Battery Electric Vehicles and Emissions in India
Recent studies reveal vital information about the emissions of passenger vehicles in India. A collaboration between the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee and the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) has shown that Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) emit up to 38 per cent less carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂e) per kilometre compared to Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles. This research synthesises findings from six life-cycle greenhouse gas emission assessments.
Key Findings of the Study
The study marks three main factors that contribute to the variability in emissions – grid carbon intensity, laboratory test assumptions, and real-world driving conditions. Together, these factors account for nearly 75 per cent of the differences in emissions. The analysis indicates that emissions can vary based on grid mix and efficiency, with differences reaching up to 368 grams of CO₂e per kilometre.
Advantages of Battery Electric Vehicles
BEVs consistently outperform ICE and Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) in terms of life-cycle GHG emissions. Their efficiency is maximised when analyses reflect real-world performance rather than unrealistic energy consumption assumptions. The study warns against delaying BEV adoption in anticipation of a cleaner grid. Vehicles that are ICE will remain operational for 10 to 15 years, continually contributing to emissions.
Real-World Performance and Testing
The discrepancy between laboratory test cycles and real-world fuel use in HEVs is . Accurate emissions accounting requires the application of real-world correction factors. BEVs demonstrate the highest energy efficiency in practice, underscoring the need for stringent fuel efficiency standards. Real-world adjustments are essential, particularly for BEVs, where charging losses are often overlooked.
Importance of Land-Use Change in Assessments
Many assessments fail to consider land-use change, leading to an underestimation of emissions from biofuels. For example, diesel production emissions vary widely depending on land-use change considerations. This oversight can misrepresent the environmental impact of biofuels and needs to be addressed in future evaluations.
Policy Recommendations
https://www.gktoday.in/battery-electric-vehicles-and-emissions-in-india/
Wall Street's attention next week will be on further trade developments and key inflation data.
U.S. and Chinese officials, including U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer, and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, are set to meet in London on Monday. Investors will be keeping a close eye on the talks. The last round of discussions had resulted in a surprise temporary trade truce, boosting market sentiment.
Turning to the economic calendar, traders will receive May readings for the consumer price index and the producer price index.
The earnings season next week is highlighted by video game retailer GameStop (GME), cloud software firm Oracle (ORCL) and Photoshop creator Adobe (ADBE).
Also grabbing the spotlight will be Apple's (AAPL) WWDC 2025, kicking off on Monday. The event is expected to feature major announcements and a first look at new updates for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS, and visionOS.
Earnings spotlight: Monday, June 9: Casey's General Stores (CASY), Calavo Growers (CVGW), Lakeland Industries (LAKE). See the full earnings calendar.
Earnings spotlight: Tuesday, June 10: GameStop, J. M. Smucker (SJM), United Natural Foods (UNFI), GitLab (GTLB). See the full earnings calendar.
Earnings spotlight: Wednesday, June 11: Oracle, Chewy (CHWY), SailPoint (SAIL). See the full earnings calendar.
Earnings spotlight: Thursday, June 12: Adobe, Lovesac (LOVE). See the full earnings calendar.
https://seekingalpha.com/article/4793264-wall-street-week-ahead?source=feed
2 Picks For Monthly Distributions And Participating With Activists
Summary
Aleksandra Zhilenkova/iStock via Getty Images
Written by Nick Ackerman, co-produced by Stanford Chemist
Closed-end funds can offer opportunities to invest in assets at below their current valuation, which is through the discount/premium mechanic. That is the result of these funds not having a creation and redemption mechanism, such as is the case with their traditional open-ended mutual funds and exchange-traded funds counterparts. With that, they can present these potential opportunities, and there are activist groups that specifically target these types of opportunities.
Investing in them through activist funds can be an interesting way to participate in their expertise in this area, while also delivering substantial diversification. We're looking at two funds today that have a long history of delivering solid results through the generation of their high distributions paid monthly.
#1 Special Opportunities Fund (SPE)
SPE "employs an opportunistic investment philosophy with a particular emphasis on investing in discounted closed-end funds, undervalued operating companies, and other attractive special situations, including risk arbitrage and distressed securities."
This is a fund that is the result of Bulldog Investors taking over in 2009 as an activist target.
As another closed-end fund, there is a unique opportunity here to pick up a position that is at a discount itself, while it invests in a significant allocation of other discounted CEFs. Besides around half of its portfolio being invested in traditional CEFs, they also hold an allocation to business development companies. These are also a pool of assets, usually mostly senior loan investments. Otherwise, the fund also has a rather high allocation to special purpose acquisition vehicles and common stocks.
SPE Portfolio Composition (Bulldog Investors)
The top positions of the fund tend to be heavily discounted CEFs, with SRH Total Return (STEW) and General American Investors (GAM) being the top two. This is then followed by BDC CION Investment (CION) and then back to a traditional CEF Central Securities Corp. (CET). STEW, GAM and CET all trade at wide discounts, and have tended to do so for quite a significant period of time.
They've also been regular positions in SPE's portfolio, so these three appear to be more core types of positions for the fund.
Similar to CEFs, BDCs can also trade at discounts, and as of the last reported NAV, CION is pushing near a 33% discount.
SPE provides a monthly distribution that is based on a managed 8% NAV distribution rate calculated at the end of the year. They pay monthly, which is another potentially attractive feature of SPE. CET and GAM pay semi-annual distributions, with CION and STEW paying quarterly. In a way, that makes SPE convert these into more regular monthly payers.
The distribution policy went into place several years ago, as SPE was a rather irregular payer too. Then, prior to 2009, it was a muni fund.
SPE Distribution History (CEFConnect)
They report NAV weekly, and they also include a diluted NAV due to their leverage coming via a convertible preferred offering, the Special Opportunities Fund 2.75% Convertible Preferred Series C (SPE.PR.C). This is an enviable leverage rate when you consider that most other funds are borrowing through a credit facility, paying closer to 5% these days.
SPE Weekly NAV (Bulldog Investors)
Worth noting is that SPE is being leveraged and holding other CEFs that are also leveraged; you can get leverage on leverage, which could make SPE even more volatile. In that same line of thinking, that also comes with fees on fees, so being able to pick up SPE at a meaningful discount can be important.
At this time, I believe that SPE is presenting a fairly attractive time to consider investing in this fund. Our buy target is at around a 10% discount, and we are quite close to that, but technically just under, based on the latest weekly NAV. If calculating it based on the diluted NAV reported a week earlier, then we are at an 11% discount.
#2 Saba Closed-End Funds ETF (CEFS)
CEFS' investment objective and investment strategy are to "generate high income by investing in closed-end funds trading discounted to net asset value, and hedging the portfolio's exposure to rising interest rates."
CEFS is an exchange-traded fund, which doesn't provide a "discount on discount" opportunity due to the ETF creation and redemption mechanism that keeps the NAV per share reasonably close to the share price. That said, as a Saba Capital managed fund, they are much more active when it comes to targeting CEFs.
CEFS Top Ten Holdings (Saba Capital)
The average discount to NAV of the underlying holdings was listed at nearly 9% across 97 holdings. The fund also utilizes leverage, but they've been reducing the leverage they're using. Keeping in mind, some of CEFS' portfolio holdings are also leveraged.
CEFS Portfolio Info (Saba Capital)
Unlike CEFs, ETFs have to report the acquired fund fees and other expenses, which are expenses of the underlying portfolio. Therefore, we get a good idea of what the fees on fees add up to with CEFS, which we don't get for SPE, as it isn't provided.
CEFS Expense Ratio (Saba Capital)
These are hefty expenses, but the fund's performance has been able to put up a solid track record of stronger long-term results, nonetheless, which is usually what counts.
CEFS Annualized Performance (Saba Capital)
What else counts for investors in this fund is likely the distribution that is paid out monthly. Unlike most ETFs, they pay a level distribution, providing a predictable monthly payout for extended periods of time. Most other ETFs pay out whatever income/gains they'd have generated during the period. At this time, they pay $0.14 a month as the regular distribution and then pay out a year-end special as required.
CEFS Distribution History (Seeking Alpha)
Conclusion
SPE and CEFS provide significant diversification wrapped up into one package through investing in underlying CEFs. Both of these funds are run by activists, though Saba Capital tends to be much more aggressive relative to Bulldog. For SPE, one has the opportunity of investing in a discounted fund that is also trading at a discount to its NAV. For CEFS, it may not have a meaningful discount, but being more active can tend to drive discount narrowing within the underlying portfolio of holdings.
At the CEF/ETF Income Laboratory, we manage closed-end fund (CEF) and exchange-traded fund (ETF) portfolios targeting safe and reliable ~8% yields to make income investing easy for you. Check out what our members have to say about our service.
Russia said on Sunday that its forces had launched cluster sticks against multiple military targets of Ukraine, while Ukraine, on the same day, reported downing a Russian Su-35 fighter jet.
The Russian military conducted cluster strikes using long-range precision weapons and drones against targets in Ukraine in the past 24 hours. The strikes targeted enterprises of Ukraine's military-industrial complex, including workshops assembling attack drones, facilities for the maintenance and repair of weapons and military equipment, and ammunition depots, the Russian Ministry of Defense said.
The objective of the strikes has been achieved, with all designated targets being hit, the ministry said.
It also said that the Russian air defense systems shot down a total of 311 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones, among which 140 were located outside the special military operation area, and the Russian army also destroyed four Ukrainian unmanned boats in the Black Sea.
On the same day, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported over 100 combat clashes with Russian forces on the front lines over the past day, with the most intense fighting occurring in the directions of Pokrovsk and Krasnyi Lyman (Red Lyman).
The Ukrainian Air Force said that it shot down a Russian Su-35 fighter jet in the direction of Kursk on Saturday.
The Ukrainian side also said that on Friday, the Ukrainian military, in coordination with the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, carried out strikes on multiple Russian military targets, including facilities within the territory of Russia.
Meanwhile, Ihor Terekhov, mayor of Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv, said the city came under the "most intense" Russian attack early on Saturday since the outbreak of the conflict between the two countries.
On Saturday, Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, said that a refinery owned by Russian company Lukoil had caught fire that day.
Kovalenko said that Lukoil is a key asset in Russia's energy sector, primarily providing aviation, armored vehicle, and logistical fuel for the Russian military.
There has been no response from the Russian side regarding this incident.
Russia strikes Ukrainian military targets, while Ukraine downs Russian fighter jet
President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke on Thursday, with tariff and trade talks set to resume next week.
Trump said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer would meet with Chinese counterparts in London on Monday.
"The meeting should go very well," he said.
Trump's call with Xi, which both leaders framed as positive, came after weeks of Trump publicly pushing for the talk. US-China tensions have risen in the aftermath of the countries' trade truce reached in mid-May in Geneva, with both countries have accused the other of breaching that truce while ratcheting up pressure on other issues.
The US and China are also now using their control over certain key materials to gain control in the trade war. Bloomberg reported on Friday that the US dominates in ethane, a gas used to make plastics, and China buys nearly all of it. Washington is now tightening control by requiring export licenses. China's curbs on exports of rare earth minerals, crucial for autos and more, have drawn Washington's ire.
Read more: What Trump's tariffs mean for the economy and your wallet
The US-China talks come as Trump pushes countries to speed up negotiations. The US sent a letter to partners as a "friendly reminder" that Trump's self-imposed 90-day pause on sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs is set to expire in early July.
White House advisers have for weeks promised trade deals in the "not-too-distant future," with the only announced agreement so far coming with the United Kingdom. US and Indian officials held trade talks this week and agreed to extend those discussions on Monday and Tuesday ahead of the July 9 deadline.
Also effective Wednesday, June 4, Trump doubled tariffs on steel and aluminum from 25% to 50%
Meanwhile, Trump's most sweeping tariffs face legal uncertainty after a federal appeals court allowed the tariffs to temporarily stay in effect, a day after the US Court of International Trade blocked their implementation, deeming the method used to enact them "unlawful."
Here are the latest updates as the policy reverberates around the world.
LIVE
1110 updates
The U.K. Treasury has run out of road for delaying nuclear decisions, according to Whitehall and industry insiders.
LONDON — Philip Hunt, the unassuming Labour peer put in charge of rejuvenating U.K. nuclear energy, has a favorite joke about how slowly the industry moves.
Hunt — who was first an energy minister from 2008-2010 and retired from his second stint in government just last month — liked to roll out the gag at Westminster receptions, according to one industry figure who saw him in action.
“I came back after 14 years,” the minister would say, “and everything was exactly as I left it.”
It was a way to bash the Conservatives’ decade-and-a-half in power, but also an admission of the glacial pace of the nuclear world.
That is about to change. Ministers are prepping a series of high-profile nuclear announcements in the lead-up to the government-wide spending review on June 11.
The government is expected to unveil, after months of delay, the winner of a multi-billion pound contract to build next-generation small modular reactors (SMRs), known as “mini nukes.” A long-awaited financial decision on the mega nuclear plant Sizewell C in Suffolk is on its way. Meanwhile, U.K. officials are discussing buying up nuclear sites from private ownership to bring the industry under greater state control.
It would trigger more activity on nuclear over a handful of weeks than there has been in a generation.
This flurry of action is coming, insiders say, not because of astute maneuvering by Hunt or his political bosses but because the Treasury — long skeptical about nuclear — has run out of road for ignoring the problem.
The looming spending review, the last chance in this parliament to commit cash to the U.K.’s neglected nuclear energy system, “has forced the government’s hand,” said a second energy figure, granted anonymity, like others in this piece, to speak candidly about government planning.
Worried about the splurge
Bringing more low-carbon nuclear power online is crucial to two of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s “missions” in government — galvanizing sluggish economic growth and ending the U.K.’s reliance on high-polluting fossil fuels.
Backing more nuclear power in a speech in February, Starmer said he was taking on “the blockers who have strangled our chances of cheaper energy, growth and jobs for far too long.”
The industry has its vocal supporters on Labour’s benches, too. “We urgently need new nuclear in this country, not just for the energy security but for the jobs and the growth opportunities, too,” said Charlotte Nichols, MP for the red wall seat Warrington North. Tom Greatrex, an ex-Labour MP who now heads the Nuclear Industry Association lobby group, said: “The time for talking is over. We need to see decisions being made.”
https://www.politico.eu/article/nuclear-power-will-spending-reviews-big-winner-philip-hunt/
By Metal Miner - Jun 07, 2025, 4:00 PM CDT
The Rare Earths MMI (Monthly Metals Index) found more price stability month-over-month. As a result, it moved sideways, with only a 0.81% increase. Despite this, the short-term outlook for rare earths remains uncertain. Chinese export restrictions jolted prices in H1 of 2025 and fractured long-running supply lines. Shortly after, global automakers warned that Beijing’s April curbs on alloys and magnet exports “could cause production delays” without fast relief.
China’s Rare Earths Shockwaves Continue to Jolt Global Markets
Chinese market data show how wild things got in May. According to China Tungsten Industry charts, Chinese rare earth prices jumped sharply in early May before easing later in the month. For example, after a brief rally, neodymium-praseodymium metal was about $4,176.53/ton higher. Overall, May’s closing prices were slightly above April levels.
China’s policy shock continues to be felt worldwide. The export bans target medium-heavy rare earths used in EV motors, wind turbines and high-tech weapons. One industry report said the restrictions “triggered a ripple effect” through global EV and clean-energy supply chains.
According to Reuters, the country still mines roughly 60% of the world’s rare earths and refines ~90% of them, making it the undisputed supply giant. MP Materials, the U.S.’s only large rare-earth miner, warned the situation is “broken,” and that China’s moves will force a laser focus on American supply security.
Trade Truce or Temporary Fix?
Throughout 2025, U.S. buyers have scrambled for solutions. After a G7 trade “truce” in mid-May, Washington pressed Beijing to ease restrictions, and Reuters sources say China may now fast-track export licenses for U.S. customers. Still, complete relief isn’t assured. Meanwhile, suppliers are sounding the alarm, warning that electric vehicles, defense and renewable energy are all in the crosshairs.
Permanent magnets are vital in EV motors. In fact, a single electric car can require several kilograms of neodymium and dysprosium. In aerospace and military manufacturing, the stakes are even higher. For instance, the F-35 fighter consumes roughly 900 pounds of rare-earth magnets, while a Virginia-class submarine requires over 9,200 pounds. Wind turbines and satellite systems also rely heavily on these materials.
Prices on Edge: U.S. Buyers Brace for a Volatile Summer
Rare earth element prices will likely experience continued instability over the next few months due to persistent supply challenges and rising geopolitical friction. China’s tightening of export controls on crucial materials like neodymium and praseodymium has caused significant ripples throughout global supply chains. These disruptions are hitting U.S. sectors especially hard, particularly those tied to electric vehicles, wind energy and national defense.
For U.S procurement teams, this landscape highlights the need to both diversify supply channels and support the development of domestic production. Rare earth companies are expanding output, but that effort won’t solve short-term shortages. In the meantime, decision-makers should stay alert to evolving market conditions and consider building up inventory as a buffer against future shocks. Regularly consulting trustworthy market data and industry insights will be essential to making informed sourcing decisions during this volatile period.
Many procurement teams have shifted strategies overnight. Manufacturers are diversifying suppliers, boosting recycling of old magnets and even redesigning products to use fewer heavy rare earths. For example, EU firms are planning magnet recovery from scrap batteries and turbines, while the EU government recently identified 13 new mining projects outside China to shore up supply.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, together with the leaders of France and the United Kingdom, promised to impose tough sanctions on Russia if it did not agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine. But he did not keep the promise, thereby undermining trust in Europe, believes Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda, according to Bild .
"This is a problem. And it affects not only trust in our sanctions but also trust in all our measures toward Russia and our support for Ukraine. We have repeatedly announced that we will support Ukraine and supply fighter jets, long-range missiles, and ammunition. But we are unable to fulfill these promises," Nausėda said in an interview with Bild.
According to him, the sanctions that have already been imposed on Russia since February 2022 have not had the effect the West expected. First, the sanctions were not decisive enough, and second, third countries are helping Russia to circumvent them.
"That is why the Russian economy, although not in the best condition, still functions relatively well under these circumstances," the Lithuanian leader said.
Currently, the European Union is preparing its 18th package of sanctions against Russia, and Lithuania is demanding that it "resemble a Molotov cocktail." As Nausėda said, it means the package must include all energy companies that supply money to the Russian state budget: Nord Stream, Rosatom, Gazprom, Lukoil.
"The remaining Russian banks must also be excluded from the SWIFT system, as well as the rest of the shadow fleet vessels. Otherwise, we will be seen as weak and perceived as if Europe is unwilling to make bold decisions," he stressed.
Sanctions against Russia
During a visit to Kyiv in May, the leaders of Germany, France, and the United Kingdom gave Russia a deadline to agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine. In the event of non-compliance, the countries threatened to impose tough sanctions.
The final day for agreeing to a ceasefire was Monday, May 12. Moscow did not comply with this demand, but Germany has yet to impose punitive measures.
At the beginning of June, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius once again announced the upcoming tough sanctions against Russia.
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/lithuanian-president-slams-broken-promise-1749373411.html
Marler Clark retained by California woman likely sickened by Salmonella-tainted eggs
Seattle, WA – As of June 5, 2025, a total of 79 people infected with Salmonella Enteritidis have been reported from 7 states (Arizona 3, California 63, Kentucky 1, Nebraska 2, New Jersey 2, Nevada 4, Washington 4). The attorneys at Marler Clark have been hired by one of the likely California victims in this outbreak. Health officials in California and other states are continuing to investigate this outbreak and have determined that there is a link to August Egg Company, based in Hilmar, California. 1.7 million eggs have been recalled from multiple states.
Outbreak Facts
Illnesses started on dates ranging from February 24, 2025, to May 17, 2025. Of the 61 people with information available, 21 have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported.
Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback data show that eggs distributed by August Egg Company may be contaminated with Salmonella Enteritidis and may be making people sick. On June 6, 2025, August Egg Company recalled eggs. Egg Recall list.
The recalled eggs were sold at grocery stores in California and Nevada, including FoodMaxx, Lucky, Raleys, Ralphs, Safeway, Food 4 less, Save Mart and Smart & Final. They were also sold at Walmart stores in Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Washington and Wyoming.
90% of those interviewed recalled eating eggs. State health officials have identified illness sub-clusters at two unnamed restaurants. Eggs were served at both sub-cluster locations.
Six ill people from Kentucky, New Jersey, and Washington reported traveling to California and Nevada before they got sick.
Salmonella
“Given the lag time in reporting and broad sales of the eggs, this outbreak will increase in number over the coming weeks,” said Bill Marler, managing partner at Marler Clark. “In addition, the CDC estimates that for every one person counted, there are nearly 40 other sick but will remain uncounted,” added Marler.
William (Bill) Marler will be representing a California victim in this Salmonella egg outbreak. An accomplished attorney and national expert in food safety, Bill has become the most prominent foodborne illness lawyer in America and a major force in food policy in the U.S. and around the world. As an food safety expert, Bill is featured in the current Netflix documentary called Poisoned, the Dirty Truth About Your Food. Over the last 30 years, Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, has represented thousands of individuals in claims against food companies whose contaminated products have caused life altering injury and even death.
If you would like to speak with Bill Marler about this outbreak, please contact Julie Dueck at 206-930-4220 or jdueck@marlerclark.com.
NEW DELHI: India's top four oil suppliers and key members of the OPEC+ alliance, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, and the UAE have significantly ramped up production and directed a major portion of the additional output to India.
Their collective market share has reached approximately 78% in India, the world's third-largest oil consumer. These nations have supplied an additional 375,000 barrels per day (bpd) to India in May compared to April, according to energy cargo tracker Vortexa. The collective increase surpassed their committed additional production of 359,000 bpd under Opec+'s output expansion plan of 409,000 bpd.
Russia maintained its leading position among India's crude suppliers due to ongoing barrel discounts. In the OPEC+ May supply increase, Saudi Arabia agreed to raise output by 166,000 bpd, Russia by 79,000 bpd, Iraq by 37,000 bpd and the UAE by 77,000 bpd.
Their exports to India increased by 135,673 bpd, 114,016 bpd, 66,642 bpd and 58,365 bpd respectively, resulting in market shares of 13.1%, 35.4%, 21.4% and 7.6% in May. Their combined share increased by 8.1 percentage points to 77.5%.African suppliers' share decreased to 4.9% from 11.8%, whilst US crude exports to India reduced to 5.7% from 7%.Saudi Arabia, the largest contributor to the group's supply increase, delivered the highest additional volume to India in May, increasing its market share to 13.1%, a 3% point rise from April. This increase resulted from price reductions offered to Asian purchasers, with Saudi Aramco reducing the May OSP for Arab Light by $2.30 per barrel. The premium has decreased to $1.20 above the Oman/Dubai benchmark for Asian buyers. For July loadings, the premium remains at $1.20, after a brief increase to $1.40 for June."
The recent Saudi Aramco's official selling price (OSP) cuts for May loadings, close to four-year low, along with the widening Brent-Dubai Exchange of Futures for Swaps (EFS) made Middle Eastern crude grades more competitively priced than other Brent-linked crudes," Xavier Tang, market analyst at Vortexa said, according to the Economic Times." Production increases from Saudi Arabia and other OPEC members play an essential role in the Dubai crude price structure," he added.
Eight OPEC+ nations have committed to increase output by an additional 411,000 bpd in June and July. The increased supply has affected prices, which have remained between $60-65 per barrel for over two months, significantly below the 2024 average of $80.Saudi Arabia's competitive pricing approach reflects the global competition for India's expanding crude market. "Saudi is offering attractive prices to gain share in India," an Indian refinery executive told the outlet.
Click the link to read the article on the Cowboy State Daily website (David Madison).
Here’s an excerpt:
June 3, 2025
A new U.S. Geological Survey study identifies Wyoming’s western border as part of a massive geothermal reserve. Geologists say it could be tapped to generate electricity equal to 10% of America’s current power supply.
A new federal assessment identified Wyoming as part of a massive underground geothermal energy resource that could generate electricity equal to 10% of America’s current power supply…A May U.S. Geological Survey’s report on geothermal systems in the Great Basin found that the arid lands of Nevada and adjoining parts of California, Oregon, Idaho, Utah and a sliver of Wyoming’s western border with Idaho contain enough geothermal energy to generate 135 gigawatts of electricity from the upper 6 kilometers of the Earth’s crust. The assessment spotlights the potential for a dramatic increase in geothermal electricity production, which now provides less than 1% of the nation’s power supply. However, realizing this potential depends on widespread deployment of enhanced geothermal systems technology.
“USGS assessments of energy resources are about the future,” said Sarah Ryker, acting director of the USGS. “We focus on undiscovered resources that have yet to be fully explored, let alone developed.”
Enhanced geothermal systems involve engineers creating open fractures in impermeable rock, allowing water to circulate and extract heat to generate electricity…With the recent findings from the USGS, the current focus is on enhanced geothermal systems, which makes geothermal electricity generation possible in more places…That’s where fracking technology from the oil and gas industry comes in, which Wyoming knows well.
“We call it hydraulic stimulation. And oil and gas, they call it fracking. It’s the same physics, but it’s a different process,” Podgorney said.
The Tokyo High Court on Friday overturned the earlier district court ruling against the former executives of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) to pay compensation of 13 trillion yen ($90 billion) for their failure to prevent the 2011 disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, according to local media.
The High Court’s ruling centered around TEPCO management’s failure to implement countermeasures following the government’s long-term earthquake assessment in 2002, which predicted a possible tsunami of up to 15.6 meters. The court ruled in favor of the executives, finding that the massive tsunami of up to 15 meters that caused the disaster was not foreseeable. Presiding Judge Toshikazu Kino emphasized that the government’s assessment did not provide a sufficient basis for the management to efficiently safeguard against the huge tsunami.
The ruling runs contrary to the National Diet Investigation Commission’s (NAIIC) report in 2012, which concluded that the accident was a “manmade disaster,” resulting from the “collusion between the government, the regulators and Tokyo Electric Power Co.” The report further stated that the “root causes were the organizational and regulatory systems that supported faulty rationales for decisions and actions.” The NAIIC criticized TEPCO for its poor governance and lack of safety culture, particularly regarding the risk of a predicted station blackout due to flooding. The report also recommended amending nuclear power laws and regulations in Japan to emphasize the primary responsibility of operators for safeguarding their nuclear facilities.
The civil suit was brought by 48 shareholders against the former executives of TEPCO over the nuclear disaster, which was triggered by a massive earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011. Although the plant’s systems detected the earthquake and automatically shut down the nuclear reactors, the subsequent tsunami overwhelmed the facility, causing massive chemical explosions. This occurred after the floodwater disabled emergency generators, leading to the reactors overheating. The incident had killed more than 180,000 people along Japan’s north-east coast.
The Tokyo District Court in July 2022 ruled that the former executives were liable for compensation after finding that the government’s assessment was “scientifically credible” and that a massive tsunami hitting the plant was foreseeable.
The High Court ruling follows Human Rights Now’s recent submission to the Human Rights Council’s 59th session, which highlighted that more than 30,000 people displaced by the Fukushima disaster are still designated as internally displaced persons (IDPs) and face persistent human rights violations.
8 June 2025 19:21 (UTC+04:00)
China has partially lifted export restrictions on certain rare earth elements in response to growing global demand driven by industries such as robotics and clean-energy vehicles, , Azernews reports, citing the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
While the ministry did not disclose which specific metals are included under the relaxed rules, the announcement signals a shift in Beijing’s trade policy amid increasing international pressure and evolving market dynamics.
The move comes as former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Chinese President Xi Jinping had agreed to resume the export of rare earth minerals to the United States — a gesture that may help ease longstanding trade tensions between the two economic giants.
China initially imposed strict limitations on the export of key rare earth elements — including tungsten, tellurium, bismuth, molybdenum, and indium — earlier this year. The restrictions, which began in February during the Trump administration’s efforts to raise tariffs on Chinese goods, were justified by Beijing as necessary to protect national security, prevent the proliferation of weapons, and uphold the stability of global production and supply chains.
These rare earth metals are critical components in a wide range of advanced technologies, including defense systems, green energy equipment, smartphones, and batteries for electric vehicles. Any disruption in their supply has wide-reaching implications for global manufacturing and innovation.
In a related development, China’s Foreign Ministry has announced an upcoming China-U.S. dialogue on economic and trade issues to be held in London. A Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier He Lifeng will be visiting the UK from June 8 to 13 to participate in the discussions.
The easing of export controls — paired with the resumption of high-level trade talks — suggests a cautious recalibration of China’s rare earth policy, potentially opening the door for greater cooperation in critical supply chains at a time when global industries face mounting resource constraints.
China’s Sinomine Resource Group said on Friday it has temporarily paused copper smelting operations at its Tsumeb plant in Namibia, citing a shortage of concentrate following a rapid expansion in smelter capacity worldwide.
Sinomine acquired the Tsumeb smelter, one of the few facilities in the world that can treat arsenic and lead-bearing copper concentrates, from Dundee Precious Metals in 2024.
The smelter, with capacity to process 240 000 metric tons of copper concentrate annually, has previously processed metal from countries such as Chile, Peru and Bulgaria.
Global copper smelting capacity has expanded rapidly in recent years, outstripping production of the metal whose demand has been boosted by its use in renewable energy technologies, including electric vehicles.
Sinomine Tsumeb Smelter CEO Loggan Lou said in a statement that increased smelting capacity in major copper-producing regions has “resulted in substantial overcapacity”.
“This has led to a shortage of copper concentrate, placing pressure on smelters worldwide, including Tsumeb,” Lou said.
Sinomine plans to upgrade the smelter to enable the commercial production of multiple critical metals and minerals.
Last September, Sinomine announced that the Tsumeb Smelter contains 746 metric tons of germanium, a critical mineral essential for chipmaking, infrared technology, fibre optic cables, and solar cells.
The smelter is also exploring the addition of germanium and zinc smelting lines to the smelter.
