Latest News
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Exxon moves forward with $200-mln expansion of Texas plants
Exxon Mobil Corp, which is facing a California claim over its alleged function in global plastic waste contamination, is going forward with plans to broaden plastics recycling to replace fossil fuels with disposed of plastic waste, the business said on Thursday. The relocation by among the world's biggest polymer manufacturers comes in the middle of growing concerns about slow-to-disintegrate plastics filling garbage dumps, seeping into ground water and developing potential health dangers. Exxon, which is promoting pyrolysis strategies that convert waste into brand-new plastic, will spend $200 million in Texas to expand so-called circularity operations in a global effort to develop the capacity to procedure 1 billion pounds (454 million kg) of waste annually by 2027. The business calls its recycling technology Exxtend. California filed a lawsuit against Exxon in September, declaring the company was deliberately misguiding the general public about the constraints of recycling. Exxon turns down accusations that it misleads the general public about the restrictions of plastics recycling, or about environment change. The business's Baytown, Texas, complex this year will process 80 million pounds of plastic waste. The growth will allow it and a nearby Beaumont, Texas, plant the capability to process up to 500 million pounds in 2026. The items will be sold with a certificate explaining their origin, described Karen McKee, president of ExxonMobil Product Solutions. We sell virgin-quality product and a subset of our consumers are buying a 'accredited circular certificate' to demonstrate that for each lot that they buy with this certificate, a ton of post-use plastic was fed into our center, McKee said. LyondellBasell, a competitor to Exxon in chemicals, also is setting up a plant in a German factory utilizing a comparable recycling innovation called MoReTec that also breaks down waste plastic. Lyondell prepares to set up a big MoReTec unit in Houston later on in this decade after it permanently shuts a Houston refinery next year.
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Automakers advise Trump to preserve EV tax credits, boost self-driving automobiles
A group representing major automakers including General Motors, Toyota Motor Corp, and Volkswagen prompted Presidentelect Donald Trump to retain crucial tax credits for electrical automobile purchases and take steps to speed release of selfdriving vehicles. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation in a formerly unreported Nov. 12 letter to Trump also raised issues about vehicle emissions guidelines citing federal and state emissions policies (particularly in California and associated states). that are out-of-step with present automobile market realities and. increase expenses for customers. The car manufacturers did not specify how they want the rules. modified however stated they support reasonable and attainable. emissions regulations. The Trump shift team did not. right away comment. The letter, signed by the group's CEO John Bozzella, said. car manufacturers face unfair competitors from greatly subsidized. electric automobiles and innovations exported from China and also. kept in mind that China was executing a regulative structure to. support implementation of self-driving lorries. The group also asked Trump to reconsider rules completed in April requiring almost all new cars and trucks by 2029 to have. advanced automated emergency situation braking systems. The group earlier. stated the rules are practically impossible with readily available. innovations. Last week, Reuters reported that Trump's shift group. wishes to eliminate the $7,500 customer tax credit for. electric-vehicle purchases - a move that would likely slow an. already stalling U.S. EV shift. This week, Reuters reported Trump transition team prepares to. target federal guidelines promoted by President Joe Biden. that objective to make cars more fuel-efficient and incentivize. a shift towards EVs. The relocation appears targeted at pleasing a Trump campaign. promise to end the EV mandate, and would mirror a similar relocation. throughout the first Trump administration to rollback Obama-era. vehicle-efficiency guidelines. Although no such EV mandate exists, the Biden. administration policies would efficiently require car manufacturers. to shift at least 35% of production to EVs in order to fulfill 2032. requirements, and encourage a steady phase-out of the. production of vehicles that run on nonrenewable fuel sources.
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Worldwide climate funds set for very first annual outflows, Morningstar says
Investors are on track to withdraw more money from global climate funds than they transfer this year for the first time, Morningstar Sustainalytics stated on Thursday, presenting an obstacle to energytransition efforts. Net withdrawals from the funds reached nearly $24 billion for the first 9 months of 2024, the arm of Chicago-based research firm Morningstar stated, compared with web deposits of $40 billion throughout the very first nine months of 2023. The funds have actually tape-recorded net deposits every year because they were tracked separately in 2018, peaking at $151 billion in 2021. Inflows then fell to $60 billion in 2022 and $40 billion for 2023, Morningstar Sustainalytics said. The research firm said the recent outflows reflect elements such as the bad efficiency of renewable resource stocks, issues about greenwashing, and anti-ESG sentiment. High rate of interest likewise contributed, stated Hortense Bioy, head of sustainable investing research study at Morningstar Sustainalytics, holding back the efficiency of growth-oriented companies associated with locations such as solar power. Those are the business that can be rather sensitive to interest rates. The financing expenses have actually truly weighed on their appraisals in the stock market, Bioy stated. Climate funds' overall possessions were $572 billion as of Sept. 30, up 6% from the start of the year, driven by market gratitude. About 85% of those possessions were held in European-domiciled funds, with 6% in China-based funds and 5% in U.S.-based funds. Among the climate funds, climate-transition funds that prefer business much better placed for a low-carbon economy had an average return of 17.2% through September, versus 12.4% for the average peer in the global large-cap blend equity category. Clean energy/tech funds have lagged peers since 2021 and had a negative return of 3.2% through September. There were 69 brand-new climate-fund launches through September, off their 2023 speed when more than 200 were introduced over the full year.
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Phillips 66 arraigned for violating Tidy Water Act
A grand jury has actually arraigned Phillips 66 for illegally releasing numerous countless gallons of industrial wastewater into Los Angeles County's sewer system, and failing to report the violations to authorities. The indictment versus the Houston-based energy business consists of four counts of knowingly breaking the federal Tidy Water Act and two counts of negligently breaching that law, U.S. Lawyer Martin Estrada in Los Angeles stated on Thursday. Phillips 66 is anticipated to be arraigned in the coming weeks in Los Angeles federal court. It faces a maximum sentence of five years probation on each count, and $2.4 million in fines. Phillips 66 did not immediately react to ask for remark. According to Wednesday's indictment, the discharges came from Phillips 66's refinery in Carson, California. In the very first discharge, the refinery released 310,000 gallons of non-compliant wastewater, including about 64,000 pounds of oil and grease, into Los Angeles' drains over 2-1/2 hours on Nov. 24, 2020. The oil-and-grease concentration was as high as 24,700 milligrams per liter, far greater than the 75 milligrams per liter permitted under Phillips' permit, the indictment stated. In the 2nd discharge, the refinery released 480,000 gallons of wastewater consisting of at least 33,700 pounds of oil and grease, for a concentration of 12,900 milligrams per liter, over six hours on Feb. 8, 2021. Estrada said Phillips 66 acknowledged the discharges just after being contacted by county regulators, and guaranteed in writing after the first discharge to re-train operations workers on how to handle and report discharges.
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UN Resolution 1701, cornerstone of any Israel-Hezbollah truce
A United Nations resolution that ended the last round of lethal dispute in between Hezbollah and Israel in 2006 is viewed as the cornerstone of a brand-new ceasefire being worked out by the United States. Adopted in August 2006, the 19-paragraph resolution was key to ending the month-long war between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006 and leading the way for long-lasting stability along the border. The resolution mandated an instant cessation of hostilities, with both celebrations consenting to stop battling. While important, the ceasefire dealt with challenges and violations throughout the years, but it laid the structure for ending open dispute. Here are the resolution's primary terms, and a note about subsequent offenses and stress. REGARD OF BLUE LINE AND SECURITY PLANS Both parties should respect heaven Line, the border between Lebanon and Israel. The resolution likewise creates a buffer zone in between the Blue Line and the Litani River (some 30 km or about 20 miles north of the border), free of armed workers, assets, and weapons, except those of the Lebanese authorities and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). DISARMAMENT AND WEAPONS EMBARGO OF ARMED GROUPS The resolution calls for the disarmament of all armed groups in Lebanon and requireds that no arms or associated materiel can be offered or supplied to Lebanon unless authorized by the federal government. NO FOREIGN FORCES WITHOUT GOVERNMENT APPROVAL The resolution requires that no foreign forces exist in Lebanon without the authorization of the Lebanese federal government. This provision aims to secure Lebanon's independence and avoid external impact in its internal affairs. IMPLEMENTATION OF UNIFIL AND LEBANESE TROOPS A key element of Resolution 1701 was the broadened required of the UNIFIL peacekeeping force, formed in 1978 to oversee the withdrawal of Israeli soldiers that had attacked southern Lebanon early on in Lebanon's civil war. UNIFIL was tasked in 2006 with keeping track of the ceasefire, supervising Israel's withdrawal from south Lebanon, and making sure the area remained free of armed groups other than the Lebanese Army. In parallel, Lebanon's national army was called upon to take control of southern Lebanon. STRESS AND VIOLATIONS GIVEN THAT 2006 While the ceasefire mainly held after the adoption of U.N. Resolution 1701, offenses and stress continued over the years. Both sides have actually accused each other of provocations. Lebanon has actually filed dozens of complaints to the U.N., particularly about Israeli offenses of Lebanese sovereignty, consisting of over 35,000 airspace violations given that 2006, as stated by Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati in May. Meanwhile, Israel has long grumbled the resolution was not implemented and Hezbollah stayed armed at the border. U.S.-led efforts for a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah have underscored that the resolution stayed key in alleviating or ending the latest rounds of conflict, but that it required to be better carried out.
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EU to encourage Trump on trade while readying tariff retaliation
The European Union should look for positive engagement on trade with the inbound Trump administration, but be ready to counter in a collaborated way at the United States if it enforces brand-new tariffs on the 27nation bloc, EU ministers agreed on Thursday. In the lead-up to his election victory, Donald Trump said the EU would pay a huge rate with tariffs for not buying enough U.S. exports and that he planned tariffs of 10% to 20% on all U.S. imports, with higher rates for China. In his very first four-year term in office, he imposed extra duties on EU steel and aluminium, which the subsequent administration of President Joe Biden suspended, but did not end. EU trade chief Valdis Dombrovskis told a news conference after a conference of EU ministers accountable for trade that it was prematurely to predict whether Trump would seek to resolve this. He stated there was broad agreement amongst EU ministers to keep positive engagement with the United States, not reopen old trade disagreements, and avoid new ones. Nevertheless, if we see certain brand-new steps dealt with versus the European economy or European companies, we need to be ready to react in a collaborated, exact and in proportion method, said Dombrovskis, who is set to be replaced as European trade commissioner by Slovak Maros Sefcovic next month. An EU diplomat separately verified this position of pushing a. favorable agenda while being prepared with concrete countermeasures. Trump imposed tariffs on 6.4 billion euros ($ 6.7 billion) of. EU steel and aluminium in 2018. The EU responded with extra. responsibilities on 2.8 billion euros of U.S. products, such as bourbon and. Harley-Davidson motorbikes. The U.S. steps are presently. suspended up until completion of 2025. The 2 sides also concurred a truce up until mid-2026 on tariffs. linked to their two-decade dispute over aircraft subsidies,.
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United States targets Russia's Gazprombank with brand-new sanctions, Treasury website shows
The U.S. enforced fresh sanctions on Russia's Gazprombank on Thursday, the Treasury Department said, wielding its most powerful sanctioning tool versus the bank as President Joe Biden steps up actions to penalize Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine before leaving workplace in January. The relocation successfully kicks Gazprombank - among Russia's. largest banks - out of the U.S. banking system, bans their trade. with Americans and freezes their U.S. possessions. Gazprombank is partially owned by Kremlin-owned gas business. Gazprom. Since Russia's invasion in February 2022,. Ukraine has been prompting the U.S. to enforce more sanctions on the. bank, which receives payments for gas from Gazprom's. customers in Europe. The fresh sanctions come days after the Biden administration. permitted Kyiv to utilize U.S. ATACMS rockets to strike Russian. territory. On Tuesday, Ukraine fired the weapons, the longest. variety rockets Washington has actually supplied for such attacks on. Russia, on the war's 1,000 th day. The Treasury likewise imposed sanctions on 50 small-to-medium. Russian banks to cut the nation's connections to the. international financial system and avoid it from abusing it to. spend for technology and devices required for the war. It warned. that foreign financial institutions that keep reporter. relationships with the targeted banks involves considerable. sanctions danger. This sweeping action will make it harder for the Kremlin to. evade U.S. sanctions and fund and equip its military, stated. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. We will continue to take. decisive steps against any monetary channels Russia utilizes to. support its illegal and unprovoked war in Ukraine. Along with the sanctions, Treasury likewise released 2 new. basic licenses authorizing U.S. entities to wind down. transactions involving Gazprombank, among other financial. organizations, and to take actions to divest from financial obligation or equity. provided by Gazprombank. The sanctions were enforced under a Biden executive order. It. was not right away clear whether President-elect Donald Trump. could remove them if he chose to take a different position on. Russia. After the Russian intrusion of Ukraine in 2022, the Treasury. put financial obligation and equity restrictions on 13 Russian firms,. consisting of Gazprombank, Sberbank and the Russian Agricultural. Bank. The U.S. Treasury has actually likewise worked to supply Ukraine with. funds from windfall earnings of frozen Russian possessions. Gazprombank is a channel for Russia to acquire military. materiel in its war against Ukraine, the Treasury stated. The. Russian government also uses the bank to pay its soldiers,. including for battle rewards, and to compensate the households of. its soldiers killed in the war. The administration thinks the fresh sanctions enhance. Ukraine's position on the battleground and ability to accomplish a. just peace, a source familiar stated.
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Italy approves \Save Milan\ expense to revive structure sector
The Italian parliament on Thursday approved a bill to change town planning laws to resolve a building stalemate in Italy's financial capital Milan triggered by lots of investigations by district attorneys. The costs, dubbed Conserve Milan, was submitted by the judgment centre-right majority with the recommendation of the main centre-left opposition PD celebration. Following the clearance in the lower house, it still needs to be authorized by the Senate. Milan had actually been on a roll since 2015, when the Exposition global exhibition assisted to change the city into a hot area for developers. Ever since, it has actually attracted more than $30. billion of realty investment, according to Reuters. estimations. But problems from Milan locals challenging the. mushrooming of multi-storey buildings have triggered. examinations into alleged abuses in the fast-tracking of. building permits, with more than 100 active or planned structure. sites having actually stalled. The new expense effectively gives a green light to the faster. and more economical procedures for home builders embraced by the Milan. municipality up until now. Federico Filippo Oriana, who heads Italy's property. developers and promoters association Aspesi, invited the. decision. The interpretative nature of this law avoids the risk of. even more conflict, and sets the foundations for a rapid. resumption of property and building activities in Milan that. have been blocked for over a year, Oriana said. The costs implies that new high increases can continue to be built. as replacements for even single-storey buildings by means of an easier. remodelling permit, instead of needing the approval of a more. detailed new building plan. A task considered a new construct needs the designer to make. more onerous social investments, such as large green spaces or. bike lanes. The charges payable to cities for a brand-new build are at least. 3 times greater than those incurred for a conversion,. according to present regulations. Performing a conversion likewise. brings tax breaks. Giancarlo Tancredi, the councillor in charge of urban. renewal for Milan, welcomed the clarity. Now I hope that the climate will end up being calmer which. good sense will dominate on all sides, he stated. There were no remarks from district attorneys, who do not comment. on state laws. The new costs needs to unfreeze structure tasks by dealing with. alleged metropolitan planning law offenses. Nevertheless, many of the. examinations also declare scams and impact peddling by. several suspects, and will therefore continue, according to. legal and judicial sources.
Why did Ecuador raid Mexico's Quito embassy?
Mexico has abruptly suspended its bilateral relations with Ecuador due to an escalating dispute. This comes after Ecuadorian police broke into Mexico's Quito Embassy and arrested a former Vice President on corruption charges.
Why did Ecuador enter Mexico's Embassy?
The heavily armed police, wearing balaclavas, broke into the Mexican embassy in Mexico late Friday night, to arrest Jorge Glas. Ecuador's former vice president and leftist, he is wanted for graft.
Glas, who has lived in the embassy in Mexico since December after seeking asylum in this North American country only on Friday, is a victim of a gang-related crime.
Ecuador claims that the asylum offer is illegal because, under international law and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Charges, it's not permissible to grant asylum to people who are facing charges.
Mexico's President Andres Manual Lopez Obrador, who immediately suspended relations between Ecuador and Mexico after the raid, said that it had closely studied Glas’ case.
The arrest came at the end of a week that saw tensions grow between the two Latin American nations after Quito declared Mexico's ambassador persona non-grata citing the "unfortunate comments" made by the leftist Lopez Obrador.
The Mexican president compared the violence that occurred during elections in Mexico and Ecuador, claiming the killing of Ecuadorean presidential hopeful Fernando Villavicencio, last year, was unfairly attributed to the leftist candidate who lost the race. Lopez Obrador also blamed corrupt media for the election manipulation he called out.
In his six-year tenure as president, Lopez Obrador has frequently railed against the media.
Who is Jorge GLAS and what charges are he facing?
Glas, who served as vice president in the Rafael Correa government between 2013 and 2017 has been convicted of corruption twice and now faces new charges of misusing public resources.
In late 2017, a Brazilian court sentenced him to six years after finding that he had taken bribes in exchange for state contracts from the scandal-ridden Odebrecht construction firm.
Glas, 54, received an eight-year prison sentence in 2020 for using money from contractors as a means to finance Correa's political campaign.
Correa, who lives in Belgium after leaving office, was also convicted of the same crime.
Both men have long alleged the charges are politically-motivated, an accusation prosecutors have denied.
Glas spent more than four-years in prison, was released in 2022 and then sent back to jail the following year. A court had ruled that he must serve his remaining sentences even though his attorneys requested he do so concurrently.
Glas was released from prison in November 2022. He now faces charges for misusing funds collected by the coastal province of Manabi after a devastating earthquake in 2016.
In December, his lawyers appealed the decision of a judge to send him to jail again, arguing that he could be in danger. But, they were denied.
What has been the regional reaction?
The arrest of Glas was sharply condemned by governments in Latin America, including Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, and Uruguay, all on the left.
Brazil's government condemned Ecuador for its raid on an embassy abroad, calling it a "clear breach" of international standards prohibiting such a raid. Argentina demanded that the Vienna Convention regarding diplomatic relations be adhered to.
What's next?
The Mexican Foreign Ministry said that it would file a complaint at the International Court of Justice of the United Nations, while the leftist government of Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced it would seek protection for Glas' human rights from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. It said his right to asylum had been "barbarously" violated.
The Washington-based Organization of American States announced that a meeting of its permanent council would be held to discuss the importance of strict compliance with international agreements. (Reporting and Editing by Marguerita Choy)
(source: Reuters)