic technologies have a promising future in their implementation in the agricultural and industrial framework of Cuba, by promoting the development of the circular economy, promoting the recovery of resources.” This is what researchers Deny Oliva and Ileana Pereda say in a scientific article on the subject. They conclude: It is worth emphasizing that in order to increase the application of this type of technology, a significant effort is needed from the scientific, specialized, and business community and decision-makers in the country to appropriate them and to “tropicalize” the technological solutions, in addition to adapting the national industry to assume part of the components necessary for its expansion. It is essential to increase scientific research and innovation in-house that allows the implementation to be adjusted to the specific conditions of the country. Tags: biogas featured Renewable Energy Sources
Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack Awards season has arrived in the form of the Golden Globes nominations. The awards, which honor both movies and television programs, is often viewed as a preview of the upcoming Oscars. In this week's episode, co-hosts Bruce Miller and Terry Lipshetz go over the list, focusing largely on the movies, which tend to shine brightest at the ceremony. But they also take time to review a few of the TV shows, including the great, but rarely funny "The Bear," which is again in the comedy or musical category. We also have an interview with "Nickel Boys" director RaMell Ross, who spoke with Miller prior to the film receiving a nomination for best drama. Miller also talked with Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, who starred in the film. “Wicked”; “Anora”; “Emilia Perez”; “Challengers”; “A Real Pain”; “The Substance” “The Brutalist”; “A Complete Unknown,”; “Conclave”; “Dune: Part Two”; “Nickel Boys;” “September 5” Jesse Eisenberg, “A Real Pain”; Hugh Grant, “Heretic”; Gabriel LaBelle, “Saturday Night; Jesse Plemons, “Kinds of Kindness”’ Glen Powell, “Hitman”; Sebastian Stan, “A Different Man” Amy Adams, “Nightbitch”; Cynthia Erivo, “Wicked”; Karla Sofia Gascón, “Emilia Pérez”; Mikey Madison “Anora”; Demi Moore, “The Substance”; Zendaya, “Challengers” Pamela Anderson, “The Last Showgirl′′; Angelina Jolie, ”Maria”; Nicole Kidman, “Babygirl”; Tilda Swinton, “The Room Next Door”; Fernanda Torres, “I’m Still Here”; Kate Winslet, “Lee” Adrien Brody, “The Brutalist”; Timothée Chalamet, “A Complete Unknown’; Colman Domingo, “Sing Sing”; Ralph Fiennes, “Conclave”; Sebastian Stan, “The Apprentice’’ “Alien: Romulus”; Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”; Deadpool & Wolverine”; “Gladiator II”; “Inside Out 2”; “Twisters”; “Wicked”; “The Wild Robot” “All We Imagine As Light′′; ”Emilia Pérez”; “The Girl With the Needle”; “I’m Still Here”; “The Seed of the Sacred Fig”; “Vermiglio” “Flow”; “Inside Out 2”; “Memoir of a Snail”; “Moana 2”; “Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl”; “The Wild Robot” Selena Gomez, ”Emilia Pérez”; Ariana Grande, “Wicked”; Felicity Jones, “The Brutalist”; Margaret Qualley, “The Substance”; Isabella Rossellini, “Conclave”; Zoe Saldaña, ”Emilia Pérez” Yura Borisov, “Anora”; Kieran Culkin, “A Real Pain”; Edward Norton, “A Complete Unknown”; Guy Pearce, “The Brutalist”; Jeremy Strong, ”The Apprentice”; Denzel Washington, “Gladiator II” Jacques Audiard, “Emilia Pérez”; Sean Baker, ”Anora”; Edward Berger, “Conclave”; Brady Corbet, “The Brutalist”; Coralie Fargeat, “The Substance”; Payal Kapadia, “All We Imagine As Light” Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | RSS Feed | SoundStack Jacques Audiard, “Emilia Pérez”; Sean Baker, ”Anora”; Brady Corbet, Mona Fastvold, “The Brutalist”; Jesse Eisenberg, “A Real Pain”; Coralie Fargeat, “The Substance”; Peter Straughan, “Conclave” Volker Bertelmann, “Conclave”; Daniel Blumberg, “The Brutalist”; Kris Bowers, “The Wild Robot”; Clement Ducol, Camille “Emilia Pérez”; Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, “Challengers”; Hans Zimmer, “Dune: Part Two” “Beautiful That Way” from “The Last Showgirl” (music/lyrics by Andrew Wyatt, Miley Cyrus, Lykke Zachrisson); “Compress/Repress” from “Challengers’ (music/lyrics by Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Luca Guadagnino; “El Mal” from EL MAL” from “Emilia Pérez” (music/lyrics by Clément Ducol, Camille, Jacques Audiard; “Forbidden Road” from ”Better Man′′ (music/lyrics by Robbie Williams, Freddy Wexler, Sacha Skarbek); “Kiss the Sky” from “The Wild Robot′′ (music/lyrics by Delacey, Jordan K. Johnson, Stefan Johnson, Maren Morris, Michael Pollack, Ali Tamposi); ”Mi Camino′′ from “Emilia Pérez” (music/lyrics by Clément Ducol, Camille) “Shogun”; “The Diplomat”; “Slow Horses”; “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”; “The Day of the Jackal”; “Squid Game” “Abbott Elementary”; “The Bear; “Hacks”; “Nobody Wants This”; “Only Murders in the Building”; “The Gentlemen” Donald Glover, “Mr. and Mrs. Smith”; Jake Gyllenhaal, “Presumed Innocent”; Gary Oldman, “Slow Horses”; Eddie Redmayne, “The Day of the Jackal”; Hiroyuki Sanada, “Shogun”; Billy Bob Thornton, “Landman” Kathy Bates, “Matlock”; Emma D’Arcy, “House of the Dragon”; Maya Erskine, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”; Keira Knightley, “Black Doves”; Keri Russell, “The Diplomat”; Anna Sawai, “Shogun” Kristen Bell, “Nobody Wants This”; Quinta Brunson, “Abbott Elementary”; Ayo Edebiri, “The Bear”; Selena Gomez, “Only Murders in the Building”; Kathryn Hahn, “Agatha All Along”; Jean Smart, “Hacks” Adam Brody, “Nobody Wants This”; Ted Danson, “A Man on the Inside”; Steve Martin, “Only Murders in the Building”; Jason Segel, “Shrinking”; Martin Short, “Only Murders in the Building”; Jeremy All White, “The Bear” “Baby Reindeer”; Disclaimer"; “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”; “The Penguin”; “Ripley”; “True Detective: Night Country” Cate Blanchett, “Disclaimer''; Jodie Foster, ”True Detective: Night Country"; Cristin Milioti, “The Penguin''; Sofia Vergara, ”Griselda"; Naomi Watts, “Feud: Capote vs. The Swans”; Kate Winslet, “The Regime” Colin Farrell, “The Penguin”; Richard Gadd, “Baby Reindeer”; Kevin Kline, “Disclaimer”; Cooper Koch, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”; Ewan McGregor, “A Gentleman in Moscow”; Andrew Scott, “Ripley” Liza Colón-Zayas, “The Bear”; Hannah Einbinder, “Hacks”; Dakota Fanning, “Ripley”; Jessica Gunning, “Baby Reindeer”; Allison Janney, “The Diplomat”; Kali Reis, “True Detective: Night Country” Tadanobu Asano, “Shogun''; Javier Bardem, “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story”; Harrison Ford, “Shrinking”; Jack Lowden “Slow Horses”; Diego Luna, “La Maquina”; Ebon Moss-Bachrach, “The Bear” Jamie Foxx, “Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was”; Nikki Glaser, “Nikki Glaser: Someday You'll Die”; Seth Meyers, “Seth Meyers: Dad Man Walking”; Adam Sandler, "Adam Sandler: Love You"; Ali Wong, “Ali Wong: Single Lady”; Ramy Youssef, “Ramy Youssef: More Feelings” —List compiled by The Associated Press
SGOV: The Labor Market May Weaken In 2025 While Inflation ReboundsSan Diego is gearing up for its 47th December Nights celebration in Balboa Park, promising to inject the festive spirit into the city with many holiday activities this weekend. Teeming with music, food, and a bevy of performances, the event is slated for tomorrow from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. It continues on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mayor Todd Gloria invites everyone to join the revelry, stating, as per the City of San Diego , "December Nights is a cherished tradition that brings San Diegans and visitors together to kick off the holiday season in the heart of our city." A crowd-pleasing addition to the festivities is the reopening of the Botanical Building, now sparkling after a $30 million make-over. It was closed for three years and now flaunts fully restored features and swanky technological upgrades; these include a new mister watering system, modern lighting, and freshwater features; visitors can catch an early glimpse of the renovations on Friday and Saturday during special viewing hours before returning to its usual timetable after the weekend. With over 1,600 performers from 70 groups, more than 200 food and retail booths sprawled across the park, and free museum entry in the evening, there's hardly a dull moment left in the weekend's packed schedule. The hallmark tree lighting ceremony unfolds at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion Stage tomorrow at 6 p.m., with Councilmember Stephen Whitburn and Assemblymember Chris Ward joining the honorary proceedings, "December Nights is a cherished San Diego tradition, and it’s heartwarming to see our community come together to kick off the holiday season in beautiful Balboa Park," Whitburn said, as cited by the City of San Diego . A handy mobile website dubbed the December Nights Mobile Experience promises to aid attendees in navigating the venue, pointing out essentials like parking spots, entertainment, and vendors. Transport has been beefed up with free shuttles, pre-paid parking, and enhanced bus services courtesy of the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS), and the environmentally conscious can even avail of a bike valet service. Exploring alternative transportation due to limited parking during the event days is highly recommended. The Family Zone returns bolder than ever this year, throwing an arsenal of attractions, from diaper changing outposts to free Ferris wheel rides sponsored by San Diego Community Power at families, apart from the options to mix and mingle with Santa or engage in a host of free activities and performances.