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EU to tighten import controls on plastics to aid struggling recyclers
The European Union will implement stricter rules on imports of plastics. This is to help European recycling facilities that are struggling with cheaper imports. Plastics Recyclers Europe, a trade group, says that Europe's plastics recycling industry will lose more capacity by 2025 than it did in any other year. Low-cost imports of plastic and high energy prices are driving closures, including in the Netherlands. It is of particular concern that recycled plastic, which is made?from used material, is mislabeled as virgin plastic, which is a cheap new material made out of fossil fuels. This puts local recyclers in a difficult position because their recycled plastic can't compete on price. The European Commission (EU executive body) announced that it would introduce a 'legal change in the first half 2026, requiring stricter documentation of imported recycled plastics. A second proposal is to 'create separate customs code for recycled plastics and virgin plastics to make it easier to track imports. The Commission stated in a document laying out its plans that "the recycling sector is faced with high energy costs, low prices and instability for virgin plastics (linked to oil price) and competition by imports of cheap materials (often virgin plastics falsely claimed to have been recycled)." Additional measures include EU audits, even outside Europe, of recycling plants and the support of laboratories that conduct control checks to ensure recycled plastic shipments are genuine. Brussels will also examine whether or not it is necessary to introduce trade restrictions. The Commission announced that an EU import surveillance taskforce will monitor plastics imported during the year 2026. The EU imposed antidumping duties on Chinese PET Plastic - used in the manufacture of?bottles- to combat imports that Brussels claimed were so cheap?that they forced EU companies?to sell at a profit to compete. Six European countries including France, Spain, and the Netherlands?asked the EU to take further actions against the imports of low quality recycled plastics that they claimed were being sold for heavily discounted prices. The EU has also proposed rules that specify how products that are chemically recycled can be counted towards the EU's requirements for recycled materials in products. (Editing by Timothy Heritage).
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IS grows in fear as two men are found guilty of plotting to kill hundreds of Jews.
Investigators claim that two men found guilty of plotting to kill hundreds during an Islamic State inspired gun rampage in England against the Jewish Community, shows the risk posed by this militant group. Police and prosecutors claimed that Walid Saadaoui and Amar Hussein were Islamic extremists who wanted to use automatic weapons to kill as many Jews they could. If their plans had been carried out, they would have been responsible for "one of, if not, the deadliest terrorist attacks in UK history", according to Assistant Chief Constable Robert Potts who is in charge of Counter-Terrorism Policing, Northwest England. The convictions of the three men come just a little over a week after 15 people were murdered in a mass shooting on Sydney's Bondi Beach during a Hanukkah celebration. The Islamic State called the Australian attacks a "source for pride". The jihadist group has not claimed responsibility but its response has increased fears of an increase violent Islamist extremism. Although not posing as much of a threat as it did ten years ago, when the Islamic State controlled vast regions of Iraq and Syria. European security officials warn that IS and al Qaeda affiliated groups are once more looking to export 'violence abroad and radicalise would-be attackers on the internet. Last week, British Foreign Secretary Yvette cooper said: "You can start to see some of these terrorism threats growing again and beginning to escalate." Two men are preparing to become Martyrs British prosecutors informed?jurors Saadaoui, and Hussein "embraced the views" and were willing to risk their lives to become "martyrs". Saadaoui arranged to have two assault rifles and an automatic pistol, as well as almost 200 rounds, smuggled in Britain through the port of Dover, when he arrested in May 2024. Saadaoui also said that he planned to collect at least 900 cartridges and obtain two additional rifles. He was unaware that the man he had been trying to obtain weapons from, "Farouk", was actually an undercover agent. This meant that his plan was never implemented. Sandhu claimed that the assault rifles Saadaoui was seeking were the same as those used by a 2015 islamist militant attack in Paris on the Bataclan Concert Hall, which killed 130 people. Sandhu said Saadaoui had "hero worshipped" Abdelhamid Abaaoud who was the mastermind of that 2015 attack on Paris' Bataclan concert hall. Saadaoui wrote in a letter to "Farouk", who he believed to be a fellow militant that the Paris attacks were "the biggest operations after Osama bin Laden", making an apparent reference the attack of September 11, 2001 on the United States. Potts stated that Walid's communication and interaction with the undercover agent, as well as some of his statements, made it clear that he did not consider a less complex attack using less lethal weapons to be good enough. "Because in essence, it was his job and duty to kill as much Jewish people as possible, and that couldn't be done by using a knife, or, perhaps, a vehicle, as a weapon." Saadaoui, Hussein and both had pleaded innocent. Saadaoui claimed that he was afraid for his own life and had participated in the plot. Hussein, who was angry and shouted "How many babies?" from the dock during the first trial day, did not testify nor attend his trial. In an apparent reference Israel's Gaza war. The Preston Crown Court convicted them on one charge of planning terrorist acts. Bilel Saadaoui (36), Walid Saadaoui’s brother, was found guilty for failing to report information about terrorist acts. However, prosectors claimed that he had resisted joining the attack. The threat of an Islamic state is growing The foiled plot was the latest attempt in Britain or elsewhere to be inspired by Islamic State. This group emerged in Iraq and Syria a few years ago, and declared its "caliphate" over all Muslims. It displaced al Qaeda in large part. In the years 2014-17, Islamic State ruled over millions of people in both countries and enforced a brutal, strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law. The?fighters of the Islamic State also committed or inspired attacks on dozens cities in the world. These were often attributed to Islamic State, even if they had no actual link. SITE Intelligence group said that after the Bondi Beach Attack in Australia, IS had encouraged Muslims?to take action elsewhere, especially singling out Belgium. Unnamed European intelligence officials said that IS is flooding social media with propaganda. While this only affects a few people, the increased number of terrorism investigations was greater than last year. Ken McCallum is the head of Britain's MI5, the domestic spy agency. He said that since the beginning of 2020 his service, along with the police, had foiled 19 late-stage plots and countered hundreds of other terrorist threats. McCallum stated that "terrorism is born in the dark corners of the Internet where poisonous ideologies of any kind meet volatile and chaotic lives of individuals." (Reporting from Sam Tobin and Andy Bruce, in London; writing by Michael Holden and editing by Mark Heinrich.
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Silver joins the rally for new highs as gold extends its record run
Silver continued to rise, reaching a new record, and gold reached a new high. A weaker dollar, coupled with persistent geopolitical uncertainties, boosted the demand for this safe-haven. As of 1248 GMT spot gold was up 0.9% at $4,486.34 an ounce. It had previously reached a session record of $4,497.55 per ounce. U.S. gold futures for delivery in February rose by 1.1% to $4,519.90. "Expectations of a dovish Fed; markets losing confidence in?greenback; geopolitical pressures; central bank purchases .... The lust for gold among investors is still massive due to the combination?of factors mentioned above," said Carlo Alberto De Casa. The U.S. Dollar extended its losses for a second day, and was on track to record its largest annual decline since?2017. On the geopolitical side,?U.S. Last week, President Donald Trump ordered a "blockade", which would prevent all sanctioned oil tanks from entering or leaving Venezuela. He also said that he did not rule out war with Venezuela. Markets are pricing in two rate cuts by 2026, as Trump's announcement of a new Federal Reserve Chair?early next season reinforces expectations for dovish policy. Bullion prices have risen by more than 70% in the past year, as investors sought refuge from global tensions and lower interest rates. Silver spot rose 0.9%, to reach $69.63 an ounce. It had previously reached a record high of $69.98. White metal prices have risen by 141% in the past year due to a combination of supply shortages, industrial demand and new investment. Both gold and silver continue to attract strong buying. This behavior suggests that $4.500 and $70 is?being viewed less as hard limits and more as a reference point within ongoing trends. Both metals are therefore firmly supported?for now and the holidays," Ahmad Assiri said, research strategist at Pepperstone. The spot platinum price rose 2.7%, to $2,177.05. This is the highest level in 17 years. Palladium also rose 1.7%, to $1,788.33. This was in line with gold and silver. (Reporting from Pablo Sinha in Bengaluru and Arunima Kumar; editing by Subhranshu Sahu).
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Five killed as Mexican plane carrying burned children crashes near Texas coast
Five people were killed when a Mexican Navy small aircraft crashed off the Texas coast, near Galveston on Monday. The plane was part of a mission for an organization that assists?burn victims and transfers them to the U.S. for treatment. Mexico's Navy Secretariat said that the aircraft was carrying eight people: four?naval and four civilians. Two people are still alive and one person is missing. The aircraft was on an 'assignment to provide specialized medical transportation. The Michou y Mau Foundation, which helps Mexican children with severe burns, coordinated the operation. The Mexican authorities added that investigations?will be conducted to determine the causes of the crash. Reporting by Aida Pélaez-Fernandez Editing Frances Kerry
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Trump: US needs Greenland to ensure security. Envoy is appointed to 'lead charge'
Donald Trump, the president of the United States, reaffirmed on Monday the need for Greenland to ensure the national security of the United States. He said that the special envoy appointed by him would "lead" the charge. Trump appointed Jeff Landry, the governor of Louisiana, as his special representative to Greenland on Sunday. This drew criticism from Denmark and Greenland regarding Washington's interest for this mineral-rich Arctic Island. Trump has argued that Greenland should become a part of the United States. He cited its strategic importance and its mineral resources. Landry, the governor who assumed office in January 2024 publicly supports this idea. "We need Greenland not for minerals, but for national security. You can see Russian and Chinese vessels all along the coast of Greenland. It is vital for our national security. Landry wants to "lead" the charge. Mette Frederiksen, Danish Prime Minister and Jens-Frederik Nilsen, Greenland Prime Minister said earlier in a statement that Greenland belonged to Greenlanders. You cannot annex another nation. They said that they would not annex another country, even if it was a matter of?international safety'. "Greenland belongs exclusively to Greenlanders, and the U.S. will not take it over." Landry thanked Trump in a post he made on X: "It is an honor to serve... as a volunteer in this position to make 'Greenland' a part the U.S." This does not affect my position as the Governor of Louisiana! On Monday, the Trump administration increased pressure on Copenhagen by suspending leases on five large offshore wind projects, two of which were developed by Denmark's Orsted, the state-owned energy company. GREENLANDS STRATEGIC VALUE Greenland is a former Danish Colony with 57,000 people. A 2009 agreement gives it the right to declare its independence, but it remains heavily dependent on Danish subsidies and fishing. The strategic location of the country between Europe and North America is a major site for U.S. missile defence systems, while its rich mineral resources have increased U.S. interests in reducing their reliance on Chinese imports. Greenland's Nielsen posted on Facebook after Trump announced the appointment on Sunday: "We are awoken again by a new announcement made by the U.S. President." It may seem big, but for us it doesn't change anything. "We decide our own destiny." DIPLOMATIC TENSIONS ESCALATE The Danish Foreign Minister, Lars?Lokke Rasmussen, said on Monday that he will summon U.S. The U.S. Ambassador Kenneth Howery had promised "mutual respect" on a recent trip to Greenland. "Out of the blue, there is now a special U.S. Presidential representative who, according him, has been tasked to take over Greenland. Rasmussen said to TV2, "This is of course completely unacceptable." Denmark has been trying to mend strained relations with Greenland in the past year. It also tries to ease tensions between it and the Trump administration, by investing in Arctic defense to 'address U.S. critics of inadequate security. In an Instagram post, Prime Minister Frederiksen stated: "It's a tough situation that our lifetime allies are putting us into." Mikkel Vedby, a professor of political science at the University of Copenhagen said: "This appointment proves that all of the money Denmark invested in Greenland and in the defense of the Arctic as well as all of the nice things we've said to Americans have had no impact at all." Reporting by Siddharth Cavale in New York, Arathy Somasekhar, in Houston, and Jacob GronholtPedersen, in Copenhagen. Additional reporting by Anusha Shah in Bengaluru; Soren Sirich Jenppesen, Stine Jacobsen, and Steve Holland, in Palm Beach. Editing by Gareth Jones, Howard Goller.
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EU expands compensation to industry for costs of emissions regulations
It said that the European Commission would allow energy-intensive industries to get compensation to offset the cost of meeting EU emission?rules. The European Union, under pressure from some member countries and industries, has taken a number of steps to reduce the burden of climate legislation to ensure that European businesses remain competitive. The changes made on Tuesday loosen the rules for so-called state aids, which allow member states to compensate the industries for a portion of the increased power bills that result from the carbon price increase. Commission: The new guidelines will prevent "carbon leakage" which occurs when production is moved to countries outside of the EU that have weaker emission restrictions or when EU products are substituted with more carbon-intensive imports. The 'list of industrial sectors eligible to receive compensation under the EU's emissions trading system has been extended to include 20 additional sectors, such as the production?of organic chemical and certain activities in the ceramic, glass, and battery sectors. The Commission stated that the expansion was necessary because emissions costs have increased significantly in recent times, putting more industries at risk of carbon leakage. (Reporting and editing by Bart Meijer)
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Sinkholes in Turkey’s agricultural heartland cause farmers to be concerned
Due to the dwindling rain and receding water levels, hundreds of sinkholes are appearing in Turkey's agricultural central region. This is causing concern among environmentalists and farmers who view it as an?unsettling sign of climate changes. In Karapinar, Konya, sinkholes are a common sight on farmland that produces?maize?,?wheat? and sugar beet. At times, there can be more than 10 in a single field. Ancient sinkholes in mountainous regions, which were once filled with water, are now mostly dry. According to Fetullah rik, a professor of geology at Konya Technical University who studies sinkholes, the pace at which they form has increased in recent years. The total is now approaching 700. Arik explained that the main reasons for the increase are climate change and the?drought which has affected the entire world since 2000. The groundwater level is decreasing every year as a result. He stated that the rate of groundwater?levels' decline has increased to 4 to 5 metres per year compared to half an metre per annual in the 2000s. This is a cause for concern in Turkey's main agricultural sector. Local farmers are forced to dig additional wells due to the drought and the receding water table. Many of these wells are not licensed, which further depletes the groundwater. Arik added that the demand for water in the Konya basin is extremely high. There are approximately 120,000 wells without licenses compared to 40,000 licensed ones. He said that while the new sinkholes had not yet caused any deaths, they were unpredictable and could endanger the lives of the locals. In the past two years, Mustafa Sik's farm in Karapinar has been ravaged by sinkholes. Sik's brother was working at the farm, a short distance away, in August 2024, when the second sinkhole appeared with a "terrifying, extremely loud rumbling sound." Geologists on Sik's Land found two additional areas where sinkholes may form, but it is impossible to predict when they will occur. "Are we worried? He said, "Of course we are worried." Reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen, Editing by Daren and Alexandra Hudson
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AI data centers force 'peaker power' plants to be brought back into service
The demand for electricity from AI data centers is reviving peaker power plants Peakers emit more pollutants than power plants. The majority of power plants are located in minority and low-income communities By Laila Kearney Dec 23, CHICAGO - A 60s oil-fired plant rises from an industrial site behind Dvorak Park in Chicago's working class Pilsen district. In warmer weather, the park is crowded with children playing on its colorful playground or zooming down slides. Next year, the eight-unit Fisk Power Plant owned by Houston's NRG Energy is scheduled to be retired. The next step was artificial intelligence. As electricity demand from data centers outstripped existing supply, prices shot up on the country's largest power market – PJM Interconnection – alarming about power shortages and making Fisk & other plants like them suddenly profitable. Matt Pistner said that NRG's senior vice president for generation, Matt Pistner, retracted the retirement notice from eight Fisk power-generating units. Fisk is one of a growing number "peaker" units that are being used to power the U.S.'s electrical grid, with the demand for artificial intelligence from Big Tech data centers. Peakers are designed to operate in short bursts when electricity demand spikes. They help prevent blackouts because they can provide power at a moment’s notice. These fossil-fuelled facilities, which are often decades old, emit more pollution and produce more electricity when they're running. The analysis of the filings at the largest power grid in the country shows that 60% of them are for renewable energy sources. PJM has postponed, or even cancelled, plans to retire oil and gas power plants. The majority of plants that avoided shutdowns were peaker units. The Fisk Peakers were built at the site of an old coal-fired power station which operated for more than a century. The coal plant closed in more than a ten-year period after years of opposition from local residents. However, eight peaking units powered by petroleum oil still operate at the site. "We were very disappointed when we learned that the coal station was closing, but still producing power at the site," said Jerry Mead Lucero, a lifelong advocate of the closure of Fisk coal, who lived most of his adult years in Pilsen. Pollution dropped after the coal plant closed, but didn't disappear. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), sulfur dioxide levels at the site ranged between 2 and 25 tons of sulfur dioxide per year, when the peaker plant, which had eight units, occasionally fired up to feed the grid. "That is not a small amount, considering the chimneys and houses nearby," said Brian Urbaszewski. He's Director of Environmental Health Programs for Respiratory Health Association in Illinois, a nonprofit organization that helps people with respiratory diseases. DIRTY POWER According to research by the federal and academic authorities, peakers are often not equipped with pollution controls such as mercury scrubbers that remove toxic chemicals from power plant emissions and filters for particulates. Environmentalists say that some chimneys or smokestacks are lower, which means pollution is more localized. The U.S. administration of Donald Trump may be more aggressive in extending the life of peakers. It has said that it is exploring all options, including peaker plants, emergency systems and other ways to meet massively increased electricity demand. In an interview with Chris Wright in September, the U.S. Energy secretary said that there are many peaker plants which could be operated more often. He added that air quality regulations had prevented more from being run more frequently. The biggest targets today are the spare capacity in the grid. According to a U.S. Government Accountability Office report, peaker plants produce about 3% of?country's electricity, but they are capable of producing 19%. If we tap into this spare capacity, it could lead to more harmful emissions being released into neighborhoods which are already overburdened by environmental hazards. According to research by the federal government and academics, the majority of the country's peaker plants are located in communities of color with low income. This means that prolonging the life of the plants could cause more pollution to be emitted into the air. In a 2022 study, residents of "redlined" U.S. areas, who were denied financial services like mortgages because they were primarily Black or immigrants, were 53% more inclined to have a peaker built near them since 2000, compared with those in non-redlined communities. The study was led by UCLA Professor of Environmental Health Sciences?Lara Cushing. The Grid is being strained by the power demands The majority of peaker plants in the United States were built in two periods of rapid growth in energy demand: at the beginning of the 20th century, when electrical appliances became commonplace in homes; and then again in the early 2000s as computers and the economy began to grow. After the energy-sucking devices and infrastructure improved, U.S. demand for power decreased and many fossil-fired plants closed. Solar and wind farms began to provide more energy. These only work when the sun shines and the wind blows. The U.S. Congress directed the Government Accountability Office to investigate the use of peaker plant and their impact on American communities. Environmental justice groups urged the U.S. Congress to do so. According to the study, peaker natural gas plants emit 1.6 more sulfur dioxide per unit of electricity generated on a median base compared with non-peaker plants. Fisk is a part of PJM Interconnection - the largest electrical grid in the United States. It spans 13 states, and has the highest concentration of data centres anywhere on the planet. The demand from AI data centres is threatening the grid's reserves and is already driving prices up. The prices paid by PJM power suppliers to run plants during times of high demand jumped more than 800% compared to a summer ago. This made peaker power plants more profitable. Jeff Shields, PJM spokesman, said: "It's clear that the electricity demand in this country is greater than supply –?the market reflects it, and generators respond." "We can't afford to lose our existing generation, while continuing to add new generation in order to meet the needs of the data centers and other heavy loads that power the nation's economy." According to an analysis of the letters sent by power companies to PJM Interconnection, 23 oil, coal and gas power plants were set to retire in PJM territory in 2025. The letters show that since January, U.S. energy companies, grid operators, and the federal governments have postponed or cancelled retirements for 13 of these power plants. The letters showed that 11 of the plants which avoided closure were peakers. The Department of Energy ordered that the 55-year-old "Eddystone", owned by Constellation Energy and located outside of Philadelphia be kept running. PJM requested that the Wagner peaker near Baltimore be kept running while the grid operator coordinated the transmission required for the generator to be removed. Some of the power plants that were retained were originally built to provide power around-the clock, but were later downgraded so they only run in emergencies. Last Line of Defense Fisk's owner NRG Energy believes peakers are vital safeguards for grids that are increasingly needed not only for data centers, but also for electrifying manufacturing and transportation and to avoid blackouts due to winter storms or summer heatwaves. Fisk Peakers are located in Chicago, so the city does not need to import power in an emergency if outside sources of electricity go down. Matt Pistner, NRG Energy, said: "They are the shock absorbers and last line of defense for the system." When they are needed, there's nowhere else to turn. Pistner said that while NRG has power-generating sources ranging from wind and solar to nuclear, oil-fired peaks add an additional layer of security by ensuring fuel can be stored locally. A NRG spokesperson said separately that "during its run time, the power station consistently operates within federal or state environmental regulations - and we are proud to its record". Experts in energy say that there are other options to peakers. Transmission lines that are more reliable could be used to transport electricity from areas of the country where there is an excess of power, to those who have a shortage. Rusco, from the GAO, said that "if we did that, the system could run more efficiently. You would also probably reduce the amount of dependence on peakers." Clean energy advocates believe that batteries, which are being improved to store power longer, can also replace peaker units. As AI power demand increases, communities such as Pilsen that have been successful in closing some sources of pollution over the past few years may find it more difficult to combat peaker plants. John Quigley of the University of Pennsylvania Kleinman Center for Energy Policy said: "It will result in significant cost increases for consumers of electricity and local pollution, and prevent the connection of new clean energy production to the grid." PJM has said that it will continue to connect renewable energy, nuclear power and gas-fired electricity to the grid, regardless of how long peakers remain on. Shields stated that "we need to get every megawatt we can right now." He added that deactivating existing plants "ignores the reality." Northern Illinois has a growing data center market. At least one data centre is already operational in Pilsen, and there are multiple energy-intensive projects being planned for the surrounding areas. T5 Data Centers announced a 20 building campus this year. Mead Lucero is concerned that the Fisk Peaker Units will continue to exacerbate the environmental problems in his hometown. This includes industrial truck traffic emissions, metal scrappers, and a major road cutting through the area. "You combine all these factors and you have a real problem."
Silver crosses the $70 threshold, and gold extends its record run
Silver rose above $70 for the very first time on Tuesday, while gold reached a new record, trading at just under $4,500 per ounce. A weaker dollar, and geopolitical uncertainties, have boosted demand for safe-haven investments.
Silver spot gained 2.2%, reaching a new record price of $70.61 an ounce. The white metal has risen 143% in the past year due to supply deficits and industrial demand.
Silver is responding to the same macro-forces, but with a greater intensity because of its own supply and demand dynamics. Silver's price is being impacted by tight supply, strong investment, and speculation as it approaches $70, according to Ahmad Assiri.
As of 1336 GMT, spot gold was up 0.9% at $4,486.99 an ounce after hitting a session record $4,497.55 in the previous session. Bullion prices have risen by'more than 70%' this year as investors sought refuge from global tensions and low interest rates.
U.S. Gold Futures for February Delivery increased 1.1% to $4,518.80.
"Central bank purchases ...., expectations for a dovish Fed and geopolitical tensions are all contributing factors to the massive gold lust among investors," said Carlo A. De?Casa.
The U.S. Dollar extended its losses for a second consecutive day, and is on course to have its largest annual decline?since 2017
Last week, on the geopolitical side, U.S. president Donald Trump ordered a "blockade", of all sanctioned oil tanks entering and departing Venezuela. He said that he did not rule out war with the South American nation.
The markets are pricing in two?rate reductions for 2026, as President Trump's plan to appoint a new Federal Reserve Chair early next year reinforces expectations of dovish monetary policies.
The spot platinum price rose 3.5%, to $2,193.60. This is the highest level in 17 years. Palladium also rose 1.6%, to $1,786.94 a new three-year high, following gains in gold, silver and other precious metals. (Reporting from Pablo Sinha in Bengaluru, and Arunima Kumar in New Delhi; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu & Tasim Zahid.)
(source: Reuters)