News of the World

[kyonides]

New NYC Mayor Calls 911 on Men Fighting During Subway Ride on First Day

New York City Mayor Eric Adams called the police when he saw three men fighting during his commute to his first day on the job, according to footage of the incident.
While waiting for a subway train and talking to reporters on Saturday, Adams, a Democrat, saw three men fighting near the Kosciuszko St. J train stop in Brooklyn. He called 911 to report an “assault in progress,” footage shows.
By the time police arrived on the scene, two men had left and officers spoke to the remaining alleged offender, according to local reporters.
“Once a transit cop always a transit cop,” Adams said at around 8 a.m. when he called 911. When punches were being thrown, he said, “Here we go. I knew it was only a matter of time, that’s why I kept looking at it.”

Honestly that is NOT the way anybody should start a new year. 

EU Proposes Green Certificate for Nuclear and Gas Energy

The European Union has drafted a proposal that allows consideration for natural gas and nuclear energy to be included within the scope of “green” investments as countries and environmentalists battle over the complicated classification system.

Later this month, the European Commission is expected to suggest recommendations on the environmental criteria needed in order to classify an energy source as “green” and whether projects can be included within the EU’s “sustainable finance taxonomy.” According to draft conclusions viewed by multiple media outlets, the commission has suggested adding gas and nuclear energy to the green mix, resulting in immediate criticism from some governing political parties and environmental activists.

Gas projects would be temporarily labeled green if they were utilized in place of coal and emitted less than 270 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour (e/kWh), receive a construction permit before the end of 2030, and plan to switch to a renewable energy source by 2035.

Similarly, nuclear energy would fall within the green category if new plants granted construction permits by 2045 meet specific criteria that present no significant harm to the surrounding environment, as well as water resources. Presently, countries in Europe are at varying stages of energy transition.

Energy Department Approves Release of
2 Million Barrels of Crude to Exxon

The U.S. Department of Energy has approved the release of two million barrels of crude oil to ExxonMobil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) on Dec. 30, as part of the initiative undertaken in November by the federal government to lower gasoline prices in the country.

This is the third exchange of crude oil with ExxonMobil. Currently, the DOE has supplied over seven million barrels from the SPR in an effort to boost supply. An exchange refers to a situation where oil entities like refineries borrow critical supplies from SPR, which the companies have to replace in full later on, along with an additional amount that is dependent on how long they kept the oil.
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The White House had announced the plan to release 50 million barrels from the SPR as a coordinated worldwide response to high oil prices after the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) allies turned down a U.S. appeal to release more crude into the market and stabilize the price.

More Than 2,200 Flights Canceled on Jan. 2
Amid COVID-19 Staffing Issues, Snowstorm

More than 2,200 flights have been canceled on Jan. 2, the day after New Year’s, amid staffing shortages and poor weather conditions in some parts of the United States.

Some 2,233 flights within, into, or out of the United States were canceled on the morning of Jan. 2, according to tracking website FlightAware. About 3,000 delays have been reported, the website’s data show.

Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport had the most delays and cancellations, with more than 500 flights being canceled, according to FlightAware. Denver International Airport had nearly 300 cancellations.

The mess of flight cancellations can be blamed, in part, on snowstorms that have affected O’Hare and Denver’s airport. Some have suggested that flight crew shortages are also to blame amid a bevy of COVID-19-related sick calls in recent days, which have likely been exacerbated by airlines’ vaccine requirements for staff.

SkyWest Airlines, which operates flights for American, Delta, United, and Alaska airlines, saw the most cancellations on Jan. 2. About 20 percent of its scheduled flights, or 479 flights, were scuppered, the data show. Mesa Airlines, Envoy Air, and Air Wisconsin—also regional carriers—canceled dozens of flights on Jan. 2.

GMO Foods to Be Labeled ‘Bioengineered’ as New Rule Takes Effect

Products in the United States containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) will be labeled as “bioengineered” under new food disclosure rules that took effect on Jan. 1.

That’s a change from being described as having “genetically engineered” or GMO components.

Companies were given until Jan. 1 to comply with the new rules, which were finalized during the Trump administration. The government was following a law passed by Congress in 2016 to create a national standard for disclosing foods that are or may be bioengineered.

The countrywide standard “avoids a patchwork state-by-state system that could be confusing to consumers,” then-Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said at the time.

The updated labeling requirements have drawn criticism, and a legal challenge from the Center for Food Safety, which charges that they’re confusing.

By the way, actress Betty White has passed away last Friday during New Year's Eve.
She aged 99 and was quite close to celebrate her 100th birthday.  RIP Betty White.