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Future of Coal Series

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Despite major shifts in the industry and serious worries in coal communities, today coal still supplies nearly 40% of our electricity. According to the Bureau of Land Management, one out of every five homes and business in the US use electricity made from Wyoming coal. But what does the future look like for fossil fuels in a world where there is increasing pressure to keep them in the ground? In this series, we examine the role of coal as an energy source in a world where constraints on carbon emissions are adopted to mitigate global warming. Indeed, the challenge for governments and industry is to find a path that mitigates carbon emissions yet continues to utilize coal to meet urgent energy needs, especially in developing economies.

Future of Coal Series

Australian trade deficit narrows in September, driven by firmer coal exports

Nov 03, 2016 05:25 am UTC| Commentary Economy

Australias trade balance improved during the month of September, driven by strong exports of coal and significantly beating market expectations. This surprise improvement was driven by a spike in resource exports, with...

Future of Coal Series

Australia's coal politics are undermining democratic and Indigenous rights

Oct 26, 2016 09:45 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Can Australia achieve fair and open decision-making when big coal players are involved? The case of Adanis proposed Carmichael coal mine suggests the answer is no, and Indigenous land owners are bearing the brunt. The...

Future of Coal Series

The gas industry needs a carbon price to compete with coal

Oct 25, 2016 17:20 pm UTC| Insights & Views

Putting a price on carbon would benefit the Australian gas industry, at least in the short term. It is therefore in the interests of gas producers to lobby for the emissions trading scheme proposed for the electricity...

Future of Coal Series

China’s coal imports likely to remain strong, policy measures to dictate prices

Oct 20, 2016 06:36 am UTC| Economy Commentary

Coal imports in China are expected to remain strong in the near term, despite efforts to limit the impact of capacity closures on utilities, while prices are likely to be dictated by the countrys policy...

Future of Coal Series

Bangladesh is building a dirty and expensive coal plant next to the world's largest mangrove forest

Sep 27, 2016 13:42 pm UTC| Insights & Views

A controversial new coal power plant being built in Bangladesh is already running out of friends. Environmentalists worry it will spell disaster for the worlds largest mangrove forest, while locals worry about pollution...

Future of Coal Series

King Coal is dethroned in the US – and that's good news for the environment

Sep 23, 2016 08:08 am UTC| Insights & Views

This is the worst year in decades for U.S. coal. During the first six months of 2016, U.S. coal production was down a staggering 28 percent compared to 2015, and down 33 percent compared to 2014. For the first time ever,...

Future of Coal Series

Pacific pariah: how Australia’s love of coal has left it out in the diplomatic cold

Sep 23, 2016 08:06 am UTC| Insights & Views

Australias Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will have some explaining to do when he attends the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Pohnpei, Micronesia, this week. Australias continued determination to dig up coal,...

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Economy

Asian Currencies Slip as Dollar Stabilizes Ahead of U.S. CPI Data

Asian currencies edged lower on Friday as the U.S. dollar steadied, with traders closely monitoring upcoming U.S. consumer price index (CPI) data for signals on the Federal Reserves interest rate outlook. Despite the daily...

Oil Prices Steady but Head for Weekly Loss as Supply Glut Concerns Weigh

Oil prices were mostly steady during Asian trading on Friday, yet both benchmark crude contracts remained on track for weekly losses after a sharp selloff in the previous session. Brent crude futures for April delivery...

Fed Governor Stephen Miran Warns Tight Monetary Policy Threatens U.S. Economic Growth

Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran cautioned that the central banks current monetary policy stance could pose a significant risk to U.S. economic growth. Speaking at a Dallas Fed event on Thursday, Miran argued that...

Japan, U.S. Speed Up Talks on $550 Billion Investment Deal Amid Tariff Pressure

Japan and the United States have agreed to accelerate negotiations on the first round of projects under Tokyos $550 billion investment package, as both sides work to resolve outstanding issues. Japanese Trade Minister...

Yen Surges After Takaichi Election Win as Markets Eye U.S. Inflation Data

The Japanese yen is on track for its strongest weekly performance in nearly 15 months after Prime Minister Sanae Takaichis historic election victory eased investor concerns about Japans fiscal stability. The currency has...

Politics

Munich Security Conference 2026: Transatlantic Tensions, Ukraine War and Europe’s Strategic Shift

One year after U.S. Vice President JD Vance sharply criticized European allies at the Munich Security Conference, transatlantic relations remain under intense strain. As global leaders gather again in Munich, Washingtons...

US Lawmakers Urge Taiwan to Boost Defence Spending Amid Rising China Threat

A bipartisan group of 37 U.S. lawmakers has urged senior Taiwanese political leaders to move forward with a stalled defence spending proposal, warning that the threat from China is intensifying. In a letter addressed to...

Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s $600 Million Public Health Funding Cuts to Democratic-Led States

A federal judge in Chicago has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from moving forward with $600 million in proposed public health funding cuts affecting four Democratic-led states. The ruling marks the latest...

U.S.–Taiwan Trade Agreement Sets 15% Tariff, Boosts Energy and Semiconductor Investment

The United States and Taiwan have finalized a reciprocal trade agreement that sets a 15% U.S. tariff rate on imports from Taiwan while paving the way for lower Taiwanese tariffs on nearly all American goods. The deal,...

Trump Ends Minnesota Deportation Surge After Protests and Political Backlash

President Donald Trump has agreed to wind down the controversial immigration enforcement effort known as Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota, marking a rare policy reversal amid mounting protests and bipartisan criticism....

Science

SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has revealed a significant shift in the companys near-term space exploration strategy, announcing that SpaceX is now prioritizing the development of a self-growing city on the Moon rather than focusing...

SpaceX Prioritizes Moon Mission Before Mars as Starship Development Accelerates

Elon Musks SpaceX is shifting its near-term space exploration strategy, choosing to prioritize a return to the Moon before pursuing missions to Mars, according to a recent Wall Street Journal report citing sources familiar...

NASA and SpaceX Target Crew-11 Undocking From ISS Amid Medical Concern

NASA has confirmed that the agency, in coordination with SpaceX, is targeting no earlier than 5 p.m. Eastern Time (2200 GMT) on Wednesday, January 14, for the undocking of the SpaceX Crew-11 mission from the International...

Neuralink Plans High-Volume Brain Implant Production and Fully Automated Surgery by 2026

Elon Musks brain-computer interface company Neuralink is preparing for a major expansion, announcing plans to begin high-volume production of its brain implant devices and transition to a fully automated surgical procedure...

Jared Isaacman Confirmed as NASA Administrator, Becomes 15th Leader of U.S. Space Agency

The U.S. Senate has officially confirmed billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman as the new NASA administrator, making him the 15th leader in the agencys history. The confirmation, which took place on Wednesday, marks...

Technology

GE Aerospace Expands Singapore Engine Repair Hub with Automation and AI to Tackle Aviation Bottlenecks

GE Aerospace is accelerating automation and AI-driven innovation at its Singapore engine repair hub as global airlines grapple with maintenance delays, parts shortages, and extended turnaround times. At the center of this...

U.S. Commerce Department Reaches $252 Million Settlement With Applied Materials Over China Exports

The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced a $252 million settlement with Applied Materials, resolving allegations that the semiconductor equipment maker illegally exported U.S. chip manufacturing technology to China....

Russia Moves to Fully Block WhatsApp as Kremlin Pushes State-Backed MAX App

Russia has reportedly attempted to fully block WhatsApp, the popular messaging service owned by Meta Platforms, as part of its broader efforts to tighten control over the countrys digital space. According to a company...

Instagram CEO Defends Platform in Youth Mental Health Lawsuit Over Social Media Addiction Claims

Adam Mosseri, head of Meta Platforms Instagram, defended the companys product decisions during a high-profile trial in Los Angeles centered on allegations that social media addiction has contributed to a youth mental...

FTC Questions Apple News Over Alleged Bias Against Conservative Media

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has raised concerns about Apple News following allegations that the platform favors left-leaning media outlets while excluding conservative publications. In a letter addressed to...