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News: President Joe Biden asks student-loan borrowers to ‘do their part’ in preparing for payments to resume on May 1 as pressure for broad cancellation ramps up again

• January 3, 2022
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Image Credit: Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesBiden extended a student-loan-payment pause an additional three months through May 1.He said borrowers should use this extra time to prepare for the resumption of payments.But some lawmakers and advocates said this extra time should be used to cancel student debt.Last month, President Joe Biden gave 43 million federal student loan borrowers an additional three-month Christmas present. While the president said borrowers should use this extra time to prepare for resuming payments  on May 1, some lawmakers and advocates have said it should  be used to write off student debt instead.On December 22, the Education Department announced it would move the target date for resuming student loan repayments from February 1 to May 1, citing the Omicron coronavirus variant as the main reason for the change. Without specifying whether this  would be the “final” extension, contrary to the August announcement, Biden urged federal borrowers in a statement to use the extra time to prepare for repayment in 90 days.“As we take this step, I also call on all student loan borrowers to do their part: make full use of the resources of the Department of Education to help you prepare for the resumption of payments; examine options for reducing payments through income repayment plans; explore the public service loan remission; and make sure you’re vaccinated and boosted when you’re eligible, ”Biden said in December. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona echoed the sentiment, saying in a statement that the ministry “will continue to provide tools and support to borrowers so that they can participate in the repayment plan which is sensitive to their needs. financial situation, like a plan.The extension adds to the nearly $ 12 billion  student debt that Biden has written off for targeted groups of borrowers, such as those scammed by for-profit schools, since taking office. Leading lawmakers on the massive student debt cancellation have applauded Biden’s extended suspension of payments. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Massachusetts Representative Ayanna Pressley said in a statement  the hiatus allowed borrowers to “make ends meet” and pay for basic necessities, but they still wants Biden to carry out his  loan forgiveness campaign. “We continue to call on President Biden to take executive action to write off $ 50,000 in student debt, which will help close the racial wealth gap for borrowers and accelerate the recovery of our economy,” said the legislators.Yesterday President Biden announced he was extending the pause of student loan payments for 90 days.Today would be a great day for a follow-up announcement that he’s going to #CancelStudentDebt!— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 23, 2021 Supporters of student loan cancellation agree. Natalia Abrams, president of the Student Debt Crisis Center, said in a statement that the Omicron variant is “a chilling reminder that the pandemic is still a serious concern and that Americans cannot be crushed by student debt as they shoulder this health and economic crisis.While Biden has pledged during his campaign to approve a $ 10,000 student loan forgiveness, he has yet to deliver on that promise, and some lawmakers have said it could cost  the majority over Democrats in the 2022 midterm election. Alexandria OcasioCortez of New York  said last month that it was “really illusory” to think Democrats can be re-elected if they don’t act on priorities  voters, such as student debt.  Vice President Kamala Harris addressed supporters’ concerns in a “Face the Nation” interview late last month, he said. must continue to be “vigilant” on the issue, but has not provided for specific means to obtain relief for borrowers. “Well, I think  we need to keep doing what we’re doing and figure out how we can creatively relieve the pressure  students are feeling because of their student loan debt,” Harris said.

Image Credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

Biden extended a student-loan-payment pause an additional three months through May 1.

Last month, President Joe Biden gave 43 million federal student loan borrowers an additional three-month Christmas present.
While the president said borrowers should use this extra time to prepare for resuming payments  on May 1, some lawmakers and advocates have said it should  be used to write off student debt instead.

On December 22, the Education Department announced it would move the target date for resuming student loan repayments from February 1 to May 1, citing the Omicron coronavirus variant as the main reason for the change. Without specifying whether this  would be the “final” extension, contrary to the August announcement, Biden urged federal borrowers in a statement to use the extra time to prepare for repayment in 90 days.

“As we take this step, I also call on all student loan borrowers to do their part: make full use of the resources of the Department of Education to help you prepare for the resumption of payments; examine options for reducing payments through income repayment plans; explore the public service loan remission; and make sure you’re vaccinated and boosted when you’re eligible, ”Biden said in December.
Education Secretary Miguel Cardona echoed the sentiment, saying in a statement that the ministry “will continue to provide tools and support to borrowers so that they can participate in the repayment plan which is sensitive to their needs. financial situation, like a plan.The extension adds to the nearly $ 12 billion  student debt that Biden has written off for targeted groups of borrowers, such as those scammed by for-profit schools, since taking office.

Leading lawmakers on the massive student debt cancellation have applauded Biden’s extended suspension of payments. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Massachusetts Representative Ayanna Pressley said in a statement  the hiatus allowed borrowers to “make ends meet” and pay for basic necessities, but they still wants Biden to carry out his  loan forgiveness campaign.

“We continue to call on President Biden to take executive action to write off $ 50,000 in student debt, which will help close the racial wealth gap for borrowers and accelerate the recovery of our economy,” said the legislators.

Yesterday President Biden announced he was extending the pause of student loan payments for 90 days.

Today would be a great day for a follow-up announcement that he’s going to #CancelStudentDebt!

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 23, 2021

Supporters of student loan cancellation agree. Natalia Abrams, president of the Student Debt Crisis Center, said in a statement that the Omicron variant is “a chilling reminder that the pandemic is still a serious concern and that Americans cannot be crushed by student debt as they shoulder this health and economic crisis.

While Biden has pledged during his campaign to approve a $ 10,000 student loan forgiveness, he has yet to deliver on that promise, and some lawmakers have said it could cost  the majority over Democrats in the 2022 midterm election.
Alexandria OcasioCortez of New York  said last month that it was “really illusory” to think Democrats can be re-elected if they don’t act on priorities  voters, such as student debt.

 
Vice President Kamala Harris addressed supporters’ concerns in a “Face the Nation” interview late last month, he said. must continue to be “vigilant” on the issue, but has not provided for specific means to obtain relief for borrowers.
“Well, I think  we need to keep doing what we’re doing and figure out how we can creatively relieve the pressure  students are feeling because of their student loan debt,” Harris said.

News: Elizabeth Holmes jury deadlocked on 3 charges

• January 3, 2022
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Former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes leaves federal court in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) (AP Photo/Nic Coury / AP Newsroom)The California jury on the criminal fraud case against Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes says she is stuck on 3 of the 11 charges she faces. The panel, made up of eight men and four women, sent a notice to the judge on Monday stating that they could not reach a unanimous verdict on the seventh day of deliberations on Holmes’ fate. The jury was still able to decide on the remaining eight points. This story is in progress and will be updated.Holmes, 37, has been charged by federal prosecutors on nine  wire transfer fraud cases and two wire transfer conspiracy cases for misleading investors and patients with her company’s failed blood testing technology. Any charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Holmes has pleaded not guilty on all charges and stood in defense during the trial, admitting he was sorry but denied cheating on anyone.She also accused her ex-boyfriend and former Theranos Chief Operating Officer, Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani, of allegedly misleading her about the effectiveness of Theranos technology, and charged him with emotional and sexual abuse. Balwani faces his own trial next year over his alleged Holmes, who founded Theranos at the age of 19  after dropping out of Stanford University and baffling Silicon Valley and investors  with the promise that Theranos technology would work with just a few Drops of blood from a patient could diagnose a variety of diseases instead of the traditional  blood vessels drawn from the patient.The young entrepreneur became a billionaire on paper after he rose more than $ 900 million in investors, but it began to solve 2015 after the Wall Street Journal exposed that Theranos using traditional machines for its testing rather than its own technology. Flaws in the health care startup’s technology were also found, indicating that Theranos’ own diagnostics were not accurate.Holmes was indicted in 2018, the same year Theranos shut down.

Former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes leaves federal court in San Jose, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021. (AP Photo/Nic Coury) (AP Photo/Nic Coury / AP Newsroom)

The California jury on the criminal fraud case against Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes says she is stuck on 3 of the 11 charges she faces. The panel, made up of eight men and four women, sent a notice to the judge on Monday stating that they could not reach a unanimous verdict on the seventh day of deliberations on Holmes’ fate. The jury was still able to decide on the remaining eight points. This story is in progress and will be updated.

Holmes, 37, has been charged by federal prosecutors on nine  wire transfer fraud cases and two wire transfer conspiracy cases for misleading investors and patients with her company’s failed blood testing technology. Any charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Holmes has pleaded not guilty on all charges and stood in defense during the trial, admitting he was sorry but denied cheating on anyone.

She also accused her ex-boyfriend and former Theranos Chief Operating Officer, Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani, of allegedly misleading her about the effectiveness of Theranos technology, and charged him with emotional and sexual abuse. 

Balwani faces his own trial next year over his alleged Holmes, who founded Theranos at the age of 19  after dropping out of Stanford University and baffling Silicon Valley and investors  with the promise that Theranos technology would work with just a few Drops of blood from a patient could diagnose a variety of diseases instead of the traditional  blood vessels drawn from the patient.

The young entrepreneur became a billionaire on paper after he rose more than $ 900 million in investors, but it began to solve 2015 after the Wall Street Journal exposed that Theranos using traditional machines for its testing rather than its own technology. 

Flaws in the health care startup’s technology were also found, indicating that Theranos’ own diagnostics were not accurate.

Holmes was indicted in 2018, the same year Theranos shut down.

News: Eldest Trump children won’t comply with subpoenas from New York attorney general

• January 3, 2022
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On Location: January 3, 2022Catch up on the developing stories making headlines.Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images, FILEFormer President Trump’s eldest son and daughter have refused to comply with  New York State Attorney General’s subpoenas while conducting a civil investigation into the valuation of their assets by the family-owned real estate company. “A dispute has arisen between the public prosecutor’s office and the individual parties to Trump over the subpoenas,” said a document published on Monday.The document, jointly filed  by New York attorney general Letitia James and a Trump Organization attorney, states that Donald Trump Jr and Ivanka Trump are now  named as suspects in James’ ongoing investigation, which parallels a criminal investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump will file motions to quash the subpoenas as soon as Monday, the filing indicated. The former president and his company have denied the wrongdoing and  attacked the investigation as a policy. The previous criminal investigations have led to indictments. Prosecutors said the company paid Weisselberg’s rent, living expenses, private school fees and car leasing without properly filing its tax return.

On Location: January 3, 2022Catch up on the developing stories making headlines.Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images, FILE

Former President Trump’s eldest son and daughter have refused to comply with  New York State Attorney General’s subpoenas while conducting a civil investigation into the valuation of their assets by the family-owned real estate company.

 “A dispute has arisen between the public prosecutor’s office and the individual parties to Trump over the subpoenas,” said a document published on Monday.

The document, jointly filed  by New York attorney general Letitia James and a Trump Organization attorney, states that Donald Trump Jr and Ivanka Trump are now  named as suspects in James’ ongoing investigation, which parallels a criminal investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office.

Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump will file motions to quash the subpoenas as soon as Monday, the filing indicated. 

The former president and his company have denied the wrongdoing and  attacked the investigation as a policy. 

The previous criminal investigations have led to indictments. Prosecutors said the company paid Weisselberg’s rent, living expenses, private school fees and car leasing without properly filing its tax return.

News: Whistleblower warns baffling illness affects growing number of young adults in Canadian province

• January 3, 2022
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Medical imaging service in a hospital in Savoie, France. A technician monitors a brain MRI scan session. BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesA whistleblower spoke to The Guardian about a mysterious neurological disease in New Brunswick, Canada. They spoke of their concerns about the disease, saying that it was spreading rapidly and that the cases could be higher than previously thought. Symptoms include fatigue, hallucinations, muscle weakness, and an anonymous Canadian whistleblower from Vitalité Health Network, one of New Brunswick’s two health authorities,  said that more people are developing symptoms of a mysterious degenerative neurological disease, according to The Guardian.The Atlantic coast of Canada has been analyzed by researchers for more than two years, but the cause of the disease is not yet known.Symptoms of the disease include memory problems, muscle cramps, inexplicable extreme  weight loss, pain in the extremities, and hallucinations. The disease was originally thought to be a human prion disease, in which proteins called prions cause normal proteins to bend abnormally, but tests have shown that it doesn’t . So far, the Office of the New Brunswick  Medical Director of Health has publicly said that 48 people have  the disease, but sources told The Guardian that that number is believed to be much higher the disease, said the bureau.Speaking to The Guardian about the severity of the disease, the whistleblower said he would go public to raise awareness of how quickly the enigmatic disease is spreading and affecting patients: “I’m really concerned about these cases because They appear to be evolving The disease affects women and men equally,  patients since 1885. An epidemiological study conducted by the New Brunswick Department of Health ruled out any food, behavioral, or environmental stresses that could cause the disease. Following that statement, a document was submitted to the Canadian Association of Neuropathologists claiming that  those who died from the disease died from misdiagnosis or missed diagnoses, such as Alzheimer’s and cancer, and were not part of the group.

BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

A whistleblower spoke to The Guardian about a mysterious neurological disease in New Brunswick, Canada. 

They spoke of their concerns about the disease, saying that it was spreading rapidly and that the cases could be higher than previously thought. 

Symptoms include fatigue, hallucinations, muscle weakness, and an anonymous Canadian whistleblower from Vitalité Health Network, one of New Brunswick’s two health authorities,  said that more people are developing symptoms of a mysterious degenerative neurological disease, according to The Guardian.

The Atlantic coast of Canada has been analyzed by researchers for more than two years, but the cause of the disease is not yet known.

Symptoms of the disease include memory problems, muscle cramps, inexplicable extreme  weight loss, pain in the extremities, and hallucinations. 

The disease was originally thought to be a human prion disease, in which proteins called prions cause normal proteins to bend abnormally, but tests have shown that it doesn’t . 

So far, the Office of the New Brunswick  Medical Director of Health has publicly said that 48 people have  the disease, but sources told The Guardian that that number is believed to be much higher the disease, said the bureau.

Speaking to The Guardian about the severity of the disease, the whistleblower said he would go public to raise awareness of how quickly the enigmatic disease is spreading and affecting patients: 

“I’m really concerned about these cases because They appear to be evolving The disease affects women and men equally,  patients since 1885. 

An epidemiological study conducted by the New Brunswick Department of Health ruled out any food, behavioral, or environmental stresses that could cause the disease. 

Following that statement, a document was submitted to the Canadian Association of Neuropathologists claiming that  those who died from the disease died from misdiagnosis or missed diagnoses, such as Alzheimer’s and cancer, and were not part of the group.

News: Tesla delivered close to one million vehicles in 2021

• January 3, 2022
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Photo by James Bareham / The VergeTesla Inc reported quarterly record shipments on Sunday  that far exceeded Wall Street estimates and exceeded a global chip shortage as China’s production spiked.It was the sixth straight quarter that the world’s most valuable automaker posted record deliveries. Musk delivered 308,600 vehicles in the fourth quarter, far more than analysts’ forecast of 263,026 vehicles.Tesla’s  deliveries from October to December were around 70% above the previous year  and almost 30% above the record deliveries of the previous quarter. “Excellent work from the Tesla team around the world!” Musk wrote on Twitter.His electric car company increased production in China despite increased competition  and regulatory pressure from consumer complaints about product safety. Tesla supplies models made in China to Europe and some Asian countries. On an annual basis, the automaker boosted its deliveries by 87% from a year earlier to 936,172 vehicles in 2021Musk said in October last year that Tesla will be able to grow at an annual  rate of more than 50% for “an extended period of time. NEW FACTORY ”. Ventures. Said on Sunday. “The first is that the demand for their products is skyrocketing. Second, they are doing an excellent job  meeting that demand, ”he said. Munster said he expected Tesla deliveries to climb to 1.3 million vehicles this year despite headwinds in production at its new factories, including vehicle technologies and new equipment.Tesla Chief Financial Officer Zachary Kirkhorn said in October that it was difficult to predict how quickly the company will be able to boost production at new factories in Texas and Berlin, which will use new vehicle technologies and new teams.Tesla said in October that it aimed to build its first production cars at both facilities by the end of 2021, but it is not known whether it met that target. Tesla did not respond to a question from Reuters about the plants. Its Berlin factory had initially been scheduled to begin production last summer.Deutsche Bank said in a report on Friday that it expected Tesla to make nearly 1.5 million vehicle deliveries this year, although chip shortages remain a risk to production.In 2020 automakers cut chip orders as the pandemic and lockdown measures hurt demand, but Tesla never lowered its production forecast with suppliers to support its rapid growth plan that helped it beat chip shortages, Musk said. Unlike most automakers, the software has also been reprogrammed internally to use less scarce chips, according to Musk.Musk, who previously said “2021 was the year of super insane supply chain scarcity,” said in October that he was optimistic that these issues would pass on supply chain costs. Tesla hit more than $ 1 trillion in market cap in October after car rental  company Hertz announced it had ordered 100,000 of its vehicles. The stock lost some ground after Musk wrote on Twitter in November that he was considering selling 10% of his stake in Tesla.Overall, Tesla shares gained 50% last year.

Photo by James Bareham / The Verge

Tesla Inc reported quarterly record shipments on Sunday  that far exceeded Wall Street estimates and exceeded a global chip shortage as China’s production spiked.

It was the sixth straight quarter that the world’s most valuable automaker posted record deliveries.
Musk delivered 308,600 vehicles in the fourth quarter, far more than analysts’ forecast of 263,026 vehicles.
Tesla’s  deliveries from October to December were around 70% above the previous year  and almost 30% above the record deliveries of the previous quarter. “Excellent work from the Tesla team around the world!” Musk wrote on Twitter.

His electric car company increased production in China despite increased competition  and regulatory pressure from consumer complaints about product safety. Tesla supplies models made in China to Europe and some Asian countries. On an annual basis, the automaker boosted its deliveries by 87% from a year earlier to 936,172 vehicles in 2021

Musk said in October last year that Tesla will be able to grow at an annual  rate of more than 50% for “an extended period of time.
NEW FACTORY ”.
Ventures. Said on Sunday. “The first is that the demand for their products is skyrocketing. Second, they are doing an excellent job  meeting that demand, ”he said.
Munster said he expected Tesla deliveries to climb to 1.3 million vehicles this year despite headwinds in production at its new factories, including vehicle technologies and new equipment.

In 2020 automakers cut chip orders as the pandemic and lockdown measures hurt demand, but Tesla never lowered its production forecast with suppliers to support its rapid growth plan that helped it beat chip shortages, Musk said.

Unlike most automakers, the software has also been reprogrammed internally to use less scarce chips, according to Musk.Musk, who previously said “2021 was the year of super insane supply chain scarcity,” said in October that he was optimistic that these issues would pass on supply chain costs.
Tesla hit more than $ 1 trillion in market cap in October after car rental  company Hertz announced it had ordered 100,000 of its vehicles.

The stock lost some ground after Musk wrote on Twitter in November that he was considering selling 10% of his stake in Tesla.

Overall, Tesla shares gained 50% last year.

News: U.S. Defense Secretary Austin tests positive for COVID-19, symptoms mild

• January 3, 2022
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FILE PHOTO: NATO Defence Ministers meeting in BrusselsSecretary of Defense  Lloyd Austin said on Sunday he had tested positive for COVID-19 and had mild symptoms during the home quarantine.In a statement on Sunday evening, Austin said he plans to “virtually” attend key meetings and discussions over the next week “whenever possible.” He said  Secretary of State Kathleen Hicks would represent him on relevant matters. Austin said he last met with President Joe Biden on December 21, more than a week before he started experiencing symptoms, and  tested negative the morning of that day. “I also informed my management team about my positive test result as president, said Austin. My co-workers have started tracking and testing everyone I have come in contact with in the past week.Austin, 68, said he was fully vaccinated and had a booster shot in October. He said he requested a test Sunday morning after seeing symptoms  at home while on vacation and, given the result, planned to stay in quarantine for five days, according to guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Vaccines work and will continue to be a military medical requirement for our workforce. I continue to encourage anyone who qualifies to receive a booster vaccination. This is still a readiness issue, ”he said.Another member of Biden’s cabinet, Homeland Security Minister Alejandro Mayorkas, tested positive for COVID-19 in October.

FILE PHOTO: NATO Defence Ministers meeting in Brussels

Secretary of Defense  Lloyd Austin said on Sunday he had tested positive for COVID-19 and had mild symptoms during the home quarantine.

In a statement on Sunday evening, Austin said he plans to “virtually” attend key meetings and discussions over the next week “whenever possible.” He said  Secretary of State Kathleen Hicks would represent him on relevant matters.

Austin said he last met with President Joe Biden on December 21, more than a week before he started experiencing symptoms, and  tested negative the morning of that day. “I also informed my management team about my positive test result as president, said Austin. My co-workers have started tracking and testing everyone I have come in contact with in the past week.

Austin, 68, said he was fully vaccinated and had a booster shot in October. He said he requested a test Sunday morning after seeing symptoms  at home while on vacation and, given the result, planned to stay in quarantine for five days, according to guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Vaccines work and will continue to be a military medical requirement for our workforce. I continue to encourage anyone who qualifies to receive a booster vaccination. This is still a readiness issue, ”he said.

Another member of Biden’s cabinet, Homeland Security Minister Alejandro Mayorkas, tested positive for COVID-19 in October.

News: Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Personal Twitter Account Permanently Suspended

• January 2, 2022
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The personal twitter account of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has been permanently suspended for violating the social media site’s COVID-19 misinformation policy, the company said Sunday.WIN MCNAMEE VIA GETTY IMAGESRepresentative Marjorie Taylor Greene’s personal Twitter account has been permanently banned after repeatedly violating the social media site’s COVID19 disinformation policy, the company said on Sunday. The far-right Georgia Republican got the boot following what was her fifth suspension from the social media platform, resulting in her permanent deletion according to Twitter’s COVID-19  guidelines.”We have made it clear that as part of our strike system for this policy, we will permanently block accounts for repeated violations of the policy,” a Twitter spokesman told HuffPost.Georgia’s 14th Congressional District remained active through Sunday. Greene replied on Twitter on Sunday calling him “an enemy of the United States”.Okay, I’m going to show America that we don’t need them and that it is time to defeat our enemies. They cannot successfully complete a communist revolution when people tell the truth, She said in a statement. Greene’s personal Twitter account was  last suspended for a week in August when she tweeted that COVID-19 vaccines are “failing” and that “the FDA shouldn’t approve Covid vaccines.Greene  posted on social media on Saturday a list of reasons America “is no longer free” due to the coronavirus pandemic. A spokesperson for Greene  told HuffPost that was the job she was penalized for. His list included, among other lies, that “unvaccinated healthy people are an underclass” and that wearing this mask makes children sick and “ruins their natural learning.” Vaccination mandates are multiplying. This post remained visible on his Facebook account until Sunday morning.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene’s personal Twitter account has been permanently banned after repeatedly violating the social media site’s COVID19 disinformation policy, the company said on Sunday. 

The far-right Georgia Republican got the boot following what was her fifth suspension from the social media platform, resulting in her permanent deletion according to Twitter’s COVID-19  guidelines.

“We have made it clear that as part of our strike system for this policy, we will permanently block accounts for repeated violations of the policy,” a Twitter spokesman told HuffPost.Georgia’s 14th Congressional District remained active through Sunday. Greene replied on Twitter on Sunday calling him “an enemy of the United States”.

Okay, I’m going to show America that we don’t need them and that it is time to defeat our enemies. They cannot successfully complete a communist revolution when people tell the truth, She said in a statement. 

Greene’s personal Twitter account was  last suspended for a week in August when she tweeted that COVID-19 vaccines are “failing” and that “the FDA shouldn’t approve Covid vaccines.

Greene  posted on social media on Saturday a list of reasons America “is no longer free” due to the coronavirus pandemic. A spokesperson for Greene  told HuffPost that was the job she was penalized for. His list included, among other lies, that “unvaccinated healthy people are an underclass” and that wearing this mask makes children sick and “ruins their natural learning.” Vaccination mandates are multiplying. This post remained visible on his Facebook account until Sunday morning.

News: EU drafts plan to label gas and nuclear investments as green

• January 2, 2022
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Image Credit: REUTERS/Benoit TessierAfter years of fighting between governments for truly climate-friendly investments, the European Union has drawn up plans to label some natural gas and nuclear power projects as “green” investments. The European Commission is expected to propose rules in January to decide whether nuclear and gas  projects are included in the EU’s “sustainable finance taxonomy”. This is a list of the economic activities and  environmental criteria that must be met in order to be labeled as a green investment.By restricting the “green” label to really climate-friendly projects, the system aims to make these investments more attractive for private equity and to  stop “greenwashing”, in which companies or investors exaggerate their eco-friendly credentials. Brussels has also taken steps to apply the system to some EU funds, which means the rules could decide which projects are eligible for specific public funding. A draft of the Commission’s proposal, seen by Reuters, would label investments in nuclear power plants as green if the project has a plan, resources and location to  dispose of radioactive waste. In order to be considered green, new nuclear power plants must obtain a building permit before 2045.Investments in natural gas power plants are also considered green if they emit less than 270 g of CO2 equivalent per kilowatt hour (kWh), replace a more environmentally harmful power plant with fossil fuels, receive a building permit by December 31, 2030 and it is planned to switch to low-carbon gases by the end of 2035. Gas and nuclear  generation would be labeled green as they are “transitional activities” defined as those that are not fully sustainable but  have emissions below the industry average and do not contain environmentally harmful assets. .”Taking into account current scientific advice and  technological progress, as well as the different transition challenges between Member States, the Commission believes that natural gas and nuclear energy play a role in facilitating the transition to a predominantly renewable future,”  the European Commission said in a statement.To help states with different energy backgrounds make the transition, “under certain conditions, solutions that don’t look ‘green’ at first glance can make sense,” a commission source told Reuters, adding that the solutions are investments in gas and nuclear power would be subject to “strict regulations”. EU countries and a panel of experts will analyze the draft proposal, which could change, before it is  published at the end of January. Once published, most EU countries or the European Parliament could vetoed it .The policy has been mired in lobbying from governments for more than a year and EU countries disagree on which fuels are truly sustainable. Natural gas emits around half of coal’s CO2 emissions  when burned in power plants, but gas infrastructure has also been linked to methane leaks, a potent EU adviser had recommended that gas-fired power plants shouldn’t be labeled as green investments unless they hit a lower emission limit of 100g CO2e / kWh based on  deep  cuts in deep emissions scientists say are needed to avoid disastrous climate change.Nuclear power produces very low CO2 emissions but the Commission sought expert advice this year on whether the fuel should be deemed green given the potential environmental impact of radioactive waste disposal.Some environmental campaigners and Green EU lawmakers criticised the leaked proposal on gas and nuclear.“By including them… the Commission risks jeopardising the credibility of the EU’s role as a leading marketplace for sustainable finance,” Greens president Philippe Lamberts said.Austria opposes nuclear power, alongside countries including Germany and Luxembourg. EU states including the Czech Republic, Finland and France, which gets around 70% of its power from the fuel, see nuclear as crucial to phasing out CO2-emitting coal fuel power.

Image Credit: REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

After years of fighting between governments for truly climate-friendly investments, the European Union has drawn up plans to label some natural gas and nuclear power projects as “green” investments. 

The European Commission is expected to propose rules in January to decide whether nuclear and gas  projects are included in the EU’s “sustainable finance taxonomy”. 

This is a list of the economic activities and  environmental criteria that must be met in order to be labeled as a green investment.

By restricting the “green” label to really climate-friendly projects, the system aims to make these investments more attractive for private equity and to  stop “greenwashing”, in which companies or investors exaggerate their eco-friendly credentials. 

Brussels has also taken steps to apply the system to some EU funds, which means the rules could decide which projects are eligible for specific public funding. 

A draft of the Commission’s proposal, seen by Reuters, would label investments in nuclear power plants as green if the project has a plan, resources and location to  dispose of radioactive waste. 

In order to be considered green, new nuclear power plants must obtain a building permit before 2045.

Investments in natural gas power plants are also considered green if they emit less than 270 g of CO2 equivalent per kilowatt hour (kWh), replace a more environmentally harmful power plant with fossil fuels, receive a building permit by December 31, 2030 and it is planned to switch to low-carbon gases by the end of 2035. 

Gas and nuclear  generation would be labeled green as they are “transitional activities” defined as those that are not fully sustainable but  have emissions below the industry average and do not contain environmentally harmful assets. .

“Taking into account current scientific advice and  technological progress, as well as the different transition challenges between Member States, the Commission believes that natural gas and nuclear energy play a role in facilitating the transition to a predominantly renewable future,”  the European Commission said in a statement.

To help states with different energy backgrounds make the transition, “under certain conditions, solutions that don’t look ‘green’ at first glance can make sense,” a commission source told Reuters, adding that the solutions are investments in gas and nuclear power would be subject to “strict regulations”. 

EU countries and a panel of experts will analyze the draft proposal, which could change, before it is  published at the end of January. 

Once published, most EU countries or the European Parliament could vetoed it .

The policy has been mired in lobbying from governments for more than a year and EU countries disagree on which fuels are truly sustainable.

 Natural gas emits around half of coal’s CO2 emissions  when burned in power plants, but gas infrastructure has also been linked to methane leaks, a potent EU adviser had recommended that gas-fired power plants shouldn’t be labeled as green investments unless they hit a lower emission limit of 100g CO2e / kWh based on  deep  cuts in deep emissions scientists say are needed to avoid disastrous climate change.

Nuclear power produces very low CO2 emissions but the Commission sought expert advice this year on whether the fuel should be deemed green given the potential environmental impact of radioactive waste disposal.

Some environmental campaigners and Green EU lawmakers criticised the leaked proposal on gas and nuclear.

“By including them… the Commission risks jeopardising the credibility of the EU’s role as a leading marketplace for sustainable finance,” Greens president Philippe Lamberts said.

Austria opposes nuclear power, alongside countries including Germany and Luxembourg. EU states including the Czech Republic, Finland and France, which gets around 70% of its power from the fuel, see nuclear as crucial to phasing out CO2-emitting coal fuel power.

News: China to cut new energy vehicle subsidies by 30% in 2022

• January 2, 2022
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Image Credit: REUTERS/Aly SongChina will cut subsidies for New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) such as electric cars by 30% in 2022 and withdraw them all by the end of the year, the Treasury Department said on its website. The subsidies for NEVs would be reduced by 10%, 20% and 30% respectively from 2020 to 2022. For NEVs for public transport, subsidies are to be reduced by 10% in 2021 and  20% in 2022.China, the world’s biggest auto market, has set a target for NEVs, including plug-in hybrids and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, to make up 20% of auto sales by 2025. Global automakers such as Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE), General Motors Co (GM.N), Toyota Motor Corp (7203. T) and Tesla Inc (TSLA .O) increase production of electric vehicles in China.NIO (NIO.N) said on Friday that buyers of its ES8, ES6 and EC6 vehicles having posted a deposit  before December 31, 2021 and  taking delivery of their purchases before March 31, 2022, can still benefit from subsidies under the the 2021 Plan. Any loopholes in the 2022 policy would be borne by the Shanghai-based company, he said. The ministry also said that China will strengthen supervision of  safety issues of NEVs to prevent accidents. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers previously estimated  in December that NEV’s sales  in China would increase 47% to 5 million in 2021.

Image Credit: REUTERS/Aly Song

China will cut subsidies for New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) such as electric cars by 30% in 2022 and withdraw them all by the end of the year, the Treasury Department said on its website. 

The subsidies for NEVs would be reduced by 10%, 20% and 30% respectively from 2020 to 2022. For NEVs for public transport, subsidies are to be reduced by 10% in 2021 and  20% in 2022.

China, the world’s biggest auto market, has set a target for NEVs, including plug-in hybrids and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, to make up 20% of auto sales by 2025. 

Global automakers such as Volkswagen AG (VOWG_p.DE), General Motors Co (GM.N), Toyota Motor Corp (7203. T) and Tesla Inc (TSLA .O) increase production of electric vehicles in China.

NIO (NIO.N) said on Friday that buyers of its ES8, ES6 and EC6 vehicles having posted a deposit  before December 31, 2021 and  taking delivery of their purchases before March 31, 2022, can still benefit from subsidies under the the 2021 Plan. 

Any loopholes in the 2022 policy would be borne by the Shanghai-based company, he said. 

The ministry also said that China will strengthen supervision of  safety issues of NEVs to prevent accidents. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers previously estimated  in December that NEV’s sales  in China would increase 47% to 5 million in 2021.

News: GERMAN FINANCE MINISTER PLEDGES TAX RELIEF FROM 2023

• January 2, 2022
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Image Credit: REUTERS/Annegret HilseGermany’s new  government will offer personal and business tax breaks worth at least 30 billion euros ($ 34.1 billion) during this legislative period, Finance Minister Christian Lindner said on Sunday. “We will relieve people and small and medium-sized businesses by significantly more than 30 billion euros,” Lindner told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper. Noting that the budget for 2022  was drawn up by the previous government under Chancellor Angela Merkel, Lindner said his  2023 plan will include reliefs such as contributions to pension insurance  and the end of an electricity price surcharge.Meanwhile, Lindner, leader of the fiscally cautious Free Democrats (FDP), said he had asked his cabinet colleagues to review the spending projects of their ministries.“We have to go back to sound public finances. We have a responsibility towards the younger generation,” he said.Lindner stated one manner to make financial savings would be to scrap the development of a new authorities terminal at Berlin’s BER airport, set to cost 50 million euros. He recommended a temporary constructing may be used permanently.The minister is likewise making plans a tax invoice to assist organizations deal with the continuing coronavirus pandemic, along with permitting them to offset losses in 2022 and 2023 in opposition to income from previous years.Due to the pandemic, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s ruling coalition agreed to use an emergency clause in the constitution for the third year in a row in 2022 to suspend debt limits and authorize new loans of $ 100 billion euros. From 2023, the coalition aims to revert to the debt brake rule in the constitution which limits new loans to a small fraction of economic output.

Image Credit: REUTERS/Annegret Hilse

Germany’s new  government will offer personal and business tax breaks worth at least 30 billion euros ($ 34.1 billion) during this legislative period, Finance Minister Christian Lindner said on Sunday.

 “We will relieve people and small and medium-sized businesses by significantly more than 30 billion euros,” Lindner told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper. Noting that the budget for 2022  was drawn up by the previous government under Chancellor Angela Merkel, Lindner said his  2023 plan will include reliefs such as contributions to pension insurance  and the end of an electricity price surcharge.

Meanwhile, Lindner, leader of the fiscally cautious Free Democrats (FDP), said he had asked his cabinet colleagues to review the spending projects of their ministries.

“We have to go back to sound public finances. We have a responsibility towards the younger generation,” he said.

Lindner stated one manner to make financial savings would be to scrap the development of a new authorities terminal at Berlin’s BER airport, set to cost 50 million euros. He recommended a temporary constructing may be used permanently.

The minister is likewise making plans a tax invoice to assist organizations deal with the continuing coronavirus pandemic, along with permitting them to offset losses in 2022 and 2023 in opposition to income from previous years.

Due to the pandemic, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s ruling coalition agreed to use an emergency clause in the constitution for the third year in a row in 2022 to suspend debt limits and authorize new loans of $ 100 billion euros. 

From 2023, the coalition aims to revert to the debt brake rule in the constitution which limits new loans to a small fraction of economic output.