hacklink hack forum hacklink film izle hacklink marsbahisizmir escortsahabetpornJojobetcasibom girişgalabetBakırköy Escortcasibom9018betgit casinomarsbahismatbet girişcasibomlink 5k depositjojobetonwinmatbetalobet

News

Tag: power

  • Big Tech wants to plug data centers right into power plants. Utilities say it’s not fair

    Big Tech wants to plug data centers right into power plants. Utilities say it’s not fair

    HARRISBURG, Pa. — Looking for a quick fix for their fast-growing electricity diets, tech giants are increasingly looking to strike deals with power plant owners to plug in directly, avoiding a potentially longer and more expensive process of hooking into a fraying electric grid that serves everyone else.

    It’s raising questions over whether diverting power to higher-paying customers will leave enough for others and whether it’s fair to excuse big power users from paying for the grid. Federal regulators are trying to figure out what to do about it, and quickly.

    Front and center is the data center that Amazon’s cloud computing subsidiary, Amazon Web Services, is building next to the Susquehanna nuclear plant in eastern Pennsylvania.

    The arrangement between the plant’s owners and AWS — called a “behind the meter” connection — is the first such to come before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. For now, FERC has rejected a deal that could eventually send 960 megawatts — about 40% of the plant’s capacity — to the data center. That’s enough to power more than a half-million homes.

    That leaves the deal and others that likely would follow in limbo. It’s not clear when FERC, which blocked the deal on a procedural ground, will take up the matter again or how the change in presidential administrations might affect things.

    “The companies, they’re very frustrated because they have a business opportunity now that’s really big,” said Bill Green, the director of the MIT Energy Initiative. “And if they’re delayed five years in the queue, for example — I don’t know if it would be five years, but years anyway — they might completely miss the business opportunity.”

    The rapid growth of cloud computing and artificial intelligence has fueled demand for data centers that need power to run servers, storage systems, networking equipment and cooling systems.

    That’s spurred proposals to bring nuclear power plants out of retirement, develop small modular nuclear reactors and build utility-scale renewable installations or new natural gas plants. In December, California-based Oklo announced an agreement to provide 12 gigawatts to data center developer Switch from small nuclear reactors powered by nuclear waste.

    Federal officials say fast development of data centers is vital to the economy and national security, including to keep pace with China in the artificial intelligence race.

    For AWS, the deal with Susquehanna satisfies its need for reliable power that meets its internal requirements for sources that don’t emit planet-warming greenhouse gases, like coal, oil or gas-fueled plants.

    Big Tech also wants to stand up their centers fast. But tech’s voracious appetite for energy comes at a time when the power supply is already strained by efforts to shift away from planet-warming fossil fuels.

    They can build data centers in a couple years, said Aaron Tinjum of the Data Center Coalition. But in some areas, getting connected to the congested electricity grid can take four years, and sometimes much more, he said.

    Plugging directly into a power plant would take years off their development timelines.

    In theory, the AWS deal would let Susquehanna sell power for more than they get by selling into the grid. Talen Energy, Susquehanna’s majority owner, projected the deal would bring as much as $140 million in electricity sales in 2028, though it didn’t disclose exactly how much AWS will pay for the power.

    The profit potential is one that other nuclear plant operators, in particular, are embracing after years of financial distress and frustration with how they are paid in the broader electricity markets. Many say they have been forced to compete in some markets against a flood of cheap natural gas as well as state-subsidized solar and wind energy.

    Power plant owners also say the arrangement benefits the wider public, by bypassing the costly buildout of long power lines and leaving more transmission capacity on the grid for everyone else.

    A favorable ruling from FERC could open the door to many more huge data centers and other massive power users like hydrogen plants and bitcoin miners, analysts say.

    FERC’s 2-1 rejection in November was procedural. Recent comments by commissioners suggest they weren’t ready to decide how to regulate such a novel matter without more study.

    In the meantime, the agency is hearing arguments for and against the Susquehanna-AWS deal.

    Monitoring Analytics, the market watchdog in the mid-Atlantic grid, wrote in a filing to FERC that the impact would be “extreme” if the Susquehanna-AWS model were extended to all nuclear power plants in the territory.

    Energy prices would increase significantly and there’s no explanation for how rising demand for power will be met even before big power plants drop out of the supply mix, it said.

    Separately, two electric utility owners — which make money in deregulated states from building out the grid and delivering power — have protested that the Susquehanna-AWS arrangement amounts to freeloading off a grid that ordinary customers pay to build and maintain. Chicago-based Exelon and Columbus, Ohio-based American Electric Power say the Susquehanna-AWS arrangement would allow AWS to avoid $140 million a year that it would otherwise owe.

    Susquehanna’s owners say the data center won’t be on the grid and question why it should have to pay to maintain it. But critics contend that the power plant itself is benefiting from taxpayer subsidies and ratepayer-subsidized services, and shouldn’t be able to strike deals with private customers that could increase costs for others.

    FERC’s decision will have “massive repercussions for the entire country” because it will set a precedent for how FERC and grid operators will handle the waiting avalanche of similar requests from data center companies and nuclear plants, said Jackson Morris of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

    Stacey Burbure, a vice president for American Electric Power, told FERC at a hearing in November that it needs to move quickly.

    “The timing of this issue is before us,” she said, “and if we take our typical five years to get this perfect, it will be too late.”

    ___

    Follow Marc Levy on X at: https://x.com/timelywriter.

    ___

    The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

    Source link

  • Barcelona subway recycles energy from braking into power to charge electric cars

    Barcelona subway recycles energy from braking into power to charge electric cars

    BARCELONA, Spain — The Barcelona subway grinds to a halt, the doors slide open and commuters pour out to go about their daily business.

    Little do they know that as they do so, a burst of energy is sent up to street level to help charge an electric car.

    Barcelona has put together a package of clean energy technologies to help public transportation go greener, while also doing its part to combat climate change and aid Europe’s difficult shift to the privately owned electric vehicle market.

    Sixteen stations of Barcelona’s subway system are part of its new MetroCharge project, whereby the energy from the underground trains’ brakes is used to power the trains and the stations themselves, while the remainder is sent snaking through cables to the surface to power plug-in stations for privately owned vehicles.

    Bernardo Espinoza, a 49-year-old engineer, commutes daily by subway. He also owns a hybrid car and had just found out that he had a new place to plug in.

    “I am pleasantly surprised, because I have an electric car and am always looking for where to plug it in,” Espinoza said before catching the subway in a working-class area of southern Barcelona. “And if it is from energy from the metro’s brakes, then even better.”

    Regenerative brakes have been in trains for decades and are also used in some cars. They consist of an electric motor which captures energy used in the braking action that would be lost as heat by conventional brakes. That energy can be immediately used to accelerate the vehicle or, in the case of the Barcelona subway system, sent along cables to supply electricity for the station or for electric car chargers.

    Alvaro Luna, professor of electrical engineering at the Polytechnical University of Catalonia, said that the system is innovative in so far as it allows for recycled energy to be redirected to specific local uses — in this case powering electric cars parked nearby. That, he says, boosts efficiency.

    “Since the recharging stations are installed nearby, the energy, instead of being put back into the general electric network, goes directly to the charging stations, and that allows the provider to potentially offer lower prices,” Luna said. “We can say that the innovation is one of urban planning, of being able to bring together energy uses within a city.”

    Making better use of energy has become a key pillar of reducing rising global temperatures. Last year, countries at U.N. climate talks and the members of the Group of 20 industrialized and emerging-market nations agreed to double energy efficiency by 2030.

    Jordi Picas, head of systems for TMB, Barcelona’s subway, said that the public company estimates that it can recover the 7.3 million euros ($7.6 million) spent on MetroCharge, which includes European Union funding, in four years thanks to reduced energy costs.

    The system, which also includes solar panels, provides all the energy needs of 28 of the 163 subway stations, from the lights to the elevators and ventilation systems, and saves 6% of the total energy spent by the metro, according to Picas. An average of 2.3 million people take the Barcelona metro on any given workday.

    This clever program comes while doubts are emerging about the speed and cost of the EU’s green transition as the 27-member bloc seeks to eliminate combustion engines and remain a world leader in standards for environmental protection.

    Spain, like other Mediterranean countries, is feeling the burn of climate change, experts say, with the frequency of prolonged droughts and extreme weather events like the recent devastating floods in Valencia set to increase over the coming years.

    In 2021, Spain’s government rolled out an ambitious electric car plan backed by the EU’s post-pandemic transition funds. The public incentives have succeeded in encouraging private investment like last week’s announcement by Chinese battery maker CATL and carmaker Stellantis to build a lithium battery factory in Zaragoza. The plan also included help for consumers.

    But Spain hasn’t been immune to the stumbles in the industry across Europe as the EU moves toward tariffs on Chinese EVs to try to help continental carmakers catch up.

    Spain, with its wide expanses for a Western European country, faces the extra challenge of deploying recharging stations. Spain has 37,000 charging points, below the goal of 100,000 the government had set for now in 2021, according to ANFAC, the Spanish Association of Automobile and Truck Manufacturers.

    So while the Barcelona subway concept can help chart a course for urban planners, there is still a lot of work to do.

    Ángel García said that he agreed with the spirt of the initiative while plugging his hybrid taxi into a charging point fed by the Barcelona subway.

    But he also said that the government should do more to help shoppers buy electric cars because “people don’t really go for electric cars here.”

    ___

    Hernán Muñoz contributed to this report.

    Source link

  • Why Fruits And Dry Nuts Are The Ultimate Power Duo You Must Try

    Why Fruits And Dry Nuts Are The Ultimate Power Duo You Must Try

    Fruits are pretty amazing, aren’t they? Whether it’s watermelon in the summer or a banana in winter, they’re a treat that’s always in season. They’re healthy, flavourful, and super convenient. But did you know you can make them even better for your body? Just pair them with dry nuts, and you’ll unlock a whole new level of nutrition. Let’s dive into why this combo is so good for you.

    Also Read:Should You Eat Fruits Before Or After A Meal?

    Latest and Breaking News on NDTV

    Why Fruits and Dry Nuts Make the Perfect Pair

    Nutritionist Leema Mahajan says combining fruits with dry nuts is one of the smartest things you can do for your health.

    1. Keeps You Full Longer

    Feeling snacky between meals? Pair your go-to fruit with some nuts, and you’ll have a balanced, satisfying snack that keeps you fueled and energized.

    2. Bye-Bye Sugar Spikes

    Adding nuts to your fruit prevents sugar spikes, making this combo a dream for anyone watching their blood sugar—especially people with diabetes.

    3. Better Nutrient Absorption

    This power duo helps your body absorb vitamins like A, E, and K more efficiently, giving your overall health a solid boost.

    Latest and Breaking News on NDTV

    Fruit and Dry Nut Combos You Should Try

    Now that you know why this pairing works, here’s how to mix and match for specific benefits:

    1. Pre-Workout Energy

    Need a quick energy boost? Nutritionist Mahajan recommends apples with cinnamon and a dollop of nut butter.

    2. Hormone Health

    Balance those hormones with pomegranate, roasted flaxseeds, and pumpkin seeds.

    3. Mood and Muscles

    For a better mood and stronger muscles, try bananas with Greek yogurt and almonds.

    4. Smooth Digestion

    Struggling with digestion? Go for papaya with hemp hearts or pears with soaked Brazil nuts.

    5. Skin Glow

    For radiant skin, blend kiwi with chia seeds for a smoothie or toss orange and sunflower seeds into a salad.

    Latest and Breaking News on NDTV

    6. Iron Boost

    Boost your iron levels by pairing avocado with figs and aliv seeds.

    7. Protein Dessert

    Craving something sweet? Strawberries with Greek yogurt and chia seeds make a healthy, protein-packed dessert.

    8. Heart Health

    Mix banana with flaxseeds or pair pineapple and watermelon seeds for a heart-friendly fruit chaat.

    9. Inflammation Fighter

    For anti-inflammatory benefits, combine grapes with sunflower seeds or oranges with sesame seeds.

    10. Diabetes-Friendly

    Cherries with almonds or guava with pistachios keep blood sugar in check without compromising on taste.

    What Not To Pair With Fruits

    Not all pairings are a match made in heaven. Ayurvedic health coach Dimple Jangda advises against combining fruits with proteins and carbs. Why? Fruits digest quickly, while proteins and carbs take their time. Mixing the two can slow digestion, causing bloating and acidity. Stick to nuts for the perfect pairing, and you’re good to go!

    Also Read: Eating Fruits Or Drinking Fruit Juice – What Is Better? Here’s What Expert Says
     

    So, what’s your favourite fruit to munch on in winter? Share it with us in the comments below!

    Source link

  • Preece Power Poll: State prep football finalists earned top spots in final power rankings | News, Sports, Jobs

    Preece Power Poll: State prep football finalists earned top spots in final power rankings | News, Sports, Jobs

    1 / 5

    Lone Peak players run onto the field before the 6A championship game against Corner Canyon at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024.

    Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

    2 / 5

    Timpview junior Jaron Pula runs the ball up the field during the 5A semifinal against Roy at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024.

    Brian Wolfer, Special to the Herald

    3 / 5

    Spanish Fork senior Brock Jacobson (left) celebrates scoring the game-winning TD during the 4A semifinal game against Ridgeline at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024.

    Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald

    4 / 5

    Zaeden Selu of Skyridge (4) runs the football against Lone Peak in a 6A semifinal game at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024.

    Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

    5 / 5

    Lehi defenders make a tackle during the 6A semifinal game against Corner Canyon at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024.

    Jared Lloyd, Daily Herald


    Prep football expert Brian Preece ranks all 115 programs that play football in the Beehive State (Utah Valley teams in bold, area teams in italics):

    Rank/School/Record/Previous Rank (Change)/Note

    1. Corner Canyon (6A) 13-1 1 (NC) Chargers repeat as 6A state champions

    2. Lone Peak (6A) 11-3 3 (+1) Knights just fall short in 6A title game

    3. Skyridge (6A) 10-3 2 (-1) Falcons lose to rival Lone Peak in 6A semifinals

    4. Lehi (6A) 9-3 5 (+1) Pioneer season ends in heartbreaking fashion

    5. Morgan (3A) 13-0 6 (+1) Trojans only undefeated team in Utah in 2024

    6. Bountiful (5A) 13-1 8 (+2) Redhawks claim 5A title

    7. Roy (5A) 12-2 9 (+2) Royals two losses were to rival Bountiful

    8. Timpview (5A) 8-3 4 (-4) Thunderbirds fell to Roy in 5A semifinals

    9. Brighton (5A) 11-2 12 (+3) Bengals made 5A semifinals

    10. Orem (5A) 9-3 10 (NC) Tigers dropped by Timpview in 5A quarterfinals

    11. Maple Mountain (5A) 8-3 13 (+2) Golden Eagles pushed Bountiful in 4A playoff game

    12. Crimson Cliffs (4A) 12-2 20 (+8) Mustangs make historic comeback to win 4A title

    13. Spanish Fork (4A) 11-3 15 (+2) Dons lose heartbreaking 4A championship final

    14. Olympus (5A) 7-4 11 (-3) Titans lose rematch to Brighton in 5A quarterfinals

    15. Ridgeline (4A) 12-1 7 (-8) Spanish Fork gave RiverHawks only loss

    16. Richfield (3A) 12-1 19 (+3) 25-game winning streak snapped by Morgan

    17. Green Canyon (4A) 8-3 21 (+4) Wolves gave Crimson Cliffs a scare in 5A quarterfinals

    18. Sky View (4A) 8-5 33 (+15) Bobcats upset Provo in 4A quarterfinals

    19. Provo (4A) 8-3 14 (-5) Bulldogs win Region 8 title but fall at home in playoffs

    20. American Fork (6A) 5-7 18 (-2) Cavemen upset No. 5 seed in 6A tournament

    21. Park City (4A) 10-2 16 (-5) Miners have good year with just two losses

    22. Viewmont (5A) 8-4 32 (+10) Vikings gave Bountiful its only loss in 2024

    23. West (5A) 6-6 18 (-5) Lost a lot of close games in 2024

    24. Farmington (6A) 5-6 22 (-2) The Phoenix rose from the ashes in second half of year

    25. Fremont (6A) 8-4 23 (-2) Season ended by Skyridge in 6A quarterfinals

    26. Davis (6A) 8-4 24 (-2) Darts started better than they finished

    27. Stansbury (4A) 8-4 27 (NC) Stallions won Region 10 title.

    28. Weber (6A) 7-5 35 (+7) Warriors had nice playoff win against Bingham

    29. Northridge (5A) 7-5 31 (+2) Knights gave Maple Mountain a scare in 5A playoffs

    30. Mountain Crest (4A) 7-4 34 (+4) Mustangs had solid season

    31. Desert Hills (4A) 7-4 36 (+5) Thunder have solid but not spectacular year

    32. East (5A) 6-6 28 (-4) Leopard season never got any traction

    33. Bingham (6A) 5-6 25 (-8) 2024 campaign not up to Miner standards

    34. Mountain Ridge (6A) 5-6 26 (-8) Sentinels were hoping for more in 2024

    35. Woods Cross (5A) 7-5 30 (-5) Wildcats eliminated in 5A second round by Olympus

    36. Springville (5A) 6-6 29 (-7) Red Devils took some tough losses in league play

    37. Riverton (6A) 3-8 45 (+8) Silverwolves gave Skyridge a serious scare in playoffs

    38. Syracuse (6A) 5-6 37 (-1) Titans fell to rival Fremont in 6A second round

    39. Beaver (1A) 12-1 42 (+3) Beavers win third consecutive 1A state title

    40. Alta (5A) 5-7 57 (+17) Hawks defeated in 5A second round by 5A champs

    41. Herriman (6A) 3-8 39 (-2) Mustangs better than their record would indicate

    42. Grantsville (3A) 9-3 44 (+1) Cowboys lost in 3A semifinals to Richfield

    43. Salem Hills (4A) 6-5 38 (-5) Skyhawks fell to rival Spanish Fork in 5A second round

    44. Manti (3A) 8-4 64 (+20) Templars played Morgan real tough in 3A semifinals

    45. Westlake (6A) 3-9 50 (+5) Thunder manage to win a 6A playoff game

    46. Uintah (4A) 8-4 43 (-3) Utes have good year and win playoff game

    47. Wasatch (5A) 3-8 52 (+5) Wasps upset West Jordan in 5A playoffs

    48. San Juan (2A) 11-2 56 (+8) Broncos win fourth straight 2A state title

    49. Dixie (4A) 4-7 53 (+4) Flyers upset Pine View, lose to Provo in playoffs

    50. Layton (6A) 4-7 46 (-4) After early success, six straight losses

    51. West Jordan (5A) 6-5 47 (-4) Jaguars won league title but had short playoff run

    52. Pleasant Grove (6A) 1-10 51 (-1) Rough season but Vikings nearly won playoff game

    53. Granger (5A) 6-6 60 (+7) Lancers won some games this year

    54. Juan Diego (3A) 6-6 69 (+15) Soaring Eagles gave Richfield a test in playoffs

    55. Box Elder (5A) 4-7 48 (-7) Lost close one to Granger in 5A first round

    56. Hurricane (4A) 5-7 54 (-2) Tigers show improvement over past few seasons

    57. Cedar Valley (5A) 3-8 55 (-2) Aviators mostly grounded in tough Region 7

    58. Bear River (4A) 4-8 70 (+12) Bears picked up nice playoff win over Timpanogos

    59. Timpanogos (4A) 6-5 40 (-19) Timpanogos struggled in second half of season

    60. Emery (2A) 9-3 62 (+2) Two of their losses were to 2A champs San Juan

    61. Snow Canyon (4A) 4-8 66 (+5) Not a great year but won a playoff game

    62. Bonneville (5A) 3-8 49 (-13) Lakers take a step back in 2024

    63. Highland (5A) 3-7 58 (-5) Early season wins then region struggles

    64. Juab (3A) 6-5 61 (-3) After beating Manti Wasps lost to them the next game

    65. Layton Christian (2A) 6-4 68 (+3) Not allowed to compete in playoffs

    66. Kanab (1A) 9-4 83 (+17) Cowboys finished strong and took second in 1A

    67. North Summit (1A) 11-1 41 (-26) Braves were upset by Kanab in 1A semifinals

    68. Ogden (3A) 7-4 71 (+3) Tigers had solid season

    69. Milford (1A) 8-4 84 (+15) Played Beaver tough twice in 1A gridiron wars

    70. Pine View (4A) 4-6 67 (-3) Panther season ended in loss to archrival Dixie

    71. Cedar City (4A) 4-7 59 (-12) Reds had tough time in league play

    72. Copper Hills (6A) 3-8 65 (-7) Like most years, wins come early, losses come late

    73. Hunter (5A) 4-7 73 (NC) Three of four wins came in league play

    74. Taylorsville (5A) 4-7 75 (+1) Early season successes weren’t sustained

    75. Murray (4A) 6-5 63 (-12) Spartans derailed by Snow Canyon in 4A playoffs

    76. Canyon View (3A) 6-6 72 (-4) Falcons win some, lose some

    77. Tooele (4A) 4-7 74 (-3) Buffs season ends at Salem Hills

    78. North Sanpete (3A) 3-8 80 (+2) Generally a rough season for the Hawks

    79. Delta (2A) 5-7 81 (+2) Rabbits scurried to 2A semifinal appearance

    80. Jordan (4A) 3-8 78 (-2) Beetdiggers trying to fight back to respectability

    81. Mountain View (4A) 3-8 77 (-4) Rough second half of season for Bruins

    82. West Field (4A) 1-10 78 (-4) Things should get better in 2025 for the Longhorns

    83. Logan (4A) 2-8 79 (-4) Grizzlies didn’t make RPI cut for 4A playoffs

    84. Payson (4A) 1-9 82 (-2) Lions missed playoffs

    85. Clearfield (5A) 1-9 86 (+1) Another tough year for Falcon program

    86. Rich (8-man) 10-3 88 (+2) 8-man state champs can win 11-man games too

    87. Duchesne (1A) 5-6 87 (NC) 2024 season not as good as others in recent years

    88. Skyline (5A) 1-10 89 (+1) 10 losses most in program history

    89. Summit Academy (2A) 6-6 90 (+1) Bears win playoff game

    90. South Sevier (2A) 5-6 85 (-5) Rams lost to Summit Academy in playoffs

    91. South Summit (2A) 4-7 92 (+1) Wildcats had a better second half of season

    92. Millard (1A) 4-7 91 (-1) 1A division was tough this year and Eagles suffered

    93. Carbon (3A) 3-8 94 (+1) Program actually making incremental improvements

    94. North Sevier (1A) 5-7 97 (+3) Wolves put together some wins in 2024 season

    95. Judge Memorial (2A) 4-8 98 (+3) Not exactly where proud program wants to be

    96. ALA (2A) 5-6 99 (+3) Eagles win 2A playoff game

    97. Cyprus (5A) 1-10 93 (-4) Pirates miss playoffs for second straight season

    98. Enterprise (1A) 2-9 95 (-3) Wolves took a step back after great season in 2023

    99. Monticello (8-man) 8-4 101 (+2) Buckaroos win silver trophy in 8-man tournament

    100. Union (3A) 2-9 101 (+1) Cougar program usually better than 2024 record

    101. Hillcrest (4A) 1-9 102 (+1) Huskies did beat Cottonwood, otherwise futile

    102. Kearns (5A) 0-10 96 (-6) A year to forget for winless Cougars

    103. Cottonwood (4A) 0-10 103 (NC) Missing playoffs probably a good thing for the Colts

    104. Parowan (1A) 2-9 104 (NC) Rams had a tough year

    105. Grand (2A) 1-10 105 (NC) Rough season for the Red Devils

    106. Altamont (8-man) 6-5 106 (NC) Longhorn program thriving in 8-man football

    107. Water Canyon (8-man) 6-6 107 (NC) Wildcats make semifinals

    108. St. Joseph (8-man) 5-5 108 (NC) Jayhawk program getting better and better

    109. Ben Lomond (3A) 0-10 109 (NC) Rough times continue for Scot faithful

    110. Whitehorse (8-man) 4-5 110 (NC) Raiders put together some wins this season

    111. Gunnison (1A) 0-9 111 (NC) Bulldogs had winless campaign in 2024

    112. Providence Hall (2A) 0-11 112 (NC) Only team in Utah to lose 11 games

    113. UMA-Hillfield (8-man) 2-5 113 (NC) Bettered UMA-Camp Williams in 2024

    114. UMA-CW (8-man) 2-7 114 (NC) Beat Monument Valley in back-to-back games

    115. Monument Valley (8-man) 0-7 115 (NC) Cougars went winless in 2024 campaign

    (NC) = No Change since the last rankings done prior to the playoffs starting

    Utah County Rankings: 1. Lone Peak #2 2. Skyridge #2 3. Lehi #4 4. Timpview #8 5. Orem #10 6. Maple Mountain #11 7. Spanish Fork #13 8. Provo #19 9. American Fork #20 10. Springville #36 11. Salem Hills #43 12. Westlake #45 13. Pleasant Grove #52 14. Cedar Valley #57 15. Timpanogos #59 16. Mountain View #81 17. Payson #84 18. ALA #96 19. UMA-Camp Williams #114.

    Notes: For the first time since 2016, no team from Utah County won a state title but it was still a great year for Utah County teams as they went 62-44 against teams outside the valley. Lone Peak and Spanish Fork finished just short of their ultimate goal by three and two points respectively. So close. But Utah County was definitely the dominant county in the state again with a total of five programs in the top 10 and a total of nine in the top 20 in the Preece Power Poll (PPP). 6A Region 3 was particularly dominant, producing three of the four 6A semifinalists and five of the eight teams in the quarterfinals.

    Corner Canyon is definitely deserving of the top spot again in the PPP. And the Chargers did face some major adversity losing its starting quarterback Helaman Casuga and their star running back Bryton Brady during the season. But for Corner Canyon it was “next man up”, or in reality in the running back department, “next men up” as the Chargers showed off their incredible depth avenging their only loss on the season by downing Lone Peak 30-27 in a well-played 6A final. Corner head coach Eric Kjar won his fifth state title at the school, sixth overall, and the victory over Lone Peak was his 100th in his career with the Charger program.

    6A provided the top four teams in the PPP but it could be argued from top to bottom that perhaps the 5A classification was deeper. The 5A classification has seven teams in the top 20 while 6A has five. And Region 1 champion Farmington didn’t even have a winning record this year.

    4A was the chaotic classification. Crimson Cliffs will carry a 12-game winning streak into next year but the Mustangs were actually beaten up by eventual 3A champion Morgan, 41-13. Spanish Fork, the other finalist, lost to Provo 46-42 and also to 5A Maple Mountain. But the Dons certainly had the Mustangs on the ropes. Provo’s only losses were to 5A teams Brighton and Olympus and then being upset by Sky View in the quarterfinals. Green Canyon gave Crimson Cliffs all it wanted down in St. George, falling 28-25. And why the Wolves are ranked ahead of Sky View who made the semifinals is they beat the Bobcats head-to-head and played the eventual champs much closer. Park City lost just twice this year, once to Stansbury in region play and then a close one to Spanish Fork in the quarterfinals, 30-24.

    As one can see it was a razor’s thin edge from winning the title or not even making it to the semifinals, so it wasn’t surprising the epic 4A championship game between Crimson Cliffs and Spanish Fork needed extra football for the Mustangs to eventually prevail 57-55 in triple overtime. Crimson Cliffs also pulled off the biggest comeback in state history when it overcame a 21-point fourth quarter deficit to force overtime. The previous was a 20 point deficit overcome by San Juan in 1998 when it came back to defeat South Summit for the 2A title.

    If the No. 5 PPP ranking for Morgan seems shocking, well, it shouldn’t be. The 3A Trojans beat two of the 4A semifinalists (Crimson Cliffs and Sky View), and beat them up badly. Morgan beat the 2-time 4A champs 41-13 and then shutout Sky View 34-0 in successive weeks. The Trojans were the only undefeated team in the state this year and they snapped Richfield’s 25-game winning streak by beating the Wildcats 13-2 in the championship final.

    2A was a pretty weak classification this year. Since Layton Christian couldn’t compete in the state tournament only San Juan and Emery actually had winning records, and the Broncos easily took state. San Juan beat everyone so handily, including Emery, that the running clock came into play.

    In 1A, Beaver didn’t get to avenge its only loss to North Summit as the Braves were beat by Kanab in the semifinals. But the Beavers downed Kanab to win the title. 1A was much better than 2A from top to bottom and provided its fans a great tournament.

    It looks like 8-man football will expand to 12 programs next year as Panguitch will start up a program and Milford, due to low numbers, will go from 1A to 8-man level. The Utah School for the Deaf and Blind looks to have a program again in 2025. Rich again won the state tournament and put together a 10-win season with most of their wins coming in traditional 11-player football.

    It should be noted that In five of the seven classifications, schools repeated as state champions.

    RPI and PPP much closer aligned in 2024: The RPI seeds for the playoffs were generally pretty tight. Though the formula for RPI seeding hasn’t changed, perhaps coaches have figured out how to best augment their RPI ranking but also prepare for state competition when scheduling.

    In 6A, both the RPI and PPP predicted the top four teams. The only discrepancy was the PPP saw American Fork as the fifth best team in 6A and the Cavemen were seeded No. 12. American Fork then defeated No. 5 seed Farmington 21-17 in a second round game.

    In the 5A, the PPP saw Timpview as the top team but the RPI seeded the Thunderbirds No. 4, which proved to be a good seeding as No. 1 Roy knocked off the defending champs 29-19 in the semifinals. The PPP did rank Bountiful ahead of Roy and the No. 2 seed Redhawks defeated Roy for the state title 42-25, the very identical score they beat them in the regular season. The PPP would have had Roy and Bountiful meeting in one semifinal and Timpview vs. Brighton in the other based on its poll going into the tournaments, so the RPI got this one right.

    In 4A, the PPP and RPI had similar views on the seeds and were a tad off. Both saw Ridgeline as the team to beat but the RiverHawks lost to Spanish Fork in the semifinals. The PPP had the Dons as the third best 4A team going into the tournament behind Ridgeline who they beat and Provo, the latter ended up getting upset by Sky View. Crimson Cliffs, the No. 3 seed, but No. 5 in the PPP, ended up taking state going through Sky View in the semifinals.

    In 3A and 2A, the PPP were pretty much exactly the same as both saw Morgan and San Juan taking state respectively which they did.

    In 1A, based on North Summit’s win earlier in the season over Beaver, the PPP put the Braves as the team to beat, while the RPI had Beaver as the top seed. The Beavers did take state but over No. 3 seed Kanab, who upset North Summit.

    In the 8-man tournament both the RPI and PPP predicted/seeded the same outcome, Rich defeating Monticello for the championship and Altamont and Water Canyon as semifinalists.

    Your weird factoid: Usually only the state champions will carry winning streaks into the next season. But so will Layton Christian and Cyprus. Layton Christian was not allowed to compete in the 2A playoffs because of their use of foreign exchange players but went 6-4 and defeated Summit Academy in its last game. Cyprus, who went 1-9, won its last game of the season against Taylorsville but didn’t qualify for the 5A playoffs due to its poor RPI rating.

    Biggest Climbers in the Final Poll: The last PPP was before the playoffs started and Manti made the biggest move surging up 20 positions. The Templars made the 3A semifinals and really gave Morgan a good test before losing by 14 points. Kanab, with its big upset of North Summit, moved up 17 spots while its 1A rival Milford improved 15 positions. Alta also sprung forward 17 spots. Juan Diego also jumped up 15 positions, as did Sky View thanks to its upset win over Provo in the 4A quarterfinals. Westlake led Utah County, improving five spots.

    Biggest Decliners in the Final Poll: It was up and down for North Summit, who made the biggest gain from the mid-season poll to the playoff poll, but slipped the most from playoff poll to the final poll losing 26 positions. Timpanogos had a rough end of its season including being upset in the first round of the 4A playoffs and slipped 19 spots to lead the valley. Also seeing significant slippage was Bonneville (13 spots), Cedar City (12 spots) and Murray (12 spots).

    Source link

  • Unlock The Power Of Moringa: 5 Fun Ways To Add It To Your Weight Loss Diet

    Unlock The Power Of Moringa: 5 Fun Ways To Add It To Your Weight Loss Diet

    The quest for weight-loss foods is a never-ending one. Whether it’s a particular spice, seed, plant, fruit, or vegetable, we wish to try them all. After all, why miss out on the opportunity to try something that might bring you closer to your weight loss goal? Among the many weight-loss foods to try, moringa isn’t given much importance. Many dislike the taste of moringa and feel that it cannot be experimented with. But what if we told you that moringa can actually taste delicious? You’ll be surprised to know that moringa can be incorporated into your weight loss diet in a myriad of ways. From delicious moringa paratha and moringa soup to moringa chips – let’s explore some exciting recipes that’ll turn your dislike into love for moringa.

    What Makes Moringa Great For Weight Loss?

    Moringa has some remarkable benefits for weight loss. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), moringa is a fibre powerhouse, packing up to 12% of dietary fibre. When on a weight loss diet, fibre is a must as it helps keep you fuller for longer. This also makes it great for digestion, banishing issues like bloating and constipation. Plus, moringa has metabolism-boosting powers and can aid in faster calorie burning.
    Also Read: Moringa Khakhra: This Delightful Snack Recipe Will Take Your Taste Buds On A Nutrition-Filled Ride

    Moringa Recipes | Here Are 5 Ways To Incorporate Moringa Into Your Weight Loss Diet:

    1. Moringa Soup

    Tired of having the same old soups? This moringa soup is here to change your mind. To make it, drumsticks are pressure-cooked with tomatoes, haldi, ginger, and water. It offers a tangy flavour, and the crackling ghee tadka on top makes it taste even better. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and enjoy! Click here for the complete recipe for Moringa Soup.

    Boost Your Immunity with Chef Aruna Vijays Drumstick (Moringa) Soup Recipe

    Photo Credit: Chef Aruna Vijay 

    2. Moringa Podi Idli

    Podi masala is typically prepared with red chillies, urad dal, and chana dal. However, this one is prepared with moringa leaves. Imagine sinking your teeth into soft and fluffy idlis coated with delicious moringa podi – it’s a treat worth trying! These idlis taste best when paired with coconut chutney. Find the complete recipe for Moringa Podi Idli here.

    3. Moringa Paratha

    Do you feel instant regret after relishing a paratha? Give this moringa paratha a try! Made with moringa leaves and spices like haldi, mango powder, chaat masala, it is sure to win your heart at the first bite. Skip topping it with butter so you can enjoy it guilt-free and incorporate it into your weight loss diet. Click here for the complete recipe for Moringa Paratha.

    Add image caption here

    Photo Credit: iStock

    4. Moringa Tea

    You can also sip on moringa tea during your weight loss journey. What makes it so great? Moringa leaves are known to be rich in essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Studies suggest that sipping on this tea regularly can help you achieve your weight loss goals. It is easy to make and super comforting – why not try making it yourself? Find the complete recipe for Moringa Tea here.

    Add image caption here

    Photo Credit: iStock

    5. Moringa Chips

    Looking for a new tea-time snack? Look no further than these moringa chips! To make them, all you have to do is scrape the skin off the drumsticks, coat them with besan and spices, and air-fry until crispy. They are so addictive that you’ll find it hard to stop at just one. The best part? They’ll be ready in just under 15 minutes. Click here for the complete recipe for Moringa Chips.
    Also Read: Quitting Roti And Rice For Weight Loss? Is It Worth It? The Answer May Surprise You

    Add image caption here

    Photo Credit: iStock

    Weight loss doesn’t always have to be dull and boring. Make it fun by incorporating these moringa recipes into your daily diet. For more weight loss recipes, click here.

    Source link

  • Nvidia rivals focus on building a different kind of chip to power AI products

    Nvidia rivals focus on building a different kind of chip to power AI products

    SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Building the current crop of artificial intelligence chatbots has relied on specialized computer chips pioneered by Nvidia, which cornered the market and made itself the poster child of the AI boom.

    But the same qualities that make those graphics processor chips, or GPUs, so effective at creating powerful AI systems from scratch make them less efficient at putting AI products to work.

    That’s opened up the AI chip industry to rivals who think they can compete with Nvidia in selling so-called AI inference chips that are more attuned to the day-to-day running of AI tools and designed to reduce some of the huge computing costs of generative AI.

    “These companies are seeing opportunity for that kind of specialized hardware,” said Jacob Feldgoise, an analyst at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology. “The broader the adoption of these models, the more compute will be needed for inference and the more demand there will be for inference chips.”

    It takes a lot of computing power to make an AI chatbot. It starts with a process called training or pretraining — the “P” in ChatGPT — that involves AI systems “learning” from the patterns of huge troves of data. GPUs are good at doing that work because they can run many calculations at a time on a network of devices in communication with each other.

    However, once trained, a generative AI tool still needs chips to do the work — such as when you ask a chatbot to compose a document or generate an image. That’s where inferencing comes in. A trained AI model must take in new information and make inferences from what it already knows to produce a response.

    GPUs can do that work, too. But it can be a bit like taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

    “With training, you’re doing a lot heavier, a lot more work. With inferencing, that’s a lighter weight,” said Forrester analyst Alvin Nguyen.

    That’s led startups like Cerebras, Groq and d-Matrix as well as Nvidia’s traditional chipmaking rivals — such as AMD and Intel — to pitch more inference-friendly chips as Nvidia focuses on meeting the huge demand from bigger tech companies for its higher-end hardware.

    D-Matrix, which is launching its first product this week, was founded in 2019 — a bit late to the AI chip game, as CEO Sid Sheth explained during a recent interview at the company’s headquarters in Santa Clara, California, the same Silicon Valley city that’s also home to AMD, Intel and Nvidia.

    “There were already 100-plus companies. So when we went out there, the first reaction we got was ‘you’re too late,’” he said. The pandemic’s arrival six months later didn’t help as the tech industry pivoted to a focus on software to serve remote work.

    Now, however, Sheth sees a big market in AI inferencing, comparing that later stage of machine learning to how human beings apply the knowledge they acquired in school.

    “We spent the first 20 years of our lives going to school, educating ourselves. That’s training, right?” he said. “And then the next 40 years of your life, you kind of go out there and apply that knowledge — and then you get rewarded for being efficient.”

    The product, called Corsair, consists of two chips with four chiplets each, made by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company — the same manufacturer of most of Nvidia’s chips — and packaged together in a way that helps to keep them cool.

    The chips are designed in Santa Clara, assembled in Taiwan and then tested back in California. Testing is a long process and can take six months — if anything is off, it can be sent back to Taiwan.

    D-Matrix workers were doing final testing on the chips during a recent visit to a laboratory with blue metal desks covered with cables, motherboards and computers, with a cold server room next door.

    While tech giants like Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft have been gobbling up the supply of costly GPUs in a race to outdo each other in AI development, makers of AI inference chips are aiming for a broader clientele.

    Forrester’s Nguyen said that could include Fortune 500 companies that want to make use of new generative AI technology without having to build their own AI infrastructure. Sheth said he expects a strong interest in AI video generation.

    “The dream of AI for a lot of these enterprise companies is you can use your own enterprise data,” Nguyen said. “Buying (AI inference chips) should be cheaper than buying the ultimate GPUs from Nvidia and others. But I think there’s going to be a learning curve in terms of integrating it.”

    Feldgoise said that, unlike training-focused chips, AI inference work prioritizes how fast a person will get a chatbot’s response.

    He said another whole set of companies is developing AI hardware for inference that can run not just in big data centers but locally on desktop computers, laptops and phones.

    Better-designed chips could bring down the huge costs of running AI to businesses. That could also affect the environmental and energy costs for everyone else.

    Sheth says the big concern right now is, “are we going to burn the planet down in our quest for what people call AGI — human-like intelligence?”

    It’s still fuzzy when AI might get to the point of artificial general intelligence — predictions range from a few years to decades. But, Sheth notes, only a handful of tech giants are on that quest.

    “But then what about the rest?” he said. “They cannot be put on the same path.”

    The other set of companies don’t want to use very large AI models — it’s too costly and uses too much energy.

    “I don’t know if people truly, really appreciate that inference is actually really going to be a much bigger opportunity than training. I don’t think they appreciate that. It’s still training that is really grabbing all the headlines,” Sheth said.

    Source link

  • The final DII football Power 10 rankings before the postseason begins

    The final DII football Power 10 rankings before the postseason begins

    The DII football regular season is officially in the books. Conference champions were crowned and Ferris State kept winning, leading to just some slight changes in the DII football Power 10 rankings as the selection show nears (you can watch Sunday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. ET on NCAA.com).

    If you have been paying attention to my bracket projections, you’ll notice with CSU Pueblo leaping up yet another spot this week, all four projected No. 1 seeds are in the top 5 of the Power 10. Keep in mind, while that sounds like a no-brainer, it is not always the case with how deep Super Region Two and Three tend to run. In a season like few others, where upsets ran rampant and we had four different No. 1 teams in a span of four weeks, we are truly seeing some dominating football teams this year.

    DII FOOTBALL NEWS

    🏆 Potential Harlon Hill winners
    🏟 Former DII stars on NFL rosters
    🏈 Most championships in DII football history

    Before we get to the new-look Power 10, remember, these are my rankings. There is no committee or voting body coming up with these teams, just my spreadsheets, notes from coaches and a lot of deep diving into rosters and stats. I try to blend selection committee metrics — like strength of schedule, in-region record and PI — along with what I am seeing for an overall look at the landscape of DII football’s top teams. I try to explain why I make my choices in the article below. This will also be the final Power 10 rankings until after the championship game.

    The DII football Power 10: Week 12

    No. 1 Ferris State | Previous: 1. The Bulldogs took down Davenport and improved to 4-1 against teams with a plus-.500 record. They also had a win against Ashland earlier in the season, which may have played its way into the tournament this past Saturday. The Bulldogs have a top-10 scoring defense in DII and despite a lopsided loss on opening day to Pittsburg State, have yet to lose since and are rolling into what should be the first-round bye in Super Region Three.

    No. 2 Grand Valley State | Previous: 2. I know I’m higher on the Lakers than the other polls, but the only blemish on their record is a loss to the No. 1 team in DII football. The Lakers went 5-1 against teams with a winning record and similarly to their GLIAC foe, have a top-10 scoring defense. If my bracket projections are correct, the Lakers will have a host seed and home-field advantage for the first couple of rounds. Lubbers Stadium in November is not a fun place for opponents to play.

    No. 3 Valdosta State | Previous: 3. The Blazers have played one close football game this entire season, and that was an eight-point victory back on Oct. 12. The Blazers have outscored its opponents 431 to 91 behind a top-5 scoring offense (fifth at 44.8 points per game) and top-5 scoring defense (No. 5 at 9.1 points per game allowed). Defeating Delta State and West Florida by a combined 50 points to close the season was the exclamation point to yet another undefeated regular-season run. 

    No. 4 Kutztown | Previous: 4. The Golden Bears ran the table in 2024 and their only loss since Sept. 16, 2023, is in the national semifinals. My projections have Kutztown in the No. 1 spot for Super Region One and we should all hope we get a Charleston (WV) vs. Kutztown matchup down the road. That would pit the Golden Bears’ No. 2 defense in DII against one of the most explosive offenses in the division. Kutztown goes as far as its defense takes it.

    No. 5 CSU Pueblo | Previous: 6. The ThunderWolves won their first RMAC title since 2014. Do you know what happened then? If you guessed the ThunderWolves won the national championship, give yourself a pat on the back. This team is cruising, and even when it faced adversity this past weekend — trailing 21-7 at the half — they showed they had no fear and came storming back with a 24-0 third quarter. This team has plenty of signature wins, the No. 1 scoring offense in the RMAC at 41.7 points, Howard Russell V and Reggie Retzlaff give them two superstars on offense and run an aggressive defense that can turn the tide of a game on a single drive. 

    No. 6 Harding | Previous: 5. The Bisons ran for 433 yards and seven touchdowns in yet another lopsided victory. They have the top scoring offense and defense in DII football and have run for an absurd 4,174 yards and 53 touchdowns. Their lone loss in the last two seasons was a tightly contested battle a few weeks back against Ouachita Baptist. Super Region Three is a gauntlet, and if my projections are right, Harding will be on the road, so being able to control the tempo and clock with that flexbone offense and stingy defense could get the Bisons back to the semifinals. 

    No. 7 Charleston (WV) | Previous: 7. While this offense is technically the fifth-best in DII statistically, I think it may very well be the most explosive in DII. Chavon Wright tied the single-season rushing touchdown record with 37 behind a 2,000-yard campaign, but in the last two weeks, quarterback Ean Hamric has been dynamite, throwing for 434 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions, while rushing for two additional scores. If this defense can slow down Kutztown — which the two should very likely meet — they are heading to the semifinals.

    No. 8 Central Oklahoma | Previous: 9. So, here’s where it gets dicey. The Bronchos lost to Pittsburg State, so in the regional rankings, that gives the Gorillas the edge. However, in the Power 10 rankings, the MIAA champs — the first time the Bronchos have won the MIAA, mind you — have the edge. They defeated an Emporia State team that was in the playoff hunt to close the season and, if Charleston (WV) isn’t the best offense in the land, then the Bronchos are. In a tricky Super Region Three, where six of the top seven are right here inside the Power 10, it will be interesting to see how that offense handles some of the best defenses in all DII football.

    No.  9 Pittsburg State | Previous: 8. How about the day for Luke Niggemann who had a pair of rushing touchdowns and scored on a blocked punt in the Gorillas 23-7 win over Northwest Missouri State? This team has a lot of balance on both sides of the ball, so don’t be fooled if no one stands out statistically because everyone carries the load. If my projections are correct and Pittsburg State has earned another host seed at No. 3, that is a huge advantage for the Gorillas who has won each of its postseason home games in the past two seasons. 

    No. 10 Ouachita Baptist| Previous: First five out. The Tigers closed the season in the Battle of the Ravine with a much-needed win over Henderson State, eliminating the Reddies’ slim hopes of a postseason berth. This spot was close between the Tigers and Western Colorado, but the Tigers are undefeated against teams with a winning record, have a higher strength of schedule, and a higher KPI, so this is a spot where I leaned on the metrics. My projections have the Tigers with a host seed, but we shall see how that plays out. 

    First five (ish) out (in alphabetical order):

    • Augustana (SD): The Vikings lost to Bemidji State, but the Beavers are now a tournament team. It hurts, but not enough to take the Vikings out of the equation.
    • UIndy: The Greyhounds are 10-1 and make it seven out of seven for my projected Super Region Three teams in the Power 10 conversation. Finishing the season by scoring at least 52 points in each of their last three games helps. 
    • Slippery Rock: The Rock rolled Bloomsburg in their finale and are heading to the playoffs yet again. Excluding the PSAC championship game, the Rock has not had more than one loss in the regular season since 2017.
    • Western Colorado: The Mountaineers closed the season against Colorado School of Mines, CSU Pueblo, Chadron State and Colorado Mesa — three of which are in the Super Region Four rankings — and went 3-1, proving this team is the real deal.
    • Wingate: The Bulldogs avenged their lone loss of the season, defeating Carson-Newman in the SAC championship game and staying in contention for the No. 1 seed in Super Region Two. This defense is insane and allowed just 84 total yards on Saturday. 

    Just missed: Angelo State, Cal (PA), Central Missouri, Minnesota State, West Alabama.

    Source link

  • Research reveals China has built prototype nuclear reactor to power aircraft carrier

    Research reveals China has built prototype nuclear reactor to power aircraft carrier

    Bangkok — China has built a land-based prototype nuclear reactor for a large surface warship, in the clearest sign yet Beijing is advancing toward producing the country’s first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, according to a new analysis of satellite imagery and Chinese government documents provided to The Associated Press.

    There have long been rumors that China is planning to build a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, but the research by the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in California is the first to confirm it is working on a nuclear-powered propulsion system for a carrier-sized surface warship.

    China’s navy is already the world’s largest numerically, and it has been rapidly modernizing. Adding nuclear-powered carriers to its fleet would be a major step in realizing its ambitions for a true “blue-water” force capable of operating around the globe in a growing challenge to the United States.

    Nuclear carriers take longer to build than conventional carriers, but once in operation they are able to stay at sea for much longer because they do not need to refuel, and there is more room on board for fuel and weapons for aircraft, thus extending their capabilities. They are also able to produce more power to run advanced systems.

    Right now, only the United States and France have nuclear-powered carriers. The U.S. has 11 in total, which allows it to keep multiple strike groups deployed around the world at all times, including in the Indo-Pacific.

    But the Pentagon is growingly increasingly concerned about China’s rapid modernization of its fleet, including the design and construction of new carriers.

    China currently has three carriers, including the new Type 003 Fujian, which was the first both designed and built by China. It has said work is already underway on a fourth, but it has not announced whether that will be nuclear or conventionally powered.

    The modernization aligns with China’s “growing emphasis on the maritime domain and increasing demands” for its navy “to operate at greater distances from mainland China,” the Defense Department said in its most recent report to Congress on China’s military.

    Middlebury researchers were initially investigating a mountain site outside the city of Leshan in the southwest Chinese province of Sichuan over suspicions that China was building a reactor to produce plutonium or tritium for weapons. Instead they said they determined that China was building a prototype reactor for a large warship.

    The conclusion was based upon a wide variety of sources, including satellite images, project tenders, personnel files, and environmental impact studies.

    The reactor is housed in a new facility built at the site known as Base 909, which is under the control of the Nuclear Power Institute of China.

    Documents indicating that China’s 701 Institute, which is responsible for aircraft carrier development, procured reactor equipment “intended for installation on a large surface warship.” as well as the project’s “national defense designation” helped lead to the conclusion the sizeable reactor is a prototype for a next-generation aircraft carrier.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping has tasked defense officials with building a “first-class” navy and becoming a maritime power as part of his blueprint for the country’s great rejuvenation.

    The country’s most recent white paper on national defense, dated 2019, said the Chinese navy was adjusting to strategic requirements by “speeding up the transition of its tasks from defense on the near seas to protection missions on the far seas.”

    Sea trials hadn’t even started for the new Fujian aircraft carrier in March when Yuan Huazhi, political commissar for China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy, confirmed the construction of a fourth carrier. Asked if it would be nuclear-powered, he said at the time that would “soon be announced,” but so far it has not been.

    Neither China’s Defense Ministry nor Foreign Affairs Ministry responded to requests for comment.

    Even if the carrier that has been started will likely be another conventionally-powered Type 003 ship, experts say Chinese shipyards have the capability to work on more than one carrier at a time, and that they could produce a new nuclear-powered vessel concurrently.

    ___

    Tang reported from Washington D.C.

    Source link

  • Sky Sports Share Update on Arsenal ‘Power Struggle’ After Edu Exit

    Sky Sports Share Update on Arsenal ‘Power Struggle’ After Edu Exit

    Reports of a power struggle at Arsenal following sporting director Edu’s departure are entirely untrue, Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth has reported.




    The former midfielder, who was part of the Arsenal side that last won the Premier League in 2003/04, announced his departure on Monday, citing his desire to ‘pursue a different challenge’ after spearheading the Gunners’ revival in recent years.

    The Brazilian has been responsible for securing key signings such as Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice in recent seasons, as well as Arsenal’s strong performance in recruitment. He is now set to join Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis and his network of clubs.

    Initially, reports claimed that Edu’s shock departure was a sign of a power struggle within the Emirates, with journalist Miguel Delaney reporting on the matter:

    “There have been a few hints about, not necessarily a power struggle at Arsenal, but a reshuffle in the dynamics and people are speculating about whether that has influenced that decision.

    “I think part of it is Edu wanting more power somewhere and the Marinakis group are willing to offer it to him.”


    However, Sheth has now dismissed these rumours, stating it was entirely Edu’s decision to move after spending five years with the Gunners since rejoining in July 2019:

    “Yes, it is a blow for Arsenal, we understand that they’re disappointed at the news. But I’m told that talk of any kind of internal power struggle is totally untrue. This is entirely Edu’s decision to move.”

    Now being lined up to take a senior post within Marinakis’ group, potentially in a chief executive position, Edu has reportedly been offered a package worth considerably more than his current terms at Arsenal and is believed to view the role as the next step in his career progression.

    The 46-year-old could now lead Marinakis’ group recruitment efforts to support the likes of Forest, Greek club Olympiacos, and Portuguese side Rio Ave.


    According to GMS journalist Ben Jacobs, sources close to both Marinakis and Nottingham Forest have yet to provide a clear indication of when Edu might start, as the scope of the role is still being finalised.

    After a disappointing 1-0 loss to Newcastle United at the weekend, the Gunners will be back in action on Wednesday as they take on reigning Italian champions Inter in a Champions League clash.

    Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt. Correct as of 0 5 -1 1 -24.

    Source link

  • National monuments of Singapore: St James Power Station, Lifestyle News

    National monuments of Singapore: St James Power Station, Lifestyle News

    What is a National Monument? Who gazettes them? How many national monuments are there in Singapore? To date, the Preservation of Sites and Monuments, a division of National Heritage Board, has identified and gazetted 75 buildings, structures and sites of national significance as an integral part of Singapore’s built heritage.

    In this edition, we shine a light on what used to be Singapore’s first coal-powered electricity plant, St James Power Station.

    Location

    St James Power Station was the 60th building to be gazetted as a National Monument, and is located near other National Monuments such as the Church of St Teresa, and Fort Siloso. The MRT station nearest to it is Harbourfront.

    Significant dates

    Date built:

    • Nov 7, 1927: St James Power Station was officially opened

    Milestones

    • 2 July 1960: The power station was reopened by then-Finance Minister Goh Keng Swee after improvement works

    • 1976: St James Power Station was shut down

    • 1980s: It was repurposed as a warehouse

    • 2006-2018: It was revamped into a sprawling entertainment and nightlife complex

    • 2022: Dyson global headquarters moved in

    • 2022: A heritage trail and gallery were added to the compound

    Date gazetted: Nov 11, 2009

    History

    At the start of the 20th century, the only sources of electricity in Singapore were from the Singapore Tramway Company’s Power Station and the Singapore Harbour Board.

    As electricity demand increased, these sources proved insufficient. To address this, the British Administration proposed the construction of a new coal-fired power station to supply electricity for both industrial and residential needs and to accommodate future growth.

    The site at Cape Saint James — a headland (a narrow piece of land that projects from a coastline into the sea) in what used to be Telok Blangah Bay — was chosen for the power station. This area had once belonged to the Temenggong, the leader with whom Sir Stamford Raffles had negotiated to establish the British trading post in Singapore. The location was ideal because access to seawater was necessary for the station’s cooling system.

    Before construction could begin, the area, mostly tidal swampland, needed to be reclaimed and levelled. Work began in 1924, and the first unit of the power station was commissioned on Sept 30, 1926.

    The entire system became operational by June 1, 1927. To anticipate the rising demand for electricity, an additional generating unit was approved, and St James Power Station was officially opened by Governor Sir Hugh Charles Clifford on Nov 7, 1927.

    At full capacity, the station generated 22,000 kilowatts of electricity (enough to power 275,000 ceiling fans for an hour), significantly more than earlier facilities, which had only produced 3,200 kilowatts.

    The completed power station initially included a boiler house, turbine room, switchgear, pumps, and coal storage. Its location was advantageous as it was close to the sea for coal deliveries and also near the Federated Malay States Railway, enabling coal transportation by train. However, the station faced operational problems in its early years, leading to frequent power outages and blackouts.

    By the mid-1950s, the plant was considered inefficient and underwent upgrading works, reopening on July 2, 1960 with new equipment that increased its power output by 18,000 kilowatts. The reopening was officiated by then-Finance Minister of Singapore, Goh Keng Swee.

    Over the years, newer stations, such as the Pasir Panjang and Jurong Power Stations, were built to meet rising electricity demands, and by the 1970s, Saint James Power Station was gradually phased out, with the final gas turbines being decommissioned in 1976.

    Currently, St James Power Station houses the global headquarters of Dyson. There is also a heritage gallery located inside its west chimney, and an outdoor heritage trail that starts from the overhead bridge linking Vivocity and the power station.

    Milestones

    It became a warehouse

    In the 1980s, the increasing volume of shipping container traffic at the nearby port on Pulau Brani pushed the capacity of the staff and resources to their limits, creating significant strain on the operations of a globally focused port.

    To address this challenge, the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) purchased St James Power Station from PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, and transformed it into a high-bay semi-automated warehouse.

    Entering its ‘sprawling entertainment and nightlife complex’ era

    From 2006 to 2018, St James Power Station was the place to be for a lit night out. Local entrepreneur and nightlife veteran, Dennis Foo, turned it into a vibrant hub for entertainment and nightlife, offering a platform for musicians and artists from around the world. 

    The place saw the likes of K-pop sensation Jay Park, American singer Richard Marx, and Mandopop idol Aaron Yan. Singapore’s very own Stefanie Sun and JJ Lin also graced its stage, adding to the venue’s rich musical legacy.

    Housing the global headquarters of Dyson

    ICYDK, Dyson’s global headquarters has been located at St James Power Station since 2022. Inside its office, there are state-of-the-art research laboratories, specialising in fancy-schmancy tech such as robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and more.

    Featuring a heritage gallery…

    Pre-book your visit to the heritage gallery, officially opened in April 2022, at St James Power Station. Here, you can learn about the history and key events of this storied place.

    Fun fact: Look up! The heritage gallery is housed within the power station’s west chimney. Rising to a height of 32m, the chimney was one of two chimneys added in the late 1950s, when the power station switched from steam to gas turbines to meet the growing demand for electricity during the post-war era.

    …and heritage trail

    Littered around the outside area of St James Power Station are several markers of its heritage trail. Visit each site to learn more about the various significant checkpoints of this historied place.

    Design and architecture

    The building was designed by Municipal Architect Alexander Gordon, based on recommendations from London-based consulting engineers Preece, Cardew & Rider. It features a distinctive red-brick façade and rows of large windows fitted with tinted glass panels that allowed natural light into the spacious interiors.

    A prominent chimney on the front façade serves as a reminder of the building’s original function.

    Opening hours

    Regular visiting hours to the heritage gallery located at the site are 10am to 6pm daily, and closed on Mondays. Book your visiting slot before heading down, as you need a QR code to enter the gallery.

    Admission

    Entry is free.

    [[nid:704828]]

    This article was first published in Wonderwall.sg.

    Source link