Beijing, China, Dec. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sitting in his office in Madrid, Roberto A Paneque Fonseca's thoughts drift thousands of miles across the vast Atlantic Ocean to his home country of Cuba, grappling with a severe blackout that had profoundly affected the lives of its residents. Despite the distance, Fonseca felt an urgent need to take action and find a way to illuminate the homes of those in Cuba. Just then, his cellphone buzzed with a flurry of calls from Chinese companies which expressed a willingness to provide solar kits, presenting a potential solution to the crisis. Cuba has never lacked sunshine - the brilliant rays of the sun imbue Cubans with a passionate and vibrant spirit, lively dance moves and music, and high-saturation colorful architecture. Now, Cubans can benefit anew from this blessing by harnessing solar energy to brighten their lives. In recent years, the Cuban government has actively promoted energy transition policies aimed at reducing dependence on fossil fuels and increasing the share of renewable energy in the national energy structure. The Cuban government plans to invest $3.5 billion over the next 15 years to develop renewable energy, with a target to raise the proportion of renewable energy to 24 percent by 2030, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency. China's photovoltaic products and technology have become a solution to this vision, helping improve Cuba's power supply capacity and reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. Find the path The solar energy technologies are not new to Fonseca, the president of the Robert A Paneque Foundation, in Spain, who had his first contact with the technologies back in 1975 when he frequently visited a solar panel and inverter factory run by a Spanish businessman in Havana. He believed that the solar kits could work in Cuba. "After all these calls from Chinese company executives, I began to investigate the demand and find out about the high demand throughout Cuba for solar panels, batteries, chargers, charge controllers, inverters, wind turbines, and other elements that make up the solar kits," he said. He then quickly contacted several Cuban engineers and technicians and they made up a group on a social network where they discussed the possibility of being able to produce all this equipment and devices in Cuba. "Due to our isolation from the outside world, if Cuba's National Electrical Grid continues to fail frequently, hundreds of thousands of Cuban families and companies would suffer a brutal impact on their standard of living and operation due to the lack of energy, electricity," he said. However, it is not easy to accomplish this mission, starting from the basic purchase of essentials, which is straightforward in most other countries. "Any consumer in most parts of the world can buy almost anything online and receive it within hours or days. However, the situation for Cuban consumers is entirely different. The inhumane economic and financial blockade exacerbates the already significant challenges of transporting goods to Cuba via air and sea, which raises costs by 120 percent for solar photovoltaic and wind energy systems," Fonseca explained. On top of this, there is a critical issue: When any of this sensitive equipment fails due to voltage and frequency fluctuations in Cuba's National Electric System, breakdowns and damage become a persistent problem. According to him, it is nearly impossible for customers to repair or replace the damaged equipment necessary to continue benefiting from solar or wind energy. Technicians are also unable to fix inverters, panels, or batteries due to the lack of electronic components, spare parts, and other essential materials. To find a way out and given the compelling and urgent need to put together a "Made in Cuba" solar kit, the first option they turned to was Chinese producers. "We went to those companies' website according to their specialty, and found the different circuits, components, electronic boards, circuits, elements, parts and pieces that we needed to be able to assemble our Cuban solar kit," he introduced. Fonseca made the goal clear to his team - he wanted the solar kit to be as simple as possible: A solar panel, an inverter, and a battery. After getting those components, they began assembling the inverter among this group of Cuban engineers and technicians who are experts in solar energy and at the same time were receiving advice from Chinese specialists. According to him, an important reason for using Chinese technology is its affordability and high cost-efficient. The fundamental idea is that this Cuban solar kit with Chinese technology does not exceed the production price of $150 dollars, with a maximum of $200, and that it has a power capacity of at least 1,500 watts, which is made up of at least one solar panel of minimum 500w, a 1.5kw inverter, and a battery of minimum 12 volts and 100 amps. "A kit with these characteristics would allow a Cuban family to have two or three LED lights on, charge two or three mobile phones, watch TV, listen to the radio and especially keep the refrigerator working to preserve perishable food," he said. Pass the torch In a barren field outside a village in western Cuba's Pinar del Río Province, rows of photovoltaic panels stand in quiet order. These blue "mirrors," bathed in sunlight, convert solar energy into a steady stream of clean electricity. This is Cuba's first solar power station project designed, procured, and constructed as an integrated initiative by the Chinese government. Officially handed over to the Cuban government in April 2018, the station represents a milestone in international cooperation, according to the website of POWERCHINA, a Chinese state-owned design and construction company. Once operational, the station could supply electricity to 20,000 residents. Additionally, it replaces part of the oil-fired power plants, reducing carbon dioxide emissions, and setting an example for Cuba's pursuit of clean energy and a low-carbon economy. To help address Cuba's energy challenges, China's Ministry of Commerce initiated this photovoltaic assistance project. The Chinese side provided technical and equipment support, while the Cuban side supplied labor and some construction materials. This cooperative model not only delivers urgently needed clean energy, but also creates employment opportunities for Cubans, the Global Times learned from the POWERCHINA Chengdu Engineering Corporation Limited, the builder of the project. Zhou Shaoping, the deputy manager of the project, was among the first batch of Chinese engineers and workers to arrive in Cuba. He told the Global Times that due to international circumstances and sanctions, Cuba faces significant economic challenges. "Power outages are a daily occurrence. But here, where temperatures reach 40 C at noon, living without electricity is extremely difficult," Zhou said. However, the region's abundant solar resources make it an ideal location for solar power generation. "Beyond using Chinese-standard equipment and technology, we fully shared our expertise and helped Cuban colleagues enhance their skills through hands-on training. By the end of the project, the Cuban side was capable of operating the facility independently," Zhou noted. Touch the dream In the pursuit of a green and low-carbon dream, every individual and every nation stands as equals. Beside the photovoltaic power station in Pinar del Río, González, a local resident, runs a small restaurant. His life has taken a turn for the better thanks to the electricity generated here. "In the past, Cuba's electricity supply mainly relied on oil-fired power plants, and frequent blackouts caused by fuel shortages made it hard to do business. Now, that's no longer a concern. Blackouts are much less frequent, and business is improving," he said. For practitioners like Fonseca, there are many plans for the future, even bold ideas. He envisions a future where the integration of Chinese technology into Cuban homes and offices through solar kits could revolutionize energy distribution. Thus, it would benefit thousands who cannot afford such technology by generating savings in fossil fuel for Cuba's national electrical system. "This is a dream; however, we are confident that with Chinese technology, everything is possible in the world we live in today," he said. Between the governments, progress is still ongoing. On December 12, the two sides signed a contract for China's government-assisted project to provide 35 megawatts of solar photovoltaic equipment to Cuba. The project plans to build seven photovoltaic power stations in six Cuban provinces, which are expected to save Cuba approximately 18,000 tons of fuel annually, equivalent to about $7 million, according to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In June, three China-assisted power stations were connected to Cuba's national grid, generating a total of around 60,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity daily and benefiting an estimated 25,000 power-deficient households, the Xinhua News Agency reported. "For a practitioner in the new energy industry, being able to use my abilities to help more people get on this fast train is my green dream," Zhou said. View original content: https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202412/1325636.shtml . Company: Global Times Contact Person: Xie Wenting Email: xiewenting@globaltimes.com.cn Website: https://www.globaltimes.cn/ Telephone: 18605648116 City: Beijing Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of KISS PR or its partners. This content is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. KISS PR makes no representations as to the accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability, or validity of any information in this article and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.
NATO and Ukraine to hold emergency talks after Russian attack with hypersonic missile
The Ken-Betwa rivers linking project, estimated to cost upwards of Rs 44,000 crores (around $5 billion), will be the first to be undertaken under India’s national river interlinking policy under the National River Linking Project (NRLP). It is intended to address water scarcity and irrigation needs, and generate hydropower in the drought-prone Bundelkhand region that spans Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Getting such a project off the ground is an enormous achievement, and this may have been facilitated by the fact that the states giving and receiving water are ruled by the national ruling party BJP. Considering the animosities in water sharing even among states ruled by allies, the initiative is to be proud of, though the politics surrounding issues big and small today did bring out some more of the prevailing animosities as the foundation stone for the project was laid. The river linking project has been a national dream of decades and the first person to put it down in writing was an Englishman, Sir Arthur Cotton, irrigation engineer of the East India Company, in 1858. Since then, river linking has had many votaries, including the main architect of the Constitution B.R. Ambedkar and former Prime Minister Vajpayee, generous praise for whom came from Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with several jabs at the Opposition party, the Congress. Principally, river linking can address the problem of flooding and droughts that occur in different parts of the country, and which may be solved to an extent by interlinking and sharing of water that could otherwise go out to sea. The perennial Indo-Gangetic rivers can feed the peninsular rivers which are mostly seasonal and the ambitious project can see equitable sharing of a resource that will get only more precious with population growth. The flip side, however, is as long as the list of benefits because big dams can impact ecosystems, need clearing and flooding of forests and invite deleterious effects on biodiversity and wildlife, besides displacement of a vast number of people that can lead to social and economic distress. The Congress points to a direct effect of the Ken-Betwa project to the Panna tiger reserve, which the Prime Minister rebuts with the assurance that the well-being of tigers will be kept in mind while routing the canals. On a more national level, inter-state as well as international disputes may arise, particularly with the Himalayan rivers, as has been the experience with China that has built mega dams to prove its engineering skills and yet controls water flow to such an extent that countries downstream are starved of water, with its 11 dams across the Mekong River. What an achievement it would be if India were to connect 14 Himalayan and 16 peninsular rivers with 30 canals and 3,000 reservoirs, never mind if the estimated cost is in the range of $200 billion now and expected to rise exponentially with time. Water distribution is, however, not new to India as irrigation canals have served their purpose well for long. Also, today, water of the Godavari does reach the Krishna and Chennai even gets its drinking water from the Krishna in a canal. The point is the consequences, intended and otherwise, are not yet fully projected or understood and the challenge of national river linking with upstream dams will remain, more so in an open and democratic society like India’s. Given the pace of decision making on such projects, the challenges may lie in the far future. But what the first project in the Ken-Betwa linking represents is that there is a way to attempt such equitable water sharing in the country, provided it comes without totally damaging river systems and inviting environmental mayhem.
One important metric to look for in a stock is an 80 or higher . ( ) now clears that threshold, with a jump from 77 to 81 Monday. This proprietary rating tracks market leadership by showing how a stock's price movement over the last 52 weeks measures up against that of other stocks on the major indexes. Decades of market research reveals that the best stocks often have an 80 or better RS Rating as they begin their biggest runs. Is Roku Stock A Buy? Roku stock broke out earlier, but has fallen back below the prior 80.77 entry from a . If a stock you're watching clears a buy point then retreats 7% or more below the original entry price, it's considered a failed base. It's best to wait for the stock to form a new base and breakout. Also understand that the most recent consolidation is a later-stage base, which makes it riskier to establish a new position or add shares to an existing one. The smart tv operating system company showed 0% earnings growth last quarter. Sales gains came in at 16%. Roku stock holds the No. 2 rank among its peers in the Leisure-Movies & Related industry group. ( ) is the No. 1-ranked stock within the group.When baseball historian Bill Humber first heard about the golden at-bat idea that Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred floated on a recent podcast, he was a little taken aback. "I kind of laughed, actually," Humber said Wednesday. "I thought it was one of the stupidest ideas I'd ever heard." MLB has seen its share of change of late, but the thought of a team using one at-bat each game to send any hitter it wants to the plate — even if it's not their turn in the batting order — was quite a curveball. "This can’t be real," former Blue Jays pitcher and seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens posted on social media. Wild-card playoff tinkering, pitch clocks, shift rules and automatic runners are some of the more significant changes to the game in recent years. All had varying levels of detractors and the golden at-bat discussion is no different. Critics are eyeing it like a meatball thrown across the middle of the plate. "It doesn't really fit within the logic of the game in my mind," said Humber, a Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer. "I look upon it quite askance to be honest with you. I don't see the point of it in a way. "I mean to some extent, the magic of baseball is those unheralded batters who arrive at a situation that one wouldn't have thought that they would ever have been in, and allowing them to bat in place." Humber cited a number of grand baseball moments that might not have happened if a golden at-bat rule were in effect. "One can imagine when Bobby Thomson hit his famous home run against the (Brooklyn) Dodgers in 1951, Willie Mays was on deck," he said of the 'Shot Heard 'Round the World' that gave the New York Giants the National League pennant. "What if they had a golden at-bat and put Mays at bat, maybe he would have struck out or popped up or hit into a double-play or who knows what. There's lots of situations like that." What about the two famous World Series-winning walkoffs? Would the skippers have used a golden at-bat to get their best pure hitter to the plate? Bill Mazeroski went deep to give Pittsburgh the Fall Classic in 1960 and Joe Carter's walkoff blast in 1993 gave the Blue Jays their second straight World Series title. Mazeroski's power numbers were middling while Carter, who led the Blue Jays in homers and RBIs that year, had a mediocre batting average. "I think the magic of the game are those moments that are unpredictable and yet kind of create some of the joy of the game in our memories," Humber said. " I think this kind of runs afoul of that tradition. "I'm not a fan, let me say that. But that's not to say it won't happen." Manfred first mentioned the golden at-bat idea publicly in an interview with John Ourand on Puck's "The Varsity" podcast. The commissioner said the subject came up at a recent owners' meeting. Retired sportswriter Dave Perkins, who covered the Blue Jays for years over his long career at the Toronto Star, said use of a golden at-bat would be "a travesty." "On the surface I say it's absolutely stupid and ridiculous," he said. "But a lot of other things I thought were stupid and ridiculous worked their way into the games and they're even OK with me now." The subject of potential rule changes like the golden at-bat came up when Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins met with the Toronto chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America earlier this week. "It's interesting to me because we went through so much change over the last couple of years," he said. "Getting to that change was a scratch and a claw and a climb. And then once the change happened, everyone — for the most part — thought, 'OK, that went OK and it seems like there's a better product on the field.' "So now the dialogue around change is with a much more open mind whether it be players, staff, the exchanges, the ideas, even if they seem very difficult to wrap your head around. They're not getting stiff-armed as much as they were the first go-round." Scott Crawford, operations director of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, said he prefers a traditional setup where any player can be a hero at any time. "I like the team aspect of the game where you get your shot," he said. "You can be a No. 8 hitter and you can come up with a big hit and win a World Series and (a superstar like Shohei) Ohtani can strike out." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2024. Follow @GregoryStrongCP on X. Gregory Strong, The Canadian PressDarts star Chris Dobey issues grovelling public apology for ‘absolute s*** show’ at Players Championship
eteran Congress leader and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh passed away on Thursday. He was 92. Known as the architect of India’s 1991 economic reforms, Singh's contributions as a leader, economist, and policymaker reshaped the country’s trajectory. Born on September 26, 1932, in a village in the Punjab province of undivided India. Dr Singh completed his Matriculation examinations from the Punjab University in 1948. His academic career took him from Punjab to the University of Cambridge, UK, where he earned a First Class Honours degree in Economics in 1957. Dr Singh followed this with a D. Phil in Economics from Nuffield College at Oxford University in 1962. Dr. Singh’s academic credentials were burnished by the years he spent on the faculty of Punjab University and the prestigious Delhi School of Economics. He had a brief stint at the UNCTAD Secretariat as well, during these years. This presaged a subsequent appointment as Secretary General of the South Commission in Geneva between 1987 and 1990. Over the years, Singh held pivotal roles, including Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (1982–1985), Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, and Secretary General of the South Commission, a Geneva-based economic policy think tank. Manmohan Singh's defining moment came in 1991 when, as Finance Minister under Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, he initiated reforms that deregulated industries, dismantled the licence raj, and revamped taxation and trade policies. His measures were instrumental in addressing a fiscal crisis marked by high deficits and critically low foreign exchange reserves. To avert an economic collapse, Singh’s government approached the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for assistance, pledged gold reserves, and introduced liberalization policies that opened India’s economy to global markets. These bold steps not only stabilized the economy but also positioned Singh as a reformist leader on the global stage. In 2004, following the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA)’s victory, Singh became India’s Prime Minister. His first term was marked by landmark initiatives, including the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, which assured employment for millions, and the Right to Education Act, which guaranteed free and compulsory education. Singh’s administration also launched the National Rural Health Mission, enacted the Forest Rights Act, and introduced the Aadhaar project, providing a unique identification system for citizens. National security measures were enhanced with the establishment of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Although the UPA returned to power in 2009 with Singh at the helm, his second term was overshadowed by allegations of corruption and several scandals, which marred his government’s reputation. Manmohan Singh’s leadership during the 1991 economic reforms laid the foundation for modern India's economic growth. His policies fostered privatization, entrepreneurship, and a consumer-driven market while easing global trade and attracting foreign investments. The establishment of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) in 1992 further strengthened India’s financial landscape. By steering India away from economic collapse and charting a path for sustained growth, Singh’s legacy remains one of visionary leadership and transformative impact. His contributions continue to shape India’s development, solidifying his place as a towering figure in the country’s history.
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Published 6:39 pm Wednesday, December 4, 2024 By Data Skrive Here’s a peek at the injury report for the Cleveland Cavaliers (19-3), which currently has three players listed, as the Cavaliers ready for their matchup against the Denver Nuggets (11-8, two injured players) at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Thursday, December 5 at 7:00 PM ET. Watch the NBA, other live sports and more on Fubo. What is Fubo? Fubo is a streaming service that gives you access to your favorite live sports and shows on demand. Use our link to sign up. In their most recent outing on Tuesday, the Cavaliers secured a 118-87 victory over the Wizards. Donovan Mitchell’s team-leading 19 points led the Cavaliers in the win. In their most recent outing on Tuesday, the Nuggets earned a 119-115 win against the Warriors. Nikola Jokic scored 38 points in the Nuggets’ win, leading the team. Name Position Status Injury PPG RPG APG Emoni Bates SF Out Knee Max Strus SF Out Ankle Ty Jerome SG Questionable Illness 11.8 2.0 3.6 Sign up for NBA League Pass to get live and on-demand access to NBA games. Name Position Status Injury PPG RPG APG DaRon Holmes PF Out For Season Achilles Vlatko Cancar PF Out Knee 2.3 2.0 0.0 Get tickets for any NBA game this season at StubHub. Catch NBA action all season long on Fubo. Not all offers available in all states, please visit BetMGM for the latest promotions for your area. Must be 21+ to gamble, please wager responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, contact 1-800-GAMBLER .Wingstop Announces Additional $500 Million Share Repurchase AuthorizationTAMPA, Fla. , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Marpai, Inc. ("Marpai" or the "Company") (OTCQX: MRAI), a technology platform company, which operates as a national Third-Party Administrator (TPA) through its subsidiaries and is transforming the $22 billion TPA market by offering affordable, intelligent, healthcare solutions to self-funded employer health plans, today announced the pricing of a private placement offering consisting of the issuance and sale of 621,194 shares of its Class A common stock (the "Common Stock"), par value $0.0001 per share, at a purchase price of $1.13 per Common Stock, for aggregate gross proceeds of $701,950 . The investors in the offering consisted of an institutional fund and certain officers and directors of the Company. The closing of the offering is expected to occur on or before December 6 , 2024.The company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering for general working capital. The securities issued in the offering are exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and/or Rule 506(b) of Regulation D promulgated thereunder. The securities have not been registered under the Securities Act and may not be sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About Marpai, Inc. Marpai, Inc. (OTCQX: MRAI) is a technology platform company which operates subsidiaries that provide TPA and value-oriented health plan services to employers that directly pay for employee health benefits. Primarily competing in the $22 billion TPA sector serving self-funded employer health plans representing over $1 trillion in annual claims. Through its Marpai Saves initiative, the Company works to deliver the healthiest member population for the health plan budget. Operating nationwide, Marpai offers access to leading provider networks including Aetna and Cigna and all TPA services. For more information, visit www.marpaihealth.com , the content of which is not incorporated by reference into this press release. Investors are invited to visit https://www.ir.marpaihealth.com Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that involve significant risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements can be identified through the use of words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "guidance," "may," "can," "could", "will", "potential", "should," "goal" and variations of these words or similar expressions. For example, the Company is using forward looking statements when it discusses the expected closing date and the intended use of proceeds. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect Marpai's current expectations and speak only as of the date of this release. Actual results may differ materially from Marpai's current expectations depending upon a number of factors. These factors include, among others, adverse changes in general economic and market conditions, competitive factors including but not limited to pricing pressures and new product introductions, uncertainty of customer acceptance of new product offerings and market changes, risks associated with managing the growth of the business. Except as required by law, Marpai does not undertake any responsibility to revise or update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. More detailed information about Marpai and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in Marpai's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/marpai-announces-pricing-of-700-000-private-placement-302324176.html SOURCE Marpai
July 2025 Sports Calendar
