Latest News
-
NFL-Cowboys Defensive End Kneeland Dead at 24
The Dallas Cowboys and the NFL announced that Marshawn Kneeland, a defensive end for the Dallas Cowboys, died Thursday morning at age 24. He was in the second season of his career with the team. No details were immediately available about the cause of his death. It occurred three days after he had scored his first touchdown in a career. The Dallas Cowboys posted a statement on their website expressing the extreme sadness they felt at the news that Marshawn Knieland had tragically died this morning. "Marshawn is a beloved member of our team and organization. Marshawn's girlfriend Catalina, and his family are in our thoughts and prayers. Kneeland, a 2024 second-round pick from Western Michigan, was selected by the draft board in the second round. The NFL released a statement saying that it was "deeply saddened" by the news of Marshawn's death. (Reporting from Amy Tennery, New York; additional reporting by Rohith Niair; editing by Alex Richardson).
-
EDF plans to build 30 small modular reactors in 2050. The design is planned for 2026.
A senior executive at the state-owned French utility EDF said that the company aims to complete the conceptual design for a small modular nuclear reactor by the end of next year. The goal is to be able to compete on a global market where the demand for this new technology has been increasing. Julien Garrel is the CEO of Nuward's small modular reactor division. He said that by 2050 the company hopes to have 30 small reactors operational. EDF will pull back from the international markets with its larger reactors. However, small modular reactors are marketed to industries that require a lot of power such as metallurgy or data centres. A SMALL MODULAR RACTOR HAS NOT BEEN PRODUCED IN MASS. The small modular reactor is not yet mass-produced, but dozens are racing to put their technology on the market. This smaller scale is seen as an effective power supply solution that has a lower entry barrier than expensive traditional reactors. EDF announced last year that they had abandoned their own design of small modular reactors in favor of proven technologies. Garrel said that Nuward's small nuclear reactor will produce 400 megawatts and 115 Megawatts heat. This makes it suitable for providing stable baseload electricity to industry. The first prototype is expected to be online in 2035 Garrel stated that the first prototype should be operational in 2035. Garrel added that one reactor per year will follow until there are four in both countries. He said: "We're confident that we can deliver electricity and heating at a price competitive with the market, and there will be a demand for us." Thorizon, a competitor in Europe, is aiming to have a reactor operational by 2030. Newcleo has a 2031 prototype deadline. OPG Canada has already begun work on its first prototype of its boiling water nuclear reactor. EDF's spokesperson stated that there is no guarantee that the small modular reactors would be built in France, and they could also be built elsewhere in Europe. Garrel stated that the French government, industrial clients, banks, and private investment funds are expected to provide funding. EDF plans to make its final investment decision in its six EPR2 large-scale reactors, for the home market. The company expects to deliver these by the second half 2026. (Reporting and editing by Conor Humphries; Forrest Crellin)
-
Gold prices rise as US tariffs and shutdown uncertainty boost demand
Gold prices rose Thursday, just below $4,000 an ounce. This was due to a weaker US dollar, a surge in demand for safe-haven assets, and concerns about a prolonged U.S. shutdown, as well as uncertainty regarding the legality and validity of tariffs. By 09:43 am, spot gold had risen 0.4% to $3.998.65 an ounce. ET (1207 GMT). U.S. Gold Futures for December Delivery gained 0.3% to $4.005.40 an ounce. Dollar fell by 0.3%, after reaching a four-month peak in the previous session. This made gold more affordable for holders of other currencies. Benchmark U.S. Treasury yields for 10-year securities were down by 1.3%. Peter Grant, senior metals analyst at Zaner Metals and vice president, said that the U.S. shutdown of government and the doubts of U.S. Supreme Court Justices about the legality and sweeping tariffs of U.S. Donald Trump are causing a "revival of the haven bid". "I'd say that a reasonable target for the end of the year is in the range between $4,300 and $4,400/oz." Gold is a good hedge in times of uncertainty. Gold is a non-yielding investment that also performs well in environments with low interest rates. Markets expect that the U.S. Federal Reserve will cut interest rates again in December. The monetary policy outlook may be revealed by a number of Fed officials who are scheduled to speak in the afternoon. The ADP report on Wednesday showed that private employers in the United States added 42,000 new jobs in October. This was above the forecast of 28,000, according to ADP. SP Angel wrote in a report that it would be surprising if gold remained rangebound at $4,000/oz, as speculative money exits the market. Central bank purchases will remain the main positive tailwind for gold going forward. The price of spot silver increased by 0.4%, to $48.24 an ounce. Platinum was down 0.2%, at $1,568.26. Palladium dropped 1.3%, to $1401.14. (Reporting from Noel John in Bengaluru and Pablo Sinha, with additional reporting by Kavya Baliaraman. Editing by Sahal Muhammad)
-
French artist strikes red figures in Amsterdam's canals to protest climate change
James Colomina, a French artist, has created a life-sized red figure that is floating in an Amsterdam canal with a flag saying "I'm Fine" as a protest against global climate policy. One of the second red paintings by Colomina is of a young child painting the waterline of a canal far above its current level. Amsterdam is below sea level like a third or so of the Netherlands. This area has a vast system of canals, dikes and pumps that keep it dry. Climate change is a serious emergency. "Climate transcends all boundaries, all beliefs, and all opinions," Colomina stated about the installations. "We are no longer discussing politics but survival." "Through my work, I remind people of the urgency." Daniel Lawless, a 64-year-old Canadian tourist, was initially confused when he first saw the "I am fine" artwork. He thought it depicted a drunk Dutchman. When he realized it was about climate change, the artwork took on a new meaning. When you think about it, and the fact that climate change is involved, it makes you wonder, "Wow, how serious can it be?" He said, "We really have to think about it and look at it." The red statues of Colomina have been seen all over the world, including in New York, where Donald Trump emerged from a manhole, in Central Park in Russia, riding a toy-tank, and in Ukraine and Spain, with peace statues. (Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout Hilde Verweij, Editing by Alexandra Hudson)
-
EDF plans to build 30 small modular reactors in 2050. The design is planned for 2026.
A senior executive at the state-owned French utility EDF said that the company aims to complete the design for a small modular nuclear reactor by the end of next year. The goal is to be able to compete on a global market where the demand for this new technology has been increasing. Julien Garrel is the CEO of Nuward's small modular reactor division. He said that by 2050, Nuward aims to put up to 30 small reactors into service. EDF will pull back from the international markets with its larger reactors. However, small modular reactors are marketed to industries that require a lot of power such as metallurgy or data centres. A SMALL MODULAR RACTOR HAS NOT BEEN PRODUCED IN MASS. The small modular reactor is not yet mass-produced, but dozens are racing to put their technology on the market. This smaller scale is seen as an effective power supply solution that has a lower entry barrier than expensive traditional reactors. EDF announced last year that they had abandoned their own design of small modular reactors in favor of proven technologies. Garrel said that Nuward's small nuclear reactor will produce 400 megawatts and 115 Megawatts heat. This makes it suitable for providing stable baseload electricity to industry. The first prototype is expected to be online in 2035 Garrel stated that the first prototype should be operational in 2035. Garrel added that one reactor per year will follow until there are four reactors in both countries. He said: "We're confident that we can deliver electricity and heating at a price competitive with the market, and there will be a demand for us." EDF's spokesperson stated that there is no guarantee that the small modular reactors would be built in France, and they could also be constructed in other parts of Europe. Garrel stated that the French government, industrial clients, banks, and private investment funds are expected to provide funding. EDF plans to make its final investment decision in its six EPR2 large-scale reactors for the home market by the second half 2026. (Reporting and editing by Conor Humphries; Forrest Crellin)
-
NRG Energy expects a higher core profit in 2026 due to strong power demand
NRG Energy forecast a core profit of $1.2 billion for the full year 2026, compared to its revised range for 2025. The company's shares rose 1% before the market opened on Thursday due to the surge in power demand. NRG will benefit from the surge in electricity demand in Texas. This is due in part to a boom of data centers that require large, stable power supplies in order to support artificial-intelligence and cloud computing operations. Utility expects a core profit of between $3.93 and $4.18 in 2026, as opposed to its updated guidance for 2025 of $3.88 to $4.03 Billion. NRG received a low-interest loan of $562 million from the Texas Public Utility Commission late in the quarter reported. The funding will begin in September 2025, and continue until 2028. NRG has expanded its partnership with PJM data centers in the quarter reported, signing two long-term retail energy deals totaling 150 MW. The total number of agreements now stands at 445 MW, spread across Electric Reliability Council of Texas sites (ERCOT), and PJM. New facilities are expected to be online between 2028-2032. NRG's Board approved a new share buyback program of $3 billion through 2028, and a 8% increase in dividends to $1.90 - aligning itself with its long-term growth goal of 7-9%. The company has reaffirmed the recently increased profit forecast for this year, which was raised from $7.55 to $8.15. The utility's Texas division saw its core profit increase 38%, to $807 millions, from the previous year. According to LSEG, the Houston-based company posted an adjusted profit per share of $2.78 in the third quarter that ended on September 30. This was compared to analysts' estimates of $2.10, according LSEG. Reporting by Pranav mathur in Bengaluru, Editing by Shailesh kuber
-
Vistra expects higher core earnings in 2026 on the rise in US power demand
Vistra Corp forecast adjusted core profit for 2026 higher than the outlook it gave this year. This reflects its confidence in its expanding power generation portfolio, and its strong demand throughout U.S. market. As it expands its gas-fired energy and clean energy capacities, the Texas-based electricity company expects an adjusted EBITDA of between $6,8 billion and $7.6billion in 2026, up from a forecast range for 2025 of $5.7 to $5.9billion. Vistra's Board also approved an extra $1 billion worth of share buybacks. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, a surge in AI- and cryptocurrency-based data centers combined with the accelerating electricification of homes, businesses and other buildings is expected to drive U.S. electricity demand to record levels by 2025 and 2026. Vistra, to meet the rising demand for electricity, has signed a deal with a nuclear power plant that will supply 1,200 megawatts over a period of 20 years. It also acquired seven natural-gas facilities totaling 2,600MW at a cost of $1.9 billion. The company is also moving forward with the construction of several solar and energy storage projects in Texas, Illinois and California. These are backed by long term power purchase agreements, signed with Microsoft and Amazon. Vistra's third-quarter net income, however, was down to $652m due to the decline of unrealized derivative gains of $1.67bn and increased operating costs. Operating expenses in the quarter July-September increased by 6.3%, to $655 millions.
-
Utility Evergy's forecast for 2025 is lowered due to cooler summers, as the company misses its quarterly profit estimate.
Utility Evergy missed Wall Street's adjusted profit estimates for its third quarter on Thursday and cut the upper end of the adjusted earnings forecast 2025 due to the impact from milder summer weather conditions and higher interest costs. The quarter saw a drop in earnings for utilities like Evergy due to a cooler than normal summer. In a press release, CEO David Campbell stated that while we have implemented cost-saving and mitigation measures across the company, they do not completely offset weather headwinds in the second and third quarters. The high interest rates have made it difficult for utility companies to build and maintain vital infrastructure at a time of rising electricity demand due to the AI-driven boom in data centres. Evergy reported that interest expenses increased 5.63% in the third quarter of 2009, to $152 millions. Operating expenses decreased 2.75% from a year ago to $1.15 Billion. According to LSEG, on an adjusted basis the company reported a profit per share of $2.03, falling short of estimates of $2.06, as per LSEG's data. The company expects its 2025 adjusted profit to range between $3.92 and $4.02 for each share, compared to the previous range of $3.92 and $4.12 shares. Evergy supplies power to over 1.7 million Kansas and Missouri customers through its operating subsidiaries Evergy Kansas Central and Evergy Missouri West. (Reporting from Varun Sahay in Bengaluru, Pooja Meon and Katha Kaalia in Bengaluru. Editing by Vijay Kishore.
Polluted, poor US cities take on 'toxic soup"
New laws open up new routes to cleaning up chokepoints
Concentrate on 'overburdened and poor' areas
Minnesota, New Jersey, New York at vanguard
By Carey L. Biron
State regulators, as well as locals like Roxxanne O’Brien, recognized the factory as a source for lead, chromium, and other pollutants.
As O'Brien concentrated on the fallout of the metals plant on her impoverished neighborhood in north Minneapolis, her eyes widened as she surveyed the other industrial operations that lined the river. Each emitted its own cocktail pollutants.
She calls these levels of combined pollution "cumulative impact" - when pollution from multiple sources is combined and harms human health.
She said that it is especially important in areas with a high minority population, such as the north Minneapolis area, where manufacturing, heavy industry and transportation tend to be concentrated.
The regulators, on the other hand, are more focused on a single operation than they are looking at the consequences of a concentration in whichever area.
O'Brien is hoping to find a solution. She's the co-founder and leader of a group named Community Members for Environmental Justice.
Frontline Communities Protection Act (FCP) is a state statute that establishes a new process of permitting for industries in "environmental justice", impoverished and minority communities.
A law will be passed in 2023 and a framework for implementation is due next May.
After New Jersey and New York, it's the third largest state in the United States.
Supporters of the trend say that local officials are increasingly adopting this new approach to combat pollution in "overburdened communities".
The news comes at a time when President Donald Trump is undermining the national momentum in this area by cutting funding and banning government efforts to promote "diversity and equity" that could have assisted impacted communities avoid pollution.
Industry groups including local chambers and utilities reacted negatively to the Minnesota bill, warning that it could stifle development or duplicate rules already in place.
Fue Lee of Minnesota, the state representative who spearheaded this law, said that the need for change was a "no brainer".
Why do community members continue to ask me for the state to step in when we already have the tools?
NEW JERSEY VANGUARD
In the 1980s, communities became frustrated by regulators who relied on risk analyses that did not reflect the harms they had seen first-hand.
According to the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators, areas that are more racially divided have up to 75% higher concentrations of copper, chromium and lead, and low-income communities suffer from asthma, diabetes, and hypertension.
Ana Baptista of the Tishman Environment and Design Center of the New School, New York, explained that a facility permit could allow a certain level of pollution, but it would not take into consideration other industries polluting the region.
Baptista explained that communities would face a brick wall every time they try to oppose these facilities.
She was instrumental in getting the first law of this kind passed in New Jersey.
The new law strengthens the power of regulators in achieving change and includes local voices as part of the process.
New Jersey regulators issued their first ruling under the new law in May, relating to permits for a recycler plant. They also ordered some changes.
The New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance is a coalition that represents a number of organizations. While applauding this milestone, they said "significantly more should have been done" to protect the overburdened surrounding communities.
According to the Tishman Center, in addition to Minnesota and New York a number of other states and cities, including Maryland, D.C., and Colorado, have proposed similar legislation.
Baptista said that the return of Trump has led many communities to seek help from state legislators, as they do not feel protected by the federal government.
Local Voices
Researchers found in 2019 that Chicago's racially-segregated neighborhoods had the largest life expectancy difference of all US cities - 30 years.
Iyana Simba, a member of the Illinois Environmental Council (a group of 130 advocacy groups) said that clustering industries in some areas has a measurable impact: high rates of cancer, as well as asthma and respiratory diseases.
It's not just a single factory or warehouse. She said that these communities have multiple factories in the same location.
In April, the mayor and other officials introduced a bill on cumulative impacts for an ordinance which could be voted in the coming weeks.
Minnesota is still negotiating how to implement a new law before the deadline of May next year, and they are focusing on "community benefits".
Sasha Lewis Norelle, an activist with COPAL, a group of advocates who work with Minnesota's Latino Community, explained that this could include mitigating the pollution, paying for health problems caused by it, or securing jobs for locals.
(source: Reuters)