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Economy

Winners And Losers From Massive Gas Discovery Off Egypt

Italian energy giant ENI has reported an unprecedented discovery of gas reserves off the coast of Egypt. It’s no quick fix for the troubled Egyptian economy.

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Future Smarter Cities Society

Smart Cities International: Accessible Sweden, Costa Rican Dreams, Li-Fi

Here is a preview of our exclusive newsletter to keep up-to-date and stay inspired by Smart City innovations from around the world.

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Future Smarter Cities

Ethiopia’s Ambitious Goal To Go Green

One of the poorest countries in the world is nevertheless setting big goals for itself and looking to richer countries for help. A 10-year, $70 billion plan aims to produce clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

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Economy Ideas

Doing The Hard Math On China’s Fortune 500 Companies

-Analysis- BEIJING — Included among Fortune“s recently-published Global 500 rankings of the top corporations worldwide are 106 companies from China, a new record for the country, and now second only to the United States in terms of representation on the prestigious list. But it’s imporant to note that the Global 500 rankings only reflect revenues […]

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Future Society

Smart Cities International: Cyber City Security, Russian Hub, Africa’s NYC

Here is a preview of our exclusive newsletter to keep up-to-date and stay inspired by Smart City innovations from around the world.

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Future Society

Under Their Feet: A Filipino Village Taps Geothermal Energy

Locals used to cook their food in bubbling pools of steaming groundwater. Now a project is underway to turn it into electricity.

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Economy

Latin America, Time To Pay The Bill For Economic Populism

As prices on oil and other raw materials drop, the cycle of what some call “macroeconomic populism” is hitting a rather tough patch, especially for Argentina and Venezuela.

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Future Society

Egypt’s Scorched Earth Energy Policy Leaves Clean Power Behind

Despite strong opposition, Egypt has just approved the contruction of coal-fired energy plants that are still years away from operation. Meanwhile, it’s nowhere on harnassing wind and solar energy.

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Food / Travel Future Smarter Cities

Mexico City Stepping Up With ‘Green’ Mega Airport Terminal

The Mexican capital is revamping its international airport, with a new terminal designed by star architect Norman Foster that will double capacity, save energy and dazzle the eyes.

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Future Society

Closing Nuclear Plants Will Be A Massive Global Mess

BERLIN — The problem weighs nearly 300,000 tons. Tubes, generators, a concrete containment shell. And there is a gigantic volume of steel and scrap material alone at the former atomic power station in Obrigheim in the state of Baden-Württemberg. The most dangerous work on the highly radioactive materials is done by robot. Nine years after […]

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Future

Why Vacuum Cleaners May Get Less Powerful And More Expensive

European Union regulations will now require lower maximum voltage on vacuums. It may making cleaning slower, purchase prices higher, but hopefully long-term energy saving benefits.

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Economy Society

Why Mexico’s So-Called Liberalization Is Bound To Fail Again

Current privatization proposals for the telecom and energy sectors suggest Mexico has learned little from the partial, and failed, liberalization processes of the past.

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Economy Geopolitics

Could Iran Replace Russia As Europe’s Gas Provider?

Another twist on the geopolitical and economic chessboard. As relations sour with Russia over Ukraine, Europe looks at an increasingly accessible Iran. But it’s not so simple.

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Geopolitics

Europe Must Break Russia’s Energy Blackmail

BRUSSELS — There is no shortage of good advice for Europe. The United States recommends becoming independent of Russian gas supplies — Vice President Joe Biden, on a recent visit to Romania, passed that tip on to Prime Minister Victor Ponta. “We have to make certain that Russia can no longer use its energy resources […]

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blog

As ‘Drought’ Approaches, Iranians Warned To Conserve Water

In Tehran — Photo: Kamyar Adl As Iran approaches another long, scorching summer with possible water shortages, the Energy Ministry is telling millions of Iranians to make cautious use of their air-conditioning systems because each could use up to 200 liters of water a day, the newspaper Jaam-e Jam reported. The Ministry characterized it as […]

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Geopolitics Syria Crisis

Syrians Search For DIY Alternative Energy Sources

With power outages and deep shortages, some civilians are finding new ways to heat homes and cook meals, by using the natural resources around them — and even bomb craters.

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Geopolitics

The Bad Economics Of Crimean Independence

Whatever political and ethnic forces are at play, all sides must remember that Crimea’s finances and infrastructure are Ukrainian to the core.

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Future Geopolitics

Four Years After The Earthquake, Haiti Looks To The Sun

A solar-powered hospital offers a glimmer of hope in a country still mired in poverty, and the after-effects of the massive 2010 earthquake.

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Economy

Why 9 Of 10 Chinese Businesses That Go American Fail

A new study says some 90 percent of investments by China’s businesses in American operations don’t succeed. Chinese experts explain.

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Economy Geopolitics

China’s True Economic Achilles’ Heel? Oil Dependency

Concerns grow in Beijing, especially as the American boom in shale-gas production is helping the U.S. move toward energy independence.

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Future

Solar Satisfaction In A Congo Town Without A Power Grid

The inhabitants of Butembo rely increasingly on solar energy, allowing households to save money and be self-sufficient.

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Economy Society

Indigenous Malaysian Tribe Resists Masters Of ‘Progress’

LONG SINGU — Lost in the Malaysian forest, the village of Long Singu — on the Island of Borneo — is engaging in righteous resistence. Between 200 and 300 Penan people are refusing to leave their land to make way for the Murum dam. “We want to keep our village and our forest,” is the […]

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Future Society

Darkness To Light? Solar Power To Tame Pakistani Extremism

Using the power of light to combat the dark ideology of the Taliban. It sounds like the start of a bad movie, but that is exactly what Shahbaz Sharif, chief minister of the Pakistani province of Punjab, intends to do. “More jobs will mean fewer extremists because we can give people a better chance in […]

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Future

This New Green Fuel Is Yellow: A Car That Runs On Urine

SASSARI — The raw material costs absolutely nothing, and to fill up your tank there’s no need to look for a gas station. All you need to do is drink some water to stimulate your diuretic system and take a break at a rest stop. Yes, the solution to expensive petrol may be a car […]

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blog Society

This Asian City Is Killing Its Locals With Coal

As winter descends on Mongolia’s cold and polluted capital of Ulaanbaatar, toxic coal heating is turning on everywhere. An estimated one resident in 10 dies from the effects of pollution.

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Smarter Cities

In A Remote Corner Of Indonesia, A Model Of Clean Energy Use

WAINGAPU — In a remote western village on the Indonesian island of Sumba, 37-year-old Rambu Cinta sits on the porch of her thatched roof house chewing beetle nut. For most of her life she has lived without electricity. “Before at night we didn’t have anything to do. So after we had eaten dinner we just went to sleep,” she says with a laugh. Now her family is one of 100 households that are getting electricity from a nearby micro-hydro power plant. Umbu Hanggar says it has changed the home economics for his family, and extended family. “With electricity, the women […]

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Society

How Renewable Energy Has Fueled Iceland’s Miraculous Comeback

KEFLAVIK — The first thing that strikes you on landing at Keflavik International Airport is the weather. It’s raining. The clouds hang so low that it looks like you could reach out and touch them. Welcome to Iceland. A land mass covering 103,000 square kilometers, Iceland is a little larger than Hungary, but at 330,000 […]

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blog Society

Veggies Against Violence: Reaping The Rewards Of Argentina’s School Gardens

BURZACO – Carrot leaves are poking through the soil, the lettuces are green and leafy, and the spring onions are standing tall: these vegetables are being nurured at secondary school No. 56 in Burzaco, 25 kilometers south of Buenos Aires. And as the vegetables have put down roots, classroom violence has been on a sharp […]

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Future

The “Green Nuclear” – Can Thorium Be The Clean, Cheap Energy Of The Future?

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In The News

In America’s Backyard: China’s Rising Influence In Latin America

BEIJING – China is busy in America’s backyard. Over the past five years, Chinese businesses have been expanding their footprint in Latin America in a number of ways, beginning with enhanced trade to ensure a steady supply of bulk commodities such as oil, copper and soybeans. At this year’s Boao Forum for Asia, for the […]

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Eyes on the U.S.

A Leaking Nuclear Site In Washington State, And No One Seems To Care

WASHINGTON – Radioactive sludge has long been leaking from a nuclear site less than 10 kilometers from one of the West Coast’s biggest rivers, and no one seems to care. According to Tom Carpenter, director of environmentalist organization Hanford Challenge, this virtual media blackout should come as no surprise. The consequences of the leak will […]

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Food / Travel

What To Do With Horsemeat Lasagna? Turn It Into Biogas!

DIE WELT (Germany), THE LOCAL (Sweden) Worldcrunch BERLIN – Among the many questions raised by Europe’s spreading horsemeat scandal is what to do with all the products of questionable provenance. Most major supermarkets have simply dumped out loads of horse-tainted “beef” lasagna, and the like. What a waste! But all’s not lost. A spokeswoman for […]

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Future

Being Smart About Solar Energy, Even Where The Sun Doesn’t Shine

BERLIN – Winegrower Barbara Banke of the Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates in California doesn’t just love the sun because it ripens grapes. The sunnier it is, the lower the winery’s electricity and gas bills are. And those savings are possible because of the large mirrors mounted on the football-field-sized tin roof of the winery’s production facility […]

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Future

The German Battery That Could Store The Sun And Wind

DIE WELT (Germany) Worldcrunch HAMBURG – German researchers are developing a long-lasting battery that could solve one of the biggest problems of the energy transition, reports Die Welt. The German government is aiming for electrical power in Germany to be 80% from renewable energy sources like wind and solar by the year 2050. However, this […]

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Economy

Turkey’s Energy Sector Looking To Supply Developing World

ISTANBUL – Fatih Birol, the chief economist of the International Energy Agency, has offered some notable insights into the future of global energy markets. His presentation of the “World Energy Outlook 2012” report that focused on “energy efficiency” will undoubtedly be studied closely by the Turkish Industry & Business Association (TÜSİAD). But to better understand […]

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Society

Facebook Doomsday Suicide Group Raises Alarms On Argentina’s Mystical Mountain

Online nvitation was for Dec. 21, the Mayan calendar’s fateful day…

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Future

South Korea Shuts Nuclear Reactors Over Dodgy Parts

THE KOREA HERALD (South Korea), BBC NEWS (UK) Worldcrunch SEOUL – South Korea has shut down two nuclear reactors after it was revealed that some parts used had not been properly vetted, reports BBC News. Almost all the parts were used in a nuclear power complex in Yeonggwang, which is located some 330 kilometers southwest […]

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Economy

Solar Energy For Europe, Direct From The Moroccan Desert

MUNICH – According to exclusive information obtained by Süddeutsche Zeitung, the German, French, Italian, Spanish and Moroccan governments are pushing forward their green power “Desertec” project. Electricity produced by a solar thermal plant in Morocco, which would cost 600 million euros to build, would supply Europe with renewable energy. The planned power plant site is […]

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Future

Greening Egypt: How The Power Of The Sun Can Feed Appetites For Air Conditioning

CAIRO – How do you turn a blackout into a business opportunity? According to some consumption statistics, Cairo is also one of the world’s most brightly lit cities, with such high amounts of energy used for illuminating homes and streets that can often exceed the capacity of what electricity networks can deliver. That leaves the […]

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Future

Japan To Say Sayonara To Nuclear Power – Will It Crank Up World Energy Prices?

KYODO NEWS, YOMIURI SHIMBUN, JIJI PRESS (Japan), BLOOMBERG Worldcrunch TOKYO – The Japanese government will abolish nuclear power in the 2030s under a new national energy policy. In the wake of last year’s Fukushima disaster, the government was forced to create a new national energy strategy, as the current policy, which calls for increased reliance […]

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