( MENAFN - GetNews) A dialogue on green and low-carbon development co-hosted by the Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development Coalition (BRIGC) and the Chongqing Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment was held in Chongqing on Wednesday. Experts in the field of green development from countries such as Indonesia and Pakistan, heads of institutions including the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency and the China Quality Certification Center, and professionals in the field of ecology and environment in Chongqing gathered together to discuss and offer suggestions on leveraging collective strengths to advance green and low-carbon development under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Need for collaboration to advance green and low-carbon development of BRI Green development is fundamental to the BRI, injecting vibrant energy into the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. As the first international environmental protection association under the BRI framework, the BRIGC has gathered the collective strength of over 170 partner organizations, becoming an important multilateral cooperation platform in the field of green development of the BRI. Over the years, it has actively promoted policy dialogues, technical exchanges, capacity building, and joint research. Cui Dandan, Secretary-General of the BRIGC, stated that advancing green and low-carbon development of the BRI requires joint efforts from all parties. The BRIGC will continue to act as a bridge, aligning with the development needs of the Belt and Road partner countries, relying on initiatives such as green development investment and financing partnerships, a network of green and low-carbon experts, and the BRI Eco-Environmental Talent Exchange Program. It will build international exchange and cooperation platforms for local governments and enterprises, guiding businesses and financial institutions to engage in more green investment and construction practices, and helping green projects take root in partner countries to share the fruits of green development. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a flagship project of the BRI, exemplified the integration of green development principles, consistently promoting green growth and sustainable development in Pakistan. Mustafa Hyder Sayed, Executive Director of the Pakistan-China Institute, highlighted the BRI as a highly effective cooperation mechanism with businesses playing a crucial role. He encouraged businesses worldwide to initiate small-scale green demonstration projects to gain experience and advance the green and low-carbon transition. Chongqing's unique advantages in green and low-carbon international cooperation Chongqing proposed to build a pilot zone for a Beautiful China Initiative, taking the lead in the large-scale development and protection of the western region, and serving as a model for ecological priority and green development in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, as well as a pioneer in high-quality development. The establishment of the Leading Group for the Construction of a Beautiful Chongqing, the issuance of the "Action Plan for the Construction of a Beautiful Chongqing", the integrated promotion of the "Nine Treatments" environmental governance, the continuous implementation of the "1+2+6+N" policy system in the "dual carbon" field, along with the innovative construction of the "Carbon Benefit Pass" platform... Liu Qin, Deputy Director of the Chongqing Municipal Bureau of Ecology and Environment, introduced that in recent years, Chongqing has laid a solid foundation for green and low-carbon development through high-level protection, comprehensively constructing green and low-carbon development systems and mechanisms, promoting the formation of green and low-carbon production and lifestyle, and accelerating the creation of a model for green and low-carbon development of the manufacturing industry in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. The BRI is not only a path to economic prosperity but also a path to green development. Zhou Yi, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Chongqing Municipal People's Government, noted that Chongqing has unique advantages in participating in green Silk Road international cooperation in terms of strategic position, diverse scenarios for implementation, pilot demonstration projects, scientific research talents, and open connectivity. Chongqing is building itself into a central international exchange hub in the central and western regions, connecting ASEAN and Eurasia and the world, with a broad prospect for international cooperation in green and low-carbon development. According to Cai Hongbo, General Manager of Chongqing Credit Information Center, the“Carbon Benefit Pass” platform has already registered over 3.5 million individual users and has cumulatively established nearly 20 low-carbon application scenarios, with the platform's construction showing initial success. Li Xingwang, General Manager of the Phoenix Smart Factory of Seres Automobile, introduced that as a representative enterprise of green and low-carbon development in the Chongqing new energy vehicle industry, Seres has integrated green concepts into the entire lifecycle of its products through technological innovation, ecological integration, and corporate governance, continuously promoting the low-carbon development of the automotive industry. Another Chongqing-based company, Sanfeng Environment, shared its achievements and experience in waste-to-energy incineration as a form of green electricity and resource recycling, arousing great interest among the participants. Leveraging platforms to gather resources for practical green and low-carbon cooperation Cui Dandan expressed her expectation of future cooperation with Chongqing in the field of green and low-carbon development under the BRI, relying on high-level events such as the Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference, the China Corner Side Event of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the "Green Silk Road Journey" international communication activities, to share the story of the construction of a Beautiful Chongqing with the international community. Liu Jiang, Director of the China Quality Certification Center, stated that he hoped to promote the pilot implementation of green and low-carbon development in the Chengdu-Chongqing region through various means such as technical exchanges and project cooperation, making it a model for green development under the BRI. Chen Peichang, CEO of the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency, said that the agency was willing to work with financial institutions to design innovative green financial products tailored to the needs of the Chinese mainland, attract domestic and foreign investors to participate in more green projects, and support enterprises in making precise decisions during green transformation. International experts at the dialogue believed that China's practical experience in green and low-carbon development was worthy of reference. Fabby Tumiwa, Executive Director of the Indonesia Infrastructure Reform Institute, said that China's active response to climate change and pursuit of green and low-carbon development were not merely theoretical but were demonstrably implemented through concrete projects. Mustafa Hyder Sayed also echoed this sentiment, citing Chongqing's green and low-carbon development practices as a compelling example for other countries and encouraging businesses in various countries to learn from China's experience to promote international cooperation on green projects. (Contributed by Wang Songtao and Zhou Kai) MENAFN16122024003238003268ID1108999837 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. 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Christmas and the holiday season can bring about special memories that you hold on to. You may remember visiting family and friends. Remember special toys that Santa brought you. Special foods that you have only this time of year. These special memories are part of your family traditions. Traditions are a key to strong families because they build strong relationships between generations. It may include attending Christmas programs. Attending Candlelight church services. It may be sharing the preparation of a special recipe. The important part is the conversation that takes place about who first made it and how this recipe tradition got started. Be sure to share your special memories with your children, grandchildren and friends. Traditions also make the holidays special just by bringing people together. Even though traditions are important, they can cause stress as well. Don’t be afraid to bend them a bit if necessary. Including traditions from all family members, even those who are new to the family and bring with them traditions that may seem foreign to you but are tradition to you. Don’t become stressed by a tradition, make it fit your situation. Here are some tips for your Holiday traditions. Just because Grandma made all the food from scratch for Christmas dinner doesn’t mean you have to. Don’t feel guilty about buying food for a special meal, especially if time is limited. Use recipes that are simple or ones you are familiar with. Serve fewer foods. Let family members help, when someone offers to bring part of the meal, say yes. Remember others who are less fortunate. You can volunteer to serve a holiday meal to a family or person who you know may be alone. Donate your time to a food pantry or hosting a food drive. Take a break from technology. While you may be tempted to look at your phone. Put it away and take time to be with family and friends. You don’t have to exchange gifts to be with others at Christmas. Being together and visiting can be the best gift. Stay positive, not every family tradition is good. Sometimes they can bring tension and challenges. Be sensitive to this and don’t give up of family ties. Adapt to change. This might be a time to alter some of those traditions. Maybe compromising to generational differences in the family. Source: Ohio State Extension
( MENAFN - GetNews) "prominent players in the orthopedic implants market are Stryker Corporation (US), Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (US), Johnson & Johnson MedTech (US), Smith+Nephew (UK), B. Braun (Germany)."Browse 163 market data Tables and 60 Figures spread through 259 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Orthopedic Implants Market by Product (Knee, Hip, Elbow, Ankle, Shoulder, Foot, Wrist), Material (Metals: Stainless Steel, Titanium Alloy, Cobalt Chromium, Nitinol; Polymers, Ceramics, Hybrid), End user (Hospitals, ASCs, Trauma) - Global Forecast to 2029 The global orthopedic implants market is projected to grow USD 26.47 billion in 2029 from USD 20.94 billion in 2024, at a CAGR of 4.8% from 2024 to 2029. Technology improvements, rising opportunities in developing markets, increase in prevalence of orthopedic disorders, and the increasing old-age population are contributing factors to the growth of orthopedic implant market. Orthopedic disorders such osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and fractures are more likely to occur in geriatric people. The need for orthopedic implants to improve mobility and quality of life with these problems has increased because of the demographic transition. Along with the market's steady growth, there has been a rise in the number of orthopedic procedures and awareness related to the benefits of orthopedic surgeries. Download PDF Brochure: Browse in-depth TOC on " Orthopedic Implants Market " 163 - Tables 60 - Figures 259 - Pages The orthopedic implants market is segmented based on type into knee implants, hip implants, shoulder implants, elbow implants, foot & ankle implants, wrist implants, and other implants - knee segment is expected to hold major share of the market in 2023. The increase in number of revision knee surgical procedures and rising prevalence of knee osteoarthritis is driving the growth of this segment. According to NHS inform more than 70,000 knee replacements are performed in England and Wales each year. In 2022, the primary and revision hip and knee arthroplasty procedures performed are 3,149,042 during the time of 2012 and 2022 which is 23% growth in procedural cases (Source: American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons). By material, the orthopedic implants market is segmented into metal and metal alloys, ceramics, polymers and hybrid implants. In 2023, the metal and metal alloys segment held a significant share of the market 2023. The growth in this segment is driven by high strength and resistance to wear than any other material. Many of the metal alloys are compatible to imaging methods such as X-rays and CT scan that help in postoperative monitoring further supporting the growth of the segment. Regarding end users, the orthopedic implants market is fragmented into hospitals & surgical centers and ambulatory & trauma care centers. The major share of the market was contributed by hospitals & surgical centers segment in 2023. Increasing funding opportunities and rising focus on healthcare research by private and public entities are fuelling the market's growth. Furthermore, increasing number of hospitals which are equipped with advanced surgical equipment support the growth of the segment. The orthopedic implants market is segmented by region into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. In 2023, North America region accounted for the major market share, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. The significant share of North America in this market is attributed to the strong existence of key players, rising number of fractures, increasing medical tourism. Factors such as increasing healthcare expenditure and growing popularity for various orthopedic treatments support the market growth in this region. Request Sample Pages: The orthopedic implants market is consolidated. As of 2023, the key players operating in the global orthopedic implants market are Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (US), Stryker Corporation (US), Johnson & Johnson MedTech (US), Smith+Nephew (UK), B. Braun (Germany). In 2023, Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (US), Stryker Corporation (US), Johnson & Johnson MedTech (US) held a major share of the orthopedic implants market. These players have adopted key strategies such as acquisitions, partnerships, and expansions in the last four to five years. Stryker Corporation (US): Stryker Corporation is among the leading companies in the global the company has a strong presence in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific, with its brand presence in more than 75 countries across the globe market. The company has a strong presence in North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific, with its brand presence in more than 75 countries across the globe. The company offers orthopedic implants through other Orthopedics & Spine division segment. The company focuses on enhancing its product portfolio and continuous innovation and developing new products to sustain its leading position in the market. Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc. (US): Zimmer Biomet is a medical device company that develops, manufactures, and markets a wide range of healthcare products. The company offers orthopedic implants through its Knees, Hips, and S.E.T segments. The company has a strong geographic presence across countries such as France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, Switzerland, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, China, Taiwan, India, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia. Also, the company has a wide distribution network across Benelux, Nordic, Central & Eastern Europe, and the Middle East & Africa. Zimmer Biomet has a strong brand value among orthopedic implants end users, strong R&D capabilities, and a robust product portfolio. Johnson & Johnson MedTech (US): Johnson & Johnson MedTech is another major player operating in the orthopedic implants market. The company is engaged in the R&D, manufacturing, and marketing of orthopedic implants and other healthcare products across the globe. It offers orthopedic implants under the MedTech business segment. The company is dedicated to research & innovation to forge and unveil novel offerings that optimize patient results. The company collaborated with CrossRoads Extremity Systems (US) to improve orthopedic care and MedTech devices using new ideas, hoping to give patients better health results. The company holds a significant market share in over 60 nations across diverse territories such as North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Africa. For more information, Inquire Now! MENAFN16122024003238003268ID1108999840 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.AP News Summary at 3:01 p.m. EST
Cybersecurity Certification Market Future Scope, Size, Share, Growing Trends & Demand, Opportunities, Key Segments And Forecast To 2030
Autel IMEA Hosts Annual Partners Summit and Gala Dinner, Launches New EV Chargers and Advanced Automotive Diagnostic Solutions, and Continues Its Commitment to Sustainability through Mangrove Tree Planting Initiative
Unlock Your Dream Job: Top 10 Data Science Job Profiles in 2025Exploring Space and Neurotherapeutics at the 2025 Ultrasound Event: A Journey into the Future of Medical UltrasoundWhen the NCAA's playing rules oversight committee this past spring approved the use of coach-to-player helmet communications in games for the 2024 season, Kolpacki, Michigan State's head football equipment manager, knew the Spartans' QBs and linebackers were going to have a problem. "There had to be some sort of solution," he said. As it turns out, there was. And it was right across the street. Kolpacki reached out to Tamara Reid Bush, a mechanical engineering professor who not only heads the school's Biomechanical Design Research Laboratory but also is a football season ticket-holder. Kolpacki "showed me some photos and said that other teams had just put duct tape inside the (earhole), and he asked me, 'Do you think we can do anything better than duct tape,?" Bush said. "And I said, 'Oh, absolutely.'" Bush and Rylie DuBois, a sophomore biosystems engineering major and undergraduate research assistant at the lab, set out to produce earhole inserts made from polylactic acid, a bio-based plastic, using a 3D printer. Part of the challenge was accounting for the earhole sizes and shapes that vary depending on helmet style. Once the season got underway with a Friday night home game against Florida Atlantic on Aug. 30, the helmets of starting quarterback Aidan Chiles and linebacker Jordan Turner were outfitted with the inserts, which helped mitigate crowd noise. DuBois attended the game, sitting in the student section. "I felt such a strong sense of accomplishment and pride," DuBois said. "And I told all my friends around me about how I designed what they were wearing on the field." All told, Bush and DuBois have produced around 180 sets of the inserts, a number that grew in part due to the variety of helmet designs and colors that are available to be worn by Spartan players any given Saturday. Plus, the engineering folks have been fine-tuning their design throughout the season. Dozens of Bowl Subdivision programs are doing something similar. In many cases, they're getting 3D-printed earhole covers from XO Armor Technologies, which provides on-site, on-demand 3D printing of athletic wearables. The Auburn, Alabama-based company has donated its version of the earhole covers to the equipment managers of programs ranging from Georgia and Clemson to Boise State and Arizona State in the hope the schools would consider doing business with XO Armor in the future, said Jeff Klosterman, vice president of business development. XO Armor first was approached by the Houston Texans at the end of last season about creating something to assist quarterback C.J. Stroud in better hearing play calls delivered to his helmet during road games. XO Armor worked on a solution and had completed one when it received another inquiry: Ohio State, which had heard Michigan State was moving forward with helmet inserts, wondered if XO Armor had anything in the works. "We kind of just did this as a one-off favor to the Texans and honestly didn't forecast it becoming our viral moment in college football," Klosterman said. "We've now got about 60 teams across college football and the NFL wearing our sound-deadening earhole covers every weekend." The rules state that only one player for each team is permitted to be in communication with coaches while on the field. For the Spartans, it's typically Chiles on offense and Turner on defense. Turner prefers to have an insert in both earholes, but Chiles has asked that the insert be used in only one on his helmet. Chiles "likes to be able to feel like he has some sort of outward exposure," Kolpacki said. Exposure is something the sophomore signal-caller from Long Beach, California, had in away games against Michigan and Oregon this season. Michigan Stadium welcomed 110,000-plus fans for the Oct. 26 matchup between the in-state rivals. And while just under 60,000 packed Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon, for the Ducks' 31-10 win over Michigan State three weeks earlier, it was plenty loud. "The Big Ten has some pretty impressive venues," Kolpacki said. "It can be just deafening," he said. "That's what those fans are there for is to create havoc and make it difficult for coaches to get a play call off." Something that is a bit easier to handle thanks to Bush and her team. She called the inserts a "win-win-win" for everyone. "It's exciting for me to work with athletics and the football team," she said. "I think it's really exciting for our students as well to take what they've learned and develop and design something and see it being used and executed."
Dec 27 (Reuters) - U.S. officials have added a ninth telecommunications company to the list of entities compromised by a sweeping Chinese-linked cyberespionage operation known as Salt Typhoon, a top White House official said Friday. Anne Neuberger, the U.S. deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology, told reporters on a call that the unnamed telecom was added to the list after the U.S. government shared guidance on how to detect and defend against the operation. Officials have previously alleged that the attackers targeted Verizon, AT&T, Lumen and others. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency on Dec. 18 urged senior government and political figures to move mobile communications to end-to-end encrypted apps as a result of the Salt Typhoon campaign, which has targeted officials associated with the campaign of former Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance, according to reports. Officials have said "a large number of Americans' metadata was taken" as part of the campaign. Chinese officials have previously described the allegations as disinformation and said Beijing "firmly opposes and combats cyber attacks and cyber theft in all forms." Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, a Democrat from New Mexico, called Salt Typhoon the "largest telecommunications hack in our nation's history" during a Dec. 11 hearing, while Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz said the U.S. "must plug any vulnerabilities in communications networks." Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said Dec. 5 her agency was proposing rules requiring telecommunications carriers to secure their networks in light of the Salt Typhoon revelations. Neuberger said Friday that the "Chinese gained access to networks and essentially had broad and full access," giving them the capability to "geolocate millions of individuals, to record phone calls at will," and that updated FCC rules could help limit the scope and impact of future intrusions. Sign up here. Editing by Chizu Nomiyama Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab Thomson Reuters Cybersecurity correspondent covering cybercrime, nation-state threats, hacks, leaks and intelligence
NoneHitachi Rail invests in cutting edge CBTC signalling technology. Train passes through tunnel using digital signalling Hitachi Rail aims to develop a new generation of its CBTC technology, SelTracTM (G9), which will integrate artificial intelligence (AI), 5G communications, edge and cloud computing. The next generation system will offer transit operators worldwide lower costs, minimized carbon footprint and enhanced passenger experience. The investment includes the expansion of Hitachi Rail's workforce in Toronto, Ontario, creating 100 new jobs and retaining 1,000 highly skilled positions in its York Mills office, including R&D and engineering roles. "The over $100 million investment in the next generation of our world-leading SelTracTM technology is hugely exciting - and we are grateful to the Government of Ontario and Invest Ontario for their support,” said Ziad Rizk, Managing Director, Urban Rail Signalling, Hitachi Rail . "By integrating AI, 5G, edge and cloud computing, our system will allow urban rail transportation operators around the globe to improve passenger journeys and operate more efficiently. This Ontario-invented technology is a Canadian success story that is creating jobs and boosting economic growth.” CBTC is a modern urban signalling system that uses wireless communication between trains and infrastructure to operate urban transit and subway systems more efficiently and safely than conventional signalling. SelTracTM, invented in Ontario, is the world's first moving block CBTC signalling system, currently operating in more than 100 lines in 40 major cities around the world including the O-Train in Ottawa. Ontario, home to one of the largest tech clusters in North America, is renowned for its strength in AI, automation and connectivity technologies. The province's expertise in smart mobility, combined with Hitachi Rail's global competence centre, makes Ontario the natural place to develop next-generation digital solutions for urban rail and metros. "As one of the largest and most sought-after tech hubs in North America, Ontario is driving the development of next-generation technologies that will strengthen economic growth across key sectors, including automation and transportation,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade . "Through Invest Ontario, we are proud to support Hitachi Rail's expansion in Toronto and thank them for choosing our province as the ideal place for their continued growth and success.” The company's York Mills office in Toronto serves as its engineering centre of excellence, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities including labs, testing areas, and simulation environments. This expansion adds to Hitachi Rail's growing presence in Canada that includes around 1,200 employees across the country, who are delivering and maintaining major transit projects in Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Ottawa. Toronto is home to the company's international urban transit signalling technology business, as well as large program teams based downtown and Mississauga that are delivering major new transit infrastructure, like the Ontario Line and Hurontario. "Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is investing $70 billion in the largest transit expansion in North America, connecting millions more Ontarians to reliable and affordable public transit. Today's announcement means Hitachi Rail will be helping even more workers gain the critical expertise needed to deliver Ontario's generational projects,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation . "Hitachi Rail's investment is a testament to Ontario's strengths in future technologies that are transforming industries from manufacturing to transportation. We are excited to support the company in advancing a made-in-Ontario technology that keeps cities around the world on the move,” said Jennifer Block, Interim CEO of Invest Ontario . In support of this investment, Ontario is providing $4.5 million in funding through the Invest Ontario Fund . Contact: Adam Love, Hitachi Rail on +1 (437) 234 4024, [email protected] Notes to the editors: Hitachi Rail invented moving block CBTC technology in 1974 in Toronto with the support of the Ontario government. Since then, it has evolved into the world's leading technology for urban rail and transit systems. The investment in G9 coincides with the 50 th anniversary of the invention of the original technology. We have deployed CBTC technology in Ottawa, Montreal, London, Hong Kong, Doha, New York, Chile, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the UAE in the past 10 years. About Hitachi Rail Hitachi Rail is committed to driving the sustainable mobility transition and has a clear focus on partnering with customers to rethink mobility. Its mission is to help every passenger, customer and community enjoy the benefits of more connected, seamless and sustainable transport. With revenues of over €7bn and 24,000 employees across more than 50 countries, Hitachi Rail is a trusted partner to the world's best transport organisations. The company's reach is global, but the business is local - with success built on developing local talent and investing in people and communities. Its international capabilities and expertise span every part of the urban, mainline and freight rail ecosystems - from high quality manufacturing and maintenance of rolling stock to secure digital signalling, smart operations and payment systems. Hitachi Rail, famous for Japan's iconic high speed bullet train, draws on the digital and AI expertise of Hitachi Group companies to accelerate innovation and develop new technologies. Hitachi Group is present in 140 countries with over 270,000 employees and global revenues of €54.55bn / ¥8,564 bn. For more information, visit hitachirail.com . A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b33bb2d6-81f0-4e40-9dd0-f3e21c70080e
Top bosses from the renewable energy sector are pushing for a greener future, urging housebuilders to fit solar panels on every new home. The call to action has been directed at Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband , with hopes they will support the so-called Sunshine Bill set for discussion in the Commons early next year. The bill, championed by Liberal Democrat MP Max Wilkinson and scheduled for debate on January 17, aims to legally require new homes to be equipped with solar panels. Wilkinson has described the initiative as "just really, really obvious", highlighting its potential to cut carbon emissions and reduce living costs. “Taking this one simple step would pay back to new homeowners, via lower energy bills, in just a few short years, helping protect homeowners from high and fluctuating energy bills,” according to the letter. It continued: “Pressure on the wider grid would be reduced and the likely outcome would be a reduction in the country’s emissions too, in line with climate change targets.” The letter, signed by figures including Ecotricity CEO Asif Rehmanwala and E. On Next's director of residential newbuild Matthew Hart, points out: "The twin crises of high energy bills and climate change present this country with many challenges, but there are also a number of solutions that could be relatively easily implemented." They believe that incorporating solar energy into new residential buildings is one such solution. Mr Wilkinson remarked: "Following the shortest day of the year (Saturday), it’s time the Government finally commits to a sunnier future." He shared with the PA news agency: "One of the things that I think is just really, really obvious is that when we’re building new homes, they should be built to high standards of energy efficiency and that they should include renewable energy generation because that’s good for the planet, but also, it’s really, really good for people’s bills." "We all know that we’ve had the energy bills crisis over the last few years and fuel bills for households remain stubbornly high, so it seems obvious that we should put solar panels on the roofs of houses, so those bills are going to be lower." The Cheltenham MP described the cost of adding solar panels as "marginal" compared to the overall cost of constructing a home, stating it "pays back to the new homeowner within five or six years anyway, so it really is a win-win". In response to questions about the potential of the Sunshine Bill – formally known as the New Homes (Solar Generation) Bill – to combat climate change, Mr Wilkinson said: "There are the big international impacts that you’re talking about on climate change, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t make those marginal gains locally where we can, particularly when they can have a really profound positive impact on people’s day-to-day lives." He expressed his Christmas wish, saying: "All I want this Christmas is for the Government to support the Sunshine Bill. Lower energy bills would be the perfect gift not just for me, but for the nation." In an October press release, a Government spokesperson stated that they "want solar panels on as many new homes as possible, because they are a vital technology to help cut bills for families, boost our national energy security, and help deliver net zero". However, the press release also confirmed that a final decision on the typical number of solar panels to be included in new homes is "yet to be made", emphasising that it is "a fundamental principle of building regulations that we do not constrain innovation by prescribing any specific technology". Mr Miliband has previously shown support for Mr Wilkinson’s proposal, stating in the Commons last Tuesday when asked about plans for "new homes to come with solar panels on the roof as standard": "I am very, very sympathetic to this, and we are in discussions with our colleagues across Government and watch this space." Looking for more from MyLondon? Subscribe to our daily newsletters here for the latest and greatest updates from across London.Egypt and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) are strengthening their partnership, with the IFC investing approximately $600m in three major Egyptian private sector companies. This was announced following a meeting between Minister of Planning and Economic Development and International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat and IFC Vice President for Africa Sérgio Pimenta during Pimenta’s visit to Egypt. The meeting, held at the ministry’s headquarters in the New Administrative Capital, also included Cheikh Oumar Sylla, IFC Regional Director for North Africa and the Horn of Africa, and senior officials from the corporation. Al-Mashat welcomed Pimenta, highlighting the significant role of the IFC, the largest international multilateral institution focused on private sector empowerment in emerging markets, in bolstering macroeconomic stability. Al-Mashat emphasised the importance of the $600m investment in promoting green transformation, climate action, sustainability, and the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). “These investments unleash the potential of the private sector and boost its involvement in development efforts,” she said. She further stated, “Our national vision aims to enhance the private sector’s participation in economic activities through building strong partnerships. The IFC has always been a key partner in achieving these goals. The newly announced investments are a testament to our shared commitment to fostering inclusive and sustainable economic development and advancing climate resilience. This collaboration underscores the essential role of the private sector in building a sustainable and resilient future.” Al-Mashat also stressed the importance of international partnerships in providing access to development financing and innovative financial tools, such as blended finance, for the Egyptian private sector. She noted the World Bank’s unified guarantee platform as a means for private sector companies to diversify their financing sources and increase investments. The Ministry of Planning and Economic Development and International Cooperation, she added, is working through the “Framework for Sustainability & Financing for Economic Development” to integrate domestic and foreign financing to accelerate development and promote evidence-based economic development policies. The meeting also covered developments in the strategic partnership with the IFC under the Country Partnership Framework with the World Bank Group until 2027, including the IFC’s advisory role in the Government Privatization Program. Ongoing cooperation in renewable energy, healthcare development, and other sectors was also reviewed. Since its establishment in Egypt in 1975, the IFC has invested and mobilized approximately $9bn in investment projects and maintains a portfolio of advisory operations worth $24m. The IFC’s support to the private sector in Egypt focuses on areas such as financial technology, climate finance, manufacturing, infrastructure projects, renewable energy, healthcare, and gender equality.
Matt Gaetz says he won't return to Congress next year after withdrawing name for attorney general
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Google, already facing a possible breakup of the company over its ubiquitous search engine, is fighting to beat back another attack by the U.S. Department of Justice alleging monopolistic conduct, this time over technology that puts online advertising in front of consumers. The Justice Department and Google are scheduled to make closing arguments Monday in a trial alleging Google’s advertising technology constitutes an illegal monopoly. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Va., will decide the case and is expected to issue a written ruling by the end of the year. If Brinkema finds Google has engaged in illegal, monopolistic conduct, she will then hold further hearings to explore what remedies should be imposed. The Justice Department, along with a coalition of states, has already said it believes Google should be forced to sell off its ad tech business, which generates tens of billions of dollars annually for the Mountain View, Calif.-based company. After roughly a month of trial testimony earlier this year, the arguments in the case remain the same. The Justice Department contends Google built and maintained a monopoly in “open-web display advertising,” essentially the rectangular ads that appear on the top and right-hand side of the page when one browses websites. Google dominates all facets of the market: A technology called “DoubleClick” is used pervasively by news sites and other online publishers, while “Google Ads” maintains a cache of advertisers large and small looking to place their ads on the right webpage in front of the right consumer. In between is another Google product, AdExchange, that conducts nearly instantaneous auctions matching advertisers to publishers. In court papers, Justice Department lawyers say Google “is more concerned with acquiring and preserving its trifecta of monopolies than serving its own publisher and advertiser customers or winning on the merits.” As a result, content providers and news organizations have never been able to generate the online revenue they should due to Google’s excessive fees for brokering transactions between advertisers and publishers, the government says. Google argues the government’s case improperly focuses on a narrow niche of online advertising. If one looks more broadly at online advertising to include social media, streaming TV services, and app-based advertising, Google says it controls only 25% of the market, a share that is dwindling as it faces increased and evolving competition. Google alleges in court papers that the government’s lawsuit “boil(s) down to the persistent complaints of a handful of Google’s rivals and several mammoth publishers.” Google also says it has invested billions in technology that facilitates the efficient match of advertisers to interested consumers and it should not be forced to share its technology and success with competitors. “Requiring a company to do further engineering work to make its technology and customers accessible by all of its competitors on their preferred terms has never been compelled by U.S. antitrust law,” the company wrote. The Virginia case is separate from an ongoing lawsuit brought against Google in the District of Columbia over its namesake search engine. In that case, the judge determined the search engine constitutes an illegal monopoly but has not decided what remedy to impose. The Justice Department said last week it will seek to force Google to sell its Chrome Web browser, among a host of other penalties. Google has said the department’s request is overkill and unhinged from legitimate regulation.Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen was released from the hospital Friday after spending five nights at the Nebraska Medical Center for treatment of injuries sustained in a horse-riding accident. Pillen was injured when he was bucked off a horse while riding with family members near Columbus on Sunday. He broke seven ribs on his left side and suffered injuries to his spleen and kidney, as well as a fractured vertebrae in his lower back. Two of his ribs were broken twice. After he was stabilized at Columbus Community Hospital, Pillen was taken by helicopter to the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. He has undergone two surgeries: A minimally invasive procedure to cauterize bleeding in his spleen on Monday, and a rib fixation surgery on Christmas night that placed nine titanium plates in his chest. Pillen’s doctors said on Friday that the governor was “very uncomfortable” before the rib fixation surgery but has been an “ideal patient” who is eager and anxious to recover. "He had a lot of movement of those rib fractures, including some popping," Dr. Zach Bauman, who performed the rib fixation surgery, said. "We were able to stabilize and restore normal respiratory function to his left chest, and since that time, he's been doing very well." During both surgeries — the first of which took less than an hour, and the second about three hours — Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly served as active governor, as is required under the Nebraska Constitution. Pillen made arrangements to work from his hospital room during his stay, according to his office. He was back at the Governor's Mansion by mid-afternoon, a spokeswoman told the Nebraska Examiner. Bauman said the governor was already asking when he could get back on his horse. "I think he is eager to do that, but we'll see how things progress," Bauman said. People are also reading... Lincoln native purchases Michael Jordan's iconic Chicago mansion for $9.5 million Here's a list of Lincoln restaurants open on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen hospitalized at UNMC after falling from horse Inside Matt Rhule's 'pretty insane gesture' of getting former Huskers to the Pinstripe Bowl Nebraska volleyball libero Lexi Rodriguez signs to play with Omaha pro team Man killed by brother in Lincoln apartment complex shooting, police say Teenage brother charged as adult in Christmas Eve shooting death 'Multiple wins for me': Lincoln North Star rallies from double-digit deficit hours after coach's son is born Man killed in Friday night crash north of Lincoln Honor walk pays tribute to Lincoln man who made organ donation Nebraska Gov. 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