FacebookTwitterLinkedInEmailPrint分享S&P Global Market Intelligence ($):The German government is in advanced talks with utility RWE AG over the schedule and compensation for switching off some of the company’s lignite-fired power plants over the next few years, part of a plan to entirely phase out coal-fired electricity production in Europe’s largest economy by 2038.In an update on the ongoing process to turn recommendations on the phaseout into law, the economy ministry said July 3 that there was a common understanding that the first closures will affect the oldest lignite-burning units, which are operated by RWE in western Germany. “The talks with RWE are advanced and run constructively,” the ministry said.While RWE is by far the largest coal plant operator in Germany, utilities affected by the phaseout also include Sweden’s Vattenfall AB; Czech group Energetický a prumyslový holding a.s., or EPH; and German companies EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG, STEAG GmbH and Uniper SE. France’s Engie SA recently sold its remaining coal plants in Germany to U.S. private equity firm Riverstone Holdings LLC.The government is trying to come to mutual agreements for closing lignite plants and plans to close hard coal-fired power stations though an auction process — at least during the first few years of the phaseout. Hard coal operators will be able to bid a price for closing their assets and the government will award those that offer the lowest price per carbon dioxide emissions.The ministry is planning to submit a draft law on the hard coal closures to Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cabinet in the fall and add any agreements with lignite operators as the law winds its way through the parliamentary process, with a goal of passing the legislative package by the end of the year.Germany still has approximately 41 GW of hard coal and lignite plants connected to the grid, which produced more than a third of the country’s electricity in 2018. It wants to reduce capacity for the two fuels to 15 GW each by 2022 and to 17 GW total by 2030, with the latter figure split between 9 GW lignite and 8 GW hard coal. The last plants would be disconnected by 2038 under the plan.More ($): German government in ‘advanced’ talks with RWE over coal plant closures RWE, German government moving forward with coal plant closure plans
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10 Facts About Sunshine Week and the Freedom of Information Act
Sign up for our COVID-19 newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest coronavirus news throughout New York Sunshine Week logo. The weeklong celebration of a more open government started March 10 and ends Saturday. (Photo: www.sunshineweek.rcfp.org)Journalists and citizens across the country this week are celebrating Sunshine Week, an initiative that started seven years ago to promote open government.The Freedom of Information Act gives any citizen the right to access information from the federal government. Participating in the initiative are journalists, civic groups, libraries, nonprofits, schools and other people and organizations promoting a more open democracy. The week-long celebration started Sunday, March 10 and ends Saturday. The motto: “Open government is good government.”Here are some facts about Sunshine Week:1. When was the FOIA created?President Lyndon Johnson signed this act in 1966.2. What exactly is Sunshine Week?Sunshine Week promotes the importance of open government and freedom of information. Sunshine Week was created by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors and takes place one week in March every year.3. Who can participate in Sunshine Week?Participants include news media, civic groups, libraries, nonprofits, schools and others interested in the public’s right to know.4. There are many ways to celebrate Sunshine Week.A journalist can talk about the importance of The Freedom of Information Act by stories, editorials or cartoons. An educator can use sunshine week to teach the importance of government transparency. And a citizen can spread the meaning of sunshine week to social media sites.5. Share your thoughtsSunshine week has both a Facebook page and a twitter page so staying connected during this week is easier.6. There are events all over the United States dedicated to Sunshine Week.Many Colleges across The US and government and political office buildings are holding seminars stating the importance of FOIA. For information on places located please visit The National Freedom of Information Coalition website.7. It is actually very easy to file for a FOIA request.A request can be done electronically but there is a fee for requests. The search fee is based on the salary level of the people who conducts the search.8. Not all FOIA requests come from the media.Many requests come from lawyers and private investigators seeking accidents reports and political parties’ research their own candidates and opponents.9. It doesn’t take long for requests to be granted.Under FOIA, agencies have 20 working days to answer a request.10. FOIA requests are being denied more in the past ten years.It is noted in many articles that since President Barack Obama have been in office many requests have been denied due to security reasons.
The paperless deal
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Yudhoyono to give last speech as Democratic Party chairman
Democratic Party chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is set to deliver his last political speech as party chairman at the party’s national congress on Sunday as he will be replaced by a new leader.Dems secretary-general Hinca Panjaitan said on Friday that the former president would still serve the party but he would give the chairman position to another party member.”He has prepared a soft landing,” Hinca said at the party’s headquarters in Central Jakarta. However, Syarief was not sure whether Agus would run unopposed.Agus has served as the party deputy chairman since October 2019 after his duties as the party’s joint election command chief ended following the 2019 general election.Many observers have said Agus could potentially run for president in 2024.According to a survey in February conducted by Jakarta, Agus was among the five-strongest potential presidential candidates with an electability of 8.3 percent, below former Jakarta deputy governor Sandiaga Uno (9.6 percent) and above West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil (5.7 percent). Topics : Hinca declined to name potential candidates for the chairmanship but said the next chairman would be from within the party, denying rumors circulating that former Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gatot Nurmantyo was one of the candidates.When asked about the possibility of Yudhoyono’s eldest son Agus Harimurti replacing his father, Hinca said Agus had the same opportunity as other members, including Agus’ younger brother, Edhie Baskoro.Agus is reported to have visited the party’s regional branches since the beginning of the year to promote himself.”The strongest candidate so far is Agus,” Dems deputy chairman Syarief Hasan said.
New luxury development within walking distance to Suncorp Stadium
Emmeline on Elizabeth at Rosalie.Two apartments are left for sale and include three bedrooms and 2.5 bath.A three-bedroom cottage is also available with 2.5 bathrooms and a double-storey layout. There is a patio and front veranda, with yard space and storage.Ideal for a downsizer, Mr Wheelans said the cottage would be refurbished with new wiring, a new roof and new weatherboards.The cottage will be as up to date as the apartments and have polished concrete downstairs. Upstairs will be timber flooring. The master bedroom will have an ensuite and walk-in robe. Downstairs will be open plan with the layout allowing residents to walk out onto the private courtyard.Mr Wheelans said the first apartment for sale was 150sq m internally with 26sq m balcony space, 34sq m garage area and two side-by-side car parks, plus storage.The second available apartment is 144sq m internally, with a patio, private garden and the opportunity to build a private pool of 199sq m. There is a garage to fit two cars. Emmeline on Elizabeth is named in honour of the original owner Emmeline Chowne. Emmeline was gifted the land in 1885 by her father, Thomas Forrester, before her wedding. Thomas Forrester was an esteemed member of the community, an alderman in the West Ward of Brisbane and the first mayor of the Ithaca Shire Council.Emmeline’s land was cleared but unimproved, with the home believed to be constructed before 1930. Emmeline divided her land to build mirror-image rental cottages and as the landlord, lived with her new husband to the rear of them on Baroona Rd. The history and original cottage will be retained in the Emmeline on Elizabeth development at Paddington. Inside Emmeline on Elizabeth.Unable to find an apartment in Paddington that would suit the lifestyle Mr Wheelans and his wife wanted, they chose to keep one of the premium properties at Emmeline on Elizabeth, as did co-developer Mr Fern. “We wanted to be in the area and didn’t want to move out,” Mr Wheelans said.“We loved the area and because of the parks and schools, we wanted to stay here. “The whole purpose of the development is for people who have lived in the western suburbs who don’t want to leave the area, those who wanted to stay close to their friends.”More from newsParks and wildlife the new lust-haves post coronavirus11 hours agoNoosa’s best beachfront penthouse is about to hit the market11 hours agoMr Fern said the development had attracted local buyers who were downsizing. “The Rosalie and Paddington area has not seen a luxury development like this,’’ he said. “This type of development is a rarity.” Developers of Emmeline on Elizabeth, Simon Wheelans and Scott Fern.Mr Wheelans, also a local real estate agent, said he could not find the next stage of living – empty-nesting – after his five daughters moved out. So, he decided to build the development himself.Mr Wheelans said going through the process he identified a lack of “this type” of accommodation in the market.
Emmeline on Elizabeth at Paddington.Empty nesters are eyeing off a new luxury development only a stone’s throw away from Brisbane’s CBD and within walking distance to an iconic landmark.The new development Emmeline on Elizabeth, at Paddington, features seven spacious residences – six apartments and one cottage.Developers Simon Wheelans and Scott Fern said the development, close to Suncorp Stadium, was named in recognition of the first owner of the land, Emmeline Chowne, with the original cottage being preserved as part of the complex. HISTORY LIVES
Bombora puts off mWave deployment
As a result, delays to the 1.5MW mWave Pembrokeshire demo schedule are inevitable. However, Bombora also said it remains confident installation will be possible in the first half of 2021. Ronnie Bonnar is a former chairman of Scottish Renewables, and currently holds several non-executive directorships focused on renewable energy, including the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult. “We are in unchartered territory and have to be realistic and accept that there will be delays to our project. Human Capital To remind, Bombora has recently appointed Ronnie Bonnar to its board of directors. Ocean energy company Bombora has delayed the deployment of its mWave demonstration device in Wales to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Bombora has closed its European head office in Wales as well as its testing facility and assembly workshop. Bombora’s 1.5MW mWave project gets funding from the European Regional Development Fund through Welsh Government. Bombora welcomes former chairman of Scottish Renewables “The team are working from home, are fully contactable, and remain focussed on progressing the Pembrokeshire project and our follow up 3.0MW grid connected wave park project in Lanzarote.” Posted: 5 months ago The company is also developing a wave park in Lanzarote and further initiatives in the Canary Islands and globally. Categories: Bombora’s CEO, Dave Rigg, said: The company said that many suppliers had to shut temporarily. Posted: 5 months ago
Big Ten
For as maligned as the Big Ten was for their football play this past season, that is how highly ranked they are in basketball. Every school had a very successful pre-season record, and the Big Ten race should be a real donnybrook. Take Michigan State, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio State, and just about every other squad and you cannot go into any game and say it will be easy. After the war of the regular season, they will then have to survive the season concluding tourney before the NCAA Tourney even begins. It makes no sense basketball wise to play these tourneys after a grueling regular season race, but we all know it is strictly for money and not for the benefit of the players. With the new foul rule, the Big Ten may have to adhere to basketball this season and not football on a wooden floor. This might benefit the Big Ten schools during the tourney because in the past they always had to adjust to different refereeing in the tourney, and most teams were so tired they had trouble playing those six games to win the title. Anyway, it should make for a very interesting Big Ten season for all of us.
Found heads Oaks squad for O’Brien
Press Association Other notables among the 20 Irish-trained entries include Edward Lynam’s Agnes Stewart and the Jessica Harrington-trained Jack Naylor, while five possible French representatives are headed by the Andre Fabre-trained Al Naamah. Another from across the Channel is Little Nightingale The three-year-old looked the part on her seasonal reappearance at Maisons-Laffitte at the start of the month and could be a first Oaks runner for Mikel Delzangles, who won the 2000 Guineas in 2010. “Little Nightingale has come out of Maisons-Laffitte very well,” said the trainer. “It was a good performance because she beat a nice German filly very easily. We thought she was a good filly anyway because she had been working very well going into that race. “Little Nightingale will run once more and then we will decide if she goes for the Oaks or to Chantilly for the Prix de Diane (June 14). “The trials are the Prix Cleopatre (May 13) going left-handed at Saint-Cloud, which could be a good prep race for Epsom, or the Prix Vanteaux (May 3) and Prix Saint-Alary (May 24) at Longchamp.” Doncaster maiden winner Star Of Seville is the shortest-priced British-trained entry and is one of seven contenders for Newmarket trainer John Gosden, who landed the spoils with Taghrooda in 2014. His septet also includes debut winners Jellicle Bell and Lady Correspondent. The Investec Oaks has increased prize money of £450,000, £25,000 more than in 2014. Aidan O’Brien’s stoutly-bred daughter of Galileo struck twice from three starts as a juvenile and ended her campaign with victory in the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp in October. The master of Ballydoyle has saddled four previous winners of the mile-and-a-half Classic and Found is just one of 11 possible challengers this time around, with Fillies’ Mile heroine Together Forever, Qualify and Words also in contention. 
Ante-post favourite Found is one of the star names among 59 entries for the Investec Oaks at Epsom on June 5.
Steve McClaren warns Arsenal that Newcastle will be physical
Head coach Steve McClaren has told Newcastle to get physical with Arsenal as he attempts to kick-start the club’s season once again. Press Association McClaren said: “It is about collective organisation and discipline – and a certain amount of aggression will be required. “We have come across many, many good players in every team. Ozil is just another one of them which we will have to contend with. But they have others – [Olivier] Giroud is scoring goals left, right and centre, [Theo] Walcott is coming into form, [Aaron] Ramsey is a very good midfield player. “Despite what they are missing, they have still got quality.” McClaren has been hugely impressed with the Gunners this season, particularly in the 3-0 win at Olympiakos on December 9 which secured their Champions League passage. He said: “They have had injuries, but are still maintaining their form. It was as near as perfect a performance against Olympiakos as I have seen from a team for many years. What a result and performance under so much pressure. “Favourites for the title? Definitely, at this stage – but it is only half-time.” Few around St James’ Park will need reminding of the Magpies’ trip to the Emirates on December 29, 2012 when they returned on the wrong end of a remarkable 7-3 scoreline with Walcott plundering a hat-trick and Giroud claiming a double. Newcastle’s current fragility is a cause for concern, but McClaren remains confident that when they are at their best, they can give anyone a game. He said: “We know on any given day we can beat anybody in this league. But we also know that on any given day we can lose.” 
The Magpies have slipped back into the relegation zone after taking just a single point from festive fixtures against Aston Villa, Everton and West Brom and in the circumstances, Saturday’s trip to the Emirates Stadium hardly represents the most inviting start to 2016. Arsenal’s return to prominence has been due in part to the influence of Germany international Mesut Ozil and Newcastle will have to come up with a plan to stop the main creative force at Arsene Wenger’s disposal if they are to prosper in north London. 
What is Open and Closed on Columbus Day?
Columbus Day, which falls on the second Monday of October, is one of 10 federal holidays recognized by the U.S. government. This year, it falls on Oct. 14. The day commemorates the arrival of Christopher Columbus to North America in October 1492. Many also see it as a time to celebrate Italian heritage. Columbus Day was first recognized as a U.S. federal holiday in the 1930s, but some states — Alaska, Hawaii and South Dakota — do not observe the holiday, which is widely controversial because of Columbus’ treatment of indigenous people.Columbus Day: Celebrating cultural heritage, or the colonization of Native Americans?South Dakota instead celebrates Native American Day and Hawaii celebrates Discoverers’ Day. Other states and over 100 cities have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day.Here’s what businesses will be open or closed on MondayBanks: Most banks, including Federal Reserve Banks, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and PNC Bank, will be closed. TD Bank will remain open on Monday. Mail services: The United States Postal Service will not deliver mail on Monday. However, UPS does not observe Columbus Day and locations will be open. And, UPS will pick up and deliver packages as normal. FedEx will be operational, with the exception of modified service for FedEx Express and FedEx SmartPost.Schools: Many schools will be closed on Columbus Day, but some districts, including the School Districts in Florida, do not observe the holiday and will remain open. Libraries: Most public libraries, including the New York Public Library, will be closed on Columbus Day. Stock markets: The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will remain open.