DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Tycoon’s lithium grab leaves investors hanging
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Antony Currie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Australia’s richest person has stifled Albemarle’s (ALB.N) A$6.6 billion ($4.2 billion) pursuit of lithium producer Liontown Resources (LTR.AX) with deft use of the country’s takeover rules. At A$3 a share, the offer represented a near-100% premium to Liontown’s undisturbed price. And because she never paid more than the A$3 a share Albemarle put on the table, her share purchases did not count as a superior offer. CONTEXT NEWSU.S.-based lithium producer Albemarle on Oct. 16 said it has abandoned its A$6.6 billion ($4.2 billion) offer for smaller Australian rival Liontown Resources, citing “growing complexities associated with the proposed transaction” as a reason. The firm said that in building its stake it never paid more than A$3 per share, the same price as Albemarle’s takeover offer.

Persons: Gina Rinehart, Kent Masters, Rinehart, Albemarle, Masters, Liontown, Kathleen, It’s, Hancock, Lisa Jucca, Katrina Hamlin, Thomas Shum Organizations: MELBOURNE, Reuters, Liontown, Kent, Liontown Resources, Thomson Locations: Western Australia, Hancock, Liontown

The EU is typically one of the most ambitious negotiators at the annual United Nations climate talks, where nearly 200 countries negotiate efforts to fight global warming. A central decision will be whether countries at the COP agree for the first time to phase out fossil fuels. EU countries must agree their negotiating position unanimously, meaning one government can block it. EU countries opposing a full phase-out include poorer nations who fear the impact of weaning their economies off fossil fuels. The brackets around "unabated" indicate EU countries have not yet agreed on the word.

Persons: Rula, EU's, Kate Abnett, Jan Strupczewski, Emelia Organizations: Abu Dhabi Sustainability, REUTERS, Union, EU, United Nations, Reuters, Thomson Locations: UAE, Abu Dhabi, BRUSSELS, United, Dubai, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Saudi Arabia

The exception among major commodities was copper, where imports of the unwrought metal were up in September from August, but down from the year earlier month. Copper imports were 480,426 metric tons in September, up from August's 473,330, but down 5.8% from 509,954 in September last year. For the first nine months of 2023, unwrought copper imports were down 9.5% to 3.99 million metric tons. Crude oil imports were 11.13 million barrels per day (bpd) in September, down from August's 12.4 million bpd, although it's worth noting that August was third strongest month on record. IRON ORE, COALIron ore imports dropped to 101.18 million metric tons in October, down 4.9% from August's 106.42 million, but it's worth noting that August was the strongest month since October 2020.

Persons: Aly, China's, Lincoln Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Port, Shanghai, China, Rights LAUNCESTON, Australia, August's

BEIJING (AP) — China's Belt and Road Initiative looks to become smaller and greener after a decade of big projects that boosted trade but left big debts and raised environmental concerns. Called “One Belt, One Road” in Chinese, the Belt and Road Initiative started as a program for Chinese companies to build transportation, energy and other infrastructure overseas funded by Chinese development bank loans. China became a major financer of development projects under BRI, on par with the World Bank. Chinese development banks provided money for the BRI projects as loans, and some governments have been unable to pay them back. Now, having learned the hard way through defaults, China development banks are pulling back.

Persons: Xi Jinping's, Xi, “, Alessia Amighini, Kevin Gallagher, Sri Lanka, Christoph Nedopil, Nedopil, Colleen Barry Organizations: BEIJING, Initiative, Silk, Italy, World Bank, Boston University Global Development Policy Center, U.S, Export, Import Bank of, Asia Institute, Griffith University, Associated Press Locations: Beijing, Africa, Asia, Latin America, China, Europe, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Kenya, Laos, Pakistan, Italy, “ Italy, Sri Lankan, Zambia, Sri, Import Bank of China, Australia, BRI, Hungary, Milan

☆ A train derailment spewed coal across a Colorado highway and killed a semitruck driver, authorities say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Images from the derailment show a partially collapsed bridge with the semi-truck caught beneath. AdvertisementAdvertisementPUEBLO, Colo. (AP) — A semi-trailer truck driver was killed when a train derailed and a bridge collapsed, spewing coal and mangled train cars across a highway near Pueblo, Colorado, on Sunday, authorities said. The Colorado State Patrol and the sheriff's office posted photos and videos showing a partially collapsed bridge over the interstate with the semi-truck caught beneath. The images also show a pileup of train cars, train wheels scattered across the scene and loads of coal covering a portion of the highway. It was unclear when the bridge collapsed, state patrol spokesperson Gary Cutler said.

Persons: —, Gayle Perez, Perez, Gary Cutler, Joshua Johnson, Joe Biden, Biden, Lauren Boebert, Boebert Organizations: Service, Pueblo County Sheriff's, The Colorado State Patrol, National Transportation Safety, AP, CS, Congressional, Trump Locations: Pueblo County , Colorado, Colo, Pueblo , Colorado, Pueblo County, Denver, Pueblo, Washington, Pennsylvania, Montana

PUEBLO, Colo. (AP) — A train derailment and bridge collapse Sunday spewed coal and mangled train cars across a highway near Pueblo, Colorado, trapping a semi-truck driver beneath the wreckage, the Colorado State Patrol said. Efforts were underway to rescue the truck driver, state patrol spokesperson Gary Cutler said, although police did not immediately know the driver's condition or if other drivers were involved. The state patrol and Pueblo County Sheriff's Office posted photos and videos showing a partially collapsed bridge over the interstate with the semi-truck caught beneath. The images also show a pileup of train cars, train wheels scattered across the scene and loads of coal covering a portion of the highway. Political Cartoons View All 1211 ImagesOfficials were directing drivers to avoid the area coal and train cars were removed from the road.

Persons: Gary Cutler, Cutler Organizations: Colorado State Patrol, National Transportation Safety, Pueblo County Sheriff's Locations: Colo, Pueblo , Colorado, Denver, Pueblo County, Montana

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia has benefited from waiting to reveal where he stands as the swing vote in a chamber closely divided between Democrats and Republicans. During a multi-day trip to West Virginia's capital this week, the 76-year-old expressed growing frustration with the polarized U.S. two-party system. He managed to win reelection in 2018 in one of former President Donald Trump's most loyal states as the last of his party to hold statewide office in now-deep red West Virginia. Still, Justice has a high approval rating in West Virginia, making him a formidable opponent for any candidate. Robert Rupp, a retired political history professor at West Virginia Wesleyan, called Manchin one of the most successful campaigners in recent state history because of his personal relationships with constituents.

Persons: — Sen, Joe Manchin, He's, —, ”, Manchin's, he's, Manchin, ” Manchin, Donald Trump's, Jim Justice, Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Alex Mooney, He’s, Robert Rupp, Rupp, ” Rupp, “, shouldn't, We've Organizations: Republicans, Amtrak, West, West Virginia's House, Democratic, Democratic Party, Republican Gov, White, Energy, Natural Resources, Justice, Senate, Democrat, GOP, Trump, West Virginia Wesleyan Locations: CHARLESTON, W.Va, West Virginia, West, Charleston, West Virginia's, New Hampshire, Washington

☆ Treasury bond auctions have been ugly lately, and weak demand could be a 'canary in the coal mine'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A recent string of Treasury auctions has suffered from weak investor demand. But Ed Yardeni thinks yields are already at the right levels to start bringing back demand. AdvertisementAdvertisementA string of recent Treasury bond auctions saw a major slump in investor demand, and that could be a harbinger of a trend that sends yields higher, strategists said. But market veteran Ed Yardeni told Insider that bond yields could already be at the right levels to bring back demand. AdvertisementAdvertisementHe also noted that while the recent auctions didn't go well, bond yields didn't shoot to new highs.

Persons: Ed Yardeni, —, Bill Ackman, Larry Fink, Bill Gross, Yardeni, Penn Wharton Organizations: Securities, Service, Treasury Department, TD Securities, Treasury

A child collecting chunks of coal looks on at a colliery while smoke rises from the Duvha coal-based power station owned by state power utility Eskom, in Emalahleni, in Mpumalanga province, South Africa, June 2, 2021. South Africa is facing its worst power crisis, with Eskom's ageing, coal-fired plants often breaking down. "It's a policy development loan which supports critical reforms," Marie-Nelly said of the potential World Bank funding. The World Bank loan would also support South Africa to make a "just transition" away from coal, to ensure vulnerable people do not suffer as a result, Marie-Nelly said. In November 2022, the World Bank approved $497 million in financing to decommission and repurpose one of Eskom's coal-fired power plants.

Persons: Siphiwe, Marie Francoise Marie, Nelly, Marie, Eskom, Rachel Savage, Jorgelina, Kopano Gumbi, Mark Potter, Mike Harrison Organizations: REUTERS, World, Reuters, Bank, South, World Bank, Thomson Locations: Emalahleni, Mpumalanga province, South Africa, MARRAKECH, Morocco, Marrakech, Africa, Rosario

United States domestic oil production hit an all-time high last week, contrasting with efforts to slice heat-trapping carbon emissions by the Biden administration and world leaders. Weekly domestic oil production has doubled from the first week in October 2012 to now. White House officials have long considered increased oil production inside the United States as a bridge to help soften the transition to renewable energy sources. She said U.S. oil is less carbon-intensive than other oil, an argument the UAE’s oil company also makes. “Demand drives production — we need to change the whole system to reduce oil demand.”“Replacing oil in power production is a lot easier than replacing oil in transportation,” Gross said in an email.

Persons: Biden, Bill Hare, Hare, ”, John Sterman, Rob Jackson, “, ” Jackson, Samantha Gross, ” Gross, ” Stanford’s Jackson, ” Jared Bernstein, ” Bernstein, “ They’ve, They’ve, Joshua Boak, ___ Read, Seth Borenstein Organizations: Biden, U.S . Department of Energy’s Energy, Administration, United Nations, United Arab Emirates, Exxon, Mobil, Cote d’Ivorie, Interactive, ” Stanford University, Carbon, White, Brookings Institution, Energy, EIA, Republican, House Energy, Commerce, American Energy, White House Council, Economic Advisers, Wildlife, Associated Press, Washington , D.C, Twitter, AP Locations: U.S, Norway, Australia, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Shell, Guyana, Cote, United States, Saudi Arabia, Alaska, Washington ,

The White House calls clean hydrogen “essential to achieving the president’s vision of a strong clean energy economy" and net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. by 2050. Some environmentalists call hydrogen a false solution because it frequently relies on natural gas or other fossil fuels as feedstocks. Among those selected were the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub, based in West Virginia, and the Philadelphia-based Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub. Other projects selected include the Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems in California, which will produce hydrogen from renewable energy and biomass. Big fossil fuel companies, renewable energy developers and researchers in university and government labs are involved, too.

Persons: Biden, Joe Biden's, Marcellus, Sen, Joe Manchin, Perry Babb, Patty Murray, it’s, ”, Silas Grant, ___ Levy Organizations: WASHINGTON, White House, Energy, Energy Department, Democratic, Philadelphia, The, West Virginia Democrat, Partners, Alliance, Hydrogen Energy Systems, Heartland, Washington, Center for Biological Diversity Locations: Pennsylvania, California, Philadelphia, U.S, California , Washington , Minnesota , Texas , Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Illinois, The West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Virginia, Appalachia, ., Delaware , Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Houston, United States, Minnesota, Midwest, Illinois , Indiana, Michigan, Pacific Northwest, Washington, Pacific, Harrisburg , Pennsylvania

OTTAWA, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Canada's Supreme Court on Friday ruled a federal law assessing how major infrastructure projects like coal mines and oil sands plants impact the environment is largely unconstitutional, in a blow to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government. "This is a significant setback for the federal government," said David Wright, a law professor at the University of Calgary. "The court has said the federal government can enact environmental assessment legislation but the way they went about it, for most of this law, goes too far." The IAA was drafted by Trudeau's Liberal government in 2019 in a bid to streamline and restore trust in the environmental approval process for major projects. Last year the federal government warned Suncor the environmental impact from expanding Base Mine would be "unacceptable" under the IAA because expected carbon emissions were too high.

Persons: Justin Trudeau's, Bill C, Richard Wagner, David Wright, Wright, Danielle Smith, Trudeau, Mike Martens, Major, Ismail Shakil, Nia Williams, David Ljunggren, Deborah Kyvrikosaios, Richard Chang Organizations: OTTAWA, Alberta, University of Calgary, IAA, Trudeau's Liberal, Liberals, Industry, Independent Contractors, Association Alberta, Thomson Locations: Canada, Ottawa, Alberta

☆ Why the hydrogen tax credit has become a lightning rod for controversy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +16 min

The proposed tax credit, 45V, is meant to turbocharge the production of low-emissions hydrogen. "The IRA's section 45V production tax credit is the most generous clean hydrogen subsidy in the world," Jesse Jenkins, professor of macro-scale energy systems at Princeton University, told CNBC. John Macdougall | Afp | Getty ImagesThe adjudication of the hydrogen tax credit has become about more than just the hydrogen tax credit, too. The amount of the hydrogen tax credit, which is available for 10 years, depends on the emissions generated in making hydrogen. If hydrogen is produced without releasing any carbon emissions, the tax credit is maxed out at $3 per kilogram of hydrogen.

Persons: that's, It's, Jesse Jenkins, John Macdougall, Wilson Ricks, Jenkins, Ricks, Rachel Fakhry, electrolyzers, Andriy Onufriyenko, Eric Guter, Josef Kallo, H2FLY, Guter, Phil Musser, Shannon Angielski, Angielski, Shi, Fakhry Organizations: Istock, Treasury, Princeton University, CNBC, Daimler Truck Holding, Afp, Getty, Energy, Research, Princeton, Natural Resources Defense Council, Power, Singularity, Air Products, Bloomberg, Air, Products, Hydrogen Company, European, EU, NextEra Energy, Hydrogen Future Coalition, BP, Duke Energy, Exxon Mobile, General Electric, Siemens Energy, American, Shell, Hydrogen, Coalition Locations: Biden's, United States, U.S, Berlin, additionality, Maribor, Slovenia, Oxagon, Saudi Arabia, Wilbarger County , Texas

☆ Russia can gain from Middle East turmoil — but it could backfire if the war spirals out of control
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Putin likely wanted to show that Moscow is still important in the Middle East by visiting Iran, said John Drennan of the U.S. Institute of Peace. It could present an opportunity for them but also could present a very, very disastrous outcome for their influence in the Middle East too if the conflict spirals out of control," Ramani said. Analysts also believe Russia will use the war in Israel and Gaza to sow disinformation about Ukraine and discord among its allies. As such, the war between Israel and Hamas also provides Russia with an opportunity to flex its diplomatic muscles in the Middle East, after something of a hiatus from the global stage. So this shows that Russia is not isolated in the Middle East, and Russia still maintains the same array of diplomatic partnerships that it had before the war," he noted.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Ebrahim Raisi, Putin, John Drennan, Sergei Savostyanov, Samuel Ramani, Ramani, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Joe Biden, Jim Watson, Volodymy Zelenskyy, Sergei Karpukhin, Benjamin Netanyahu, Maxim Shemetov, They've, they've, Bashar al, Assad Organizations: Getty, Palestinian, Hamas, U.S . Institute of Peace, AFP, Royal United Services Institute, CNBC, Kremlin, Ukraine, Analysts, White, U.S, Congress, NATO, Afp, International Energy Agency, Russia, Israeli, Iraqi Locations: Sochi, Russia, Israel, Gaza, Moscow, Iran, Ukraine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, U.S, Europe, Washington ,, Brussels, Russian, OPEC, Turkey, Egypt, Tehran

☆ Sri Lanka president to visit China as debt talks progress - source
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Uditha Jayasinghe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCOLOMBO, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe will visit China next week as the crisis-hit country makes progress on debt restructuring talks with its biggest lender, a source in his office told Reuters on Friday. The Sri Lankan leader could also meet China's finance and foreign ministers, the source added. The president's media office and Sri Lankan foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Sri Lanka owes Chinese lenders - bilateral and commercial - around $7 billion. Sri Lanka needs to reach agreements with creditors to push forward its first review of the IMF programme, which will release a second tranche of about $334 million.

Persons: Ranil Wickremesinghe, Brendan McDermid, Wickremesinghe, Xi Jinping, Xi, Uditha Jayasinghe, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Sri, General Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, Monetary Fund, Forum, China's, Export, Import Bank of China, IMF, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Sri, China, Beijing, Lankan, Sri Lanka, Japan, India

They're “the most potent greenhouse gases known to modern science,” as one research paper put it and they're growing fast. With the Environmental Protection Agency required to phase out one family of the chemicals 85% by 2036, the push is on to develop and spread cleaner alternatives. With more than 200 million gasoline cars in the U.S. alone, Groll said that amounts to approximately 100 million pounds of refrigerant leaking out into the atmosphere each year. The need to minimize refrigerant leaks has spurred a reuse and reclamation industry. ___Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives support from several private foundations.

Persons: Jennifer Byrne, Byrne, ” Byrne, Eckhard Groll, Groll, Danielle Wright, “, let’s, ” Wright, Mike Armstrong, ”, Anthony Nash, ” Armstrong, Christopher Cappa, Davis, ” Cappa, Wright, Jarad Mason, Mason Organizations: PHILADELPHIA, Environmental Protection Agency, Purdue University, Supermarkets, Gas, University of California, Trane Technologies, Harvard University, AP Locations: West Philadelphia, U.S, Dallas , Texas, Toledo , Ohio, Punta Gorda , Florida, Americas, refrigerants

The two applicants selected are the Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub, based in West Virginia, and the Philadelphia-area Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub, according to the person briefed on the plan who was not authorized to publicly discuss it before Biden's appearance and spoke on condition of anonymity. The Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub, or ARCH2, is a partnership involving the state of West Virginia and EQT, the nation’s largest natural gas producer, among others. The Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub, or MACH2, is supported by supported by Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, as well as Philadelphia-area labor unions, university researchers and refineries. The Energy Department says the hubs will produce “clean” hydrogen, although its definition includes hydrogen produced with natural gas. Many experts consider hydrogen “clean” only if made through electrolysis.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, it’s, ”, Soni Grant, ” Grant, Matthew Daly, Marc Levy Organizations: Biden, Energy Department, Gas, Center for Biological Diversity, Associated Press Locations: HARRISBURG, Pa, Philadelphia, West Virginia, Delaware , Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New Mexico, Washington

A pipe for transporting carbon dioxide to removal equipment is shown at the Tomakomai carbon, capture and storage (CCS) test site in Tomakomai, Hokkaido prefecture, Japan March 22, 2018. Japan aims to cut total carbon emissions by 46% by 2030 from 2013 levels, and has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2050. In Japan, those difficulties are made worse by the already-strained state of the national power system due to the sharp drop in nuclear power generation since the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Over the longer term, Japan is also targeting increases in wind power generation, especially from offshore sites. Electric vehicle sales are accelerating in Japan, but remain a tiny proportion of Japan's total car fleetHowever, EVs represented just 3% of total car sales last year, and account for less than 1% of Japan's total car stock.

Persons: Aaron Sheldrick, EVs, Gavin Maguire, Diane Craft Organizations: REUTERS, Energy Institute, Japan, International Energy Agency, IEA, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Tomakomai, Hokkaido prefecture, Japan, LITTLETON , Colorado, India, China, United States, Europe

☆ China's Xi spurs efforts in core technologies -state media
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends a reception dinner at the Great Hall of the People ahead of China's National Day in Beijing, China on September 28, 2023. Jade Gao/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 12 (Reuters) - China's President Xi Jinping has called for speeding up efforts to make breakthroughs in core technologies, state media reported on Thursday, amid tensions with the United States. During a speech on promoting the development of the Yangtze River economic belt, Xi also reaffirmed the goal of modernising China's supply chains, developing advanced manufacturing and strategic emerging industries, state media said. Faced with increased technology curbs imposed by the United States, President Xi has repeatedly stressed the need for self-reliance in technology to curb the use of foreign technology. Provinces and cities along the Yangtze River must shoulder the responsibility for food, energy security as well as supply chain security, state media quoted Xi as saying.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Jade Gao, Xi, Kevin Yao, Jason Neely, Sharon Singleton Organizations: of, Rights, Beijing, Thomson Locations: Beijing, China, Rights BEIJING, United States, Provinces

Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron tried pushing national politics to the forefront of the governor's race in GOP-trending Kentucky, while Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear played up the state's record-setting economic growth under his leadership as the rivals squared off at a forum Thursday. But the challenger spent much of his time blasting away at Biden in hopes of eroding support for Beshear. The Republican-led legislature revamped the state’s tax code last year to gradually phase out individual income taxes while extending the state sales tax to more services. But the sharpest exchanges came as Cameron tried to nationalize the race.

Persons: Daniel Cameron, Andy Beshear, Cameron, Beshear, Joe Biden, I’ve, ” Cameron, Donald Trump's, “, ” Beshear, It's, Matt Bevin, Biden, Dylan Lovan Organizations: Democratic Gov, Democratic, Biden, Beshear, Republican, GOP, Washington , D.C, Associated Locations: Kentucky, Paducah, Mayfield, Washington ,, Louisville, Ky

The hubs are networks of hydrogen producers and consumers that will use local infrastructure to accelerate the deployment of clean hydrogen. The Mid-Atlantic Clean Hydrogen Hub that involves parts of Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey will receive a $750 million grant, according to the sources familiar with the forthcoming announcement. The Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2) that includes western Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia will also receive one of the grants, according to two sources. The 2021 bipartisan infrastructure bill allocated up to $7 billion to launch the initiative, called the Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program, which will help fund six to 10 regional clean hydrogen hubs across the U.S. Each of the proposed regional hub projects involve dozens of partners from energy companies, academia and local and state governments.

Persons: Joe Biden's, Biden, Joe Manchin, Valerie Volcovici, Jarrett Renshaw, Nick Zieminski, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Reuters, Department of Energy, Pennsylvania, White House, Democratic, Energy Department, DOE, Dominion, Battelle, TC Energy, Thomson Locations: Pennsylvania, Appalachian, U.S, Delaware, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Ohio, West Virginia, California, Washington

☆ Ex-Australia PM Says He Also Had Beijing in Mind When Arming Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Wednesday that he also had Beijing on his mind when he decided to help arm Ukraine given Western concern about the global expansion of authoritarianism. Speaking at a forum in Taipei, Morrison said his decision to fund lethal defensive weapons for Ukraine after Russia's invasion had a broader message. "When my government took the decision for Australia to swiftly provide lethal aid to support and assist Ukraine following the illegal invasion by Russia, that decision was taken with as much of having Beijing in mind as Moscow," Morrison said. China has refused to condemn Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine it launched in February 2022. It has offered its own peace plan, which received a lukewarm response in both Russia and Ukraine.

Persons: Scott Morrison, Morrison, China's, Ben Blanchard, Nick Macfie Organizations: Australian Locations: TAIPEI, Beijing, Ukraine, China, Canberra, Australian, United States, Taipei, Australia, Russia, Moscow, Taiwan, South China

☆ DOJ sues eBay for selling ‘rolling coal’ devices; fines could hit $2 billion
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ebay could be on the hook for as much as $2 billion in fines for allegedly allowing hundreds of thousands of "rolling coal" pollution devices and other products that violate environmental laws to be sold on its platform. The Department of Justice, on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency, filed a lawsuit claiming that the e-commerce giant enabled the sale of more than 343,000 rolling coal devices. The DOJ's 61-page complaint included screenshots of emissions tampering devices that were listed on eBay's platform. Rolling coal devices are among several tools that can be used to disable or tamper with a vehicle's pre-installed emissions control systems, which the EPA requires of all vehicles. Under the Clean Air Act, tampering with a vehicle's emissions control systems and selling those tampering tools are illegal.

Organizations: Ebay, of Justice, Environmental Protection Agency, DOJ, eBay, Act Locations: New Jersey , Maryland, Maine

☆ Miners Being Evacuated After Fire at Evraz-Owned Mine in Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Miners were being evacuated from a coal mine owned by Russian steel producer Evraz in the Kemerovo region after a fire broke out, local emergency services said on Tuesday. "Evacuation of the miners is being carried out," the Kemerovo emergency services said, reporting that a degassing box had caught fire on the surface. "There was a report of a fire on the territory of the Yerunakovskaya mine, the mine was stopped, the workers are independently rising to the surface," Interfax quoted emergency services as saying earlier. Interfax quoted a Raspadskaya spokesperson as saying that the fire would not affect operations. "There is no open fire, but people are being taken out according to regulations," Interfax quoted the spokesperson as saying.

Persons: Evraz, Alexander Marrow, Kirsten Donovan, Jason Neely Organizations: Reuters Locations: MOSCOW, Russian, Kemerovo

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Don Blankenship speaks to his supporters during the primary election in Charleston, West Virginia, U.S., May 8, 2018. In his appeal to the Supreme Court, Blankenship's lawyers said that the media is now dominated by a few giant corporations that seek profits ahead of public service. The Supreme Court previously rejected Blankenship's appeals seeking to overturn his conviction. Thomas in 2019 took aim at the 1964 defamation precedent in an opinion he wrote when the court refused to consider reviving a defamation lawsuit against Bill Cosby. Thomas added that defamation law was historically a matter for the states, and should remain that way.

Persons: Don Blankenship, Lexi Browning, Donald Blankenship's, Blankenship, Sullivan, Clarence Thomas, Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Joe Manchin, Blankenship's, Bill Cosby, Andrew Chung, Will Dunham Organizations: Republican U.S, Senate, REUTERS, U.S, Supreme, Massey Energy, Fox News, MSNBC, U.S . Senate, New York Times, Conservative, Republican, Democratic, Washington Post, Boston Globe, Circuit, Big Branch, Thomson Locations: Charleston , West Virginia, U.S, West Virginia, Richmond , Virginia, Massey's

Search resuls for: "Coal"

25 mentions found