Silver is down by more than 5%, skidding below $28.00 in Monday trading. XAGUSD took a nosedive to an almost three-month low as fears of a global economic slowdown has intensified following a string of US economic data that indicated the nation is moving towards a recession. Recent US data showed signs of slower labour … Read more
Tyson chicken barns in West Tennessee on April 21, 2021. (Photo: John Partipilo) They’re scattered across the rural Tennessee landscape: blue-sided barns stretching the length of five U.S. football fields, clustered together in groups numbering as few as three to as many as 20. Each of Tennessee’s nearly 2,200 industrial chicken barns produce about 200,000 … Read more
The board of the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) is set to award contracts for two projects worth €45 million to beef up the electricity transmission system. The EAC’s top priority is the stability of the system and providing uninterrupted power to consumers. The EAC is also working on increasing infrastructure projects to help with the penetration of renewables in the energy mix. The layout of the grid is not to blame for discarding energy generated from renewables, as the cutbacks are due to demand being less than the generated electricity. It is currently unfeasible to have a transmission grid that allows the connection of renewables from anywhere in Cyprus due to the high cost of building a new network. Strengthening transmission lines would require a major investment of hundreds of millions of euros, which consumers would have to pay for. Acquiring permits for new transmission lines also takes a long time.
Famagusta Police arrested a 35-year-old man for committing four burglaries and thefts between January and May 2024. The incidents included theft of cables from EAC substations and a residential burglary in Protaras. The suspect was linked to all four cases and remains in custody. Two other suspects, aged 31 and 29, were already apprehended for their involvement in one of the EAC substation burglaries on May 4, with their case progressing towards trial.
Julian Assange has been granted permission to appeal against extradition to the U.S. by arguing that he might not have free speech rights in a U.S. court. The appeal is based on concerns that he could be discriminated against as a foreign national. Assange is wanted in the U.S. on 18 charges related to WikiLeaks’ release of secret U.S. documents. The appeal was welcomed by his supporters, who gathered outside the court. If the ruling had gone against him, Assange could have been extradited to the U.S. within 24 hours. U.S. assurances that Assange could rely on First Amendment protections were deemed inadequate by his legal team. The appeal will now cover all 18 charges against him.
The U.S. Navy is facing challenges in building a fleet of unmanned vessels due to a focus on big shipbuilding projects, despite the demonstrated effectiveness of sea drones in combat situations. The Pentagon is now incorporating lessons from Ukraine and the Red Sea to counter China’s naval power in the Pacific, launching the Replicator initiative to deploy small air and sea drones. This initiative aims to match China’s military threat and is funded by reallocating funds from the existing Pentagon budget. The use of sea drones for maritime surveillance, minehunting, and protection of critical infrastructure is seen as crucial, with the U.S. Navy testing unmanned vessels in combat scenarios and expanding their use in different regions. Companies like Saildrone and Ocean Aero are actively involved in supplying autonomous vessels to the Navy, showing the increasing focus on deploying sea drones quickly to stay ahead in naval warfare.
A flare thrown into a quarry started a forest fire due to a mistake made during the destruction of smoke bombs and flares. The Mines Service admitted the error, unlike the Electricity Authority in a previous incident. The forest fire season has been extended to 8 months due to high-risk periods expanding. Plans to purchase 10 firefighting aircraft will be implemented gradually over five years. Despite efforts to combat organized crime, concerns are raised about leaks to journalists and limited information.
The first major forest fire of the year was started by a flare that was accidentally thrown into a quarry and flew out, igniting the surrounding area. The Mines Service took responsibility for the mistake. The summer forest fire fighting period has been extended to eight months to address the expanding high-risk periods due to climate change. The government plans to gradually purchase ten fire-fighting aircraft in the next five years. During the recent forest fire, only one fire-fighting aircraft was deployed, highlighting the need for more resources. The police are investigating the relationships of individuals involved in recent violent incidents. Despite efforts to combat organized crime, leaks to journalists are a concern for some officials.
A flare and fireworks caused separate fires in forests in Cyprus at the end of April. Despite promises of having ten firefighting aircraft, the country only has one available. The lack of resources has led to a series of disasters and a history of negligence in firefighting efforts. The government’s failure to acquire necessary aircraft has put the country at risk for more devastating fires.
Improvements to the coastal path in Limassol are a government priority, but no one from the interior ministry attended a discussion on the matter. The path has been damaged by adverse weather, with serious damages recorded in several spots. The estimated cost of repairs is €300,000, and complaints from tourists are continuous.