Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Thermon Group Holdings, Inc. ( NYSE:THR – Free Report ) by 1.2% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 772,597 shares of the technology company’s stock after buying an additional 8,910 shares during the quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC owned 2.29% of Thermon Group worth $23,059,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Quest Partners LLC boosted its holdings in Thermon Group by 2,375.0% during the second quarter. Quest Partners LLC now owns 1,089 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 1,045 shares in the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board acquired a new stake in Thermon Group during the second quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Meeder Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Thermon Group during the second quarter valued at approximately $60,000. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV boosted its holdings in Thermon Group by 9.6% during the second quarter. Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV now owns 7,017 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $216,000 after purchasing an additional 613 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank boosted its holdings in Thermon Group by 9.3% during the second quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 9,403 shares of the technology company’s stock valued at $289,000 after purchasing an additional 804 shares in the last quarter. 99.76% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Thermon Group Price Performance Shares of THR stock opened at $28.62 on Friday. Thermon Group Holdings, Inc. has a 12-month low of $23.76 and a 12-month high of $35.93. The firm has a market capitalization of $964.06 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.36 and a beta of 1.10. The company has a quick ratio of 1.85, a current ratio of 2.80 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $29.74 and a 200-day moving average of $29.85. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Thermon Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, September 14th. Check Out Our Latest Report on THR Insider Buying and Selling In other Thermon Group news, SVP David Buntin sold 28,137 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.15, for a total transaction of $904,604.55. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 57,773 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,857,401.95. The trade was a 32.75 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link . Company insiders own 2.40% of the company’s stock. Thermon Group Profile ( Free Report ) Thermon Group Holdings, Inc provides engineered industrial process heating solutions for process industries in the United States and Latin America, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. It offers heat tracing products, such as electric heat tracing cables, steam heating solutions, controls, monitoring and software, instrumentation, project services, industrial heating and filtration solutions, temporary electrical power distribution and lighting, and other products and services. Featured Articles Five stocks we like better than Thermon Group The Most Important Warren Buffett Stock for Investors: His Own S&P 500 ETFs: Expense Ratios That Can Boost Your Long-Term Gains With Risk Tolerance, One Size Does Not Fit All How AI Implementation Could Help MongoDB Roar Back in 2025 The Role Economic Reports Play in a Successful Investment Strategy Hedge Funds Boost Oil Positions: Is a Major Rally on the Horizon? Want to see what other hedge funds are holding THR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Thermon Group Holdings, Inc. ( NYSE:THR – Free Report ). Receive News & Ratings for Thermon Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Thermon Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Specialized Workers at Edmonton Public Schools Join CUPE
COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Once Iowa's running game started rolling, it never really stopped. That meant a bigger workload than ever for Kaleb Johnson. Johnson rushed for 164 yards and a touchdown on a career-high 35 carries, and Kamari Moulton scored on a 68-yard run in the fourth quarter to help Iowa outlast Maryland 29-13 on Saturday. “Doesn't take a Knute Rockne to figure this one out,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "Coming in we wanted to be able to run the football. That's what we do best." Johnson scored from 2 yards out in the second quarter for his 21st rushing touchdown of the season, and the Hawkeyes (7-4, 5-3 Big Ten) rebounded from their loss to UCLA in their previous game. Maryland (4-7, 1-7) needed to win its final two regular-season games to reach six wins and bowl eligibility, but the Terrapins were dominated in the first half and eventually fell behind 16-0. Drew Stevens made five field goals for Iowa, including kicks from 54 yards in the second quarter, then 50 and 49 in the third. Iowa, which does not exactly push the tempo, ran 46 offensive plays in the first half. The Hawkeyes had the ball for over six minutes on each of their first three possessions, which resulted in a fumble, a field goal and then Johnson's TD. “I thought the first half really played out about as well as we could outside the turnover,” said Ferentz, whose son Brian is an offensive assistant at Maryland. “Controlling the ball, keeping it on the ground and trying to keep their quarterback off the field.” Maryland replaced quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. with backup MJ Morris after two fruitless possessions, but the Terps still trailed 13-0 at halftime. Edwards went back in and led Maryland all the way to the Iowa 3 in the third quarter, but he was injured in a collision with defensive back Xavier Nwankpa. “The kid's a warrior. He's been banged up all year,” Terps coach Mike Locksley said. “I very rarely come in and talk about injuries because those are excuses and I'm not about that. Billy came to me and said, ‘Coach, I want to try to go.’ And he really gave us a chance." Morris came in and capped that drive with an 8-yard scoring pass to Tai Felton that made it 16-6, but a 2-point conversion was unsuccessful. A 12-yard touchdown strike from Morris to Felton made it 19-13 with 11:05 to play, but Iowa answered with Moulton's big run less than two minutes later. Iowa: Quarterback Jackson Stratton, a walk-on transfer from Colorado State, wasn't asked to do much as the Hawkeyes were able to lean on the running game. And credit Iowa's defense for an excellent first half that helped build a big enough lead. Maryland: No matter how obvious Iowa's plan was, the Terps couldn't do much to stop it. Iowa finished with 268 yards rushing on 58 attempts. Ferentz now has 203 career victories as Iowa's head coach. Only Woody Hayes (205) has more in Big Ten history. Johnson looked plenty motivated after he produced just 49 yards rushing against UCLA. He also had extra time to rest since Iowa was off last weekend. “That 49 yards. I was mad at myself a little bit," he said. "I was being too soft. I wasn’t running as hard as I could.” Iowa quarterback Cade McNamara hasn't played since entering concussion protocol after a game late last month. Ferentz urged fans to support McNamara, who since 2022 has dealt with leg, quad and knee problems in addition to his latest issue. “Sometimes you've got to step back and have some compassion for the people that are out competing,” Ferentz said. "You think about the last three years for this guy. He has had a rough go." Iowa: Hosts Nebraska on Friday. Maryland: At Penn State on Saturday. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballSAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — When Kenyan police arrived in Haiti as part of a U.N.-backed mission earlier this year to tackle gang violence, hopes were high. Coordinated gang attacks on prisons, police stations and the main international airport had crippled the country’s capital and forced the prime minister to resign , plunging Haiti into an unprecedented crisis. But the crisis has only deepened since the international policing contingent arrived. The main international airport closed for the second time this year after gangs opened fire on commercial flights in mid-November, striking a flight attendant. Gunmen also are attacking once-peaceful communities to try and seize control of the entire capital, taking advantage of political infighting that led to the abrupt dismissal of the prime minister earlier this month. Now, a new prime minister is tasked with turning around a nation that sees no escape from its troubles as Haitians wonder: How did the country reach this point? ‘No functioning authority' Bloody coups, brutal dictatorships and gangs created by Haiti's political and economic elite have long defined the country's history, but experts say the current crisis is the worst they’ve seen. “I’m very bleak about the future,” said Robert Fatton, a Haitian politics expert at the University of Virginia. “The whole situation is really collapsing.” The government is anemic, the U.N.-backed mission that supports Haiti's understaffed police department lacks funding and personnel, and gangs now control 85% of the capital. Then, on Wednesday, another blow. Doctors Without Borders announced it was suspending critical care in Port-au-Prince as it accused police of targeting its staff and patients, including threats of rape and death. It’s the first time the aid group has stopped working with new patients since it began operating in Haiti more than 30 years ago. “Every day that we cannot resume activities is a tragedy, as we are one of the few providers of a wide range of medical services that have remained open during this extremely difficult year,” said Christophe Garnier, mission director in Haiti. Lionel Lazarre, deputy spokesman for Haiti’s National Police, did not return messages for comment. Neither did officials with Kenya’s mission when asked about the surge in gang violence. In a recent statement, the Kenyan-led mission said it was “cognizant of the road ahead that is fraught with challenges." But it noted that ongoing joint patrols and operations have secured certain communities and forced gangs to change the way they operate. André François Giroux, Canada’s ambassador to Haiti, told The Associated Press on Saturday that his country and others have been trying to bolster the Kenyan-led mission. “They’ve done miracles, I think, considering all the challenges that we’ve been facing," he said. “What we have to keep in mind is that it’s still very much in deployment mode,” Giroux said. “There are not even 400 on the ground right now.” A spokesman for Haiti’s new prime minister, Alix Didier Fils-Aimé, did not return messages for comment. In a statement Thursday, his administration said authorities were strengthening security along the capital's main roads and had formed a special security council. “The prime minister renews his commitment to find lasting solutions to current problems,” it said. The statement was issued just days after gangs launched a pre-dawn attack Tuesday around an upper-class community in Haiti’s capital, forcing residents armed with machetes and guns to fight side-by-side with police to repel gunmen. At least 28 gang members were killed, but not before some reached an area near an upscale hotel long considered safe. “It tells you that there is no functioning authority in Haiti," Fatton said. Dwindling aid and growing isolation A main concern in the ongoing crisis is the temporary closure of the main international airport in Port-au-Prince. It means critical aid is not reaching those who need it the most in a country where nearly 6,000 people are starving and nearly half of the more than 11 million inhabitants are experiencing crisis levels of hunger or worse. Gang violence also has left more than 700,000 people homeless in recent years . “We are deeply concerned about the isolation of Port-au-Prince from the rest of Haiti and the world,” said Laurent Uwumuremyi, Mercy Corps’ country director for Haiti. The aid group helps people including more than 15,000 living in makeshift shelters, but persistent gang violence has prevented workers from reaching a growing number of them in the capital and beyond. Basic goods also are dwindling as the suspension of flights has delayed imports of critical supplies. “Before, there were some neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince that we considered safe that the gangs had never reached, but now they are threatening to take over the control of the entire capital,” Uwumuremyi said. At least 150 people were reported killed in the capital and 20,000 forced to flee their homes in the second week of November alone. Overall, more than 4,500 people were reported killed in Haiti so far this year, the U.N. said. Jimmy Chérizier, a former elite police officer who became a gang leader known as Barbecue, warned that a gang coalition known as Viv Ansanm will keep attacking as they demand the resignation of a transitional presidential council tasked with leading the country along with the new prime minister. The council also is supposed to organize general elections for the first time in nearly a decade so voters can choose a president, a position left empty since President Jovenel Moïse was killed at his private residence in July 2021. ‘What else are you left with?’ The U.S. and other countries pushed for a U.N. peacekeeping mission in Haiti at a U.N. Security Council meeting this week. Only about 400 officers from Kenya have arrived, along with a handful of police and soldiers from other countries — way short of the 2,500 personnel slated for the mission. “This is not just another wave of insecurity; it is a dramatic escalation that shows no signs of abating,” Miroslav Jenča, U.N. assistant secretary general for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, said Wednesday at the meeting. But Russia and China oppose a U.N. peacekeeping mission , leaving many to wonder what other options are left for Haiti. Giroux, the Canadian ambassador, said his country supports a peacekeeping operation “when the time is right.” “Everybody is looking at a peacekeeping mission as a silver bullet,” he said, adding that even if that were to happen, it wouldn’t be able to deploy for another six to 12 months. “We need to be realistic.” Giroux said he is hopeful that some 600 Kenyans will arrive in Haiti in upcoming weeks, but added that "none of this matters if the political elite doesn’t get its act together.” The nine-member transitional presidential council has been marred by accusations of corruption and infighting and was criticized for firing the previous prime minister. “I’m at a loss for any short-term solution for Haiti, let alone any long-term solutions,” Fatton said. “The gangs have seen that they shouldn’t be afraid of the Kenyan mission.” He said one option may be for the government to negotiate with the gangs. “At the moment, it is perceived as utterly unacceptable," he said. "But if the situation deteriorates even more, what else are you left with?”
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CNH announces Global Leadership Team changes Basildon, December 16, 2024 CNH (NYSE: CNH) today announces leadership changes designed to capitalize on current market opportunities in its Agriculture business in the North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) regions. These developments will support the Company at this stage of the agricultural cycle, readying it for the upswing. Scott Harris will assume the role of President, North America, effective January 1, 2025. Markus Müller will join CNH as President, EMEA, effective March 1, 2025. The Company has selected these two new regional leaders based on their extensive experience and capabilities. Their leadership will be instrumental in executing CNH's strategic goals and driving success in these regions. With this announcement, Vilmar Fistarol is stepping down as President, North America, effective December 31, 2024, and he will remain in an advisory role with CNH during H1 2025. Furthermore, Carlo Alberto Sisto is stepping down as President, EMEA, with immediate effect. North America leadership North America is a core region, offering significant opportunities for CNH's most advanced products, technologies and services. Scott Harris brings multifaceted experience across the Company's agricultural operations, and is currently the Global Brand President of Case IH and STEYR. In North America, he has led both the Financial Services business - CNH Capital - and the Parts & Service division. Scott Harris has also helmed our CASE Construction Equipment, New Holland Construction and Case IH brands in the region. Across these leadership roles, he has gained intimate knowledge of our Case IH and New Holland brands, their dealer networks, and customers across the region. EMEA leadership Agriculture in the EMEA region is dynamic and diverse, requiring a wide range of specialized solutions. CNH's portfolio is ideally placed to increasingly serve this region across its different geographies and farm types. Starting March 1, 2025, Markus Müller will join CNH as President, EMEA. Mr. Müller arrives from the global engine manufacturer DEUTZ AG, and brings with him a wealth of relevant industrial and commercial experience. He was most recently Chief Technology and Chief Sales Officer, alongside serving as an Executive Board Member. He began his career at DEUTZ AG in 2006 where prior to his most recent appointment, he served as Senior Vice President of Product Development & Technical Customer Support, preceded by leadership roles in Research & Development. From 2016 - 2018, Mr. Müller was Managing Director of HJS Emission Technology, where he was responsible for Product Development, Operations and Sales. Stefano Pampalone, Agriculture Chief Commercial Officer, will assume the role of President, EMEA, ad interim, in addition to his current responsibility until February 28. Mr. Pampalone and Mr. Müller will work together over the coming months to ensure a smooth transition in the leadership of the EMEA region and its agriculture activities. "Vilmar is stepping down as President, North America at the end of 2024 after 34 years of outstanding service, having positively impacted many areas of our business across our global regions. He hands over the reins to Scott, who is the natural choice to lead North America,” said Gerrit Marx, Chief Executive Officer at CNH. "I would like to warmly thank Carlo for his 26 years of committed service during which he has spearheaded significant developments across our regions, most recently having taken the helm of EMEA post-COVID and navigating a challenging phase of the agriculture cycle. In Stefano, we have an experienced leader who will ensure a smooth transition until Markus's arrival on March 1. We are excited to welcome Markus to the CNH team and confident that his extensive industrial and commercial experience will drive significant progress across the EMEA region,” said Mr. Marx. CNH Industrial (NYSE: CNH) is a world-class equipment, technology and services company. Driven by its purpose of Breaking New Ground, which centers on Innovation, Sustainability and Productivity, the Company provides the strategic direction, R&D capabilities, and investments that enable the success of its global and regional Brands. Globally, Case IH and New Holland supply 360° agriculture applications from machines to implements and the digital technologies that enhance them; and CASE and New Holland Construction Equipment deliver a full lineup of construction products that make the industry more productive. The Company's regionally focused Brands include: STEYR , for agricultural tractors; Raven , a leader in digital agriculture, precision technology and the development of autonomous systems; Hemisphere , a leading designer and manufacturer of high-precision satellite-based positioning, and heading technologies; Flexi-Coil , specializing in tillage and seeding systems; Miller , providing tillage, seeding and hay & forage implements; and Eurocomach, producing a wide range of mini and midi excavators for the construction sector, including electric solutions. Across a history spanning over two centuries, CNH has always been a pioneer in its sectors and continues to passionately innovate and drive customer efficiency and success. As a truly global company, CNH's 40,000+ employees form part of a diverse and inclusive workplace, focused on empowering customers to grow, and build, a better world. For more information and the latest financial and sustainability reports visit: cnh.com For news from CNH and its Brands visit: media.cnh.com Contacts: Media Relations Email: [email protected] Investor Relations Email: [email protected] Forward-looking Statements All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release including competitive strengths; business strategy; future financial position or operating results; budgets; projections with respect to revenue, income, earnings (or loss) per share, capital expenditures, dividends, liquidity, capital structure or other financial items; costs; and plans and objectives of management regarding operations and products, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements also include statements regarding the future performance of CNH and its subsidiaries on a standalone basis. These statements may include terminology such as "may”, "will”, "expect”, "could”, "should”, "intend”, "estimate”, "anticipate”, "believe”, "outlook”, "continue”, "remain”, "on track”, "design”, "target”, "objective”, "goal”, "forecast”, "projection”, "prospects”, "plan”, or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Rather, they are based on current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside our control and are difficult to predict. If any of these risks and uncertainties materialize (or they occur with a degree of severity that the Company is unable to predict) or other assumptions underlying any of the forward-looking statements prove to be incorrect, including any assumptions regarding strategic plans, the actual results or developments may differ materially from any future results or developments expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements include, among others: economic conditions in each of our markets, including the significant uncertainty caused by geopolitical events; production and supply chain disruptions, including industry capacity constraints, material availability, and global logistics delays and constraints; the many interrelated factors that affect consumer confidence and worldwide demand for capital goods and capital goods-related products, changes in government policies regarding banking, monetary and fiscal policy; legislation, particularly pertaining to capital goods-related issues such as agriculture, the environment, debt relief and subsidy program policies, trade and commerce and infrastructure development; government policies on international trade and investment, including sanctions, import quotas, capital controls and tariffs; volatility in international trade caused by the imposition of tariffs, sanctions, embargoes, and trade wars; actions of competitors in the various industries in which we compete; development and use of new technologies and technological difficulties; the interpretation of, or adoption of new, compliance requirements with respect to engine emissions, safety or other aspects of our products; labor relations; interest rates and currency exchange rates; inflation and deflation; energy prices; prices for agricultural commodities and material price increases; housing starts and other construction activity; our ability to obtain financing or to refinance existing debt; price pressure on new and used equipment; the resolution of pending litigation and investigations on a wide range of topics, including dealer and supplier litigation, intellectual property rights disputes, product warranty and defective product claims, and emissions and/or fuel economy regulatory and contractual issues; security breaches, cybersecurity attacks, technology failures, and other disruptions to the information technology infrastructure of CNH and its suppliers and dealers; security breaches with respect to our products; our pension plans and other post-employment obligations; political and civil unrest; volatility and deterioration of capital and financial markets, including pandemics (such as the COVID-19 pandemic), terrorist attacks in Europe and elsewhere; the remediation of a material weakness; our ability to realize the anticipated benefits from our business initiatives as part of our strategic plan; including targeted restructuring actions to optimize our cost structure and improve the efficiency of our operations; our failure to realize, or a delay in realizing, all of the anticipated benefits of our acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances or divestitures and other similar risks and uncertainties, and our success in managing the risks involved in the foregoing. Forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions relating to the factors described in this press release, which are sometimes based upon estimates and data received from third parties. Such estimates and data are often revised. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside CNH's control. CNH expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to provide, update or revise any forward-looking statements in this announcement to reflect any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Further information concerning CNH, including factors that potentially could materially affect its financial results, is included in the Company's reports and filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). All future written and oral forward-looking statements by CNH or persons acting on the behalf of CNH are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained herein or referred to above. Additional factors could cause actual results to differ from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements included in the Company's filings with the SEC (including, but not limited to, the factors discussed in our 2023 Annual Report and subsequent quarterly reports). Attachment 20241216_PR_CNH_GLT_Announcement_NA_EMEABeneath the surface: The strategic implications of seabed warfare
Mangaluru: Manjanady gas explosion - Another child succumbs; death toll rises to 3
The controversial Australian has played only one match in more than two years because of injury but that has not stopped him being an outspoken presence on social media during a difficult few months for the sport. First it was announced in August that Sinner had failed two doping tests in March but was cleared of fault, while in November Swiatek was handed a one-month ban for a failed test caused by contaminated medication. Feels good getting these consecutive days training in the bank man.... Wrist re construction and back out here... blessed..................Without failing any drug tests 🙂↕️🙏🏽 be proud kygs doing it the right way 😩😂 pic.twitter.com/J8l21lnTdI — Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) December 5, 2024 Kyrgios has been particularly vociferous in his criticism of Sinner, who could yet face a ban after the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed the finding of no fault or negligence in his case. At a press conference ahead of the Brisbane International, Kyrgios told reporters: “I have to be outspoken about it because I don’t think there’s enough people that are speaking about it. I think people are trying to sweep it under the rug. “I just think that it’s been handled horrifically in our sport. Two world number ones both getting done for doping is disgusting for our sport. It’s a horrible look. “The tennis integrity right now – and everyone knows it, but no one wants to speak about it – it’s awful. It’s actually awful. And it’s not OK.” Kyrgios initially underwent knee surgery in January 2023, returning to action in June of that year, but he played only one match before pulling out of Wimbledon due to a torn ligament in his right wrist. He has not played a competitive match since, and it appeared doubtful that he would be able to return, but the 29-year-old will make his comeback in Brisbane this week. Kyrgios will take on France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in singles, while he will also team up with Novak Djokovic in a blockbuster doubles pairing. “It’s good to be back,” said Kyrgios. “I honestly never thought I’d be back playing at this level. Even entering an event like this, preparing, doing all the right things. A post shared by Nick Kyrgios (@k1ngkyrg1os) “I’m really excited to just go out there and play, just play tennis. I saw Novak in the gym, playing doubles with him, a lot to be excited about that I’m able to get out there and compete again.” Asked whether he could get back to the same level that saw him reach the Wimbledon final in 2022, Kyrgios said: “I still believe I can, whether or not that’s factual or not. There was another player who was like, ‘You have to be realistic’. That’s not how I am. I always back my ability.” The new tennis season is already under way, with the United Cup team event beginning on Friday. Great Britain, who are weakened by the absence of Jack Draper through injury, begin their campaign against Argentina in Sydney on Monday before facing hosts Australia on Wednesday. That could pit Katie Boulter against fiance Alex De Minaur, with the pair having announced their engagement last week. A post shared by Katie Boulter (@katiecboulter) “Obviously some incredible news from our side, but I think we kind of wanted it to die down a little bit before matches started,” said Boulter of the timing. “My private life is out in the public a little bit at the moment. But, in terms of the stuff that I’m doing on the court, I’ll be doing the best I can every single day to stay in my own little bubble.” Billy Harris has taken Draper’s place, with the British number one facing a race against time to be fit for the Australian Open because of a hip problem. Emma Raducanu is the sixth seed at the ASB Classic in Auckland and will begin her season with a match against Robin Montgomery, while Cameron Norrie takes on another American, Learner Tien, at the Hong Kong Open.
Ammonia, a key ingredient in synthetic fertilizers, is critical in global agriculture, supporting billions of people. However, its production contributes significantly to carbon emissions, prompting urgent calls for greener alternatives. The traditional process of making ammonia involves nitrogen and hydrogen, with hydrogen typically sourced from natural gas. Environmental engineer Aurelian Istrate states, “Natural gas contains both carbon and hydrogen, but only hydrogen is needed for ammonia. This means that a lot of carbon is released during production.” The carbon footprint from traditional ammonia production is a pressing concern in the fight against climate change. Sustainable solution One promising solution lies in hydrogen production through electrolysis powered by renewable energy. However, Istrate notes that this method remains expensive and not widely adopted, leaving most ammonia produced through conventional means. In his research, Istrate proposes an innovative alternative: using biomethane instead of natural gas in ammonia production. Biomethane, derived from biomass such as food waste and agricultural residues, has the same chemical structure as natural gas (CH4) but with a significant difference – it is a renewable resource. When biomethane is used, the carbon dioxide released during combustion was recently captured from the atmosphere during biomass growth through photosynthesis. “This achieves a balance,” Istrate explains. In contrast, burning natural gas releases CO2 stored underground for millions of years, adding extra carbon to the atmosphere. Istrate further emphasizes the potential for carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to mitigate ammonia production’s environmental impacts. “If instead of emitting this carbon, you capture and store it permanently, you can work towards net-zero emissions or even carbon negativity,” he says. This means that ammonia production could offset more CO2 than it emits. Net-zero Ammonia One of the advantages of using biomethane is that it aligns well with existing ammonia production technologies. Istrate points out that the separation of CO2 is integral to biomethane and ammonia production processes, meaning no new technologies are needed for carbon capture. In his comparative research, Istrate evaluates three ammonia production methods: conventional processes, electrolysis, and biomethane-based production. His findings reveal that using biomethane alongside CCS can produce carbon-negative ammonia. He also delves into a more pragmatic approach, investigating a scenario where natural gas is blended with biomethane. To achieve carbon neutrality, Istrate discovered that a mix of 44% biomethane and 56% natural gas, combined with carbon capture, would be required. Economically, biomethane stands out as a competitive option, particularly in the current landscape influenced by high gas prices due to geopolitical tensions like the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This situation and the cost and inefficiency of alternatives like Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS) position biomethane as a more viable solution. “You don’t need complex technology like DACCS,” Istrate asserts. “Often, there are simpler solutions that can have an immediate impact.” Introducing biomethane into ammonia production is one such solution that could significantly lower carbon emissions in the agricultural sector while ensuring a sustainable supply of fertilizers. As the world grapples with climate change, innovations like biomethane represent hopeful pathways towards a greener future in ammonia production, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and aligning agriculture with environmental sustainability.Enghouse Acquires Aculab PLCPrepare for uncertain, shock-prone future, Bank of Canada head tells B.C. crowd