#AUSTRALIA: Parliament Considers Taxing Coal Export Profits

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New research reveals Australian coal export revenue reached $112 billion in 2021-22, an increase on the previous year of $73b or 186%, as Federal Parliament reconvenes to legislate price caps on coal and gas companies making windfall profits, according to a new report From Russia With Love by leading public policy think-tank the Australia Institute.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#GERMANY: Lawmakers Delay Nuke Plant Shutdown Until April

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German lawmakers on Friday voted to postpone the shutdown of the country's remaining three nuclear power plants until mid-April 2023, citing the need to keep up energy generation and guarantee supply security.

The three plants--named Emsland, Isar 2 and Neckarwestheim 2--are remaining in operation for three and a half more months than originally planned due to the crisis spurred by the war in Ukraine, the government said.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#UK: Energy Execs Warn Gov't Of "Civil Unrest" Over High Winter Energy Bills

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Energy executives in the UK have warned the government that the country faces the prospect of mass civil unrest as a result of people being unable to afford their heating and electricity bills this winter.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRELAND: Trade Unions Ask President To Save 50 Jobs

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Trade unions representing workers at Premier Periclase in Drogheda, Ireland have called on President Leo Varadkar to intervene to save more than 50 jobs following the decision by new owners to suspend operations at the plant over “spiralling energy costs”.

The company exited bankruptcy in May after a survival plan was approved by the nation's High Court.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#SPAIN: Gov't Decree Says A/C Can't Go Below 81 Degrees In Summer

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A debate has been sparked after Spain's government moved to prevent offices, shops and other venues from setting air conditioning below 27°C/81 F in the summer.

It is part of plans to cut the country's energy consumption and limit dependency on Russian gas. 

The decree, published on Tuesday morning, will also stop heating from being raised above 19°C/66 F during the winter.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UKRAINE: EU Considers Doubling Importation of Ukrainian Electricity

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EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said on July 26 that the European transmission system operators will meet this week to discuss increasing the importation of electricity from Ukraine.

Simson added that this step will allow the European Union to partially compensate for the lack of gas due to the energy crisis unleashed by Russia.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRELAND: Truckers Stage Mass Fuel Price Protest In Dublin

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The Tom Clarke Bridge/East Link Bridge in Dublin is blocked at both ends due to a fuel prices protest by truckers who are demanding Transport Minister Eamon Ryan resign and want diesel capped at €1.20 a litre and petrol at €1.10. 

Fuel is currently selling for around €2 a litre amid spiralling inflation and the protesters say they won’t move until their demands are met.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#PERU: Pres. Castillo Imposes 24-Hour Curfew After Fuel Price Riots

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Peruvian President Pedro Castillo announced a curfew for Tuesday in the capital Lima and neighboring port city Callao, after demonstrations across the country over fuel prices caused roadblocks and alleged "acts of violence."

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRALIA: Green Party Wants $19 Billion To Transition Coal Miners To Other Jobs

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The Green Party has proposed a $19bn plan to diversify fossil fuel-reliant towns and subsidize the wages of coal workers who transition into new jobs, saying employees can stay in mining but should seek employment in critical minerals or green metals.

Green Party Leader Adam Bandt, said the nation owed something to coal workers.

“We owe coal workers a debt of thanks for powering our country. We don’t need to choose between taking urgent climate action and supporting coal communities. We can do both.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Gov't Funding Small Nuke Reactors

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The Conservative Government has committed £210m (US$281m) to develop Small Modular Reactors (SMR) in the UK to help reduce dependency on fossil fuels.

The government will be funding Rolls-Royce SMR to develop the world’s first SMRs, delivering on the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan and creating high-skilled jobs.

Matched by £195 in private sector funding and over £250m in government funds, today’s investment will take forward phase two of the Low-Cost Nuclear project to develop SMR design.

Kwasi Kwarteng, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for the UK to deploy more low carbon energy than ever before and ensure greater energy independence.”

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRAN: Protests Against Regime After Power Outages

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Some protests in Iran against power shortages turned political, with chants of "Death to the dictator" and "Death to Khamenei."

Pres. Hassan Rouhani apologized to Iranians on Tuesday over massive power outages during a heatwave that have drawn widespread criticism and triggered street protests.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Alberta Premier Signs Agreement With Other Provinces To Develop Small Nuke Power Plants

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Alberta Premier Jason Kenney formally signed a memorandum of understanding with Ontario, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick to support the development of small-scale nuclear power technology Wednesday.

The joint announcement with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs saw the release of a feasibility study with proposals for developing the technology.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#UK: Gov't To Ban Chinese Nuclear Engineers From New Nuke Plant Project

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After banning Huawei from taking part in the development of UK’s 5G infrastructure, governmentsources have indicated that the UK plans to ban Chinese engineers from participating in the construction of Sizewell Nuclear Plant, according to UK’s Daily Mail, adding that if China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN) were to engage in any part of the project, investment from CGN would also be denied. 

 

Sizewell Nuclear Power Plant is a sister project to another nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point, each on a construction budget of £20 billion.  The construction at Hinkley Point has begun in 2018 where 33% of the finance and 40 staff members are provided by CGN. 

 

Sources have pointed out that although the project of building a nuclear plant in Sizewell is still at a preliminary stage, the UK is already in discussion with French energy company EDF, aiming to confine CGN to the role of an investor and not take part in the construction of the power plant. 

CGN has expressed their willingness to cover 20% of the cost of the Sizewell plant construction as well as sending more engineers to UK to discuss the possibility of building new nuclear reactors in Bradwell.

The moves by the UK government come at a time of increased tensions between London and Beijing, largely over the Communist governments insistence on interfering with the government of Hong Kong.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#AUSTRALIA: New South Wales Hopes To Spur Green Energy Boom

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The Australian state of New South Wales hopes to lead the nation in renewable energy.

The NSW government hopes to drive the transition to renewable energy by attracting $32 billion of private investment in infrastructure, delivering thousands of jobs and creating among the cheapest and most reliable electricity in the world.

In the most ambitious energy plan in the country, the state government will support the private sector to build critical energy infrastructure by 2030 as NSW faces the end of the coal-fired power generation.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#GERMANY: Parliament Votes To Phase Out Coal-Burning Power Plants By 2038

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Germany’s lower house of parliament has voted to pass new legislation finalizing the country’s long-awaited phase-out of coal, over objections from environmental groups the plan is not ambitious enough.

The upper house was expected to approve the plan later Friday that lays out a roadmap for phasing out coal by 2038. It also earmarks some 40 billion euros ($45 billion) to affected regions to support them with the transition.

Germany is already phasing out nuclear power by the end of 2022.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#JAPAN: Environment Minister Questions Gov't Funding Of Vietnam Coal Plant

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Japanese Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has called into question Japan's financing of a coal-fired power plant in Vietnam.

Environment Ministry officials say a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation and others are planning to build the Vung Ang 2 power plant in Vietnam's Ha Tinh Province. The government-affiliated Japan Bank for International Cooperation is among those considering funding the project.

Koizumi told reporters on Tuesday that he finds it odd that Japan is financing the construction of a power plant that will be built by Chinese and US companies.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#IRELAND: Motorists "Confused" By Plans To Phase Out Gas Vehicles

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Government plans to fast-track new laws to ban the sale of gas and diesel cars by 2030 have been criticised as "confusing" as thousands of motorists prepare to buy new cars in the coming days.

The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (Simi) said it was concerned about plans to bring forward the laws early in the new year.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CHINA: Solar Power Loses Gov't Subsidies, Must Compete With Coal On Price From Now On

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China will only approve new solar and wind power capacity if it matches the country’s coal benchmark on price. The requirement for price matching with coal is part of a new set of conditions drafted by China’s National Development and Reform Commission, which will be in effect until 2020 in a bid to handle all the problems resulting from the fast growth in solar and wind capacity installation in recent years, such as energy waste because of grid logjams.

[FULL STORY HERE]

World Politics News is dedicated to raising Americans' knowledge of political events, elections, and legislation throughout the world.

#CANADA: Cutting Alberta Oil Production Will Raise Gas Prices, Help Address Province's Fiscal Crisis

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When gas prices suddenly rise again in January all across America, they will have Alberta Premier Rachel Notley to blame, in part.

The head of government for Canada's oil-rich province says cutting provincial oil production will push up the price of Alberta crude, which she says will help to temporarily address the province’s economic crisis.

It's the province's first cut in output of oil since 1980, by about 325,000 barrels per day.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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#FRANCE: Pres. Macron Condemns "Yellow Vest" Riots Over Fuel Tax Hikes; Promises Talks With Protesters

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Violent riots continue to rock Paris as yellow vest-wearing protesters demonstrate against Pres. Emmanuel Macron's fuel tax hikes. Police believe both Leftist and Right-wing parties are taking advantage of the riots, sparked by the increasingly unpopular Macron's attempt to tackle 'climate change' by hiking fuel prices to discourage the use of carbon-based fuels. France already has among the highest priced fuel in Europe. Macron said last week that he understood the anger people felt over the rise in fuel tax. He promised three months of national talks on how to transform France into a low-carbon economy without penalizing people on low incomes who had to drive to work, who are among those who would be hardest hit by the tax increase.

[FULL STORY HERE]

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