Beijing (AFP) May 9, 2024
Chinese exports returned to growth last month while imports smashed expectations, data showed Thursday, providing a much-needed boost to the country's leadership as it tries to steer the economy out of a long-running slump.
Overseas shipments expanded 1.5 percent on-year in April, slightly beating forecasts in a Bloomberg survey and a strong turnaround after a shock 7.5 percent plunge in Mar
Sydney (AFP) May 9, 2024
Australia unveiled plans Thursday to keep burning natural gas beyond 2050, saying its reliance on the fossil fuel would not derail a pledge to reach net zero emissions in the next 30 years.
Resources minister Madeleine King said gas "will remain an important source of energy" in Australia, outraging environmental groups which branded the Future Gas Strategy a "climate disaster".
"Gas is
Beijing (AFP) May 9, 2024
Two of China's wealthiest cities said Thursday they would lift all restrictions on buying homes, joining a growing list of urban areas rolling back curbs as they look to prop up the faltering property market.
Many Chinese cities imposed restrictions and tough credit requirements on home purchases well over a decade ago in an effort to tamp down soaring prices and rampant speculation.
But
Tokyo (AFP) May 9, 2024
Nissan said Thursday it nearly doubled its full-year net profit in 2023-24, weathering challenges in the Chinese market, but forecast a dip of around 10 percent for the current financial year.
The Japanese automaker said demand was rising at home as well as in North America, Europe and China, where it has struggled to compete with fast-growing electric vehicle firms backed by Beijing.
Ne
Panama City (AFP) May 9, 2024
Panamanian president-elect Jose Raul Mulino on Thursday proposed "calm" talks with Canadian company First Quantum Minerals about the future of a controversial mine that has triggered crippling protests.
Mulino said that he was open to direct dialogue about Central America's biggest copper mine, which has been ordered to close - but only without international arbitration.
The company is
San Jose (AFP) May 9, 2024
Costa Rica has become the latest Latin American country to introduce rationing due to drought, announcing Thursday it will limit access to electricity for which it relies heavily on hydro-generation.
Dams that feed the country's hydro-electric plants were low due to the El Nino weather phenomenon, officials said.
"This El Nino has really been the most complicated in the history of Costa
Hong Kong (AFP) May 10, 2024
Growing hopes that the US Federal Reserve and other central banks are close to cutting interest rates helped push London and Frankfurt to records Friday, while Asian markets also chalked up healthy gains.
Traders tracked gains in New York and Europe as they cheered fresh US data indicating the labour market was beginning to soften, giving central bankers room to ease monetary policy.
The
Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 09, 2024
In a recent submission to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) presented amendments to its energy tariffs through Advice Letter 4361-E-A. This filing comes in the wake of ongoing regulatory reforms aimed at enhancing grid reliability and fairness in rate structures. The proposed adjustments have sparked discussions among stakeholders regarding the
Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 10, 2024
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG and E) has taken a significant step forward in enhancing its solar and storage system policies by submitting the Third Substitute Sheets for Advice Letter 7149-E to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). This latest submission is aimed at refining the interconnection forms for its Virtual Net Billing Tariff (NBTV) and Net Billing Aggregation (NBTA
Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 10, 2024
As regulatory pressures mount to address contamination from "forever chemicals" used in fire suppressants at air bases and airports, researchers at the University of California, Riverside and Clarkson University have developed an innovative cleanup method.
These fire-suppression foams, heavily laden with poly- and per-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), have for decades contributed to significa
Nairobi, Kenya (SPX) May 10, 2024
The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) and its alliance partners hosted the inaugural Climate Africa Warsha on World Press Freedom Day. The "Warsha" which means 'workshop' in Swahili creates a platform where journalists can connect with key renewable energy stakeholders, equipping them with the insights and skills required to elevate their reporting on the climate crisis, and e
Paris (AFP) May 8, 2024
Capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere to store underground "sounds too good to be true", a climate expert told AFP, yet the technology to increase its capacity tenfold is already being tested.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recognises carbon capture and storage among the solutions for eliminating CO2, without giving it a central place in its models.
"Th
Beijing (AFP) May 8, 2024
Struggling foreign automakers in China are looking for help from local tech giants to try to stay competitive in the world's biggest electric car market, where shiny smart screens, assisted driving and sophisticated map technology are in high demand.
At the recent Beijing Auto Show, China's biggest car expo, a number of foreign firms announced tech partnerships - from Nissan joining forces
London, UK (SPX) May 10, 2024
The prospect of interacting with digital avatars of deceased individuals, facilitated by advancements in artificial intelligence, poses potential psychological risks, according to a new study from the University of Cambridge. Researchers at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence have raised concerns about the emerging field of "digital afterlife," where AI-powered chatbots, known a
