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☆ Why designers are rethinking the toilet
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Jacqui Palumbo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —Consider the toilet — that humble porcelain bowl that spirits away our waste several times a day. Rethinking how we deal with waste may also present an opportunity: Our excrement can be converted into renewable heat, electricity and fertilizer. Ugo CarmeniKnown as a “Huussi” in Finnish, the dry toilet separates urine from stool and is ventilated to keep odors out — In Finland, dry toilets are particularly prevalent in rural summer cottages, Renell told CNN in a video call. Kelsey McWilliams/Point of ShiftNow a water, sanitation and hygiene consultant for over ten years, McWilliams founded Point of Shift to create circular systems for clients within the US. The humble dry toilet and a large-scale urban sewage system may be at opposite ends of the spectrum, but they are both solutions to the same problem.

Persons: It’s, ”, Arja Renell, Ugo Carmeni, Renell, Kelsey McWilliams, Melinda Gates, McWilliams, There’s, “ It’s, ” McWilliams, ChangeWater, Diana Yousef, ” Yousef, What’s, —, Yousef, ’ ”, San, Sarah Perfekt “, Amanda Haux, Sarah Perfekt, Haux, ” Renell Organizations: CNN, Environmental Protection Agency, Venice Biennale, University of Delaware, WHO, UNICEF’s, ” Locations: Flushing, Finnish, Venice, Finland, Uganda, Panama, California, San Francisco, Swedish, Helsingborg, RecoLab, reimagining, Sweden, ”

“We expect stringent government oversight of our mining-to-reclamation project, which will be fully protective of the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge and the region’s environment,” Ingle said in a statement. The swamp’s wildlife, cypress forests and flooded prairies draw roughly 600,000 visitors each year, according to the U.S. Despite efforts by President Joe Biden to restore federal oversight, the Army Corps entered a legal agreement with Twin Pines to maintain its hands-off position. The mining project is moving forward as the National Park Service seeks designation of the Okefenokee wildlife refuge as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Twin Pines denied wrongdoing, but said it agreed to the fine to avoid further permitting delays.

Persons: Deb Haaland, Josh Marks, “, Steve Ingle, ” Ingle, C, Rhett Jackson, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Ben Prater, EPD Organizations: Georgia Environmental, Twin, Twin Pines Minerals, Refuge, Georgia -, Twin Pines, U.S . Fish, Wildlife Service, and Wildlife Service, University of Georgia, ., Army Corps of Engineers, Army Corps, National Park Service, UNESCO, of Wildlife Locations: SAVANNAH, Ga, Georgia, Twin Pines, Birmingham , Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia - Florida, Atlanta, Twin, blackwater

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — The company seeking permits to mine minerals near the edge of the Okefenokee Swamp and its vast wildlife refuge has agreed to pay a $20,000 fine to Georgia environmental regulators, who say the company violated state laws while collecting soil samples for its permit application. The plan is required for Twin Pines to qualify for a permit. Twin Pines has insisted it can mine without harming the swamp. An attorney for Twin Pines said Wednesday the company denies any wrongdoing. The Army Corps entered an agreement with Twin Pines to maintain its hands-off position in 2022.

Persons: “, Lewis Jones, Josh Marks, EPD, ” Marks, Donald Trump, Joe Biden Organizations: Georgia Environmental, Twin, Twin Pines Minerals, Twin Pines, Regulators, Refuge, ”, National Park Service, UNESCO, U.S . Fish, Wildlife Service, and Wildlife Service, Army Corps of Engineers, Army Corps Locations: SAVANNAH, Ga, Georgia, Twin Pines, Alabama, Twin, Mississippi, Atlanta, blackwater

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — A U.S. agency said Friday it will nominate the vast, federally protected wildlife refuge in the Okefenokee Swamp for listing as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Okefenokee refuge covers more than 90% of the swamp and is the largest national wildlife refuge east of the Mississippi River. Designation as a World Heritage site wouldn't impose any added restrictions or regulations for the Okefenokee. Ossoff said a World Heritage site designation would have both environmental and economic benefits for the Okefenokee and surrounding Georgia communities. Conservationists sounded doubtful that the World Heritage site nomination would directly affect the decisions of Georgia regulators.

Persons: Kim Bednarek, ”, Elise Bennett, It’s, Buddy Carter, Democratic Sen, Jon Ossoff, Ossoff, Deb Haaland, “ They’re, Ben Prater, Bednarek Organizations: —, UNESCO, National Park Service, U.S, of Liberty, UNESCO's World, U.S . Fish, Wildlife Service, Center for Biological Diversity, Fish and Wildlife Service, Republican, Democratic, U.S . Interior Department, Twin Pines Minerals, of Wildlife Locations: SAVANNAH, Ga, U.S, Washington, Georgia, Florida, blackwater, Yellowstone, Yosemite, ”, Arizona, of, Ohio, Mississippi, Caribbean, Twin Pines

Rolex’s Perpetual Planet initiative has partnered with CNN to drive awareness and education around key sustainability issues and to inspire positive action. The marine biologist and amateur photographer captured the photo on a blackwater dive – a night dive in the open ocean, which uses floodlights to attract the ocean nightlife. Thousands of entrants submitted underwater and coastal images, as well as pictures captured by drone, to the competition, organizers said. From world-class drone images of megafauna to breath-taking underwater images of deep-dwelling ocean wildlife, the full spectrum of ocean life is brought to life like never before. A selection of the winning and highly commended images can be seen in the gallery above.

Persons: Jialing Cai, Will Harrison, Blancpain Organizations: CNN, Oceanographic Magazine, Tourism Western, Australian National Maritime Museum Locations: Philippines, Arksen, Tourism Western Australia, Sydney

☆ Epic OneWater Brew: The beer made from recycled shower water
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( Jacopo Prisco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

More states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, New Mexico and Washington, are in the process of updating their water reuse regulations. In 2017, two California-based brewers produced limited-edition beers made from recycled water, to serve at local events. “When I got into the water industry, there was a lot of often-repeated tropes that the general public was just not ready for recycled water,” he says. There’s a mental perception that recycled water is not as clean as other sources of water. “You’re going to start hearing a lot more about a lot of different industries using recycled water for their products.

Persons: ”, Aaron Tartakovsky, Germany —, it’s, ” Tartakovsky, “, Cleantec, Tartakovsky, David Sedlak, Sedlak, Daniel McCurry, McCurry, “ You’re Organizations: CNN, Berkeley Water Center, University of California, Civil, Environmental Engineering, University of Southern Locations: San Francisco, Germany, California, Texas, Arizona , Colorado , Florida, New Mexico, Washington, Southern California, Singapore, Australia, Berkeley, University of Southern California, San Diego

☆ A 'Frankenfish' that can live without water for days and officials instruct to kill on sight was spotted deep in Missouri, worrying conservationists
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Emily Swaim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

"They're in the Mississippi River already, so that is a huge highway for the species," Knuth said. Dave Knuth, Duck Creek Conservation AreaWhile northern snakeheads normally avoid humans, they are very protective of their young. In 2019, researchers looked at how the Blackwater River watershed changed before and after northern snakeheads invaded. Dave Knuth, Duck Creek Conservation AreaIf you happen to spot a northern snakehead, the US government recommends killing it right away. If you find and kill a northern snakehead, you can report the capture to your local fish and game agency.

Persons: Dave Knuth, Knuth, White Organizations: Service, Conservation, Missouri Department of Conservation, DC, Washington Post, Fish Commission, Conservation Area, Conservation Center Locations: Missouri, Midwest, Wall, Silicon, Duck, Conservation Area, Asia, Africa, Crofton , Maryland, East, Maryland, Virginia, Arkansas, Northern, Mississippi, Blackwater, North America

☆ Flight training for Chinese military pilots targeted in latest US export crackdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Karen Freifeld | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

June 12 (Reuters) - The Biden administration on Monday added 43 entities to an export control list, including Frontier Services Group Ltd, a security and aviation company previously run by Erik Prince, for training Chinese military pilots and other activities that threaten U.S. national security. The Test Flying Academy of South Africa, a flight school under scrutiny by authorities in Britain for recruiting British ex-military pilots to train Chinese military fliers, was also added to the U.S. Commerce Department's Entity List. The aviation-related companies were listed for providing training to Chinese military pilots using Western and NATO sources, according to a rule posted for the Federal Register. Thirty-one Chinese entities in total were added to the list, some for acquiring U.S.-origin items in support of China's military modernization, such as hypersonic weapons development. Nine Chinese and Pakistani companies were added based on their contributions to Pakistan’s ballistic missile program and other weapons contributions.

Persons: Biden, Erik Prince, Prince, Karen Freifeld, Chris Sanders, Alistair Bell Organizations: Frontier Services Group Ltd, Flying Academy of South, U.S . Commerce, Frontier Services Group, United, United Arab Emirates, Federal Register, U.S, Shanghai Supercomputing Technology, Solutions, Thomson Locations: U.S, Flying Academy of South Africa, Britain, China, Kenya, Laos, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, United Kingdom, Xinjiang, China's, Latvia

☆ A 12th-century castle can be yours for the same price as some 2-bed Manhattan apartments. Take a look around.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Ryan Hogg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Blackwater Castle in Cork has been on the market since late last year. It's on sale for 2 million euros, or $2.2 million. Sherry FitzGeraldThe 60-acre grounds are being marketed by estate agency Sherry FitzGerald.

☆ 20-pound rodents with big orange teeth, rat-like tails, and no necks are wreaking havoc in the US and landing on 'most unwanted' lists
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The aquatic rodents has since spread, destroying wetlands and threatening flood infrastructure. The orange color of their teeth, a trait they share with beavers, comes from having a special, strong enamel that includes iron. The rodents often carry pathogens and parasites that can contaminate water supplies and potentially spread to humans. As of November 2022, 3,330 nutria have been removed from California, according to state wildlife officials. Wildlife officials across the country encourage the public to report nutria sightings to their local agencies to aid in management and eradication efforts.

☆ Iraqi ambush of Americans made a mockery of 'Mission Accomplished'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Michael Georgy | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

[1/5] FILE PHOTO: A U.S. soldier walks past Iraqi detainees standing behind a wired fence, at Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad, Iraq May 17, 2004. Arriving in the city an hour or so after the ambush on March 31, 2004, I was confronted by a crowd kicking the head of an incinerated body. I was taking notes, trying to make sense of the furore, when a boy, who was probably aged about nine, approached. HOTSPOTIn the two decades of turmoil since the invasion, Falluja repeatedly emerged as a hotspot. I saw an Iraqi douse one of the corpses with petrol, sending flames soaring into the air.

☆ U.S.-led Iraq war ushered in years of chaos and conflict
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/5] A general view of Tahrir square as demonstrators take part during the ongoing anti-government protests in Baghdad, Iraq November 5, 2019. Here is a look at some of the violence, including suicide bombings and beheadings, that has plagued Iraq, a major OPEC oil producer and key U.S. ally, since the 2003 war. * March 20, 2003 - U.S.-led forces invade Iraq from Kuwait to oust Saddam Hussein. * October 2004 - Al Qaeda leader in Iraq Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi starts waging bloody attacks designed to turn majority Shi’ite Muslims against minority Sunnis in a civil war. * January 2007 - Bush announces a new war strategy including a “surge” of U.S. troops into Iraq to combat the insurgency.

As a result, the world's largest listed miner reported underlying profit attributable from continuing operations of $6.6 billion, down from $9.72 billion a year earlier. That missed a Vuma Financial estimate of $6.82 billion, as earnings from copper and coal came in lower than analysts had expected. Shares of the global miner fell as much as 2.8% to A$47.11, their lowest since Jan. 6 and were down 2% at 0138 GMT in a broader market (.AXJO) that was down 0.5%. BHP also said it expected aggressive global interest rate hikes from last year to slow growth sharply across the developed world. BHP has threatened not to invest in Queensland after the state hiked its coal royalties to the highest rate in the world.

SummarySummary Companies H1 profit misses estimateInterim dividend beats estimatePositive on demand outlook from ChinaStarts process to sell two Queensland met coal minesFeb 21 (Reuters) - Global miner BHP Group (BHP.AX) was positive about demand outlook through to fiscal 2024 as top metals consumer China reopens and shifts policy towards its debt-laden property sector, the company said on Tuesday after its 2023 first-half profit missed estimates. However, its interim dividend of 90 cents per share, while lower than last year's $1.50 per share, beat Vuma Financial's estimate of 88 cents. "We are positive about the demand outlook in the second half of fiscal 2023 and into fiscal 2024, with strengthening activity in China on the back of recent policy decisions the major driver," Chief Executive Officer Mike Henry said. But the reopening of the world's second-biggest economy and a property sector policy shift has BHP upbeat on the commodity demand outlook. However, in an environment where central banks are aggressively tightening their monetary policy, BHP expects its operating environment to remain volatile in the near term, but expects China to be a source of stability for commodity demand.

☆ Australia's Aurizon cuts earnings forecast on prolonged wet weather
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Feb 13 (Reuters) - Australia's Aurizon Holdings (AZJ.AX) on Monday reported a 34% fall in its first-half underlying profit and slashed its annual core earnings forecast, as prolonged wet weather and a derailment dented the rail-haulage firm's freight volumes. For the first-half of 2023, the company's underlying net profit after tax stood at A$169 million, compared with A$257 million a year ago. Aurizon also declared an interim dividend of 7.0 Australian cents per share, down 33% from the 10.5 Australian cents dividend it declared a year ago. Shares of the firm fell 9.2% to A$3.35 after the earnings update. ($1 = 1.4468 Australian dollars)Reporting by Riya Sharma in Bengaluru; editing by Uttaresh.VOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Coking coal prices, along with those for iron ore, have rallied on the back of this optimism, with both steel raw materials recording strong gains this year. The answer is that for coking coal there appears to be both rising demand and some supply disruptions at work. Japan, the second-biggest buyer of seaborne coking coal, imported 5.01 million tonnes in January, up from December's 3.98 million and roughly level with last January's 5.08 million. Outside of Asia, Europe's imports of coking coal rose to 3.81 million tonnes in January from December's 3.55 million, according to Kpler. The overall picture from coking coal imports is that there has been a move higher in recent months, which does provide some fundamental backing to the rally in prices.

☆ Oath Keepers founder found guilty of seditious conspiracy in Jan. 6 case
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-29 | by ( Ryan J. Reilly | Daniel Barnes | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

WASHINGTON — A federal jury in Washington found Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes guilty of seditious conspiracy in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. All five defendants faced felony counts of seditious conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting, and conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging their duties. Three of the defendants — Rhodes, Caldwell and Watkins — took the stand in their own defense, with Rhodes telling jurors it was "stupid" for Oath Keepers to go inside the Capitol. While three other Oath Keepers pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy, none of them testified during the trial. Four other Oath Keepers charged in conjunction with Rhodes — Roberto Minuta, Joseph Hackett, David Moerschel and Ed Vallejo —are set to go to trial in early December.

☆ La sfîrșitul mandatului său, Trump graţiază mai multe persoane implicate în ancheta rusă şi în scandalul Blackwater
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-23 | by ( Publika.Md - Aici Sunt Știrile | ) www.publika.md time to read: +2 min

Cu o lună înainte de plecarea sa de la Casa Albă, preşedintele american Donald Trump a graţiat 15 persoane, între care doi foşti colaboratori ai săi implicaţi în ancheta privind ingerinţa rusă în alegerile prezidenţiale din 2016 şi mai mulţi militari condamnaţi în legătură cu scandalul privind acţiunile firmei de securitate Blackwater din Irak, a anunţat marţi Casa Albă, transmit AFP şi dpa.Între cei graţiaţi se numără fostul consilier diplomatic al campaniei din 2016 George Papadopoulos, care a recunoscut că a minţit poliţia federală FBI în ce priveşte contactele sale cu un intermediar care promisese să-l pună în legătură cu responsabili ruşi, scrie agerpres.ro Graţierea lui Papadopoulos, care a stat 12 zile la închisoare, ulterior fiind eliberat condiţionat, "corectează răul făcut multor oameni de către (procurorul special Robert) Mueller", a menţionat Casa Albă, în referire la coordonatorul anchetei asupra interfenţelor ruse, care după doi ani de investigaţii nu a reuşit să stabilească existenţa unei înţelegeri între Moscova şi miliardarul republican.Şi avocatul olandez Alex van der Zwaan, condamnat în legătură cu aceeaşi anchetă, a fost graţiat marţi de Trump.Trump l-a graţiat deja la sfârşitul lui noiembrie pe fostul său consilier pentru securitate naţională Michael Flynn, condamnat tot în ancheta Mueller, denunţată în mod repetat de liderul de la Casa Albă drept vânătoare de vrăjitoare.Au mai fost graţiaţi patru foşti angajaţi ai Blackwater, condamnaţi pentru moartea mai multor civili irakieni în 2007. Unul dintre ei, Nicholas Slatten, era condamnat la închisoare pe viaţă.Cei patru agenţi de securitate, condamnaţi pentru moartea a 14 civili irakieni şi rănirea altor 17 într-un episod controversat survenit la Bagdad la 16 septembrie 2007, au susţinut că au deschis focul în legitimă apărare.Trump a graţiat de asemenea doi foşti congresmeni republicani acuzaţi de infracţiuni financiare şi a redus sau anulat pedepsele altor persoane condamnate fără legătură cu politica.Este un obicei ca preşedinţii americani în exerciţiu să anunţe graţieri în ultimele săptămâni petrecute la Casa Albă. Mandatul lui Trump se încheie la 20 ianuarie.

Persons: american Donald Trump, George Papadopoulos, Robert, Mueller, Alex van der, naţională Michael Flynn, Nicholas Slatten, Trump Organizations: Albă, FBI, naţională Locations: american, Irak, Moscova, Bagdad, exerciţiu

☆ La final de mandat, Trump graţiază mai multe persoane implicate în ancheta rusă şi în scandalul Blackwater
▼ + stars: | 2020-12-23 | by ( ) www.jurnal.md time to read: +1 min

Şi avocatul olandez Alex van der Zwaan, condamnat în legătură cu aceeaşi anchetă, a fost graţiat marţi de Trump. Au mai fost graţiaţi patru foşti angajaţi ai Blackwater, condamnaţi pentru moartea mai multor civili irakieni în 2007. Unul dintre ei, Nicholas Slatten, era condamnat la închisoare pe viaţă. Trump a graţiat de asemenea doi foşti congresmeni republicani acuzaţi de infracţiuni financiare şi a redus sau anulat pedepsele altor persoane condamnate fără legătură cu politica. Este un obicei ca preşedinţii americani în exerciţiu să anunţe graţieri în ultimele săptămâni petrecute la Casa Albă.

Persons: George Papadopoulos, Robert, Mueller, Alex van der, Trump . Trump, naţională Michael Flynn, Nicholas Slatten, Trump Organizations: FBI, ruşi, naţională, Albă Locations: Moscova, Bagdad, exerciţiu

☆ Most people don't realize Chase's Ultimate Rewards travel portal lets you redeem points for more than just flights and hotels — here's what else you can book
▼ + stars: | 2019-01-14 | by ( Holly Johnson | Freelance Writer | Read More | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

If you carry the Chase Sapphire Reserve, you get 50% more travel when you book through the Ultimate Rewards portal. Getty ImagesWhile many Chase Ultimate Rewards enthusiasts transfer points to hotel and airline partners, you can also use points to book "activities" through the Chase travel portal. The Chase Sapphire Reserve gives you 50% more travel when you book through the Chase portal, while you get 25% more travel with the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. When they think about using their Chase Ultimate Rewards points, they focus mostly on airline and hotel partners, while maybe thinking of using their points to book flights or hotels through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. It's super easy to book activities and experiences through Chase if you know where to look within the Ultimate Rewards portal.

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