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☆ Taiwan aims to shed dirty power reputation with big wind push: Maguire
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

WIND POWERED GROWTHSolar power was Taiwan's largest source of renewable energy generation in 2022, with 10.69 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity produced, compared to 3.53 TWh from wind. In comparison, fossil fuels generated 239 TWh of Taiwan's electricity last year, Ember data shows. REGIONAL REPERCUSSIONSDespite jitters from some developers, overall progress on Taiwan's wind projects continues, and new investments in major offshore ventures were announced just this month by Japanese trading house Mitsui & Co. The continued construction of Taiwan's renewable energy capacity has repercussions for both its domestic power sector and for global fossil fuel export markets. The country's famed semiconductor industry, the world's largest, is aiding the national push for greater renewable energy generation, and has set itself a goal of being powered by 100% green energy supplies by 2040.

Persons: Thomas Peter Acquire, Gavin Maguire, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: REUTERS, China, Global Energy Monitor, Japan's, Mitsui, Co, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, Pingtan, Fujian province, China, LITTLETON , Colorado, Asia, South Korea, Japan, India, Taipei, Beijing, Kpler

☆ FAA closes investigation into Blue Origin rocket failure, requires 21 'corrective actions'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The Federal Aviation Administration closed its investigation into last year's failed flight of a cargo mission by Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, the regulator announced Wednesday. Blue Origin is required by the FAA to "implement 21 corrective actions," the regulator said in a statement. The FAA noted that Blue Origin will not be clear to launch New Shepard until after Blue Origin implements "all corrective actions that impact public safety" and receives an updated launch license. "We've received the FAA's letter and plan to fly soon," a Blue Origin spokesperson said in a statement. Earlier this year, Blue Origin said the source of the issue was an overheated part in the rocket engine's nozzle.

Persons: Shepard, Jeff Bezos, We've, New Shepard Organizations: Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Shepard, Origin, BE, Blue Locations: West Texas, Texas, New

☆ Kia, Hyundai recall 3.37 million US vehicles over fire risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] The Kia EV9 is displayed at the New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., April 5, 2023. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 27 (Reuters) - Hyundai (005380.KS) and Kia (000270.KS) are recalling a combined 3.37 million vehicles in the United States due to the risk of engine fires, telling owners to park outside and away from structures until repairs are complete. The automakers say brake fluid leaks can cause a short that could lead to a fire. Hyundai said it has reports of 21 fires and 21 other thermal incidents since 2017 related to the recall, while Kia has reports of at least 10 confirmed fires and melting incidents. Kia America's recall covers 1.73 million Borrego, Cadenza, Forte, Sportage, K900, Optima, Soul Rio, Sorento, and Rondo vehicles.

Persons: Kia EV9, David, Dee, Delgado, Kia, Kia America's, Forte, Sportage, Jyoti Narayan, Kanjyik Ghosh, Jan Harvey, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: New York, REUTERS, Rights, Hyundai, Kia, National, Traffic Safety Administration, Control, Tucson Fuel Cell, Santa Fe Sport, Thomson Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S, KS, United States, Santa Fe, Veracruz, Tucson, Santa, Bengaluru

☆ Russia's inflatable decoy tanks are 'not credible' and need to be way better to trick Ukraine, expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia is using inflatable tanks as decoys in Ukraine. The Russian decoys are too obvious and unlikely to trick Ukraine, he said. However — the imagery becomes a lot less intimidating once you realize that they are inflatable decoys and not real war machines. A Ukrainian UAV spots Russian inflatable decoys of T-72 tanks. Decoys — whether they're inflatable, wooden knockoffs , or high-quality lookalikes — can be highly effective on the battlefield, de Bretton Gordon continued.

Persons: —, Hamish de Bretton Gordon, they're, de Bretton Gordon, Bretton Gordon, Corbis, Gordon, Chris Panella, Anton Gerashchenko Organizations: Service, British Army Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian

The night-time assault is part of a coordinated Ukrainian offensive push near the beleaguered eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, to which CNN obtained exclusive access. “Sometimes there are a lot of them,” Groove says, searching the area with his drone, trying to scope out Russian forces. They chase a few Russian vehicles, dropping bombs on them as they go. Ukrainian drone pilots are able to see their targets through their controllers, even at night, with the help of night vision. German-made Leopard 2 tanks, American Bradley infantry fighting vehicles among others were sent to the area to support Ukrainian forces as they stormed Russian positions.

Persons: They’ve, ”, “, ” Ukraine’s, Mykhailo Fedorov, ‘ Flint ’, Wagner Organizations: Eastern, Eastern Ukraine CNN —, CNN, Ministry for Digital Transformation, Digital Transformation, Russia, “, US, American Bradley, Southern Locations: Eastern Ukraine, Ukrainian, Bakhmut, Kyiv, Russian, Ukraine, zeroing, East Kyiv, Melitopol, Berdiansk, American, Crimea, South, “, Russia

☆ Coal makes a quiet resurgence in the clean energy era
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —As momentum shifts toward clean energy, coal has had some unexpected staying power. A new report by the International Energy Agency found that global coal demand hit an all-time high in 2022 amid the energy crisis, eclipsing the previous record set in 2013. For example, Panasonic built a new electric vehicle plant in Kansas to aid its transition to clean energy. Why it matters: Coal, the highest carbon emitting and dirtiest energy source, is the single biggest contributor to human-created climate change. The Hollywood writers’ strike is overThe Hollywood writers’ strike is finally over after 148 days.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Goldman, “, Dow tumbles, It’s, Stocks, Krystal Hur, ”, Bill Adams, Moody’s Organizations: CNN Business, Bell, CNN, Commodities, Bloomberg, International Energy Agency, IEA, Panasonic, Federal Reserve, Dow Jones, Nasdaq, Fed, Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, Comerica Bank, Government, Fitch, Hollywood, Writers Guild of America, WGA, SAG Locations: Ukraine, Europe, United States, Kansas

☆ France wants to replace gas, fuel heaters with heat pumps - minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Benoit Tessier/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsPARIS, Sept 26 (Reuters) - France wants to replace residential fuel and gas heaters with heat pumps and create an industry to make the device in a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, French Environment Minister Christophe Bechu said on Tuesday. "Fighting climate change means first and foremost exiting from the use of fossil fuels, therefore we should have no more fuel heaters and much fewer gas heaters," Bechu said in an interview with franceinfo radio. France targets a 55% reduction in net greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, compared with 1990. Bechu said subsidies for heat pumps - which are more expensive than gas heaters - would be boosted so that for low-income families the net cost of buying a heat pump would be similar to a gas heater. Heat pumps use electricity to draw heat from the environment, and as France relies mainly on nuclear energy to generate electricity, heat pumps would generate virtually no emissions during use.

Persons: Christophe Bechu, Benoit Tessier, Emmanuel Macron, Bechu, Anil D'Silva Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, French, GV, Thomson Locations: Paris, France

Cruise travel insurance can help cover emergency costs as well, which is why I have an annual travel insurance policy. For Caribbean cruises in particular, this part is easy since almost all spots in and around cruise ports accept US dollars. Drinks (if you drink a lot)I drink a lot on cruises, and I'm not just talking about cocktails and beer. This is why I always have a drink package when I cruise, which is easy since I normally cruise with MSC Cruises. On my next Caribbean cruise, we've booked a resort day pass at an all-inclusive resort in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic through a platform called Resort for a Day.

Persons: I'm, Coke, we've Organizations: Voyages, MSC Cruises, Caribbean, MSC Yacht Club, Yacht, MSC, tote Locations: Caribbean, Europe, Miami, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

Expectations of resilient coal demand in China, the world's largest consumer and importer of the fuel, could delay a peak in global coal use, envisaged under climate goals, as miners supply coal for longer at competitive prices, traders say. Six Chinese traders Reuters spoke to said they expected harsh weather to drive overall imports higher in the last quarter of 2023. So I think Chinese demand growth is going to steady at where it is," a seventh trader from a large international trading firm said. It was the first global conference for many Chinese traders whose overseas travel was restricted due to strict Covid restrictions. Echeverri said a fall in average calorific value - an indicator of quality - of domestically mined coal was also contributing to the higher imports.

Persons: Rodrigo Echeverri, Ramli Ahmad, Ombilin Energi, Ahmad, Echeverri, Sudarshan, Ros Russell Organizations: Traders, Indonesia, Noble Research, Thomson Locations: NUSA DUA, Indonesia, China, Bali's Nusa Dua

☆ Hans Niemann: Chess grandmaster ‘categorically’ denies using vibrating sex toys to cheat in the sport
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

When he was pressed by Morgan if he had used such toys “while playing chess,” Niemann replied: “Well, your curiosity is a bit concerning, you know - maybe you’re personally interested, but I can tell you, no. The accusations of cheating aimed at Niemann evolved into a scandal which gripped the world of chess over the last year. Niemann then filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Chess.com, Carlsen and popular streamer and player Hikaru Nakamura. As a result, online chess sites, like Chess.com, have developed anti-cheating technology to detect when players are using outside computer software during games in an attempt to curb foul play. While FIDE is battling to combat online cheating, there has been a level of purity to over-the-board chess with cheating proving to be much more difficult.

Persons: Hans Niemann, Piers Morgan, Niemann, ”, it’s, Morgan, ” Niemann, you’re, Magnus Carlsen, “, Carlsen, St . Louis, Chess.com, Hikaru Nakamura, Magnus, Niemann –, –, they’ve, Andy Howie, haven’t Organizations: CNN, New York Times, Louis Chess Club, Chess.com, ” CNN, FIDE Locations: Norwegian, St ., Chess.com, Stockfish

☆ Why you should be traveling to Europe in fall, not summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Terry Ward | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

And now it’s fall, when the continent really comes into its own as the leaves – and visitor numbers – start to drop. A recent report from luxury travel network Virtuoso named Paris, London and Florence as the most booked cities for fall travel. “Fall is one of the best times to visit Europe because of the vast variety of interests [the season] can cater to,” says Mina Agnos, president of luxury travel company Travelive. If you’re ready for a different take on Europe this fall, we’ve got ideas. Fall also means it’s harvest time in Rebland – an area southwest of Baden-Baden famous for its Riesling.

Persons: ”, Mina Agnos, foodies, Brian Young, we’ve, Sérgio Duarte, Octant, Val, Culinarium Urtijei, Christopher Hill, Holger Leue, it’s, Jack Ezon, Samantha Pearson, Notte Bianca, Valery Bareta, Belle, Caracalla Organizations: CNN, EMEA, G, Gran Canaria, UNESCO, ADLER, Mallorca Locations: Europe, Paris, London, Florence, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Croatia, Greece, Sicily, Slovenia, Gibraltar, Tenerife, Ibiza, Mallorca, Gran, Alentejo, Douro, Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy, Northern Italy, South, Ortisei, Romania, Brasov, Baia Mare, Saxon, Moșna, Mallorcan, Pollença, Palma . Thessaloniki, Thermaic, Santorini, Greece’s, Balkans, Mount Olympus, Thessaloniki, Malta Malta, Malta, Gozo, Comino, Valletta, Madeira, Morocco, Terrabona, Funchal, Savoy, Baden, Germany Baden, Black, Friedrichsbad

☆ US thermal coal exports jump to 5-year highs on Asian demand: Maguire
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

But the strong exports pace also highlights the enduring demand for U.S. coal even as domestic power producers steadily reduce coal's share of the power generation mix. TOP MARKETSAsia accounted for 48% of total U.S. exports, or around 10.6 million tonnes, with 7 million tonnes going to India, 1.3 million tonnes to Japan, 1.1 million tonnes to China and 600,000 tonnes to South Korea. Europe accounted for 26.6% of U.S. exports, with the Netherlands the second-largest buyer overall with 3.2 million tonnes of imports. Elsewhere, Egypt (1.9 million tonnes), Morocco (1.0 million tonnes) and the Dominican Republic (662,000 tonnes) were other large buyers, underscoring a wide geographic span of markets for U.S. coal so far in 2023. In addition, some major coal producers, including China, may increase coal exports over time even as power producers there follow the U.S. lead and reduce coal use in their own generation mixes.

Persons: Gavin Maguire, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Total U.S, U.S, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LITTLETON , Colorado, United States, China, India, South Korea, Kpler, Indonesia, U.S, Japan, Europe, Netherlands, Germany, Spain, Poland, Egypt, Morocco, Dominican Republic, Philippines, Littleton , Colorado

These include power plants built by industrial firms such as nickel smelters for their own consumption. Under JETP, Indonesia is committed to cap and peak power sector's carbon emissions at 290 million metric tons by 2030. How does Indonesia plan to deploy JETP funds? Indonesia also wants JETP to finance the early retirement of some of its coal power plants, however some banks are reluctant to finance these early retirement for fear of being seen as financing coal projects. Indonesia is also considering expanding the green label to loans for coal power plants used by industries that make products considered sustainable, such as batteries for electric vehicles (EV).

Persons: JETP, Quoc Khanh, Tran Hong Ha, Fransiska Nangoy, Khanh Vu, Florence Tan Organizations: Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Natural Resources, Deputy, EV, Marine Spatial, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, HANOI, Indonesia, South Africa, Vietnam, INDONESIA Indonesia, JETP, VIETNAM

IndyCar will return to the Milwaukee Mile next season and Texas Motor Speedway is off the calendar for the first time since 1997 in the 2024 schedule released Monday. NASCAR is expected to return to the oval, and IndyCar will race the Indianapolis road course only once — in May ahead of the Indianapolis 500. IndyCar is still finalizing an exhibition race to be held in Argentina next season that was not part of Monday's schedule announcement. Political Cartoons View All 1176 ImagesSebastien Bourdais won the final IndyCar race at the track in West Allis, Wisconsin. IndyCar is coming off its most-watched season on record with an average Total Audience Delivery of 1.32 million viewers.

Persons: Rodger Ward, Michael Andretti, Bobby Unser, Mario Andretti, A.J, Foyt, Gordon Johncock, Johnny Rutherford, Tom Sneva, Paul Tracy, Al Unser, Sebastien Bourdais, Roger Penske, Peacock, ”, Mark Miles Organizations: IndyCar, Milwaukee Mile, Texas Motor, NBC, Texas, NASCAR, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Labor, Indianapolis Motor, Wisconsin, Fair, NBC Sports, Penske Entertainment Corp, USA, Motorsports Park, America, Speedway, International Raceway Locations: Southern California, Nashville, —, Argentina, West Allis , Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, St . Petersburg , Florida, Toronto, St . Petersburg, Long Beach, Detroit, Laguna Seca

☆ Climate tech startups Treefera, ReSeed, Vaulted Deep, and Skyqraft raised a combined $18.6 million this month. Check out the pitch decks they used to raise the funds.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Early-stage climate tech startups Treefera, ReSeed, Vaulted Deep, and Skyqraft have raised a collective $18.6 million in fresh funds this month. It can monitor tree health, carbon sequestration, and the likelihood of a forest fire or drought, which may put the project at risk, in "near-time." Check out the 21-slide redacted pitch deck they used to raise the funds below:ReSeedReSeedReSeedReSeedReSeedReSeedReSeedReSeedReSeedReSeedReSeedReSeedReSeedReSeedReSeedReSeedReSeedReSeedReSeedReSeedReSeedCarbon sequestration company Vaulted Deep raised $8 millionVaulted Deep, a Texas-based carbon removal and sequestration company, raised an $8 million seed round from Chris Sacca's Lowercarbon Capital. Vaulted Deep already has two injection sites, where waste is injected deep into the Earth. Check out the 11-slide pitch deck below:Vaulted DeepVaulted DeepVaulted DeepVaulted DeepVaulted DeepVaulted DeepVaulted DeepVaulted DeepVaulted DeepVaulted DeepVaulted DeepSkyqraft raised $3.8 million to monitor energy infrastructureSkyqraft, a Stockholm-based startup hoping to improve the resilience of energy infrastructure, also secured $3.8 million earlier this month.

Persons: Morgan, Jonathan Horn, Caroline Grey, Greg Lavender, ReSeed, Baratunde Thurston, Chris Sacca's, Advantek, Louise Gauffin, Gauffin Organizations: Global, Concept Ventures, Twin Path Ventures, Ventures, Thorn Partners, Earthshot Ventures, E.ON, Subvenio, Neptunia Invest Locations: London, New York, The Pennsylvania, Texas, Stockholm

A German company is building a constellation of satellites to detect fires from space. “They’re trained very specifically to detect smoke or not, and we train them with images of smoke and images of not smoke,” CEO Sonia Kastner said. The cameras help detect fires quicker and get teams on the ground faster, shaving up to two hours off response times. German startup OroraTech analyzes satellite images with artificial intelligence. "There are algorithms on the satellite, very efficient ones to detect fires even faster," CEO Thomas Gruebler said.

Persons: Phillip SeLegue, SeLegue, It's, “ They’re, Sonia Kastner, ” Kastner, ”, Larry Bekkedahl, Bekkedahl, “, ” Bekkedahl, Juan Lavista Ferres, Ferres, “ It’s, OroraTech, Thomas Gruebler, Gruebler, Barbara Ortutay Organizations: Firefighters, Microsoft, California Department of Forestry, Portland General Electric, PGE, AP Technology Locations: Maui, San Diego, Francisco, Oregon, Canada, Munich, Chile, Alberta, San Francisco

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Upon spotting a zookeeper laden with a bucket full of fruit-flavored ice pops, black spider monkeys in Rio de Janeiro’s BioParque gracefully swung their way towards him on Friday, chattering excitedly. The ice pops are part of the monkeys’ well-being program. For the monkeys, the ice pops are watermelon, pineapple or grape flavored. But for Simba, the zoo’s lion, the ice treat is made up of blood or minced meat. To cool her down even more, a zookeeper sprayed Koala with a hose.

Persons: chattering, it's, it’s, ”, zookeeper Tadeu Cabral, Simba, Daniel Serieiro, Carlos Acuña Organizations: RIO DE, National Institute of Meteorology Locations: RIO DE JANEIRO, Rio de, Brazil, Sao Paulo, Costa Rica, Bahia

Asia's hydropower output fell 17.9% during the seven months through July, data from energy think tank Ember showed, while fossil fuel-fired power rose 4.5%. In India, hydropower generation fell 6.2% during the eight months ended August in the sharpest decline since 2016. In some cases, the hydropower output plunge was a result of efforts to conserve water and alter supply patterns. "This trend of rapidly increasing wind or solar power generation in China could push for hydropower playing this critical regulating function, instead of operating whenever there is water," he added. However, unlike hydro, wind power is harder to forecast and control, as it varies by local weather conditions.

Persons: Carlos Torres Diaz, Rystad, Lauri Myllyvirta, Myllyvirta, Ember, Victor Vanya, Sudarshan Varadhan, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, National Bureau, International Energy Agency, Centre for Research, Clean Energy, Air, Thomson Locations: Qiaojia, Yunnan province, Ningnan, Sichuan province, China, Rights SINGAPORE, Asia, India, Vietnam, India's, Philippines, Malaysia, Ember

☆ Kim Jong Un's hot Russian summer included a trip to see a walrus show, a ballet date, and a farewell gift of exploding drones
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Kim was treated to a walrus show and ballet performance during his visit. Kim met Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the Vostochny cosmodrome on Wednesday, according to Russian state-run media TASS. Kim Jong Un (fourth right in front row) watching a walrus performance at Primorsky Aquarium in Vladivostok, Russia. "Now Russia has risen to the sacred fight to protect its sovereignty and security against the hegemonic forces that oppose Russia," Kim said in his opening greetings with Putin. "We will always support the decisions of President Putin and the Russian leadership," Kim said.

Persons: Kim Jong Un's, Kim, Kim Jong, Kim's, Vladimir Putin, Pyotr Tchaikovsky's, Kim Jong Un, AP Kim, Putin Organizations: Service, Vostochny, TASS, Primorsky, Korean Central News Agency, Korea News Service, AP, Reuters Locations: Russia, Wall, Silicon, North Korea, Ukraine, Russian, Primorsky, Vladivostok, Korean, Primorye, Pyongyang

☆ Russia gave Kim Jong Un a bunch of attack drones as a present, violating a UN resolution that even Russian diplomats voted for
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was gifted a bunch of explosive drones during his trip to Russia. The drone presents violate UN Security Council resolutions that Moscow voted for, Reuters reported. During Kim's visit to Russia, he also received a fur hat, rifle, bulletproof vest and space glove. AdvertisementAdvertisementTASS reported that the North Korean leader was even gifted a "set of special clothing that is invisible to thermal imagers." When Kim met with Putin last week, the North Korean leader pledged his support to Russia.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Kim Jong, Ukraine —, Kim, Vladimir Putin, Putin Organizations: UN, Reuters, Service, North, TASS, Ukraine, United Nations, Moscow, North Korean Locations: Russia, Moscow, Wall, Silicon, North Korea, Russian, Ukraine, Pyongyang

CNN —North Korean leader Kim Jong Un received body armor and drones as parting gifts as he wrapped up a trip to Russia that has alarmed the West. North Korea is heavily sanctioned and is in need of everything from energy to food to military technology. As he left, the governor of the far eastern Russian region of Primorye gave him a bulletproof vest and a set of drones, Russian state media TASS reported. Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, called his meeting with North Korea's Kim Jong Un "very substantive" on Wednesday. Vladimir Smirnov/Sputnik/APThe North Korean leader visited an aircraft manufacturing plant in the city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur in eastern Russia on Friday.

Persons: Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin, Kim, Kim Jong, Sergei Shoigu, Putin, “, ” Putin, Vladimir Smirnov, KCNA, Yuri, ” Organizations: CNN, North, Russian, TASS, Russia's, Russian Defence Ministry, Reuters, RIA Novosti, RIA, Putin, Aviation, Russian Defense, Pacific Fleet, Russian Navy, Military Locations: Russia, Korea, Ukraine, North Korea, Russian, Primorye, Artyom, Khasan, Russia’s Far, Komsomolsk, Reuters North Korean, KCNA, South Korea, Japan, Europe

☆ Ukrainian soldier says US-made Bradley fighting vehicles are 'priceless' in nighttime assaults, offering visibility better than in daylight
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Ukrainian soldiers have relied on US-made Bradley fighting vehicles to stay alive in combat. In a recent interview, one soldier said the Bradleys are "priceless" during nighttime assaults. Ukrainian soldiers and mechanics work on a Bradley at a secret workshop in the Zaporizhzhia region on July 13. But despite the heavy praise by Ukrainian soldiers, Bradleys are not indestructible and they have still fallen victim to Russia's formidable defenses and relentless artillery in the months since. Open-source intelligence collected by the site Oryx shows that 53 of the Washington-provided vehicles have been destroyed, damaged, or abandoned during fighting.

Persons: Bradley, —, Ed Ram, Bradleys, Pat Ryder, Ryder, Biden Organizations: Service, Bradley, Russian, Ukraine's Strategic Communications Directorate, 47th Mechanized Brigade, Washington, Getty, —, US, Pentagon Press, Air Force, NATO Locations: Wall, Silicon, Ukrainian, Soviet, Zaporizhzhia Region, Ukraine, Iraq, Zaporizhzhia, Bradleys, Kyiv, Russian, Washington

REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan/File Photo/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies PT Suralaya Indotenaga FollowSINGAPORE/JAKARTA, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Environmental groups have submitted a formal complaint to the World Bank for providing financial support for two coal-fired power plants in Indonesia, violating a pledge to stop backing fossil fuels. Plans to build two more would emit 250 million tons of climate-warming carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, the groups said a letter to World Bank compliance ombudsman Janine Ferretti. The IFC, the World Bank and Hana Bank Indonesia did not immediately respond to requests to comment. According to the Global Energy Monitor think tank, Indonesia was one of 11 countries to commission new coal plants last year. The JETP compels Indonesia to impose a moratorium on new coal-fired power plants, though there are exemptions for "captive" plants that serve other industrial facilities.

Persons: Willy Kurniawan, Janine Ferretti, CREA, David Stanway, Miral Organizations: Indonesia Power, Plant, REUTERS, World Bank, International Financial Corporation, IFC, Hana, Hana Bank Indonesia, Bank, Inclusive Development, Hana Bank, Research, Energy, Clean, PT, Raya, Global Energy Monitor, Thomson Locations: Suralaya, Banten province, Indonesia, SINGAPORE, JAKARTA, Hana Bank, Asia, U.S, Hana Bank Indonesia, Helsinki, Jakarta, China, India

☆ Small moonquakes caused by Apollo lunar lander module, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A spacecraft left behind by US astronauts on the lunar surface could be causing small tremors known as moonquakes, according to a new study. The lunar surface is an extreme environment, oscillating between minus 208 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 133 degrees Celsius) in the dark and 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 degrees Celsius) in direct sun, according to a news release about the study. Marusiak was not directly involved in the study, though she did have contact with the authors as a fellow expert in lunar seismology. “Every lunar morning when the sun hits the lander, it starts popping off,” said study coauthor Allen Husker, a research professor of geophysics at Caltech, in a statement. It’s important to note a key difference between the moon and Earth: On the lunar surface, there are no shifting tectonic plates that might cause catastrophic events.

Persons: Francesco Civilini, Artemis, Dr, Angela Marusiak, Marusiak, moonquakes Marusiak, “, —, ”, Allen Husker, I’m, seismometers, ” Marusiak, ” Husker Organizations: CNN, of Geophysical Research, California Institute of Technology, NASA Goddard Space Flight, NASA, University of Arizona’s, Laboratory, Caltech, Indian Space Research Organization, ISRO Locations: California

☆ India's moon lander is the first to study the lunar south pole region up close. Here are 5 scientific discoveries it's already made.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

In August, India became the first country to successfully land near the moon's south pole. Since touchdown, the moon lander and rover have already made some important discoveries. Both the mission's Vikram lander and its adorable dog-sized Pragyan rover wasted no time in studying the lunar south pole region with the suite of scientific instruments they brought with them. Temperature changes undergroundVikram has also measured the soil temperature near the lunar south pole both on the surface and underground, for the first time. There's still a lot to be learned about the moon's south pole region.

Persons: Vikram, Pragyan, it's, ILSA, There's Organizations: Service, Indian Space Research Organization, ISRO, Planetary Society, Langmuir Locations: India, Wall, Silicon

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