Monday, January 15, 2024
Frederik X kisses wife as he becomes King of Denmark
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Sunday, January 14, 2024
Scientists aim to drill into a volcano's magma chamber to unleash powerful energy
Scientists in Iceland have come up with an ambitious plan to drill into a volcano's magma chamber to source an abundant amount of clean, super-hot geothermal energy.
The project, which would be a scientific first if successful, would see boreholes drilled about 1.3 miles down through the earth’s crust at a volcano known as Krafla, located in the northeast of Iceland.
With over 200 volcanoes, Iceland is already a leader in geothermal energy where heat or hot water vapor is extracted and separated into liquid water and steam. The steam is then run through turbines that produce electricity used to power and heat its many greenhouses, used for its high levels of local food production, as well as for heating. Around 90% of homes in Iceland are heated by geothermal energy, according to Energy Transition, a green energy website.
ICELAND VOLCANO ERUPTS AFTER WEEKS OF INCREASED SEISMIC ACTIVITY
However, geothermal energy is cooler than steam at fossil fuel power plants, about 482°F and 842°F, respectively, and so tapping into the magma chamber could unleash a far powerful energy supply and boost the nation’s overall energy stock.
"It's quite inefficient at those low temperatures, so there's an interest in trying to develop super-hot geothermal," John Eichelberger, a volcanologist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, told New Scientist.
"The purpose of producing energy from near magma super-hot geothermal is that these wells are up to an order of magnitude more powerful in terms of producing energy than conventional wells," project manager Björn Þór Guðmundsson, told the Daily Mail.
"We can drill one well instead of 10 for the same power output."
The project, being undertaken by Krafla Magma Testbed (KMT), an Icelandic magma research organization, will build on a 2009 effort to drill close to one of the Krafla magma chambers by a team from a nearby power plant that has churned out geothermal energy from the volcano since the 1970s.
The intent with that project was only to get near to the chamber to explore geothermal energy options, but the chamber was not as deep down as expected, and the project accidentally broke through into the magma vault.
ICELANDIC VILLAGERS CLEARED TO RETURN HOME FOLLOWING MAJOR VOLCANIC ERUPTION
The drill struck magma and corroded the steel in the casings of the well as the 842°F heat destroyed the well. KMT scientists are working on materials that will be able to withstand the scorching heat in the upcoming project.
The project crucially confirmed that drilling into a magma chamber doesn't cause the volcano to erupt, according to New Scientist.
"One of the main goals of KMT is to develop wells with the right materials that can withstand these conditions," Guðmundsson told the Daily Mail.
Krafla is one of the country’s most explosive volcanoes, having gone off approximately 29 times since the country was first settled, although its last eruption was back in 1984. The volcano that erupted in December was near the fishing town of Grindavik, in the southwestern portion of Iceland.
"Tapping superheated or supercritical steam from adjacent the heat source could boost energy transport to the surface by an order of magnitude and efficiency of conversion to electricity by 3.5 times," scientists for KMT wrote in a 2018 paper.
"When combined with the advantages of continuous operation (bed load), absence of need to transport either fuel or waste, limited carbon emission, and advances in long-distance HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) power transmission, geothermal energy could change the electrical energy game completely."
The project will also help KMT scientists to monitor the magma chamber by applying censors that would take pressure readings, which could improve forecasts of eruptions.
Other experiments later in the decade could be injecting fluids into the chamber to alter the pressure and temperature, and measure the results, according to the Daily Mail.
"The project is driven by the need to understand magmatic systems, to improve volcano monitoring strategies, and to develop next-generation, high-enthalpy geothermal energy," scientists for KMT wrote in a 2018 paper.
"Monitoring the temperature profile in the roof of a magma chamber will reveal actual heat flux from magma to hydrothermal system, and unprecedented observation that will test both the promise and sustainability of Super Hot Geothermal Systems (SHGS). SHGS are systems which are more than 662°F," scientists added.
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DeSantis promises Florida will 'hunt down' fentanyl traffickers as bust seizes 15,000 deadly pills
FIRST ON FOX: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is hailing law enforcement efforts and promising to "hunt down" fentanyl traffickers after the successful seizure of a massive 15,000 pills disguised as OxyContin by Florida authorities on Thursday.
"Fentanyl flowing over our southern border is a direct result of the Biden Border Crisis and in Florida, we will not allow it to take the lives of innocent people," DeSantis said in a statement to Fox News Digital.
"In Florida, we will hunt down anyone who brings fentanyl into our communities and puts lives at risk," DeSantis, who is also running for the 2024 Republican White House nomination, said. "I am thankful to the officers who continue to put the safety of their communities first and apprehend these criminals."
His comments came after the Florida Highway Patrol Criminal Interdiction Unit arrested a suspect on Thursday and seized the haul of drugs in Osceola County.
SENATE REPORT SOUNDS ALARM ON SURGE IN FENTANYL DEATHS AMONG OLDER AMERICANS: ‘SILENT EPIDEMIC’
According to the state, troopers stopped a white Mercedes driving recklessly and pursued it going over 100 miles an hour, hitting other vehicles and driving on the wrong side of the highway. The driver, Jonathan Nicola, crashed and was taken into custody for traffic offenses.
During the subsequent search of the vehicle, officers found a loaded handgun, drug paraphernalia and 15,000 pills in a vacuum-sealed bag. The vehicle was determined to have been stolen. Nicola has since been charged with drug trafficking and possession, as well as vehicle and weapons charges.
Illicit fentanyl is typically manufactured in Mexico using Chinese precursors and then moved across the U.S. land border. While the majority of seizures take place at ports of entry, officials have warned about fentanyl being smuggled in between ports and past overwhelmed Border Patrol agents who are dealing with a historic migrant crisis.
DOJ RENEWS SCOTUS PUSH TO ACT AFTER TEXAS SEIZES BORDER AREAS, BLOCKS BORDER PATROL FROM ENTERING
"Despite the unabated flow of Fentanyl flowing into our nation through the open southern border, State Troopers wake up every day willingly putting themselves in high-risk situations like this, so that they can put evil people behind bars," Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director Dave Kerner said in a statement.
"Despite the advantages the drug cartels reap from the open border, the Florida Highway Patrol will never back down from the mission Governor DeSantis has assigned us; keep our communities safe, and fight back against the cartel driven devastation," he said.
Of the over 107,000 overdose deaths in 2021, 75% involved an opioid, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC.) The drug can be fatal in tiny doses due to it being 50 times stronger than heroin, and is often either mixed with, or disguised as, other drugs, so users are unaware they are ingesting fentanyl.
The Biden administration has put the increase in seizures of the drug down to better screening and technology at ports of entry, and has said it needs more funding. But Republicans have said it is due to an increase in attempts as a result of the border crisis, meaning that more of the drug could be getting through.
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US delivers 'private message' to Iran after Yemen strikes
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Saturday, January 13, 2024
Ex-dictator Desi Bouterse of Suriname missing after being sentenced in killings of 15 political opponents
Former Suriname dictator Desi Bouterse, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison last month for the killings of 15 political opponents, has vanished after not turning himself in to authorities on Friday as planned.
His wife, Ingrid Bouterse-Waldring, told reporters that she did not know where he was and firmly stated, "He's not going to jail!"
"I haven’t seen or spoken to him for a few days," she said as she lashed out at judicial authorities for the conviction, claiming it was politically motivated.
EX-DICTATOR DESI BOUTERSE OF SURINAME SENTENCED IN MURDERS OF 15 POLITICAL OPPONENTS
Meanwhile, dozens of backers of Bouterse and the National Democratic Party he chairs arrived at his house to show their support as some yelled at journalists and played loud music, prompting government officials to tighten security measures.
"All necessary steps will be taken to ensure that the safety of both those involved and the wider society is guaranteed," the government said in a statement.
Spokesman Ricardo Panka said the party disagrees with the sentencing and noted that Bouterse will remain as chairman. But he said the crowd was ordered to remain calm.
"We are not going to create an angry mob to go against the authorities," he said.
Bouterse was sentenced on Dec. 20 after being found guilty in the 1982 killings, ending a historic 16-year legal process. He had previously been sentenced in 2019 and 2021 but appealed both rulings.
FORMER SURINAME MILITARY DICTATOR DESI BOUTERSE ELECTED PRESIDENT IN PARLIAMENTARY VOTE
A new team of lawyers filed an appeal Monday against the sentencing on grounds that an amnesty law Bouterse unsuccessfully tried to push through more than a decade ago would apply, but Suriname’s attorney general rejected the move on Tuesday.
On Wednesday, authorities ordered Bouterse and four others convicted in the case to report to various prisons by Friday. Only three have done so.
Bouterse led a bloodless coup to become dictator from 1980 to 1987. During that time, he and two dozen other suspects were accused of executing prominent people including lawyers, journalists and a university professor at a colonial fortress in the capital of Paramaribo.
Bouterse has accepted "political responsibility" for the 1982 killings but insists he was not present.
He was later democratically elected as president from 2010 to 2020.
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Shed Seven score first number one album - three decades after debut
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Friday, January 12, 2024
Biden meets with Paul Whelan's sister at White House after Russia again refuses release of former Marine
President Biden met with the sister of Paul Whelan on Wednesday after Russia rejected the latest deal to release the former U.S. Marine and bring him home.
The White House said in a statement that Biden held a private meeting with Elizabeth Whelan to discuss the administration’s efforts to bring her brother home. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan was also present.
"Immediately following the meeting, the President called the parents of Paul Whelan," the White House said.
"Since the beginning of the administration, the President has been personally engaged in the effort to secure the release of Americans held hostages and wrongfully detained around the world, including Paul Whelan and fellow American Evan Gershkovich.," the statement added.
US MARINE VETERAN PAUL WHELAN JAILED IN RUSSIA ATTACKED IN PRISON, FAMILY SAYS
In early December, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters that the United States had made "a new and significant proposal to secure Paul and Evan’s release," but "that proposal was rejected by Russia," according to CBS News.
The State Department noted that Dec. 28, 2023 marked five years since Russian authorities wrongfully detained Whelan.
Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed calls for the release of Whelan and Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter, at his annual press conference in Moscow last month.
"As for the possible extradition of these citizens [Gershkovich and Paul Whelan] to their homeland.… You say, why don't they return to their homeland? Then shouldn't they not commit crimes on the territory of the Russian Federation?" he said, according to Reuters. "But this is all rhetoric. It's not that we would refuse to return them. We didn't refuse. We want to reach an agreement, and these agreements must be mutually acceptable and suit both parties. We have contacts with our American partners on this matter, and dialogue is ongoing on this matter. It is not simple, I will not go into details now ... I hope we find a solution. But, I repeat, the American side must hear us and make an appropriate decision, one that suits the Russian side."
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov also reportedly blamed the White House for apparent leaks to U.S. media, saying publicity was hampering negotiations.
Whelan, a corporate security executive from Michigan and former U.S. Marine, has been jailed in Russia since his December 2018 arrest on espionage-related charges that both he and the U.S. government dispute. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison. In November, Whelan's family said he was attacked by a fellow prisoner on a production line in a labor camp.
Gershkovich, 32, was detained in March 2023 while on a reporting trip to the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, about 1,200 miles east of Moscow. He was accused of espionage and has been detained ever since. A Moscow court last month again rejected his appeal for pre-trial release, extending his detention to at least Jan. 30, 2024.
At least two U.S. citizens arrested in Russia in recent years, including WNBA star Brittney Griner, have been exchanged for Russians jailed in the U.S.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Huge ancient city found in the Amazon
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Thursday, January 11, 2024
Chicago man sentenced in hit-and-run death of retired police officer
A suburban Chicago man has been sentenced to more than four years in prison after pleading guilty in a hit-and-run crash that killed a retired Chicago police officer in 2022.
Ted Plevritis, of Palatine, Illinois, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of failure to report the crash and was sentenced to 4 1/2 years in prison, WLS-TV reported. He was given credit for almost two years already spent behind bars.
Plevritis was originally charged with several felonies, including failure to report an accident resulting in death and reckless homicide in a motor vehicle in the death of Rick Haljean, 57.
CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER KILLED, SUSPECT IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER SHOOTOUT
Haljean was crossing a road in January 2022 in Chicago’s Edison Park neighborhood when he was struck and killed by a vehicle Plevritis, then 62, was driving, Chicago police said.
Plevritis didn't stop to help Haljean, continued driving and fled the scene, according to a police accident report. A passerby gave CPR to Haljean, who was pronounced dead at a hospital.
CHICAGO COP MURDER: 5 IN CUSTODY AFTER OFFICER'S SHOOTING DEATH, SOURCE SAYS
The retired officer, a father of three, had served more than 30 years as a Chicago police officer.
Plevritis surrendered to police about a month after Haljean's death.
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Liverpool's Radio City name could go from tower after rebrand
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Wednesday, January 10, 2024
NFL Black Monday 2024: Arthur Smith exit headlines coaching staff turnovers after regular season ends
The 2023 regular season has come to an end and, unfortunately for some, so has their time as NFL coaches.
While some will find new homes, others may stay on the market.
"Black Monday" began this year with the early morning firing of Falcons head coach Arthur Smith, who just hours earlier made headlines following the New Orleans Saints blowout victory – and garbage-time touchdown – against Atlanta on Sunday.
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The Washington Commanders soon followed suit and expectedly moved on from Ron Rivera.
With the final week of the regular season completed, here is a breakdown of the coaches that didn’t survive the dreaded "Black Monday" firings.
Arthur Smith’s first gig as a head coach in the NFL came to an end just after midnight on Monday when the Falcons announced they would be parting ways with him after three seasons.
"Decisions like this are never easy and they never feel good," owner Arthur Blank said in a message shared by the team.
"We have profound respect for Coach Smith and appreciate all the hard work and dedication he has put into the Falcons over the last three years. He has been part of building a good culture in our football team, but the results on the field have not met our expectations. After significant thought and reflection, we have determined the best way forward for our team is new leadership in the head coaching position."
The decision followed the Falcons’ 48-17 loss to the Saints. It marked a 7-10 finish for Atlanta, the third consecutive season with the same result. It also marked the Falcons’ sixth straight losing season.
"We know the industry we’re in. Love doing what I’m doing," Smith said after Sunday’s loss when questioned about his future with the team. "Obviously, that wasn’t the result we wanted today."
In an unsurprising move, the Washington Commanders parted ways with veteran head coach Ron Rivera on Monday morning, following his fourth season with the team.
Rivera, who struggled to ever achieve the same level of success he did in his first season with the Commanders where he coached them to a division title in 2020, finished his career in Washington with a last-place finish in the NFC East for the second consecutive season after a loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
FROM OUTKICK: DOLPHINS ONCE HIGH FLYING OFFENSE HAS BEEN GROUNDED BY PLAYOFF TEAMS
"As we look ahead, we recognize the results this season were not good enough and a strategic shift in leadership and approach is necessary," majority owner Josh Harris said in a statement provided by the team.
"This is a crucial offseason for the Commanders, and we continue to be motivated and inspired by the way the fans have responded since we took ownership last summer. Stewarding this franchise is a responsibility we don't take lightly, and we're eager to lay the foundation for the next chapter of Commanders football."
Rivera said in a lengthy statement released by the team that he was "truly disappointed" by the results of the past three seasons, but he said it was "one of the greatest honors" of his career to coach in Washington.
After nearly a decade with the Carolina Panthers, Rivera was hired by the Commanders in 2020. He finished there with a 26-40-1 record.
The New York Giants closed out the regular season with a 27-10 win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday to finish the season 6-11. On Monday, the team announced two coaching changes, which included moving on from special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey and offensive line coach Bobby Johnson.
"I want to thank those guys for what they've done the last two years. This is the hard part of the job, I have a lot of respect for them," head coach Brian Daboll said at a press conference Monday.
"Just felt like we're going to move in a different direction, not going to add anything to it," he continued. "These were private conversations, but I do respect both of those guys and what they've done the last two years, their commitment to the team, their work ethic, but [we] wanted to make a change."
McGaughey, who in a previous stint with the Giants served as assistant special teams coach under Tom Coughlin, was in his sixth season in New York. Johnson followed Daboll after serving as an offensive line coach with the Buffalo Bills.
GIANTS’ WINK MARTINDALE RESIGNS AS DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR DESPITE INDICATIONS HE’D BE BACK: REPORTS
Daboll noted that defensive coordinator Wink Martindale and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka were both expected to be back next season.
"I think they're good coaches, so it'll be good to have some continuity and bring them back," he said.
Hours later, reports emerged that Martindale would resign from his position after just two seasons with the team.
The changes came after New York allowed a league-high 85 sacks, 20 more than any other team in the league.
After the disappointing season the Panthers had, it was no surprise that more changes were ahead following the end of the regular season.
Frank Reich was fired in November after just 11 games and a 1-10 record. He was hired after the Panthers fired former head coach Matt Rhule a few weeks into the 2022 season after two losing seasons and a 1-4 record to start his final year with the team.
On Monday, the Panthers announced that they would be parting ways with general manager Scott Fitterer after three seasons.
"As we move forward with the new direction for our franchise, I have made the decision that Scott Fitterer will no longer serve as our general manager," Panthers owner David Tepper said in a statement provided by the team.
"I appreciate Scott's efforts and wish the best for him and his family."
The Panthers have gone 14-37 since Fitterer joined the team in 2021. He also led the charge in orchestrating a trade with the Chicago Bears last season that allowed Carolina to move to the No. 1 spot to get quarterback Bryce Young in exchange for wide receiver D.J. Moore and four draft picks — one of them that turned out to be the No. 1 overall pick in 2024.
The Jacksonville Jaguars underwent major changes this week after being eliminated by the Tennessee Titans on Sunday following a 28-20 loss.
On Monday evening, the team released a statement confirming that defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell and "several members of his defensive staff" were relieved of their duties.
The following day, running backs coach Bernie Parmelee was let go and the Jaguars did not renew the contract of assistant offensive line coach Todd Washington, according to multiple reports.
"Since our season's end, I have made the difficult decision to relieve several members of the coaching staff – on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball -- of their duties," head coach Doug Pederson said in a statement provided by the team.
"I want to thank each of these coaches for their tireless efforts these last two seasons. Ultimately, I felt change was necessary to allow our football team to reach the goals for which we are capable."
Caldwell won his first Super Bowl title during his tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he served as the inside linebackers coach from 2019-2021. He joined the Jaguars under Pederson in 2022 and was fired after just his second season.
Mike Vrabel and the Tennessee Titans parted ways after six seasons on Tuesday, the team announced in a statement.
Vrabel, who won three Super Bowls as a player for the New England Patriots, led the Titans to a last-place finish in the AFC South with a 6-11 record. The Titans made three postseason appearances under his tenure, including the AFC Championship game during the 2019 season.
"As I told Coach Vrabel, this decision was as difficult as any I've made as Controlling Owner," Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said in a statement.
"I appreciate Mike's contributions to the Tennessee Titans both on and off the field. Anyone who has ever met him knows how passionate and genuine he is, and he's been a strong supporter of the Nashville community. We wish Mike, Jen, and the Vrabel family nothing but the best in the future."
Vrabel finished his career in Tennessee with a 56-48 record.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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20mph: Mark Drakeford clear as mud on enforcement - top Tory
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Tuesday, January 9, 2024
Biden tells heckler he's pushing Israel to leave Gaza
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Monday, January 8, 2024
FA Cup 2024: Liverpool reach fourth round after 2-0 victory over Arsenal
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Sunday, January 7, 2024
Middlesbrough 0-1 Aston Villa: Matty Cash hits deflected 87th-minute winner
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Robert De Niro gets emotional as Amy Poehler praises him for speaking 'truth to power' as regular Trump critic
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