90% of All Power Grid Additions in American During 2024 Were Renewable–Solar Alone Made up 80%

– credit, energy.gov, released.In a staggering statistic, where it took a whole year to add one gigawatt of solar power in 2004, it now takes one single day.A gigawatt can power around 200,000 homes in the US, and in another staggering statistic, American businesses and governments funded the installation of 30 in 2024 alone.Indeed, 90% of all grid additions in 2024 were renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, biomass, hydro, and geothermal.Solar accounted for 80% of all these additions alone, providing 30 gigawatts of electricity, or around 75% of the total renewable energy supply California has installed in the state’s history.New solar capacity added in 2024 is almost nine times that added by natural gas and nuclear power combined.There was also a respectable amount of capacity added by new wind power installations, which added 3 gigawatts to state grids. Additionally, 213 megawatts of hydropower, 51 MW of biomass, and 29 MW of geothermal steam were added, taking the total renewable energy footprint in 2024 to 90.5% of all new power sources.Part of this can be explained...

Read More........ → February 27, 2025

The LA fires have prompted a reckoning for the insurance industry – Australian premiums could soar as a result

Paula Jarzabkowski, The University of Queensland; Katie Meissner, The University of Queensland; Rosie Gallagher, The University of Queensland, and Tyler Riordan, The University of QueenslandA series of wildfires in Los Angeles County have caused widespread devastation in California, including at least 24 deaths and the destruction of more than 12,000 homes and structures. Thousands of residents have been evacuated, and the danger isn’t over yet. Some estimates have put the cost of the damage and economic loss at between A$400 billion and A$450 billion, of which only A$32 billion is insured. This is a stark illustration of the insurance protection gap – the difference between insured and uninsured losses. As California rebuilds, it means the bill for uninsured losses will fall on the property owners themselves and public funds. These catastrophic fires should ring alarm bells in Australia, where global ripple effects are likely to force up our own insurance premiums. Most importantly, we must grapple with and prepare for the grim prospect of our own similar disaster. Uninsurable...

Read More........ → January 20, 2025

USA to end restrictions on India's nuclear entities

(Image: IIT Delhi)The USA is finalising the necessary steps to remove long-standing regulations that have prevented civil nuclear cooperation between India's leading nuclear entities and US companies, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has said.India and the USA signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement (also known as a 123 Agreement) in 2008, after India - which is not a signatory of the international Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) - reached a safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Kovvada, in Andhra Pradesh, was earmarked for the construction of six AP1000 pressurised water reactors as long ago as 2016, but contractual arrangements have yet to be finalised."Although former President Bush and former Prime Minister Singh laid out a vision of civil nuclear cooperation 20 years ago, we have yet to fully realise it," Sullivan said during a speech at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. "But as we work to build clean energy technologies, to enable growth in artificial intelligence, and to help US and Indian energy companies unlock their innovation...

Read More........ → January 16, 2025

Softbank to invest $100bn in US AI

The cash injection follows a $50 billion investment in 2016 SoftBank Group, led by CEO Masayoshi Son, has announced plans to invest $100 billion in the US over the next four years, a move that will focus on advancing AI and its related infrastructure. This investment aims to create 100,000 new jobs. Son made the announcement alongside President-elect Donald Trump, who praised the deal as a strong sign of confidence in the future of the US economy. Trump said that the investment shows “monumental confidence in America’s future.” Trump welcomed the new investment as part of his broader strategy to boost the US economy and tackle inflation in his second term. “It will help ensure that artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and other industries tomorrow are built, created and grown right here in the USA,” he continued. The new pledge echoes a similar commitment made in December 2016, when Son promised a $50 billion investment and 50,000 jobs. While that money was deployed, the impact on job creation was unclear. Although the $100 billion is set to be deployed over the next four...

Read More........ → December 18, 2024

US-China trade war flares as both sides introduce new chip tech restrictions | Total Telecom

New US export controls on semiconductor technology this week have been met immediately by retaliatory measures from ChinaThis week has seen the US Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) ramp up controls on its tech exports to China, particularly those related to the manufacture of semiconductors.The additional restrictions cover 24 types of semiconductor manufacturing equipment and three types of software tools for developing or producing semiconductors. It also includes High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM), a computer memory interface at the heart of AI chip technology.In addition to these restrictions, the update added 140 companies to the US’s infamous Entity List, 136 of which were Chinese. US companies looking to sell restricted items to entities designated on this list are required to acquire a specialised export licence from BIS, which is seldom granted. Companies to the list in this most recent batch include semiconductor fabs, tool companies, and investment companies that the US claims have links to the Chinese government.These new measures, BIS says, are designed...

Read More........ → December 05, 2024

EU seeks to take on China, US to reverse economic decline

BRUSSELS - The European Union's economy is falling further behind China and the United States, a major headache that will dominate leaders' talks on Thursday as they discuss how to stem the bloc's economic decline and bounce back.From supply chain disruptions following the coronavirus pandemic to an energy crisis after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Europe's economy has faced multiple challenges in recent years.But it may yet face its biggest: the clean energy and digital transitions that Brussels has made its priority in the coming years will require additional annual investment of nearly 620 billion euros ($660-billion).From artificial intelligence to solar panels, from computer chips to batteries, the EU is fast losing ground fast on innovation to other global powers.The EU has been put further on the back foot as China and the United States have ploughed billions of dollars of state aid to prop up their critical industries.What is needed is "radical change", former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi said during a speech in Belgium on Tuesday, pointing to "other regions (that)...

Read More........ → October 06, 2024

India, US likely to sign pact on critical minerals, sources say

FILE PHOTO: Piyush Goyal, India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, attends a session at the 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, January 21, 2020. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File PhotoNEW DELHI (Reuters) -India and the United States are likely to sign an initial pact for cooperation on critical minerals this week, two Indian government sources said, as the two countries try to bolster trade ties despite diplomatic hiccups.They are expected to sign an agreement to partner and cooperate in the area of critical minerals during Indian trade minister Piyush Goyal’s visit to Washington, the sources said.Goyal is scheduled to be in the U.S. this week to discuss ways to deepen overall bilateral trade ties, according to one of the sources, weeks before the White House’s preparation for a leadership change following the presidential election later this year.Goyal is expected to meet U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai this week, according to a statement from the Indian government.A spokesperson for Tai’s office could...

Read More........ → October 02, 2024

Aryna Sabalenka Secures Maiden US Open Title

At the US Open, second seed Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus outclassed home favourite Jessica Pegula in straight sets to claim her maiden US Open title. With this win, Sabalenka clinched her third Grand Slam title, following her back-to-back triumphs at Australian Open.The Belarusian secured the win in a high-stakes, 1-hour-and-53-minute clash, defeating Pegula 7-5, 7-5 last night at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. Last year, Sabalenka had lost in the final to American Coco Gauff, but this time she redeemed herself with an emphatic win.Earlier, Australia’s Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson won the 2024 US Open men’s doubles title, defeating Germany’s Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz in straight sets. The duo became the first all-Australian team to secure the men’s doubles title at Flushing Meadows since Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde in 1996.In men’s singles, Taylor Fritz will face World No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy in the final tonight. Fritz, a home favourite, will be playing in his first Grand Slam final, while Sinner will be aiming for his second Grand Slam title. Aryna Sabalenka Secures...

Read More........ → September 09, 2024

Father charged along with son (14) in US school shooting

WINDER - A 14-year-old boy was charged with shooting four people dead at a US high school, while his father was charged with manslaughter, authorities said Thursday, after the country's latest outburst of gun violence.The teen faces four felony murder counts after allegedly killing two fellow pupils, also aged 14, as well as two teachers at Apalachee High School in the southern state of Georgia on Wednesday.Nine people -- most of them children -- were wounded in the attack. Authorities have said they are recovering.The suspect's father, 54-year-old Colin Gray, was in custody and faces four counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of second-degree murder, and eight counts of cruelty to children, making him the latest American parent to face criminal charges after a child was involved in a mass shooting.The charges come after Gray "knowingly" allowed his son to possess a weapon, Georgia Bureau of Investigation director Chris Hosey told a press conference.Citing unnamed sources, CNN reported that the gun used in the shooting -- which it described as an AR 15-style assault rifle --...

Read More........ → September 06, 2024

60 million americans under alert as heat wave hits US Midwest states

A heat wave brought record-high temperatures to US Midwest states this week, with more than 60 million people included in alerts over the conditions.The US National Weather Service (NWS) said a late-season high-pressure system over cities in the Midwest regions, such as Chicago, Des Moines, and Topeka, has left them experiencing rare extreme heat for a long period of time. The NWS warned the public of the combined dangers of heat and humidity associated with heat waves. US Midwest states have set up several public cooling centres in preparation for the dangerous heat.According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, extreme heat together with humidity is one of the leading weather-related killers in the United States. Every year, approximately 1,220 people in the country are killed due to extreme heat. 60 million americans under alert as heat wave hits US Midwest stat...

Read More........ → August 30, 2024

DigitalBridge to acquire JTower in $631m deal

After the acquisition, DigitalBridge will take the company privateUS investment company DigitalBridge has made an offer to acquire Japanese infrastructure firm JTower, in a deal worth JPY93 billion ($631.2 million) according to a Bloomberg report.JTower’s board of directors has endorsed the offer, recognising the growing need for advanced telecom infrastructure as Japan prepares for further 5G and 6G technologies. The partnership with DigitalBridge is expected to provide JTower with the financial resources necessary for long-term investments and expansion, particularly in its core areas of indoor infrastructure sharing and tower operations. JTower is currently one of the largest shared infrastructure companies in Japan, owning 7,700 towers in both suburban and rural areas.“JTower’s founder and president, Atsushi Tanaka, as well as Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. (NTT) and its mobile unit will tender their combined stake of roughly 26% to the take-private deal at ¥3,600 ($24.45) per share, according to an exchange filing. The offer runs from Thursday to Oct. 10,” confirmed the...

Read More........ → August 25, 2024

US Open: Djokovic, Swiatek to lead charge at year’s last Grand Slam

New Delhi, (IANS): The US Open 2024 is set to kick off on August 26 as tennis fans worldwide prepare for the final Grand Slam of the year. The stage is set for an electrifying showcase of talent and determination.Italy’s Jannik Sinner won the Australian Open 2024 while Carlos Alcaraz of Spain became the youngest player to win Grand Slam titles on two different surfaces by claiming the French Open and Wimbledon titles.Here’s a look into the top contenders who are poised to make their mark and vie for the ultimate glory on the hard courts of Arthur Ashe Stadium.Men’s section:Novak Djokovic: The Serbian superstar returns to defend his title, having clinched victory at the US Open last year. Despite a year without Grand Slam success so far, Djokovic’s resume speaks volumes: 24 Grand Slam titles, an Olympic gold medal, and a career that has seen him dominate across all surfaces. As he eyes his 25th career Grand Slam, Djokovic’s quest for redemption and resilience will be on full display.Carlos Alcaraz: At just 21, the Spanish prodigy is making waves with his exceptional performance this...

Read More........ → August 23, 2024

US President Joe Biden withdraws from Presidential Race; Endorses Kamala Harris as Democratic Party’s new nominee

US President Joe Biden has withdrawn from the presidential race for the upcoming November election. The announcement was made last night by Biden in a letter posted on his social media account. Biden expressed that serving as President has been the greatest honour of his life. He emphasized that in the best interest of the Democratic Party and the nation, it is paramount to focus solely on fulfilling his duties as President for the remainder of his term. The President said he will be speaking to the nation later this week in more detail about his decision. Additionally, President Biden endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the presidential nominee and thanked her for being an extraordinary partner. Since the debate with former President and Republican nominee Donald Trump on June 28, the pressure was mounting on President Biden to withdraw his candidature from the race. He is currently isolating in his home in Delaware after being diagnosed with Covid-19. US President Joe Biden withdraws from Presidential Race; Endorses Kamala Harris as Democratic Party’s new nomin...

Read More........ → July 23, 2024

US Puts Solar Panels on Old Nuclear Weapons Sites for Powering 70,000 Homes

The Idaho National Laboratory – credit, DoEAcross the nation, land set aside for the purpose of possibly destroying the world is now welcoming infrastructure meant to save it.Sites managed by the Dept. of Energy’s nuclear weapons division are now playing host to solar farms that should be able to power thousands of homes.As part of a government program called Cleanup to Clean Energy, the Idaho National Laboratory, though never having hosted nuclear weapons itself, will soon be the site of a 400-megawatt solar farm spread across 2,800 acres.Though the project timeline hasn’t been released, a lease was negotiated for the INL project with Massachusetts-based solar developer NorthRenew Energy for 300 megawatts of solar power.Another developer called Spitfire was awarded a lease for 100 megawatts and another 500 of battery storage, according to Elektek.Other locations including the Hanford site in Washington state, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico, the Nevada National Security Site in Nevada, and the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, are all considered strong candidates...

Read More........ → July 08, 2024

Sizzling No.1 Scheffler seeks more golf history at US Open

PINEHURST - Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler, already off to a historic golf season start, took his first true look Monday at Pinehurst, where he's an overwhelming favorite to win the US Open.Scheffler has already broken his US PGA Tour season prize money record and won more titles before the US Open than any player in 44 years and oddsmakers like his chances even though he hadn't seen the 7,543-yard Pinehurst layout live before Monday."Just because I'm the favorite doesn't really have any affect on my score," Scheffler said. "I think we all start at even par, if I remember correctly."The 27-year-old American, who became a new dad in May, will be tested by a course with sloping greens, unique sandy native areas and snarly wiregrass lurking off fairways and greens. Patience and accuracy will be at a premium.Scheffler won his fifth tour title of the season Sunday at the Memorial, edging seventh-ranked compatriot Collin Morikawa by a stroke.Scheffler added to a trophy haul that includes triumphs at Bay Hill, the Players, the Heritage and the Masters, where he captured his second green jacket...

Read More........ → July 04, 2024

Cricket World Cup 'stepping stone' to building US fanbase for Olympics

LOS ANGELES - Next month's T20 World Cup will help build cricket's profile and popularity in the United States ahead of its appearance at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, the sport's world body said.The showpiece 20-over event will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States in June with New York, Florida and Dallas as venues.The International Cricket Council (ICC) said it was confident the tournament would help the sport leave a mark in a land where baseball rules."The fact that a World Cup has come to the US -- the largest sports market in the world -- that in itself has generated a lot of interest," Chris Tetley, the ICC's head of events, told reporters in a media roundtable on Tuesday."This is a key stepping stone for the promotion of the game towards 2028 and beyond in terms of providing world-class cricket for the massive existing fanbase that the sport already has in the US," he added."We are trying to give them something they haven't had on their doorstep before and maybe pique the interest of the American sports community by telling them that cricket's actually an...

Read More........ → July 01, 2024

US Senate confirms Indian-American Judge Bulsara as a District Judge for the Eastern District of New York

Judge Sanket Bulsara. PHOTO: X@SenSchumerUS Senate confirms Indian-American Judge Bulsara as a District Judge for the Eastern District of New YorkBy T. Vishnudatta Jayaraman -May 20, 2024The United States Senate confirmed, on May 15, 2024, Indian-American Judge Sanket Bulsara to serve as a District Judge for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY), which includes Brooklyn, Queens, and Long Island and serves a population of seven million people, with a 51-42 vote.“We confirmed Judge Sanket Bulsara as an EDNY judge. I recommended this amazing New Yorker, and exceptional legal mind to President Joe Biden. In 2017, he became the 1st Indian-American judge on the 2nd Circuit as a magistrate judge. He’s now the 195th judge we’ve confirmed with President Joe Biden!” noted Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) while announcing Bulsara’s confirmation.Schumer, in his remarks on the Senate Floor, on May 15th, reiterated “Judge Bulsara made history in 2017 as the first South Asian American judge to serve in any court within the Second Circuit when he was appointed the Magistrate Judge for...

Read More........ → June 06, 2024

Cricket-T20 World Cup a boost to sport’s American Dream

Cricket competes for the hearts and wallets of America. PHOTO: ReutersNEW YORK (Reuters) – Cricket begins a campaign for the hearts and wallets of American fans this week, as the T20 World Cup kicks off on Saturday in Dallas, bringing the best of the sport to less familiar territory.The United States play Canada in the first match of the tournament co-hosted by the West Indies, while a temporary stadium in Nassau County, New York, hosts its first of eight fixtures on Monday. Lauderhill, Florida, will host four matches.Cricket boasts billion fans around the globe but few adherents in the lucrative North American market, where fans are more accustomed to watching New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge picking up a bat than Rohit Sharma or Jos Buttler.“This is the start of a journey,” International Cricket Council (ICC) CEO Geoff Allardice told Reuters. “The awareness that we’re bringing in more elite cricket to the USA is something that’s been a strategic priority for us.”The journey started with Major League Cricket, which began play in the United States last year, and culminates with...

Read More........ → June 03, 2024

Big Dave's Cheesesteaks secures permanent location at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Photo: Big Dave's CheesesteaksBig Dave's Cheesesteaks has expanded its partnership with Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgina. The deal includes a four-year agreement to open a permanent location within the stadium, replacing the company's existing three portable vendor carts, according to a press release.Founder and CEO Derrick Hayes said the location in Section 107 will offer fans easier access to Big Dave's signature menu items, including cheesesteaks, seasoned fries and chicken tenders. Additionally, the stadium outpost will debut a new menu offering: The fried chicken cheesesteak."We are thrilled to secure this four-year deal with Mercedes-Benz Stadium, further expanding the reach of Big Dave's Cheesesteaks," Hayes said in the release. "This partnership aligns perfectly with our mission to bring our exceptional food to even more fans and event-goers. We look forward to being a proud sponsor and delivering an unparalleled dining experience at one of the world's premier sports and entertainment destinations."Big Dave's has been a fixture at Mercedes-Benz Stadium since 2022,...

Read More........ → June 02, 2024

US mobile customers harmed by T-Mobile’s Sprint purchase according to report

Rewheel figures show that T-Mobile’s purchase of Sprint has helped keep US mobile prices highAccording to a new report from Rewheel, T-Mobile’s acquisition of Sprint in 2020 has contributed to the exorbitant mobile prices in the US.“Five years on, the Sprint / T-Mobile 4-to-3 mobile merger made the US one of the most expensive mobile markets in the world,” the firm wrote in the report. “While monthly prices were falling and continue to fall across mobile markets and while the same was true in the US mobile market prior to the merger, after the merger prices in the US either stopped falling altogether or fell at a much slower rate. The 4-to-3 mobile merger in the US led to higher prices and consumer harm.”In general, Rewheel reported, “monthly prices are 2-3x higher and gigabyte prices are 5-6x higher in markets with only 3 mobile operators,” as compared to markets with 4 mobile operators. The findings were based on the monthly price of 50GB in voice and data plans with at least 1000 minutes and 10 Mbit/s speeds.By contrast, the CTIA, the US wireless industry’s main trade association,...

Read More........ → May 30, 2024