Domestic terrorism since 9 11

Children ages 5 to 11 are still not eligible for COVID-19 booster shots despite the resumption of in-person classes this month, as there is still no scientific evidence to support the need for booster doses for that age group, according to the Department of Health (DOH). “Until now, evidence is still incomplete, globally, regarding booster shots for 5 to 11 [years old]. For now, the [primary or] first two doses are still enough to protect them, especially against severe and critical infection,” Maria Rosario Vergeire, officer in charge of the DOH, said in a press briefing on Tuesday. She emphasized that focus should still be on ramping up inoculation for the primary doses, as she cited the latest DOH data that only 4.2 million, or about 40 percent, of the 5-11 age group have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. “We’re still looking at 60 percent of this eligible age group who need to get vaccinated,” Vergeire said. “Let’s try to encourage mothers and legal guardians to have … [Read more...] about DOH: Still no basis to allow boosters for kids ages 5 to 11

Bicol region map LIGAO CITY — Health authorities have recorded 11 fatalities due to leptospirosis in Bicol region from January 1 to July 30. Based on data released by Department of Health Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) Bicol Regional Epidemiology Surveillance Unit, three patients who died of the rodent-borne disease were from Albay province, two came from Camarines Norte, two from Catanduanes, one from Camarines Sur and theee from Sorsogon province. There were also 85 cases of the disease covering the same period in the entire region. Dr. Rosa Maria Rempillo, local health support division chief of DOH-CHD in Bicol, told Inquirer in a text message Tuesday, August 9, that there was a 3 percent decrease of leptospirosis incidence in Bicol this year compared in 2021. Some 88 cases were recorded last year. “In order not to get infected with the deadly disease, avoid submerging in flood waters particularly if the person has an open wound,” Rempillo said. Leptospirosis … [Read more...] about Bicol records 11 leptospirosis-related deaths

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Both oil and gas exported from Russia bring in significant revenue that can be used to support the Russian war in Ukraine. But the export revenue from oil sales is much greate r than export revenue from gas sales. If the West stops buying oil this really hurts Russia – more than if the West stopped buying gas. Back in May, the EU agreed to ban all Russian oil imports by the end of 2022, at least those that are delivered by sea. That was a good move. Russia threatens to cut gas supplies to the European Union. Russia has realized that cutting natural gas doesn’t affect their export revenue (like oil does) but it affects the economies of EU countries a lot more. Russia supplied the EU with 40% of its gas last year , with Germany, Italy, and Netherlands the top three importers in actual volumes of gas. Germany had imported more than 50% of its gas from Russia via the Nord Stream 1 pipeline. By the end of June, … [Read more...] about Russia Threatens, EU Reduces, US Industry Helps To Untangle The Natural Gas War In Europe.

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin El Segundo Energy Center, a 560-MW combined cycle power plant in southern California. Source: ... [+] Combined Cycle Journal For electricity, the lifeblood of our modern world , efficiency has been installed as the 1st choice to reduce energy usage and related GHG emissions. Although renewables are ranked 2nd in this critical "loading order," 3rd ranked natural gas often gets deployed 1st because of greater availability and reliability. This demonstrates why since California first installed its Renewable Portfolio Standard in 2003, natural gas' share in the power generation mix has actually risen from 47% then to 61% today. Thanks to its clean burning, predictable, and flexible nature, natural gas has become an increasingly attractive fuel, boosted by a production boom and lower prices. Evolving technologies will continue to allow gas to play an expanding role in the clean generation of electricity. … [Read more...] about U.S. Natural Gas Electricity Efficiency is Always Improving

- A + A SINGAPORE (Aug 9): Cryptocurrency investment is "highly hazardous" but meltdowns in the sector have not created financial-stability risks for Singapore, regulators in the city-state said after another digital-asset firm ran into trouble. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has rescinded its in-principle approval for crypto lender Hodlnaut to obtain a licence to provide digital payment token services under the Payment Services Act, an MAS spokesperson said in an emailed statement on Tuesday. That came after Hodlnaut told MAS of its intention to withdraw its application amid its halt in customer withdrawals announced on Monday. It had been one of the few firms granted in-principle approval by MAS under the Act. "MAS has been continually reminding the general public that dealing in cryptocurrency is highly hazardous," the regulator's spokesperson said in response to an inquiry about Hodlnaut's situation. "Not only are the values of cryptocurrencies … [Read more...] about Singapore regulator reiterates crypto dangers amid Hodlnaut woes

The Ayala group’s AC Energy Corp. (Acen) saw its second quarter consolidated net income jump by 25 percent to P1.8 billion as its domestic operations returned to profitability while its overseas projects revved up their output. Second-quarter results significantly improved — albeit not enough to reverse profit decline — in the first semester, with Acen’s net income falling by 19 percent to P2.2 billion. From April to June alone, Acen’s net income got a boost from fresh contributions from new power generators here and abroad, as well as the easing of transmission restrictions in the Visayas grid. Acen’s generators in the Visayas were forced to limit the output they delivered in the aftermath of Typhoon Odette in December, damaging transmission facilities. This worsened the “curtailment,” or forced reduction of supply deliveries, that had resulted in a June 2021 incident that damaged a major undersea transmission cable that links the islands of Negros and Cebu. The company said … [Read more...] about Acen’s Q2 profit up 25% as local operations rebounded

Farmers are adopting precision agriculture , using data collected by GPS, satellite imagery, internet-connected sensors, and other technologies to farm more efficiently. While these practices could help increase crop yields and reduce costs, the technology behind the practices is creating opportunities for extremists, terrorists, and adversarial governments to attack farming machinery, with the aim of disrupting food production. advertisement Food producers around the world have been under increasing pressure, a problem exacerbated by the war in Ukraine and rising fuel and fertilizer costs. Farmers are trying to produce more food but with fewer resources, pushing the food production system toward its breaking point . In this environment, it’s understandable that many U.S. farmers are turning to modern information technologies to support decision-making and operations in managing crop production. These precision agriculture practices lead to more efficient use … [Read more...] about Why the rise of precision agriculture exposes our food systems to new threats

- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 9): Apple has partnered with Ambank, Maybank and Standard Chartered Malaysia to offer its mobile payment services to Malaysian customers. “Customers with Visa and Mastercard cards from banks including AmBank, Maybank and Standard Chartered Bank can now use Apple Pay, with American Express cards to be available with Apple Pay later this year,” the consumer electronic company announced on its website on Tuesday (Aug 9). "Merchants such as KFC, Maxis, Machines, McDonald’s, Mydin, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, U Mobile, Uniqlo, Village Grocer and Watsons — and apps and websites including Shopee, Sephora, Atome and Adidas — now offer customers the ability to pay with Apple Pay." Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet Jennifer Bailey said the company is delighted to bring Apple Pay to Malaysia, providing an easier, safer and more secure way to pay with iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad and Mac. “Our customers in Malaysia will benefit from using … [Read more...] about Apple jumps onto Malaysia’s mobile payment bandwagon

- A + A (Aug 9): China’s top auditor is conducting a review of the US$3 trillion trust industry, paving the way for a potential overhaul of a key shadow banking sector where losses on property loans are mounting. In an unscheduled move, the National Audit Office — which previously led an examination of bank exposures to Jack Ma’s Ant Group Co — has for the past month been inspecting the books of at least 20 trust firms, including the top five, to gauge the risks they pose to financial stability, according to people familiar with the matter. The firms are being asked to report on their risky loans to developers and any plans to dispose of them, the people said, asking not to be named as they’re not authorised to speak publicly. The audit office is expected to submit its conclusions to policy makers in Beijing, who may decide on the future reforms of the sector, the people said. While it is unclear what regulatory action the scrutiny will spur, the move illustrates … [Read more...] about China orders surprise audit of US$3 trillion trust industry

Indonesia coal benchmark price COAL-HBA-ID has stayed above US$70 per tonne level since January 2021 but surged to a record US$321.59 per tonne this month, as the war in Ukraine exacerbated the energy supply crunch. - A + A JAKARTA (Aug 9): Indonesian legislators on Tuesday pressed the government to tighten rules on domestic coal sales, amid concern that miners will choose to pay fines instead of meeting a requirement to sell a quarter of their output to local power generators. The parliamentary energy committee met during recess on Tuesday, fearing the world's biggest thermal coal exporter was headed for a repeat of a domestic supply crisis late last year that saw exports banned for a few weeks in January, triggering panic among foreign buyers. Indonesia imposes a so-called Domestic Market Obligation (DMO) where miners must sell 25% of their output onshore, at prices capped at US$70 per tonne for power generators and US$90 per tonne for local industry. Though … [Read more...] about Indonesia lawmakers call for tougher rules to avert another coal crisis