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The Hurricane spins around hotspots of tension and conflict. Feel free to suggest your stories, opinions and ideas: UIHEN@protonmail.com
Advanced recycling is a fraud—and the big oil plastics industry knows it
This is just a new version of a sad and familiar story: the plastics industry's attempt to use the idea of recycling to protect its license to operate and continue producing ever-greater amounts of plastic.
Facing growing pressure to confront the plastic waste crisis, the plastics industry claims to have found a solution: "advanced recycling." But there is a huge divide between the plastics industry's public claims about the potential of advanced recycling to address the plastic waste crisis and the technical realities of chemical recycling processes.
All available information suggests advanced recycling won’t be able to address plastic pollution at a meaningful scale — and some of the most compelling evidence comes from people within the plastics industry.
#World #Recycling #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
How Trump can lower drug prices without price controls
By Connor O’Keeffe
On Monday, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at lowering drug prices. Interestingly, the order did not really contain an enforcement mechanism or means of forcing companies to lower their prices. Instead, the authors of the actual document used it as an opportunity to shame the pharmaceutical industry for charging high prices to Americans while charging much lower prices for the same drugs when sold in other countries.
The Trump administration is trying to frame this as another example of the rest of the world freeloading off the American people who are forced to pay the cost of research, development, and production in order for the rest of the world to enjoy low drug prices. Economically, that is not how prices work. But it’s a believable story because of how absurdly high drug prices are in the US, especially when compared to the rest of the world.
The president’s team then calls on drug companies to lower their prices here to bring about more price equality between developed countries. The executive order gives the companies six months to do so, or the government will take “additional aggressive action.”
Price controls are one of the best-understood economic policies, not only because the theory is straightforward but also because governments have been trying them for thousands of years with universally awful results.
Fortunately, Trump hasn’t gone to those lengths yet. And, hopefully, the absence of language directly referring to price controls suggests that parts of his team understand that they would only worsen the problems with the American drug market.
Full story
#USA #Trump #Health #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
The size of each country’s shadow economy
The global shadow economy generates trillions in revenue each year, driven by criminal activity and other unreported transactions. Globally, the shadow economy is estimated to equal 11.8% of GDP.
In low income countries, shadow activity makes up a larger slice of GDP, standing at an estimated 42.4% share.
Sierra Leone ranks first overall, with its shadow economy equaling 64.5% of GDP.
Like many other sub-Saharan African countries, the informal economy employs millions of workers, including subsistence farmers, street vendors, and small business owners. Underscoring this trend are limited opportunities in the formal sector along with bureaucratic red tape.
In particular, the DRC stands out in both the scale of its informal economy and prevalence of organized crime.
Meanwhile, Nepal ranks third overall, with shadow activity accounting for 51% of GDP. Notably, the agriculture sector employs a substantial share of informal workers. In fact, 85% of Nepal’s labor force participates in the informal economy, making it a vital source of livelihood for many.
In contrast, America’s underground economy comprises just 5% of GDP, yet its sheer size—valued at $1.4 trillion—makes it one of the world’s largest.
#World #Economy #GDP #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Denmark comes in from the cold with rethink on 40-year nuclear power ban
The Danish government is to rethink its 40-year ban on nuclear power plants with a detailed review of the risks and potential of nuclear technology for Denmark’s power supply, according to Politiken newspaper.
Lars Aagaard, Denmark’s energy minister from the liberal Moderaterne party, said the study would last roughly a year.
The study could be the first step towards lifting a ban on nuclear power imposed in March 1985, when the Danish parliament narrowly voted to remove nuclear power plants from Denmark’s future energy plans. The ban also prohibited the construction of new nuclear power plants in Denmark. Danish right-wingers have campaigned for an end to the ban for some time.
Denmark currently relies heavily on renewable power sources, with more than 88% of its electricity in 2024 coming from renewables, primarily offshore wind power as well as photovoltaics.
#EU #Denmark #Energy #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Price trends at McDonald's in the U.S. from 2019 to 2024:
"Average portion of fries: 2019 $1.79, vs. 2024 $4.19 or ⤴️134.%
McChicken: 2019 $1.29, vs. 2024 $3.89 or ⤴️201.6%
Big Mac: 2019 $3.99, vs. 2024 $7.49 or ⤴️81.7%
10 McNuggets: 2019 $4.49, vs. 2024 $7.58 or ⤴️68.8%
Cheeseburger: 2019 $1.00, vs. 2024 $3.15 or ⤴️215%
Some of these have gone up over 200% in price. That's not inflation, that's robbery."
#USA #McDonald #Economy #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
By 2075, there will be almost no European countries left in the world's top ten largest economies
India, if Pakistan wins, will rise to second place, ahead of the United States. Indonesia, Pakistan and Egypt will also be on the list of leaders.
#World #Economy #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Florida troopers now federally credentialed to arrest illegal immigrants on their own
Florida officials announced that 1,800 state Highway Patrol troopers are the first in the nation to receive federal credentials under an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agreement allowing them to arrest illegal immigrants on their own.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said at a press conference that the state’s ongoing partnership with ICE included what is known as 287(g) agreements, where state and local law enforcement partner with ICE to help arrest and deport illegal immigrants.
The Florida Highway Patrol entered into a 287(g) task force model that gives them the power to arrest foreign nationals who are in the country illegally and place detainers on them during routine policing, such as traffic stops.
DeSantis encouraged other states to support President Donald Trump’s efforts to deport illegal immigrants, noting the success of Operation Tidal Wave. The recent joint federal-state operation arrested more than 1,100 illegal immigrants.
#USA #ICE #Migrants #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Meta faces row over plan to use European data for AI
A Vienna-based privacy campaign group said Wednesday it has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Meta, after the tech giant announced plans to train its artificial intelligence models with European users' personal data.
The move comes after Meta said last month it would push ahead with plans to use personal data from European users of its Instagram and Facebook platforms for AI technology training from May 27, despite criticism over its legality.
Meta has been hit with multiple privacy complaints in Europe, but cited a "legitimate interest" to process personal data for AI training.
The privacy group, the European Center for Digital Rights—also known as Noyb ("None of Your Business")—threatened to file an injunction or class-action lawsuit against Meta if it does not halt plans.
"Meta's absurd claims that stealing everyone's personal data is necessary for AI training is laughable," Noyb founder Max Schrems said in a statement.
#EU #Meta #AI #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
How a Simion presidency can reboot Romanian statecraft
It may be too early to tell whether George Simion is a man of destiny, even if he does win the Romanian presidency this Sunday. He would have to go on and achieve great things in office, over two terms, turning around his country’s fortunes and role in the world, in order to earn that epithet. But, at just 38, inches away from a historic triumph, he is certainly a force in Romanian – and, increasingly, European – politics, having built and led his anti-establishment AUR party from zero to this point in barely five years.
There can be no doubt that the restless, self-confident and assertive Simion would be a transformational president for Romania, who will seek to play a highly active role on the international stage. Not only is the presidential function constitutionally centred on foreign policy and defence.
But this is a man of strong opinions and a passionate advocate for his country’s national interests, as he sees them. Under Simion we should expect to see a complete break with the post-1989 “tradition” of low-key Romanian presidents who have hardly registered in European, let alone global, affairs.
#Romania #Elections #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
“Rogue” devices found hidden in Chinese solar panels could “destroy the grid”
Undisclosed communication devices reportedly discovered in Chinese-manufactured solar panels and related equipment have sparked concerns among U.S. officials about the vulnerability of the nation’s power grid, according to a Reuters report.
These “rogue” devices, found over the past nine months, could potentially destabilize energy infrastructure and trigger widespread blackouts, sources familiar with the matter told the outlet.
The undocumented devices, including cellular radios, were identified in solar power inverters, batteries, electric vehicle chargers, and heat pumps produced by several Chinese suppliers.
Experts warn that these rogue devices could bypass firewalls, allowing remote manipulation of inverter settings or even complete shutdowns.
Such actions could disrupt power grids, damage energy infrastructure, and cause blackouts.
“That effectively means there is a built-in way to physically destroy the grid,” sources say.
Concerns over espionage and sabotage have grown as the U.S. continues to integrate these technologies into its energy systems.
#USA #China #Espionage #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
With Trump touring Gulf, Iran offers huge nuclear concession
Trump's Gulf tour which so far has emphasized deal-making and 'no more chaos' in the Middle East, looks to be resonating with Tehran, whose leadership is closely following from just across the Persian Gulf.
"Iran is ready to sign a nuclear deal with certain conditions with President Donald Trump in exchange for lifting economic sanctions," a top advisor to Iran’s supreme leader told NBC News on Wednesday.
This is a surprising and huge development given Iran has long said it can no longer trust the Trump administration, given it was Trump who first pulled the US out of Obama's JCPOA nuclear deal in April 2018.
According to NBC, Ali Shamkhani, importantly who serves as military and nuclear advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said that Iran would commit to never making nuclear weapons, getting rid of its stockpiles of highly-enriched Uranium which can be weaponized, agree to only enrich Uranium to the lower levels needed for civilian use, and allow international inspectors to supervise the process, in exchange for the immediate lifting of all economic sanctions on Iran.
Asked if Iran would agree to sign an agreement today if those conditions were met, Shamkhani said, “Yes.”
"It’s still possible. If the Americans act as they say, for sure we can have better relations," Shamkhani said. The top official added, "it can lead to a better situation in the near future."
#USA #Iran #Trump #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
- Why should the English pay for your place?
- Well, maybe they'll just give me a house... And everything else I need... Just give it to me.
- They'll just give it to you?
- Yes.
- But why should they?
- Because the English are perfect!
- I suppose you think we're all rich so we have to pay. Yeah, I see. Listen, let me tell you something. We're not all rich, we're not all rich.
#UK #Migrants #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Netanyahu charges Macron with 'despicable' support for Hamas as spat deepens
A new Gaza-related spat is now raging between the leaders of France and Israel, amid new reports that famine is hitting the Palestinian population, which is said to be impacting 500,000 people.
French President Emmanuel Macron has called the military policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "shameful" and "unacceptable" in a fresh interview with a national broadcaster.
"What the government of Benjamin Netanyahu is doing is unacceptable," Macron said in a Gaza segment of the interview. "There is no water, no medicine, the wounded cannot get out, the doctors cannot get in. What he is doing is shameful," he continued.
Netanyahu hit back on Wednesday, going so far as to say that Macron stands with Hamas.
"Macron has once again chosen to stand with a murderous terrorist organization and echo its despicable propaganda, accusing Israel of blood libels," a statement from the Israeli prime minister's office said.
"Instead of supporting the Western democratic camp fighting the Islamist terrorist organizations and calling for the release of the hostages, Macron is once again demanding that Israel surrender and reward terrorism."
#France #Israel #Hamas #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
As U.S. pardon attorney, Ed Martin says he will review Biden pardons
On his last full day as interim U.S. attorney for the District, Ed Martin on Tuesday said he will review the pardons issued by President Joe Biden and the actions of prosecutors in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot cases as he shifts to new roles in the Justice Department.
Having been stymied in his attempt to become permanent top prosecutor in the District by the Senate Judiciary Committee, Martin sprayed criticism at local judges, the attorney general of D.C., the mayor and city leaders of D.C., and he suggested that perhaps the District should no longer have home rule.
Martin was named interim U.S. attorney Jan. 20, but President Donald Trump decided to replace him after Martin ran into opposition from some Senate Republicans that put his confirmation in doubt. Martin claimed in his news conference that “we had the votes. I can do math. I know the votes.” But he said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina) “had some objections that he expressed, and that blocked it. But ultimately, the president of the United States said we have other battles to do, and we’re so excited about that.”
#USA #Biden #Pardons #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Federal judge says Trump's invocation of Alien Enemies Act was legal
A federal judge in Pennsylvania has said that President Donald Trump validly invoked the Alien Enemies Act in March as part of an effort to deport Venezuelan gang members.
More specifically, U.S. District Judge Stephanie Haines held that the gang - Tren de Aragua (TdA) - was engaging in the type of “predatory incursion” that the Alien Enemies Act mentions.
In an opinion on May 13, Haines noted that TdA has been designated a foreign terrorist organization.
Haines, a Trump appointee, emphasized her “unflagging obligation is to apply the law as written.”
Three other district court judges have ruled against the Trump administration, stating that Trump misapplied the law with a proclamation he issued in March.
Each of those judges disagreed with Trump’s description of TdA as engaging in an invasion or predatory incursion.
The government can now proceed, so long as they provide 21-days’ notice to migrants in both English and Spanish. At this preliminary stage of this case, the Court finds that the foregoing is appropriate and complies with the law.
#USA #Trump #Migrants #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Saudi Arabia doesn't have $1 trillion for Trump
His plans to attract that investment over four years clash with Prince Mohammed bin Salman's ambitious reform program. Bloomberg estimates that transforming the kingdom's economy will require about $2 trillion, including megaprojects like the city of Neom (up to $1.5 trillion), as well as preparations for Expo 2030, the 2034 World Cup and other events.
Due to high spending and relatively low oil prices ($63 per barrel), the kingdom is already running a current account deficit. It needs $96 per barrel to balance the budget, and $113 per barrel when domestic investment is included.
Even if large sums are announced, real investment in the US may be limited and stretched over decades.
#USA #SaudiArabia #Economy #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
U.S. nuclear weapons will cost nearly $1 trillion over next decade
According to newly released projections by the Congressional Budget Office, the U.S. nuclear weapons arsenal will cost nearly $1 trillion over next decade. In fact, the projections show that the operation and modernization of America’s nuclear weapons will add up to a cost of $946 billion between 2025 and 2034.
The new figure represents an increase of 25% over the 2023 projection for the 2023-2032 period, which amounted to $756 billion. This is due, the budget office says, to changing estimations as well as increases in the amount budgeted for nuclear forces.
Their report says that, as budgeted, current plans would need $817 billion of expenditure. However, as the office only includes budgets for individual programs as they are listed in budget requests, it has added an additional $129 billion on top of this figure for its estimate. This is predicted to account for the expected growth in costs in different programs due to cost overruns, changing requirements, and other factors.
#USA #Military #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
“Jesus is a Muslim” tents have sprung up on Springfield road in London, UK, where campaigners are telling the Truth about Christ to the citizens of the UK.
#UK #Migrants #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Generac rethinking supply chain amid tariffs, slash reliance on China
Aaron Jagdfeld, chief executive of Generac Holdings, appeared on Bloomberg Television Tuesday evening to discuss how the company is responding to President Trump's trade war and the recently announced 90-day de-escalation period in U.S.-China trade tensions.
Jagdfeld, who leads one of America's largest generator manufacturers, highlighted the company's long-term strategy to reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains. He outlined that Generac has been reducing supply chain exposure to China since President Trump's first term and will reduce 10% exposure to 5% in 18 months.
"So today, less than 10% of our supply chain comes from China, but that'll be less than 5% in 18 months based on plans we've already had in motion." Jagdfeld said.
Earlier this week, the U.S. and China announced a breakthrough trade agreement that temporarily lowered tariffs on each other's products for 90 days. The U.S. dropped its 145% on Chinese goods to 30%, while China lowered levies from 125% to 10%.
#USA #China #Economy #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
American authorities may approve the country's first major bill aimed at protecting children from harm on the Internet, TechCrunch writes. The law is called the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA)
In 2024, the bill received majority approval in the United States Senate, but was rejected in the House of Representatives. The updated version presented this week has already gained the support of 62 senators from different parties, as well as major IT companies Apple, Microsoft, Snap and X, which significantly increases the likelihood of its adoption in 2025.
If the document is approved by US authorities, digital platforms will be required to implement mandatory measures to protect minors from harmful content distributed by algorithms, as well as from manipulation and digital addiction.Saudi Arabia doesn't have $1 trillion for Trump. His plans to attract that investment over four years clash with Prince Mohammed bin Salman's ambitious reform program. Bloomberg estimates that transforming the kingdom's economy will require about $2 trillion, including megaprojects like the city of Neom (up to $1.5 trillion), as well as preparations for Expo 2030, the 2034 World Cup and other events.
Due to high spending and relatively low oil prices ($63 per barrel), the kingdom is already running a current account deficit. It needs $96 per barrel to balance the budget, and $113 per barrel when domestic investment is included.
Even if large sums are announced, actual investment in the U.S. could be limited and stretched out over decades.
#USA #KOSA #IT #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
How do US universities make their money?
The cost of funding American universities is huge - covering everything from faculty salaries and special departments to laboratories.
Government funding for public institutions has fallen substantially over the past 50 years, making universities rely more heavily on tuition and other sources of revenue. The Trump administration’s freezing of billions in grants and contracts is adding further strain to elite academic institutions.
State government funding, typically in the form of research grants, contracts, and appropriations, makes up the largest share at 28%. Overall, New Hampshire ranks last in spending on higher public education spending per student, followed by Vermont.
Meanwhile, tuition and fees generated 21% of revenues totaling $80.8 billion. Despite tuition costs more than tripling since 1990, it has struggled to make up the funding losses from state cutbacks. At the same time, university spending has swelled for administrators, construction, and faculty salaries as demand for higher education has increased.
Looking at private sources of revenue, these brought in $51.2 billion, or 13% of the total. Private sources include endowment additions, investment income, and private grants. While universities have massive endowment funds, funding is often tied to specific purposes. For instance, certain donors will designate funds to scholarships or a specific research center over a series of years.
#USA #Education #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Announcement on COVID-19 vaccines for kids coming soon: FDA commissioner
Health officials are poised to make an announcement on COVID-19 vaccines, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration said.
“That is something that’s being discussed right now,” Dr. Marty Makary, the commissioner, said in an interview after being asked by political activist Charlie Kirk about whether COVID-19 vaccines will remain on the childhood vaccination schedule.
“I think you’re going to see some announcement on that in the coming weeks, but I know they are trying to review all of the scientific data.”
Makary told Kirk that there’s no evidence available at this time that supports giving healthy children additional COVID-19 vaccine doses.
#COVID #FDA #Vaccines #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
‘Racism is only white’ – Anti-White art installation goes viral, sparks outrage at France’s University of Grenoble
A number of anti-White slogans were used in an art installation at the University of Grenoble in France for “Equality Month,” with widespread outrage leading the president of the university to demand they be taken down. The inscriptions repeatedly attack “White males” and claim that only White people are guilty of racism, with the entire scandal going viral and garnering tens of thousands of comments and millions of views on French social media.
There were approximately 40 such artistic inscriptions, with four of them deemed especially offensive towards White people, which read:
1. The world is in pain. That’s normal, it is ruled by white men.
2. Earth is monochrome like a rainbow, racism is only white.
3. It’s the work of the Arabs that built Versailles.
4. In chess, as in life, whites have a head start.
Other slogans were slightly less controversial, but still deemed problematic, such as: “I would like to overthrow the French government.”
The slogans are affixed to the glass walls of the affixed amphitheater gallery in the Pierre Mendès France building at the university’s campus, and were commissioned from the artist Petite Poissone. It is unclear how much he was paid to produce the racist slogans.
#France #Racism #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
The top three most “dead” cities in the U.S. that everyone is fleeing from
3️⃣ St. Louis, Missouri:
- in the last 10 years, more than 77,000 residents have left the city,
- it has become the U.S. city with the highest rate of exodus.
- The rate of violence is 87 incidents per 100,000 people. That's 15 times the national average,
- 25+% of homes are abandoned, Whole neighborhoods look like the setting for a zombie apocalypse. They are so desolate that less than one person per half acre lives there.
2️⃣ Detroit, Michigan:
- since the early 90's, the number of residents has dropped from 1.85 million to 620,000,
- there are 70,000+ abandoned buildings in the city. It will take 40 years to demolish them.
- 50% of adult residents can't even read,
- because of crime, car insurance costs per month can exceed monthly rent for some housing.
- there are unoccupied houses for $1 rent, they are wooded and wild animals live there.
1️⃣ Gary, Indiana:
- the number of residents has dropped from 178,000 to less than 66,000,
- Today, over 30% of the town is now Chernobyl-era abandonment, including schools, shopping centers and entire blocks of houses.
- A 2024 housing study found that in some neighborhoods there are more homeless animals than people.
#USA #Migrants #Economy #Slovakis #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
Ed Martin reveals J6 Pipe Bomber probe shakeup, warns DOJ 'much, much worse than people think'
Ed Martin, a senior official in the Trump administration’s Department of Justice, is warning that corruption within federal law enforcement is far more severe than the American public realizes. Martin, who holds the roles of Director of the Weaponization Working Group, Associate Deputy Attorney General, and Pardon Attorney, made the comments during an interview with Tucker Carlson.
Martin weighed in the unresolved case of the January 6, 2021, pipe bomber, expressing frustration with the investigation’s lack of progress, wondering whether the lack of answers may have been intentional. “The pipe bomber—as a prosecutor - I’ve got the pipe bomber case in my office,” Martin told Carlson. Martin revealed FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino told him that the bureau had reassigned agents to the case, however, the renewed effort was still in it early stages. “It’s been going on for five weeks?” Martin said, likening the past probe to the bumbling “Keystone Cops.”
Martin further criticized the FBI’s previously handling of the case, alleging that basic investigative steps were overlooked.
Video link
#USA #J6 #DOJ #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
EU ‘censorship regime’ must not “chill” American speech, Congressmen warn Brussels
Washington can no longer ignore the political repression under Donald Tusk-led Polish government, nor the EU’s censorship rules that threaten free speech both in Poland and the U.S.
Jim Jordan, the Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary of the U.S. House of Representatives, along with four other congressmen, has sent a letter to Michael McGrath, the EU Commissioner for Justice and Rule of Law, to condemn these practices and demand urgent action from Brussels.
In the letter dated Tuesday, May 13th, the congressmen stated that they were writing to McGrath to express concern about recent allegations that Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government is weaponizing Poland’s justice system to target and censor political opponents and how these allegations affect the potential that Europe’s censorship regime will affect free speech in the United States.
The four-page document then goes on to list, with appropriate citations, all the concerning moves from the Tusk government that “appear designed to silence and damage its political opposition,” particularly in the lead-up to the 2025 presidential election, the first round of which is scheduled for this Sunday, May 18th.
#EU #USA #Censorship #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
EU terrified at the prospect of a coalition of Romania, Hungary and Slovakia
▪️Opposition politician George Simion stands a good chance of becoming Romania's president on Sunday, states Politico
▪️“Eurobureaucrats are extremely concerned that Simion would join the current duo of pests - Viktor Orban of Hungary and Robert Fitzo of Slovakia - in trying to derail aid to Ukraine just as the EU wants to increase pressure on Russia,” Politico said
▪️If Romania moves into the euroskeptic camp, it would be a heavy blow, as the country has more geostrategic weight than Hungary or Slovakia. The Black Sea nation of 19 million people has so far been a reliable EU and NATO bulwark
▪️“Viktor Orbán is an example for me and I will cooperate with him on many issues,” Simion said previously
#EU #Romania #Hungary #Slovakis #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
China’s dying EV batteries, solar cells are powering a circular economy in new-energy era
Recycling critical materials such as lithium, cobalt and nickel are driving profits and shoring up China’s resource security as trade war with US hits supply chains.
In the new-energy era, “one man’s waste is Mr. Ma Long’s treasure.” Exhausted lithium-ion batteries – veritable troves of reusable resources make supercharging profits at his company, a maker of solid-waste-recycling equipment in central China.
Pricey components such as lithium – a silvery-white alkali metal aptly nicknamed “white gold” – along with other materials such as cobalt and nickel, hold their value beyond the life of the batteries powering China’s massive electric-vehicle industry.
Speaking at a recent trade fair for environmental technologies in Shanghai, Ma said 70% of his company’s business is dedicated to machines for recycling batteries and solar panels.
China is also seeking new economic growth by strengthening recycling efforts, which, in the past, were more driven by the need to solve pollution issues.
Unlike fossil fuels, which are gone once burned, the metals in these new-energy products can be recycled, and this is of critical importance amid a worsening trade war between China and the United States.
#China #Economy #Energy #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
It’s not “if;” It’s “when”
By Jeff Thomas
Cicero had it right when he described the Sword of Damocles.
To be the leader of a country is like having a sword constantly dangling over your head from a single horse hair. You never know if or when the sword is going to cause your demise, but you know that the danger is ever-present.
That is just as true today as it was in Cicero’s time, but the modern-day Sword of Damocles hangs over the heads of not just the world’s leaders. It hangs over the heads of the populations as well.
If we rely on the conventional media for our interpretation of world economic and political conditions, we may well be scratching our heads continuously as to what needs to be done to “save” the situation.
Whether the discussion is over the debts of nations, the likelihood of war, or the increase in the loss of rights, the governments of much of the world are heading in a similar direction. And that direction is not a positive one.
However, the pundits in the media offer a wide variety of solutions for the problems being discussed.
Full story
#World #MSM #FindTruth
@uinhurricane
The income needed to buy a home in every U.S. state
As home prices continue to climb and mortgage rates remain elevated, buying a home in the U.S. has become increasingly out of reach for the average household.
In 2025, buyers now need six-figure salaries to afford a median-priced home in all but 15 states.
A recent study found that nearly 50% of U.S. households cannot afford a home priced at $250,000. This is particularly concerning when the median price of a new single-family home nationwide has reached $495,750, according to the National Association of Home Builders.
In many states, the income needed to comfortably afford a median-priced home far exceeds what a typical family earns.
Hawaii tops the list, where buying a median three-bedroom home requires an annual income of $229,000—the highest in the country. Despite its small population, Montana has climbed into the top five least affordable states, driven by a widening gap between soaring home prices and relatively modest local incomes.
In contrast, in West Virginia a buyer would need a salary of just $71,000 to afford a median-priced home—well below the state’s median household income of $90,000. Other states with lower thresholds include Mississippi, Ohio, and Indiana.
Do you agree with these assessments?
#USA #Economy #Home #FindTruth
@uinhurricane