DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Britain’s Big Swing Back to Austerity Isn’t Market-Friendly
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Jon Sindreu | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

British Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt departs Downing Street with his Autumn Statement for parliament in London on Thursday. TOLGA AKMEN/EPA/SHUTTERSTOCKInvestors hated how former British Prime Minister Liz Truss rushed out a half-baked fiscal-stimulus plan in September, triggering a violent selloff in sovereign bonds. But belt tightening as the economy heads into a recession, based on the premise of dubious debt forecasts, isn’t quite what they ordered either. Financial markets were eagerly awaiting Thursday’s end-of-year update by the U.K.’s new Treasury chief, Jeremy Hunt . Much recent analysis of Britain’s economy has focused on a “black hole” in the government coffers, which Mr. Hunt gauged at around £55 billion ($66 billion).

☆ U.S. aims for zero-emissions heavy-duty vehicles by 2040
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( David Shepardson | Megan Rowling | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 17 (Reuters) - The United States aims to only sell and produce zero-emissions medium- and heavy-duty vehicles like school buses and tractor trailers by 2040, the U.S. energy secretary agreed at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt on Thursday. The non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) sets a target for 30% of those new vehicles - which include commercial delivery vehicles, buses and trucks - to be zero-emission by 2030 and 100% by 2040. The $430 billion climate, tax and drug policy bill passed in August includes new commercial electric vehicles tax credits, with up to $7,500 for light- and medium-duty vehicles and up to $40,000 for heavy-duty vehicles. “Decarbonizing commercial transport vehicles is critical to meeting our overall carbon emissions targets," Heinrich said in a statement. The EPA in March had proposed tighter standards for 17 of the 33 sub-categories of vocational and tractor vehicles, including school buses, transit buses, commercial delivery trucks, and short-haul tractors.

The EPA shut down the refinery, formerly called Limetree Bay, in May 2021 after a series of chemical releases into the environment sickened neighboring residents. The plant owners intend to restart the facility, but have let it fall into disrepair, the EPA said last month. The new Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit would require detailed air-quality analyses and the use of the best available air pollution control technology, the EPA said Thursday. An earlier owner, Hovensa, was required to spend $700 million on pollution control equipment, among other obligations after violating the Clean Air Act by increasing emissions without first obtaining pre-construction permits and installing required pollution control equipment. Hovensa went bankrupt and shut down the plant the following year; later Limetree Bay Ventures bought the refinery in December 2015.

Companies Petroleos Mexicanos FollowMEXICO CITY, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Under pressure to increase production, Mexico's state oil company Pemex has risked fines for violations that cause environmental damage rather than delay output to fix the underlying issues, according to two senior company sources. Mexican law stipulates that the oil regulator can only levy fines for breaches of development plans rather than for environmental damage. The world's most indebted oil company, whose profits were for years plundered to fund government spending, has struggled to reverse a decade of declining oil production. Reuters GraphicsIn Mexico, fines are decided by various factors including if it is a first or repeated offense, and damage caused. Fines are low to avoid depleting Pemex funds that could be used to resolve the underlying problems, the sources at the regulator said.

☆ G20's criticism of Russia reflects the rise of new Asian power: India
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“Today’s era must not be of war,” it said, echoing what Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Russian leader Vladimir Putin during a face-to-face meeting in September. “How India united G20 on PM Modi’s idea of peace,” ran a headline in the Times of India, the country’s largest English-language paper. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesia's President Joko Widodo hold hands during the handover ceremony at the G20 leaders' summit, in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia, November 16, 2022. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold a bilateral meeting on November 16, 2022 in Nusa Dua, Indonesia. And while this year’s G20 was looked at through the lens of the war, India could bring its own agenda to the table next year.

☆ Toyota's new Prius has a little more MPG but lots more power
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Toyota unveiled an all-new version of its famous Prius hybrid car Wednesday just ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show. With its batteries fully charged, the new Prius Prime will go at least 50% farther without burning any gasoline as today’s Prius Prime does, according to Toyota. It will be able to produce up to 220 horsepower, 100 horsepower more than today’s Prius Prime. Almost every vehicle in Toyota’s line-up is now available with hybrid power. Along with the Prius, Toyota also unveiled the Toyota BZ Compact SUV concept.

☆ See the electric Lucid Gravity SUV, a Tesla rival that will have 7 seats and more range than any competitor
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

EV startup Lucid revealed new details about the Gravity, its SUV launching in 2024. The Lucid Gravity. Lucid MotorsThe Gravity will have a spacious interior and options for five, six, or seven seats. The Lucid Gravity. The Lucid Gravity.

A UN study last year found "negligible" correlation between household food waste and gross domestic product, indicating most countries "have room to improve." "We do have a long way to make the goal," said Jean Buzby, the food waste liaison at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration agreed in 2018 to tackle America's food waste together. A spokesman for New Zealand's environment ministry said the country is finalizing its baseline food waste estimate so it can establish a target. SLOWEST GAZELLEIn California, which has America's most ambitious climate policies, officials are trying to ensure food waste goes to composting, not landfills.

☆ Lucid reveals new lower-cost versions of the Air electric luxury sedan
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( John Rosevear | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Luxury electric vehicle maker Lucid Group on Tuesday revealed several new versions of its Air sedan – including its lowest-cost model yet. CEO Peter Rawlinson said in an interview with CNBC's Phil LeBeau the Lucid Air Pure will start at $87,400. The company also announced the Lucid Air Touring, with all-wheel drive, 620 horsepower and an EPA-estimated 425 miles of range. Lucid also said the high-performance Air Sapphire, which it revealed in August, is undergoing final tuning now. The Air Sapphire starts at $249,000, and production will begin in the first half of next year.

☆ Turkey blames blast on Kurdish militants and arrests dozens, including suspected bomber
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Turkey blamed Kurdish militants on Monday for an explosion that killed six people on a busy Istanbul shopping street, and police detained a Syrian woman suspected of having planted the bomb among a sweep of 47 arrests. Istanbul police named the suspected bomber as Ahlam Albashir, a Syrian national, who was detained in an overnight raid in the city’s Kucukcekmece district. Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia were responsible for the blast on Istiklal Avenue on Sunday, an incident that recalled similar attacks in years past. According to Istanbul police, Albashir said during questioning that she was trained by Kurdish militants and entered Turkey through Afrin, another northern Syrian town. Istanbul has been attacked in the past by Kurdish, Islamist and leftist militants.

☆ In Colorado, oil firms fix leaky wells ahead of new rules
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( Liz Hampton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

In this farming community, oil giant Chevron Corp is sending crews as part of a state-wide push to seal leaks. Energy companies are being urged to reduce emissions by cities, investors and governments. Federal rules that will require them to monitor and report on climate-warming methane emissions from larger wells are expected early next year. It plans to deconstruct and plug some 500 old wells in Colorado each year. "I've never had any problem with the oil companies," says Klein, who for 57 years has owned land around where Patriot 16-12 operated and has collected royalties from oil and gas drilling.

Gary McCullough/AP Green Bay Packers wide receiver Samori Toure is tackled by Detroit Lions safety Will Harris. Norm Hall/Getty Images Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen hurdles Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid as he scrambles for a first down. Allen's fourth quarter touchdown throw to Dawson Knox capped off a 24-20 victory against the Chiefs. Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Minnesota wide receiver Justin Jefferson dives for a two-point conversion during the Vikings' 29-22 victory over the Chicago Bears. Gary A. Vasquez/USA Today Sports/Reuters New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas makes a reception against Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J.

☆ I drove a $2 million electric car with 1,900 horsepower and saw the unimaginably fast future of supercars
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I drove the Pininfarina Battista, a new electric supercar that costs $2.2 million and up. The Pininfarina Battista. Tim Levin/InsiderThe $2.2 million, 1,900-horsepower electric supercar is mind-bendingly, frighteningly quick, promising to hit 62 mph from a standstill in less than two seconds. The Pininfarina Battista. The Pininfarina Battista.

☆ Inside the frightening, thrilling experience of driving the quickest car in the world, the $2 million Pininfarina Battista
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-12 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I tested the Pininfarina Battista, a dizzyingly quick electric supercar that costs $2.2 million and up. That's kind of what driving the Pininfarina Battista is like. The Pininfarina Battista. Tim Levin/InsiderThe $2.2 million, 1,900-horsepower electric supercar is mind-bendingly, frighteningly quick, recently claiming the world acceleration record for a street-legal car. The Pininfarina Battista.

The Biden administration on Friday announced plans to significantly tighten regulations against methane emissions from domestic oil and gas drilling. The Environmental Protection Agency said the proposed standards would reduce methane from the oil and gas sector by 87% below 2005 levels. In the United States, oil and natural gas operations are the nation’s biggest industrial source of methane, according to the EPA. The Biden administration announced its plan to reduce methane emissions in November 2021 at the last U.N. Last year, the U.S. and the European Union launched the Global Methane Pledge, which aims to reduce the world’s methane emissions by 30 percent by the end of the decade.

NEW YORK, Nov 10 (Reuters) - A Republican U.S. senator plans to submit federal legislation with the support of a major oil industry trade group that would expand national sales of E15, a higher ethanol-gasoline blend. If the bill passed, it would be a win for U.S. corn farmers and the ethanol industry. The governors' proposal raised oil industry concerns about fuel supplies. The bill would represent just the latest push to win nationwide, year-round sales. A federal appeals court last year struck down the Trump's administration approval of year-round E15 sales, arguing it did not have the authority.

University power plants are much smaller than their industry counterparts and thus produce fewer overall emissions. All fossil-fuel power plants produce these emissions, which are created when these fuels are burned. These facilities include large power plants owned by public utilities as well as private plants that provide electricity and heating for big consumers such as refineries, paper mills and colleges. Reuters identified 103 university power plants run by 93 four-year institutions among the facilities tracked by the EIA. NOx ComparisonsReuters turned to a different data set to obtain NOx emission rates for university power plants: pollution tests required by state and federal regulators.

☆ COP27-US targets methane in 'relentless' emissions focus
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Valerie Volcovici | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

It would also force methane emissions reductions from flaring equipment and create a system to detect leaks from "super-emitter" sites quickly so operators can repair them faster and local community residents are aware. The EPA said the stronger rules would reduce methane from the oil and gas industry by 87% below 2005 levels and would help the United States to meet its commitment under the Global Methane Pledge to cut methane emissions economy-wide by 30% this decade. OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY LOBBYINGThe oil and gas industry had urged the agency to exclude hundreds of thousands of low-producing wells on the grounds frequent monitoring would be inefficient and costly. It dovetailed with a U.N. announcement on Friday that it will launch a global public database of methane leaks detected by space satellites to encourage companies and governments to plug them. The EPA will take public input on the methane rule until Feb. 13, 2023 and plans to finalize it by the end of that year.

☆ EXCLUSIVE Cheniere seeks 18 months to upgrade LNG turbines that failed pollution tests-document
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Nichola Groom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Cheniere is one of only two LNG providers with turbines subject to the rule, according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data. He asked the state for 18 months to make changes to and retest the turbines. In the meantime, the company said it would take steps to minimize formaldehyde emissions, including taking a turbine offline or replacing components. In September, Cheniere submitted test results to Texas regulators that showed formaldehyde emissions at that facility were well below the EPA threshold. Cheniere has big plans to expand the Texas and Louisiana plants in coming years.

☆ I tested six-figure electric cars from Porsche and Mercedes. I'd buy one for its stunning quickness and the other for its opulent interior.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Tim Levin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The $209,000 Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo Porsche lent me is the highest-performance Taycan available and the hatchback edition. Tim Levin/InsiderThe Mercedes smacks you right in the face with a plush, spacious interior filled with leather and high-end materials. Tim Levin/InsiderThe Porsche also has a long list of luxurious options, but it gives off a sportier vibe. VerdictThe 2021 Porsche Taycan Turbo S Cross Turismo. Tim Levin/InsiderThe Taycan Turbo S blew me away with its ridiculous quickness and fantastic handling.

☆ NFL Week 9 Preview: How to watch and all you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( Hannah Brewitt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +23 min

Norm Hall/Getty Images Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen hurdles Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid as he scrambles for a first down. Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Minnesota wide receiver Justin Jefferson dives for a two-point conversion during the Vikings' 29-22 victory over the Chicago Bears. Gerald Herbert/AP Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. is tripped up by Denver Broncos cornerback K'Waun Williams. David Richard/AP Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Breshad Perriman fumbles after catching a pass during the first half against the Green Bay Packers in Week 3. Gary A. Vasquez/USA Today Sports/Reuters New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas makes a reception against Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J.

How Putin and Friends Stalled Climate Progress A handful of powerful world leaders rallied around Russia and undercut global cooperation. Mr. Putin has gained from this as the increasingly autocratic Mr. Xi finds common cause with the Kremlin. “Much depends on whether authoritarian leaders perceive climate action to be in their self-interest.”Though their actions help Mr. Putin, their track records on climate are mixed. Mr. Xi called Mr. Putin his “best friend.”He was returning the favor from a year earlier, when Mr. Putin hosted Mr. Xi at the Grand Kremlin Palace and awarded him one of Russia’s highest medals for foreign dignitaries. At a news conference with Mr. Putin, Mr. Bolsonaro thanked his “dear friend,” saying that Mr. Putin had offered him support when other world leaders were criticizing his Amazon policy.

☆ Here’s why 75% of likely voters think we are in a recession — even though we’re probably not
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN Business —A new CNN poll shows that three-quarters of likely voters feel like the US economy is in a recession. The technical definition of a recession is two consecutive quarters of economic contraction, which the US economy recorded in the first half of the year. Still, the economy feels bad to the majority of Americans ahead of next week’s midterms. But that’s still the highest since the early 1980s, and it’s the first time many younger people have ever experienced inflation. But that dip may not be enough to buy Democrats any goodwill among voters, given the elevated costs of every other necessity.

Nov 3 (Reuters) - The U.S. government will award state and local governments, housing authorities and non-profits on the front lines of air pollution 132 new grants totaling $53.4 million for air quality monitoring projects, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said on Thursday. The grants, which the EPA called the largest investment in air pollution monitoring in its history, come after federal investment in air quality monitoring has waned over several decades. President Joe Biden's administration has a target to cut pollution in poor and minority communities that often take the brunt of industrial emissions. "It's time that we empower American communities with the tools and the resources they need to track critical data about the air that they breathe," said EPA Administrator Michael Regan. Last year, the agency announced $20 million in grants to communities to help them monitor their air for pollutants.

The move to expand sales of E15 would be a win for the ethanol industry, which wants to increase sales of the corn-based fuel and which argues the product would reduce gasoline prices by expanding the volume of available supply. However, critics of the idea - including those in the refining industry - have voiced concerns that a piecemeal approach to growing E15 sales could introduce logistical distribution challenges. The EPA could start seeking comment as soon as this month, said the sources. In April, governors from major corn-producing Midwestern states including Iowa, Nebraska and Illinois requested that the EPA effectively lift the ban in their states. The biofuel industry has faced legal hurdles in expanding U.S. E15 sales in the past.

Search resuls for: "epa"

25 mentions found