roulette picker AUM of USD 635 Billion at ADFW Caps Stellar Q4 as Trillion-Dollar Club Flock to ADGMClimate technologies play an important part in addressing climate change, which can be seen at the national as well as global level. By blending technological, institutional, and social innovations, national systems of innovation can accelerate climate action and unlock solutions that leverage the unique capacities of different actors to collectively drive the transition towards a green, resilient, and climate-smart economy. When the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was established in 1992, it already highlighted the need for a transfer of technology and provision of finance from developed to developing countries (Articles 4 and 11). Building on this, the Paris Agreement in 2015 dedicated an entire article (Article 10) to “technology development and transfer in order to improve resilience to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” further underlining the importance of climate technologies. “Technology” in this context is used in a broad sense and can include mitigation technologies (e.g., wind or solar energy), adaptation technologies (e.g., drought-resistant crop varieties or early warning systems), and “soft” technologies, such as energy-efficient practices or technology-related training. As part of the overall means of implementation, technology also closely connects to both climate finance and capacity-building, which are crucial for the development, transfer, deployment, operation, and maintenance of climate technologies. At the national level, the enabling environment is crucial for the effective utilisation of climate technologies and fostering innovation. As stated in Article 10 of the Paris Agreement, “accelerating, encouraging, and enabling innovation is critical for an effective, long-term global response to climate change and promoting economic growth and sustainable development.” A national system of innovation can support and align the efforts of different actors and provide the institutions and linkages that form the foundation for domestic systems of research and development that can produce indigenous technologies and homegrown innovation. But what is needed for a strong national system of innovation, especially in a climate-vulnerable developing country such as Sri Lanka? How can the potential of technology be unlocked and connected in practical ways to the actors who can effectively manufacture, diffuse, and scale it—such as start-ups and entrepreneurs, the private sector, local governments, or national institutions? The key building blocks for a national system of innovation include education (including technical and vocational education and training); research and development; and a conducive policy and regulatory framework. Together, these building blocks can produce a skilled workforce and create a research base at the heart of the innovation system, allowing different entities—such as universities, research institutions, and think tanks—to attract and retain talent. The stability and predictability of this enabling environment is a significant factor to enable long-term research and development activities, while regulatory sandboxes and innovation spaces can help to jump from incremental technology development to technological breakthroughs. In addition, a strong national system of innovation brings together resources and capacities from different actors and provides strategic coordination and alignment with a national research agenda and/or development vision. For example, this can be supported through transparent flows of information and data availability; collaborations and partnerships between the public sector, academia, and the private sector; or cross-sectoral cooperation. Fostering market demand for climate technologies can further unlock innovation and support the transition from technology adoption to genuine technology deployment and scaling, allowing enterprises to find commercial applications and mobilise capital and investment from a variety of sources. A key challenge for enhancing national systems of innovation is the need to move from strategic prioritisation to technology development, commercialisation, and large-scale diffusion. Fragmentation of efforts, data gaps, insufficient funding, or resistance to change can pose barriers to the widespread adoption of climate technologies. Therefore, beyond a solid foundation in education, training, and research that builds scientific, engineering, and design capabilities, finding technology-driven climate solutions also requires a mindset shift towards innovation, experimentation, and risk-taking. De-risking investment and providing dedicated grant or loan schemes could provide additional incentives in this regard and support innovators in understanding users, markets, and the linkages between the two. Access to both domestic and foreign markets as well as policy review and feedback systems that measure impact and support the iterative improvement of the innovation ecosystem are other key aspects of technology at the national level. At a larger scale, developing countries need financial and technical support for product development, demonstration, manufacturing, and business model development. National systems of innovation are indispensable for a successful transition and can play a key part in harnessing the power of technology to find transformative climate solutions. As countries work towards their national as well as collective global climate goals, strengthening these systems offers a powerful pathway for climate change mitigation, adaptation, and long-term green growth.

Since 2005, celebrities have battled it out in the ballroom for a chance at glory on Dancing With the Stars . Celebs including Kim Kardashian, Kelly Osbourne and Kirstie Alley have waltzed, tangoed and cha-cha-cha’d their hearts out, only to come up short against the competition. With the help of professional dancers — including Derek Hough, Julianne Hough, Mark Ballas and brothers Maksim and Val Chmerkovskiy — some stars have earned the coveted title of America’s best dancer. Derek, for his part, took home six trophies — with partners Brooke Burke, Nicole Scherzinger, Jennifer Grey, Kellie Pickler, Amber Riley and Bindi Irwin — before becoming a judge in 2020. You have successfully subscribed. By signing up, I agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive emails from Us Weekly Check our latest news in Google News Check our latest news in Apple News “When Tom Brady won a seventh Super Bowl, I was like, ‘Oh no, do I need to go for seven here?’” he exclusively joked to Us Weekly in May 2021. “No, I think — who knows? I never say never, but for right now, I’m looking forward to going back as a judge.” Take a look back at the stars whose fancy footwork earned them a spot on the elite list of DWTS winners below: Credit: Shutterstock (2); ABC/Eric McCandless 'Dancing With the Stars' Winners Through the Years: Mirrorball Champs From 2005 to Now Since 2005, celebrities have battled it out in the ballroom for a chance at glory on Dancing With the Stars .Celebs including Kim Kardashian, Kelly Osbourne and Kirstie Alley have waltzed, tangoed and cha-cha-cha’d their hearts out, only to come up short against the competition.With the help of professional dancers — including Derek Hough, Julianne Hough, Mark Ballas and brothers Maksim and Val Chmerkovskiy — some stars have earned the coveted title of America’s best dancer.Derek, for his part, took home six trophies — with partners Brooke Burke, Nicole Scherzinger, Jennifer Grey, Kellie Pickler, Amber Riley and Bindi Irwin — before becoming a judge in 2020.“When Tom Brady won a seventh Super Bowl, I was like, ‘Oh no, do I need to go for seven here?'” he exclusively joked to Us Weekly in May 2021. “No, I think — who knows? I never say never, but for right now, I’m looking forward to going back as a judge.”Take a look back at the stars whose fancy footwork earned them a spot on the elite list of DWTS winners below: Credit: Adam Larkey/ABC via Getty Images Season 1: Kelly Monaco and Alec Mazo The inaugural season of DWTS in June 2005 featured only six celebrity dancers — Trista Sutter , Evander Holyfield , Rachel Hunter , Joey McIntyre , John O'Hurley and soap starMonaco, who won the competition with pro Mazo in his first of five seasons on the show. (He never again finished higher than eighth place.) Credit: ABC/ADAM LARKEY Season 2: Drew Lachey and Cheryl Burke In January 2006, DWTS upped the number of contestants to 10. Among them were Lisa Rinna , Stacy Keibler , Jerry Rice , Tatum O'Neal and eventual winner Lachey. The 98 Degrees boy bander gave then-rookie pro Burke her first mirrorball victory, earning three perfect scores throughout the season, including two during the February 2006 finale. Credit: ABC/ADAM LARKEY Season 3: Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke Months after winning season 2 of DWTS , returning pro Burke won again in season 3, dancing to victory with the former NFL player in November 2006. Other contestants during that cycle included Vivica A. Fox , Joey Lawrence , Willa Ford , Jerry Springer and runner-up Mario Lopez , who, along with partner Karina Smirnoff , gave Smith and Burke a run for their money. Credit: ABC/CAROL KAELSON Season 4: Apolo Anton Ohno and Julianne Hough Newbie pro Julianne interrupted Burke's two-season winning streak by taking home the mirrorball trophy with the Olympic skater in May 2007. Their rumba, paso doble and freestyle dances on the finale put them above fellow finalists Joey Fatone and Laila Ali . Credit: ABC/CAROL KAELSON Season 5: Helio Castroneves and Julianne Hough Race car driver Castroneves sped to victory in November 2007 with second-time winner Julianne, who beat out her own brother, Derek, in their first season together. (Derek and Beverly Hills, 90210 actress Jennie Garth placed fourth in the competition, behind Marie Osmond and Jonathan Roberts in third and Mel B. and Maksim in second.) Credit: ABC/KELSEY McNEAL Season 6: Kristi Yamaguchi and Mark Ballas Olympic figure skater Yamaguchi added a DWTS trophy to her 1992 gold medal on the season 6 finale in May 2008. She and partner Ballas earned three perfect scores in the final week of competition for their cha-cha, freestyle and jive routines. Credit: ABC/KELSEY MCNEAL Season 7: Brooke Burke and Derek Hough The Utah native earned his first victory in November 2008 with Burke, who later cohosted the show with Bergeron before being replaced by Andrews in 2013. Credit: ABC/KELSEY MCNEAL Season 8: Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas Fresh off her performance at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where she won four gold medals and one silver medal, the gymnast joined forces with Ballas to take home the season 8 mirrorball trophy in May 2009. Gilles Marini and Cheryl Burke were the runners-up. Credit: Roger Wong/INFphoto.com Season 9: Donny Osmond and Kym Johnson Season 9 of DWTS kicked off in September 2009 with 16 contestants instead of the usual 13. Notable names included Melissa Joan Hart , Kathy Ireland , Aaron Carter , Joanna Krupa , Kelly Osbourne and Mya , the latter two of whom made it to the finals with eventual winner Osmond and his partner Johnson. The lifelong showbiz vet earned two perfect scores on the finale for a freestyle routine and an Argentine tango. Credit: Debra L. Rothenberg/startraksphoto.com Season 10: Nicole Scherzinger and Derek Hough Scherzinger drew on her Pussycat Dolls experience to win the season 10 trophy with then-second-time victor Derek in May 2010. Other contestants that had a very memorable season included astronaut Buzz Aldrin , reality TV stars Kate Gosselin and Jake Pavelka and actress Pamela Anderson . Credit: Chris Pizzello/AP/Shutterstock Season 11: Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough Nobody puts Baby in a corner! Grey relived her Dirty Dancing days in the fall of 2010, when she and partner Derek cha-cha-cha'd their way to mirrorball glory. Their six perfect scores throughout the season — including three during finals week — put them at the top of the heap. Credit: Bill Davila/startraksphoto.com Season 12: Hines Ward and Kym Johnson DWTS pro Johnson earned her second win in May 2011, with the NFL player. They had some tough competition, though, namely from runners-up Kirstie Alley and her partner, Maksim, and third-place finishers Chelsea Kane and Ballas. Credit: Roger Wong/INFphoto.com Season 13: J.R. Martinez and Karina Smirnoff The actor and Army veteran won more than just fans' hearts on season 13 of DWTS . With help from Smirnoff, he triumphed over stars including runner-up Rob Kardashian , talk show hostess Ricki Lake , actor David Arquette , Kristin Cavallari and model Elisabetta Canalis . Credit: Mediapunch/Shutterstock Season 14: Donald Driver and Peta Murgatroyd The NFL player beat out stars including Jaleel White , Gavin DeGraw , Sherri Shepherd and Maria Menounos to win the coveted trophy in May 2012. Runners-up Katherine Jenkins and Ballas actually had a higher total score from the judges during finals week, but Driver and his partner earned more votes from viewers. Credit: ABC/Craig Sjodin Season 15: Melissa Rycroft and Tony Dovolani The Bachelorette alum — who finished third on season eight of DWTS — returned for DWTS: All-Stars in the fall of 2012, along with 12 other former contestants including Joey Fatone , Bristol Palin and Gilles Marini . She and Dovolani narrowly beat out former champs Kelly Monaco and Shawn Johnson, earning two perfect scores and a 28.5 during the two-night finale. Credit: Kristina Bumphrey/Starpix/Shutterstock Season 16: Kellie Pickler and Derek Hough The country singer may have finished sixth on season 5 of American Idol , but she was No. 1 on season 16 of DWTS in the spring of 2013. With Derek by her side, she waltzed to victory over contestants including Bachelor alum Sean Lowe (who memorably dedicated a dance to his now-wife, Catherine Giudici ), Real Housewives star Lisa Vanderpump , and Disney Channel phenom Zendaya . Credit: Roger Wong/INFphoto.com Season 17: Amber Riley and Derek Hough The Glee star gave DWTS vet Derek his record-breaking fifth mirrorball victory in the fall of 2013. They beat out fellow finalists Corbin Bleu and Smirnoff, and Jack Osbourne and Cheryl Burke, with a perfect-scoring samba-quickstep combination to "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher." Other competitors that season included Christina Milian , Leah Remini and Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi . Credit: Kropa/Invision/AP/Shutterstock Season 18: Meryl Davis and Maksim Chmerkovskiy After 14 seasons, Maksim finally earned his first win in May 2014, with the Olympian. Their chemistry sparked rumors of a romance, and though both insisted they were just friends, they definitely had a special bond. Maks left the show before season 19, saying he wanted Davis to be the last person he danced with. Other contestants included Davis' ice dancing partner Charlie White , Candace Cameron Bure and paralympian Amy Purdy , who performed using prosthetic legs. Credit: Broadimage/Shutterstock Season 19: Alfonso Ribeiro and Witney Carson Carlton Banks did it! The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum took home the win against fellow competitors Sadie Robertson and Janel Parrish . Credit: Mediapunch/Shutterstock Season 20: Rumer Willis and Val Chmerkovskiy What a team! "Wanted to take a moment to say thank you to all of the incredible fans of #TeamValenRue that supported us this season," the Ukrainian dancer wrote on social media after their win. "Every edit, every kind comment, every phone call and vote casted we appreciate it so so very much. It is incredibly humbling to know how many people genuinely wanted to see Rumer and I win. Means the world, today and forever. Love you guys very very much." Credit: Adam TaylorABC Season 21: Bindi Irwin and Derek Hough The daughter of the late Steve Irwin was a fan favorite from the start of the season. The pair beat out Ginger Zee and Val and duo Paige VanZant and Ballas. Credit: Jose Perez/startraksphoto.com Season 22: Nyle DiMarco and Peta Murgatroyd The Deaf model dedicated his win to all the "Deaf people in this world" in May 2016. "It means that barriers can be broken," he told Us at the time. "Even though there are barriers there, it doesn't mean that they can't be broken. You've just got to work twice as hard and set your goals and break those barriers. Opportunities are endless." Credit: Eric McCandless/ABC Season 23: Laurie Hernandez and Val Chmerkovskiy Her Olympic medals just weren't enough! "Honestly, I feel like they tie for each other," the gymnast told Us , comparing her medals to the mirrorball trophy. "I feel like the Olympics, as a little kid it was such a big goal that I created for myself and I was able to push through and make that happen. So for the mirrorball ... well, I've always loved to dance and that was my passion along with gymnastics, so winning the mirrorball today was insane and amazing." Credit: Eric McCandless/ABC Season 24: Rashad Jennings and Emma Slater They did it! Pro dancer Slater won her very first mirrorball trophy thanks to the athlete. "Rashad, you know already what I think of you. Words fail me, but seeing you win this season and achieve something you thought you couldn't do has been the biggest joy of all for me," she wrote via Instagram in May 2017. "Seeing you so happy is more to me than winning anything for myself I adore you. Congratulations partner! We did it!" Credit: ABC/Eric McCandless Season 25: Jordan Fisher and Lindsay Arnold The Hamilton alum helped Arnold score her first mirrorball trophy. “This feels beyond anything I’ve ever imagined,” she told Us in November 2017. “I’ve come close and to finally take it with Jordan means more than I can ever say.” Credit: Kelsey McNeal/ABC Season 26: Adam Rippon and Jenna Johnson The pair won during the DWTS: Athletes special season. “I feel so overwhelmed, and I couldn’t have asked for a better partner to win this with. So I owe it a lot to Adam, and I don’t think I would be standing here without him,” the pro dancer told Us after they won in May 2018. Rippon added of his experience: “I think that it’s just reminded me that every time you step out of your comfort zone, and you push yourself into an experience that you’ve never done before, is when you really have the truest feeling of accomplishment.” Credit: Eric McCandless/ABC Season 27: Bobby Bones and Sharna Burgess The radio personality shocked America — and himself — when he took home the mirrorball trophy in November 2018. “We were never the ones who were supposed to win. In the beginning when they put me in the show, I had the worst odds,” Bones told Us exclusively following his win. “When they said our name, we had to look at each other for a second but we thought they were just saying everyone’s name again. I think most people are shocked that we won. The people who voted aren’t because they are the ones who kept us in and they are the ones who made this happen for us but she is the one who made this happen for me.” This was also Burgess’ first win, and she couldn’t have been happier. “It’s insane and incredible and better than anything I could have ever imagined,” she told Us . “I won my first mirrorball with Bobby and it’s the most epic moment that I will at some point figure out how to put in words.” Credit: ABC/Eric McCandless Season 28: Hannah Brown and Alan Bersten The former Bachelorette took home the top prize in November 2019. “WE DID IT! Thank you all so much!” Brown wrote on Instagram at the time. Bersten, who sparked romance rumors with the former pageant queen during the season, paid tribute to the rest of the final four ( Kel Mitchell, Ally Brooke and Lauren Alaina) in his emotional post-show Instagram. “I wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate and celebrate all the couples who I had the pleasure of sharing the finals with! Everybody worked so hard and had such incredible dances tonight, it was truly magical! I am so lucky and proud to have shared this experience with you. @iamkelmitchell @laurenalaina @allybrooke you are all so talented and I’m going to cherish all the memories we made throughout this special journey together!” he wrote at the time. Credit: ABC Season 29: Kaitlyn Bristowe and Artem Chigvintsev The former Bachelorette and the pro dancer won the mirrorball in November 2020. Nev Schulman and Jenna Johnson came in second place, followed by Nelly and Daniella Karagach, and Justina Machado and Sasha Farber. The win marked the first for Chigvintsev. Credit: ABC/Paula Logo Season 30: Iman Shumpert and Daniella Karagach The former Cleveland Cavaliers player was crowned the champion alongside his partner in November 2021. “My name will get talked about a lot for this, but I couldn’t have had a better coach [or] made a better friend,” the athlete, who was the first NBA player to take home the DWTS title, gushed exclusively to Us at the time about Karagach. He added: “Seriously, like, if this is not an ode to all the incredible work that you’ve done over your lifetime of being a real professional dancer — to be able to cram years of experience into what? We’ve been here three months? To see the end result be me holding the mirrorball, you’re an incredible person, an incredible teacher and incredible coach and an amazing friend. So thank you, Dancing With the Stars , for pairing me with DJ Yellow.” Credit: ABC Season 31: Charli D’Amelio and Mark Ballas The social media personality and pro dancer took home the trophy in season 31. “I think I’ve just learned so much, whether it’s about all these new styles of dance or just myself as a person or learning how to perform anything,” D’Amelio exclusively told Us after the finale in 2022. “I’ve learned a whole lot about it all. And that’s thanks [to] Mark.” Credit: Disney/Eric McCandless Season 32: Xochitl Gomez and Val Chmerkovskiy The Marvel actress and Val were crowned the first recipients of the Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy in season 32. “It feels crazy,” Gomez exclusively told Us following the 2023 finale. “I think it’s going to take me a minute to fully register. I mean, even when I found out I was a superhero, I was like, ‘What? Are you for real?’ It took me, like, a week.” In order to view the gallery, please allow Manage Cookies For access to all our exclusive celebrity videos and interviews – Subscribe on YouTube!NEW YORK (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urged a judge again Friday to throw out his hush money conviction, balking at the prosecution’s suggestion of preserving the verdict by treating the case the way some courts do when a defendant dies. They called the idea “absurd.” The Manhattan district attorney's office is asking Judge Juan M. Merchan to “pretend as if one of the assassination attempts against President Trump had been successful,” Trump’s lawyers wrote in a blistering 23-page response. In court papers made public Tuesday, District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office proposed an array of options for keeping the historic conviction on the books after Trump’s lawyers filed paperwork earlier this month asking for the case to be dismissed. They include freezing the case until Trump leaves office in 2029, agreeing that any future sentence won't include jail time, or closing the case by noting he was convicted but that he wasn't sentenced and his appeal wasn’t resolved because of presidential immunity. Trump lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove reiterated Friday their position that the only acceptable option is overturning his conviction and dismissing his indictment, writing that anything less will interfere with the transition process and his ability to lead the country. The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined comment. It’s unclear how soon Merchan will decide. He could grant Trump’s request for dismissal, go with one of the prosecution’s suggestions, wait until a federal appeals court rules on Trump’s parallel effort to get the case moved out of state court, or choose some other option. In their response Friday, Blanche and Bove ripped each of the prosecution’s suggestions. Halting the case until Trump leaves office would force the incoming president to govern while facing the “ongoing threat” that he’ll be sentenced to imprisonment, fines or other punishment as soon as his term ends, Blanche and Bove wrote. Trump, a Republican, takes office Jan. 20. “To be clear, President Trump will never deviate from the public interest in response to these thuggish tactics,” the defense lawyers wrote. “However, the threat itself is unconstitutional.” The prosecution’s suggestion that Merchan could mitigate those concerns by promising not to sentence Trump to jail time on presidential immunity grounds is also a non-starter, Blanche and Bove wrote. The immunity statute requires dropping the case, not merely limiting sentencing options, they argued. Blanche and Bove, both of whom Trump has tabbed for high-ranking Justice Department positions, expressed outrage at the prosecution’s novel suggestion that Merchan borrow from Alabama and other states and treat the case as if Trump had died. Blanche and Bove accused prosecutors of ignoring New York precedent and attempting to “fabricate” a solution “based on an extremely troubling and irresponsible analogy between President Trump" who survived assassination attempts in Pennsylvania in July and Florida in September “and a hypothetical dead defendant.” Such an option normally comes into play when a defendant dies after being convicted but before appeals are exhausted. It is unclear whether it is viable under New York law, but prosecutors suggested that Merchan could innovate in what’s already a unique case. “This remedy would prevent defendant from being burdened during his presidency by an ongoing criminal proceeding,” prosecutors wrote in their filing this week. But at the same time, it wouldn’t “precipitously discard” the “meaningful fact that defendant was indicted and found guilty by a jury of his peers.” Prosecutors acknowledged that “presidential immunity requires accommodation” during Trump’s impending return to the White House but argued that his election to a second term should not upend the jury’s verdict, which came when he was out of office. Longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution . Other world leaders don’t enjoy the same protection. For example, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on trial on corruption charges even as he leads that nation’s wars in Lebanon and Gaza . Trump has been fighting for months to reverse his May 30 conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records . Prosecutors said he fudged the documents to conceal a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to suppress her claim that they had sex a decade earlier, which Trump denies. In their filing Friday, Trump’s lawyers citing a social media post in which Sen. John Fetterman used profane language to criticize Trump’s hush money prosecution. The Pennsylvania Democrat suggested that Trump deserved a pardon, comparing his case to that of President Joe Biden’s pardoned son Hunter Biden, who had been convicted of tax and gun charges . “Weaponizing the judiciary for blatant, partisan gain diminishes the collective faith in our institutions and sows further division,” Fetterman wrote Wednesday on Truth Social. Trump’s hush money conviction was in state court, meaning a presidential pardon — issued by Biden or himself when he takes office — would not apply to the case. Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes. Since the election, special counsel Jack Smith has ended his two federal cases , which pertained to Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss and allegations that he hoarded classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. A separate state election interference case in Fulton County, Georgia, is largely on hold. Trump denies wrongdoing in all. Trump had been scheduled for sentencing in the hush money case in late November. But following Trump’s Nov. 5 election victory, Merchan halted proceedings and indefinitely postponed the former and future president’s sentencing so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case. Merchan also delayed a decision on Trump’s prior bid to dismiss the case on immunity grounds. A dismissal would erase Trump’s conviction, sparing him the cloud of a criminal record and possible prison sentence. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime and the first convicted criminal to be elected to the office.Photo: Contributed Kristy Dyer, whose column Sustainability Spotlight usually appears in this spot every second week, is on an extended leave. Her column is expected to return in the spring. This is the first of a two-part series about renewable natural gas by our new climate action columnists Janet Parkins and Eli Pivnick. The second part wil appear Jan. 7. According to FortisBC, renewable natural gas is a low-carbon energy that can help B.C. reach its climate action goals and provides an option for its customers to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions. But what is it really? The name “renewable natural gas” is a marketing term coined in North America to describe methane gas produced from biological waste. Outside North America, it is more accurately known as “biomethane”. RNG is methane gas, chemically identical to fossil natural gas, sourced from decaying organic material. Nearly all available RNG is created in landfills, sewage treatment plants and livestock manure ponds on large industrial farms. When animal waste and trash decay in the absence of oxygen, the microbes that break them down produce gases that contain methane. The methane can be captured, purified and pumped into a pipeline. In the pipeline, RNG is indistinguishable from its fossil fuel counterpart. Burning RNG produces the same amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) as fossil gas. It’s only considered a “carbon-neutral” fuel because its source materials are already considered to be “in” the atmosphere. FortisBC's goal is to have 75% of the gas in its system be renewable, or low-carbon, by 2050. That could prove to be unrealistic. Natural Resources Canada found nationally sourced RNG can only supply 3.3% of our natural gas needs. To meet its target, FortisBC plans to purchase about 70% of its RNG from the Eastern U.S., Alberta and Ontario by 2030, in the form of credit-like “environmental attributes” for RNG made in other places. The process is renewable gas is created and used by a gas utility, which sells that gas to its customers as fossil gas. FortisBC sells an equivalent amount of fossil gas, using the purchased carbon neutral “attribute” from the renewable gas produced elsewhere to brand its fossil gas as “renewable.” This is a confusing process, currently has no independent agency or system oversight to ensure FortisBC and other gas utilities aren’t double counting the carbon neutrality of RNG at both the source and use locations. FortisBC’s proposed largest future RNG suppliers use uncommon production practices. One is injecting high-pressure steam at extremely hot temperatures (above 8,000 C) into waste, producing a mix of gases called “syngas” or synthesis gas, which is then processed again with heat to produce pure methane for RNG. Energy is lost at each step of the process. Another method is similar in the use of high-steam and high-heat, but uses waste wood, losing about half the initial wood energy in the process. That technology is untested at a commercial scale and research on non-RNG wood biomass plants in B.C. has found evidence companies sometimes use whole, previously live trees rather than wood waste. FortisBC lists two Ontario cities among its largest future RNG suppliers—Greater Napanee and Hamilton. As of March 2024, Greater Napanee was not aware of the proposed project, and no permit applications had been submitted. The Hamilton project was to begin producing renewable natural gas in 2023, but in 2019 Hamilton city councillors unanimously rejected the proposal and later signed a contract with another company to collect its waste until 2028. Beyond its existing contracts, FortisBC’s prospects of buying cheap, plentiful RNG from elsewhere appear slim because FortisBC must compete with utilities in Quebec, New York, Nevada, Massachusetts and Washington state that have pitched RNG to their customers as a way to decarbonize. RNG is methane produced from biological sources and so it is, in theory, renewable. Compared to fossil methane (natural gas) it is very limited in supply and will never be able to provide more than a very small portion of our needs. Janet Parkins is a member of Frack-Free BC and Climate Action Now! North Okanagan. This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

By KENYA HUNTER, Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — As she checked into a recent flight to Mexico for vacation, Teja Smith chuckled at the idea of joining another Women’s March on Washington . As a Black woman, she just couldn’t see herself helping to replicate the largest act of resistance against then-President Donald Trump’s first term in January 2017. Even in an election this year where Trump questioned his opponent’s race , held rallies featuring racist insults and falsely claimed Black migrants in Ohio were eating residents’ pets , he didn’t just win a second term. He became the first Republican in two decades to clinch the popular vote, although by a small margin. “It’s like the people have spoken and this is what America looks like,” said Smith, the Los Angeles-based founder of the advocacy social media agency, Get Social. “And there’s not too much more fighting that you’re going to be able to do without losing your own sanity.” After Trump was declared the winner over Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris , many politically engaged Black women said they were so dismayed by the outcome that they were reassessing — but not completely abandoning — their enthusiasm for electoral politics and movement organizing. Black women often carry much of the work of getting out the vote in their communities. They had vigorously supported the historic candidacy of Harris, who would have been the first woman of Black and South Asian descent to win the presidency. Harris’ loss spurred a wave of Black women across social media resolving to prioritize themselves, before giving so much to a country that over and over has shown its indifference to their concerns. AP VoteCast , a survey of more than 120,000 voters, found that 6 in 10 Black women said the future of democracy in the United States was the single most important factor for their vote this year, a higher share than for other demographic groups. But now, with Trump set to return to office in two months, some Black women are renewing calls to emphasize rest, focus on mental health and become more selective about what fight they lend their organizing power to. “America is going to have to save herself,” said LaTosha Brown, the co-founder of the national voting rights group Black Voters Matter. She compared Black women’s presence in social justice movements as “core strategists and core organizers” to the North Star, known as the most consistent and dependable star in the galaxy because of its seemingly fixed position in the sky. People can rely on Black women to lead change, Brown said, but the next four years will look different. “That’s not a herculean task that’s for us. We don’t want that title. ... I have no goals to be a martyr for a nation that cares nothing about me,” she said. AP VoteCast paints a clear picture of Black women’s concerns. Black female voters were most likely to say that democracy was the single most important factor for their vote, compared to other motivators such as high prices or abortion. More than 7 in 10 Black female voters said they were “very concerned” that electing Trump would lead the nation toward authoritarianism, while only about 2 in 10 said this about Harris. About 9 in 10 Black female voters supported Harris in 2024, according to AP VoteCast, similar to the share that backed Democrat Joe Biden in 2020. Trump received support from more than half of white voters, who made up the vast majority of his coalition in both years. Like voters overall, Black women were most likely to say the economy and jobs were the most important issues facing the country, with about one-third saying that. But they were more likely than many other groups to say that abortion and racism were the top issues, and much less likely than other groups to say immigration was the top issue. Despite those concerns, which were well-voiced by Black women throughout the campaign, increased support from young men of color and white women helped expand Trump’s lead and secured his victory. Politically engaged Black women said they don’t plan to continue positioning themselves in the vertebrae of the “backbone” of America’s democracy. The growing movement prompting Black women to withdraw is a shift from history, where they are often present and at the forefront of political and social change. One of the earliest examples is the women’s suffrage movement that led to ratification in 1920 of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution , which gave women the right to vote. Black women, however, were prevented from voting for decades afterward because of Jim Crow-era literacy tests, poll taxes and laws that blocked the grandchildren of slaves from voting. Most Black women couldn’t vote until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Black women were among the organizers and counted among the marchers brutalized on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Alabama, during the historic march in 1965 from Selma to Montgomery that preceded federal legislation. Decades later, Black women were prominent organizers of the Black Lives Matter movement in response to the deaths of Black Americans at the hands of police and vigilantes. In his 2024 campaign, Trump called for leveraging federal money to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs in government programs and discussions of race, gender or sexual orientation in schools. His rhetoric on immigration, including false claims that Black Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, were eating cats and dogs, drove support for his plan to deport millions of people . Related Articles Tenita Taylor, a Black resident of Atlanta who supported Trump this year, said she was initially excited about Harris’ candidacy. But after thinking about how high her grocery bills have been, she feels that voting for Trump in hopes of finally getting lower prices was a form of self-prioritization. “People say, ‘Well, that’s selfish, it was gonna be better for the greater good,”’ she said. “I’m a mother of five kids. ... The things that (Democrats) do either affect the rich or the poor.” Some of Trump’s plans affect people in Olivia Gordon’s immediate community, which is why she struggled to get behind the “Black women rest” wave. Gordon, a New York-based lawyer who supported the Party for Socialism and Liberation’s presidential nominee, Claudia de la Cruz, worries about who may be left behind if the 92% of Black women voters who backed Harris simply stopped advocating. “We’re talking millions of Black women here. If millions of Black women take a step back, it absolutely leaves holes, but for other Black women,” she said. “I think we sometimes are in the bubble of if it’s not in your immediate circle, maybe it doesn’t apply to you. And I truly implore people to understand that it does.” Nicole Lewis, an Alabama-based therapist who specializes in treating Black women’s stress, said she’s aware that Black women withdrawing from social impact movements could have a fallout. But she also hopes that it forces a reckoning for the nation to understand the consequences of not standing in solidarity with Black women. “It could impact things negatively because there isn’t that voice from the most empathetic group,” she said. “I also think it’s going to give other groups an opportunity to step up. ... My hope is that they do show up for themselves and everyone else.” Brown said a reckoning might be exactly what the country needs, but it’s a reckoning for everyone else. Black women, she said, did their job when they supported Harris in droves in hopes they could thwart the massive changes expected under Trump. “This ain’t our reckoning,” she said. “I don’t feel no guilt.” AP polling editor Amelia Thomson DeVeaux and Associated Press writer Linley Sanders in Washington contributed to this report. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.Loáisiga guaranteed $5 million in 1-year deal with Yankees as he returns from Tommy John surgery

Using aerial drones to spray paint over graffiti along state highways is “very effective,” according to a new report from Washington’s Department of Transportation. Over the last six months, the agency has tested graffiti removal methods through a pilot program set up by the Legislature last year. Lawmakers set aside $1 million for the department to focus on new ways to erase spray paint from road signs, walls and bridges. The agency spends thousands of hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars each year on graffiti removal. While the drones are useful to reach spray paint in places that are dangerous or difficult to access, the agency said in its report that other maintenance needs may be higher priorities for funding. “Graffiti removal is and will remain a challenge,” according to the report. The amount the state spends on graffiti cleanup every year has been on the rise. In 2023, the department’s crews spent more than $815,000 on graffiti removal statewide, the agency wrote in a blog post. The department estimates that’s nearly 10,300 hours of labor and 700,000 square feet of graffiti. Removal costs about $3,000 per tag. At the time the pilot program passed the Legislature, sponsor Rep. Andrew Barkis, R-Olympia, said graffiti along Washington’s roads was “getting out of control.” The program helped the agency train two drone operators and remove graffiti in the Tacoma area along Interstate 5. It also paid for equipment and supplies. To date, the department has spent $22,000 to clean graffiti using drones and has plans to spend up to $60,000 on these efforts through June 2025. The drone that the department is using was purchased before the Legislature allocated money toward this effort. It’s an $86,000 aircraft powered by batteries and tethered to pump paint from the ground. The department is in talks with a supplier to create a self-contained unit that holds one to two gallons of paint without a tether, which operators say can get caught on trees or billboards. Along with using drone technology, the Legislature encouraged the department to look for ways it can use cameras to catch illegal graffiti activity, focusing mostly on the I-5 corridor between Tacoma and Seattle and the North Spokane Corridor. Over the last six months, the agency tested four different graffiti detection devices set up in two locations in Tacoma and Spokane. The devices, which include cameras or radar, use artificial intelligence or machine learning components to recognize a graffiti tagger. When a vandal is spotted, the devices send a notification to a traffic management center operated by the Department of Transportation. Each device was only active for a few weeks in October due to time constraints related to when the department must spend the money provided for this work. That short period limited the opportunities for the devices to catch taggers, according to the report. But one device in Tacoma, which was active from Oct. 9 to Nov. 5 resulted in three notifications on graffiti activity and one arrest. “Although the number of opportunities to detect taggers in this pilot was low due to the quick turnaround, the proviso provided evidence that the technology exists to detect graffiti taggers in real time,” the report reads. Still, funding limitations and Washington State Patrol staff shortages are constraints, the department says. And, at this point, the agency has no proposal to fund graffiti detection past next June.Vista Outdoor Stockholders Approve CSG Transaction to Acquire The Kinetic Group'It's incredible': Angel is riding tall in the saddle on the National Trail

Shlomo Nehama Steps Down as Chairman of the Board of Ellomay Capital Ltd.AP News Summary at 6:46 p.m. ESTRinnai America Joins Forces with Homes For Our Troops to Aid Injured Veterans

NATO and Ukraine to hold emergency talks after Russian attack with hypersonic missileValeriy Zaluzhny, Ukraine 's ambassador to the UK, has issued a chilling warning that "World War Three has already begun." The former armed forces general made the statement during a speech at a Ukrainian Pravda awards ceremony. During the speech, he addressed who the Ukraine is facing, it's not only Russia but also soldiers from North Korea and Iranian 'Shaheds' [kamikaze drones] which are openly killing civilians in Ukraine. Americans at risk of snow bomb in 15 states as winter storm warning issued MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow ‘takes seven-figure pay cut’ as ratings plummet Zaluzhny said: "I believe that in 2024 we can absolutely definitely consider that the Third World War has begun." He further revealed that missiles made in North Korea are being launched into Ukraine and that Chinese shells are being detonated in the country. He added: "Chinese shells are detonated in Ukraine . Chinese parts are used in Russian missiles." According to Zaluzhny, most military experts believe WW3 has started. He concluded his speech by saying: "What has been expected for so long, it has already begun," but added that there is still time for the world to reach the right conclusions. "Everything can still be stopped here, on the territory of Ukraine . But for some reason our [Western] partners do not want to understand this. It is obvious that Ukraine already has too many enemies. Ukraine will survive at the expense of technology, but it is unknown whether it will be able to win this battle on its own." Despite the grim outlook, Zalushny remains hopeful that the West will rally behind Ukraine , especially as the next presidency of Donald Trump looms in January. "I believe that [regarding the start of] the World War, welcome - it has begun," he declared. DON'T MISS: WW3 map shows areas where millions in UK will die if Putin launches nuke Full list of safest countries to go to if World War Three did actually break out Putin crony warns 'World War 3 is here' as Russia issues chilling new threat This comes as Putin announced that Russia had launched a new intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine on Thursday. This was in response to Kyiv's use of American and British missiles capable of striking deeper into Russia earlier this week. In a televised address, Putin warned that US air defense systems would be powerless against the new missile, which reportedly travels at Mach 10 and has been named Oreshnik, Russian for hazelnut tree. He also stated that it could be used to attack any Ukrainian ally whose missiles are used to attack Russia . "We believe that we have the right to use our weapons against military facilities of the countries that allow to use their weapons against our facilities," Putin said. This was his first public comment since President Joe Biden gave Ukraine permission earlier this month to use U.S. ATACMS missiles to strike limited targets within Russia .LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Jaylon Johnson wasn't all that interested in discussing any bright spots or reasons to have hope for the Chicago Bears. The star cornerback made his feelings clear. “I’ve been in slumps four, five years in a row now,” Johnson said Monday. "So, I mean at the end of the day, I don’t look for, ‘OK, what is going to be better in the future?’ ... It will be better when it’s better. So, right now, it’s not better. That’s all I can go off of.” The Bears (4-7) are last in the NFC North and have five straight losses after falling 30-27 to Minnesota in overtime. They wiped out an 11-point deficit in the final 22 seconds of regulation, only to come up short again when the Vikings' Parker Romo kicked a 29-yard field goal. It was the third game during this skid that came down to the final play. The Bears also lost on a Hail Mary at Washington in Week 8 and had a game-ending field goal attempt by Cairo Santos blocked by Green Bay in Week 11. Players have openly questioned some of the coaching decisions in recent weeks. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron got fired before the game against Green Bay. And coach Matt Eberflus' game management came under more scrutiny against Minnesota. With the Bears trailing 17-10 in the third quarter, there was some confusion on a fourth-and-4 at the Vikings 27. Eberflus said he didn't do a good enough job communicating on the previous play that they would go for it on fourth down. That led to a chaotic sequence in which Santos and long snapper Scott Daly ran onto the field, only to get waved off by a lineman. Quarterback Caleb Williams had to rush to get everyone lined up properly in order to avoid a delay of game. He wound up barking out the wrong play because he misheard the call from offensive coordinator Thomas Brown and threw an incomplete pass. Receiver DJ Moore said Eberflus had not addressed that play with the team. The Bears were scheduled to meet later Monday. “That moment was just like, like a ‘what is going on’ moment that we could have avoided,” he said. The passing game. Williams has clearly looked more comfortable in the two games since Brown replaced the fired Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator. The No. 1 draft pick followed up a solid performance against Green Bay by throwing for 340 yards and two touchdowns. It was his fourth straight turnover-free game and fifth in a row without an interception. Field goal protection. One week after his game-ending 46-yard field goal attempt against Green Bay got blocked, Santos had a 48-yarder rejected on his first try against Minnesota. It happened from the same area, in the middle of the line, when the Vikings' Jerry Tillery knocked down the kick. “I just think it’s technique," Eberflus said. "It’s getting your foot down, bracing up there, staying lower. ... We just have to do a better job there with that.” It was the third blocked field goal for Santos this year, the most for Chicago in a single season since it also had three blocked in 2012. He had a 43-yard try blocked in a win over Jacksonville on Oct. 13. Moore. The Bears have done a better job getting Moore involved under Brown. Moore caught seven passes for a season-high 106 yards and a touchdown against Minnesota. That gave him 14 receptions for 168 yards the past two games, compared to 13 for 104 yards over the previous four. Johnson's 27-yard catch down the middle set up Santos' tying field goal at the end of regulation. But it's not just deep shots. The Bears are finding ways to get the ball in his hands, allowing him to turn short passes into bigger gains. He also had a 13-yard run. RB D’Andre Swift. After a string of solid outings, Swift had just 30 yards on 13 carries. To be fair, he has been dealing with a groin issue, and he was going against the NFL's No. 1 run defense. The Bears reported no injuries during the game. 5-18 — The Bears' record in one-possession games in nearly three seasons under Eberflus, including a 2-5 mark this year. They are 14-31 overall during Eberflus' tenure. The schedule doesn't get any easier, with a Thanksgiving matchup at NFC North leader Detroit. The Lions (10-1) have won nine straight since losing to Tampa Bay in Week 2. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

AP News Summary at 6:46 p.m. EST

JCB3-63DC Polarity DC MCB: Reliable Protection for DC Systems 12-26-2024 05:52 PM CET | Industry, Real Estate & Construction Press release from: ABNewswire Miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) are essential in safeguarding electrical circuits, especially in industries that heavily depend on DC (Direct Current) systems, such as communication systems and photovoltaic (PV) solar applications. The JCB3-63DC Polarity DC Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB), also known by its variant name JCB3 63DC Polarity DC Miniature Circuit Breaker, represents a reliable and high-performance option for such applications. Manufactured with cutting-edge technology, this china dc molded case circuit breaker is specifically engineered to offer short-circuit and overload protection for circuits operating at up to 1000V DC and currents up to 63A. This article delves into the features, design advantages, applications, and technical specifications of the JCB3-63DC Polarity DC MCB [ https://www.w9-group.com/dc-mcb/ ], highlighting why it's an ideal choice for DC environments, especially in PV systems and communication setups. Image: https://ecdn6.globalso.com/upload/p/1205/image_product/2024-11/1-49.png The JCB3-63DC Polarity DC MCB is built with a range of features to enhance safety and reliability. Some of the defining characteristics of this breaker include: * Short-Circuit and Overload Protection: Designed with robust protective mechanisms, the JCB3-63DC provides reliable safety for electrical circuits, particularly in high-voltage DC environments. This MCB is engineered to disconnect the circuit during overload or short-circuit conditions, thereby preventing potential damage to equipment and hazards to personnel. * High Breaking Capacity: The breaker boasts an impressive breaking capacity of up to 6kA, which enables it to manage high fault currents, ensuring it can swiftly disconnect power during serious faults. This capacity is essential for safeguarding sensitive equipment in DC environments, such as communication and PV systems. * Contact Indicator: An innovative contact indicator on the JCB3-63DC MCB allows for quick and clear visualization of the breaker's status, aiding in maintenance and enhancing safety. This feature proves invaluable for professionals managing large systems where frequent status checks are required. * Versatile Pole Options: Available in 1-pole, 2-pole, 3-pole, and 4-pole configurations, the breaker can be tailored to meet the specific requirements of various applications. This versatility allows for greater flexibility in system design and ensures compatibility with a range of circuits. * Rated Current and Voltage: With a rated current of up to 63A and a rated voltage of up to 1000V DC, this MCB is well-suited to handle substantial loads in high-demand applications. This high rating ensures consistent performance, even under challenging operational conditions. * Compliance with IEC 60898-1 Standards: The JCB3-63DC conforms to IEC 60898-1, an international standard governing circuit breakers. This compliance indicates the MCB's safety, quality, and performance, making it a trusted choice for professionals in electrical engineering fields. Why Use a DC Miniature Circuit Breaker [ https://www.w9-group.com/dc-mcb/]? In applications involving DC systems, the JCB3-63DC Polarity DC Miniature Circuit Breaker provides unique advantages over traditional AC MCBs: * Exclusive Design for Safety: The JCB3-63DC is specifically designed with safety in mind, addressing the particular demands of DC power systems. This design minimizes risks such as arcing, which can occur more persistently in DC circuits compared to AC circuits. * Enhanced Protection for Communication and PV DC Systems: In communication setups and photovoltaic DC systems, the need for stable and reliable power is crucial. The JCB3-63DC MCB's overload and short-circuit protection significantly reduce the likelihood of equipment failure and downtime, thereby ensuring the continuous operation of these systems. Applications of the JCB3-63DC Polarity DC Miniature Circuit Breaker The JCB3-63DC Polarity DC MCB is ideally suited for a variety of applications where DC voltage stability is paramount. Below are some of the primary areas where this MCB finds extensive use: * Photovoltaic (PV) Systems: Solar energy systems generate DC power, making DC MCBs like the JCB3-63DC essential for protecting solar panels and related equipment from short circuits and overloads. Given the high breaking capacity of up to 6kA, this breaker can handle high fault currents that may arise in PV systems, safeguarding both the equipment and users. * Communication Systems: Communication infrastructures often rely on DC power sources for stable operation. The JCB3-63DC ensures these systems remain protected against electrical faults, maintaining consistent power flow and protecting sensitive electronic equipment. * Battery Storage Systems: With the growth of renewable energy, battery storage systems have become more prevalent. The JCB3-63DC is a valuable asset in these setups, providing protection for DC circuits and ensuring long-term safety for battery storage and power management. * Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations: As DC power becomes increasingly important in EV charging infrastructure, the JCB3-63DC's high voltage and current rating allow it to be incorporated into EV chargers, enhancing the safety and efficiency of charging stations. Image: https://ecdn6.globalso.com/upload/p/1205/image_product/2024-11/2-45.png Design Advantages of the JCB3-63DC Polarity DC Miniature Circuit Breaker The JCB3-63DC MCB has several design aspects that contribute to its performance in DC systems: * Arc Suppression: One of the main challenges in DC circuit protection is managing electrical arcing. The JCB3-63DC is designed to minimize arcing, ensuring that the breaker operates safely under both low and high load conditions. * Polarity Protection: Designed specifically for DC applications, this breaker provides polarity protection, which is essential for avoiding potential faults that can arise from reversed connections. * Flexible Installation: The breaker's compact size and adaptable pole options make it easy to install across a variety of systems. Its universal design also enables it to fit in multiple settings without compromising its safety and performance standards. Key Benefits of the JCB3-63DC Polarity DC Miniature Circuit Breaker * Enhanced System Reliability: The MCB's short-circuit and overload protection contribute significantly to maintaining the reliability of DC systems, preventing costly equipment damage and enhancing operational uptime. * Cost-Effective Protection: By reducing the risk of equipment damage, the JCB3-63DC can help minimize repair and replacement costs, making it a cost-effective solution for DC circuit protection. * Safety and Compliance: Compliance with IEC 60898-1 standards is a testament to the breaker's safety and performance, making it a reliable choice for engineers and system designers focused on safety and quality. The JCB3-63DC Polarity DC Miniature Circuit Breaker [ https://www.w9-group.com/jcb3-63dc-polarity-dc-miniature-circuit-breaker-mcb-product-1/ ] is a premium solution for safeguarding DC power systems across various applications, from photovoltaic solar installations to communication networks and battery storage systems. Its high-rated current and voltage, along with its overload and short-circuit protection features, make it an invaluable component for any DC circuit requiring high reliability and safety. Whether you're looking to protect a PV installation or maintain uninterrupted power flow in communication infrastructure, the JCB3-63DC MCB, crafted with cutting-edge technology, provides a reliable and robust solution. With its compliance to international standards and thoughtful design elements like contact indicators and polarity protection, this breaker truly exemplifies modern electrical safety. Media Contact Company Name: W9 group Technology Electronic Co,. Ltd. Email:Send Email [ https://www.abnewswire.com/email_contact_us.php?pr=jcb363dc-polarity-dc-mcb-reliable-protection-for-dc-systems ] Phone: +8615906878798 Address:No. 36, Punan Second Road, Yueqing Economic Development Zone City: Wenzhou State: Zhejiang Country: China Website: https://www.w9-group.com/ This release was published on openPR.Getting smart about car insurance can provide cost savings and peace of mind

Digital Defenders: Tennis Takes a Stand Against Social Media AbuseCalls for further reforms to create a universal childcare system are mounting, after major government announcements to improve access for families. Login or signup to continue reading Anthony Albanese has promised a re-elected Labor government would abolish the childcare activity test and offer three days of subsidised care to families earning up to $530,000 a year. The proposal would scrap the activity test, which determines the level of childcare subsidies parents get based on the number of hours they work, opening up childcare to an estimated 150,000 children. Removing the activity test was "the first plank towards a truly universal system", Impact Economics and Policy lead economist Angela Jackson said. "We can see very clearly that the current market just isn't working," Dr Jackson said. Over the past year, childcare fees have increased by 10.6 per cent, eroding the benefits of the $5 billion Cheaper Child Care Reforms introduced in July 2023. "I think the next step is to really have a look at the way in which support for people using early childhood education and care has often failed to deliver in terms of access, quality and the cost, and whether or not we need some really fundamental reform," Dr Jackson said. A $1 billion fund to build or expand more than 160 early childhood education and care services has also been announced, following parliament's approval of a 15 per cent wage rise over two years for early childhood educators. "I can't tell you how important this week was for these kids who were missing out from disadvantaged backgrounds," Dr Jackson said. The fund, which will prioritise not-for-profit and government centres, will give providers more security through direct funding and had genuine potential to eradicate the nation's childcare desert, The Parenthood's Maddy Butler said. A childcare desert is an area where three or more children compete for one childcare place, and they predominantly exist in outer-suburban, regional, rural and remote communities. "The current early education market has failed country towns," Ms Butler said. "Providers don't have the financial incentive to set up or stay open there and the early educator workforce means existing services often can't run at full capacity." Jay Weatherill, from Minderoo Foundation's Thrive by Five campaign, said the fund was "what rural and outer-suburban communities have been crying out for". "Not having access to childcare and early learning affects everyone, because parents can't get back to work when they want to, and local businesses and services suffer," the former South Australian premier said. "The next step should be a commitment to free early learning for low income families and a $10-a-day cap on out-of-pocket fees for everyone else." Labor is believed to be considering the cap as a federal election promise as it pursues its long-term goal of universal childcare. Parents pay about $50 per child per day, and childcare was recently identified as the third fastest-growing cost in the Consumer Price Index. Each time governments increased subsidies, the value of the gains was eroded by increases in the cost of care, Dr Jackson said. "The current market settings encourage providers to charge higher fees, rather than drive more cost-effective and higher quality care," she said. A supply-side system, where providers were funded based on service delivery costs and parents paid $10 to $20 per day, was "wholly achievable", she said. "There are debates about whether ... higher-income earners should contribute more, and I think you can have those debates within this context," she said. Australian Childcare Alliance president Paul Mondo said rushing change increased the chance of getting it wrong and causing long-term damage to the sector that would be difficult to reverse. A report commissioned by the alliance found that if the costs of delivering high-quality services weren't considered in supply-side funding, centres might be forced to take a minimalist approach to staffing. "Universal application of a supply-side funding model would be complex and costly to get right, taking years to implement which is too late for many families struggling under the cost-of-living crisis that is happening now," Mr Mondo said. Dr Jackson said there was no need to rush into a supply-side system and it could be delivered sensibly. "We need to outline just how a universal system could work, and how it can be delivered in a way that we know the benefits of the additional government investment aren't going to be eroded," she said. The government's proposals were a "game-changer" that would mean thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children could access early education and care, SNAICC – National Voice for our Children chief executive Catherine Liddle said. "The activity test effectively denied many children the opportunity to access crucial early learning services," she said. "Our families are five times more likely to access only one day of care as a result of the activity test, and many families disengage completely because of the small amount of subsidised care available." Dr Jackson said it was important to recognise that childcare was "a critical market for the Australian economy". "It's the key mechanism by which we invest in the next generation of workers, but it is also a huge enabler in terms of participation of women," she said. "So if we can get the market working in terms of the quality and the cost and access, then we can also help unlock a lot of economic potential." Australian Associated Press DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Get the latest property and development news here. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. WEEKLY Follow the Newcastle Knights in the NRL? Don't miss your weekly Knights update. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily!Global stocks mostly higher in thin pre-Christmas trade

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Jaylon Johnson wasn't all that interested in discussing any bright spots or reasons to have hope for the Chicago Bears. The star cornerback made his feelings clear. “I’ve been in slumps four, five years in a row now,” Johnson said Monday. "So, I mean at the end of the day, I don’t look for, ‘OK, what is going to be better in the future?’ ... It will be better when it’s better. So, right now, it’s not better. That’s all I can go off of.” The Bears (4-7) are last in the NFC North and have five straight losses after falling 30-27 to Minnesota in overtime. They wiped out an 11-point deficit in the final 22 seconds of regulation, only to come up short again when the Vikings' Parker Romo kicked a 29-yard field goal. It was the third game during this skid that came down to the final play. The Bears also lost on a Hail Mary at Washington in Week 8 and had a game-ending field goal attempt by Cairo Santos blocked by Green Bay in Week 11. Players have openly questioned some of the coaching decisions in recent weeks. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron got fired before the game against Green Bay. And coach Matt Eberflus' game management came under more scrutiny against Minnesota. With the Bears trailing 17-10 in the third quarter, there was some confusion on a fourth-and-4 at the Vikings 27. Eberflus said he didn't do a good enough job communicating on the previous play that they would go for it on fourth down. That led to a chaotic sequence in which Santos and long snapper Scott Daly ran onto the field, only to get waved off by a lineman. Quarterback Caleb Williams had to rush to get everyone lined up properly in order to avoid a delay of game. He wound up barking out the wrong play because he misheard the call from offensive coordinator Thomas Brown and threw an incomplete pass. Receiver DJ Moore said Eberflus had not addressed that play with the team. The Bears were scheduled to meet later Monday. “That moment was just like, like a ‘what is going on’ moment that we could have avoided,” he said. What's working The passing game. Williams has clearly looked more comfortable in the two games since Brown replaced the fired Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator. The No. 1 draft pick followed up a solid performance against Green Bay by throwing for 340 yards and two touchdowns. It was his fourth straight turnover-free game and fifth in a row without an interception. What needs help Field goal protection. One week after his game-ending 46-yard field goal attempt against Green Bay got blocked, Santos had a 48-yarder rejected on his first try against Minnesota. It happened from the same area, in the middle of the line, when the Vikings' Jerry Tillery knocked down the kick. “I just think it’s technique," Eberflus said. "It’s getting your foot down, bracing up there, staying lower. ... We just have to do a better job there with that.” It was the third blocked field goal for Santos this year, the most for Chicago in a single season since it also had three blocked in 2012. He had a 43-yard try blocked in a win over Jacksonville on Oct. 13. Stock up Moore. The Bears have done a better job getting Moore involved under Brown. Moore caught seven passes for a season-high 106 yards and a touchdown against Minnesota. That gave him 14 receptions for 168 yards the past two games, compared to 13 for 104 yards over the previous four. Johnson's 27-yard catch down the middle set up Santos' tying field goal at the end of regulation. But it's not just deep shots. The Bears are finding ways to get the ball in his hands, allowing him to turn short passes into bigger gains. He also had a 13-yard run. Stock down RB D’Andre Swift. After a string of solid outings, Swift had just 30 yards on 13 carries. To be fair, he has been dealing with a groin issue, and he was going against the NFL's No. 1 run defense. Injuries The Bears reported no injuries during the game. Key number 5-18 — The Bears' record in one-possession games in nearly three seasons under Eberflus, including a 2-5 mark this year. They are 14-31 overall during Eberflus' tenure. Next steps The schedule doesn't get any easier, with a Thanksgiving matchup at NFC North leader Detroit. The Lions (10-1) have won nine straight since losing to Tampa Bay in Week 2. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFLData breach may impact thousands of Monument Health patients