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WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (Reuters) - Commonwealth Fusion Systems, a private company spun off from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, plans what it calls the world's first grid-scale fusion power plant in Virginia, to generate power by the early 2030s, the company said on Tuesday. The project, if successful, could revolutionize the global energy industry by tapping into a virtually limitless power source, similar to that which fuels the stars. But it is a long-shot. CFS lacks local and federal permits, investors to fund most of the plant's construction, and the answer to fusion's top technological question: how to get more energy out of a fusion reaction than what goes into it in the first place. Still, CFS, the largest private-sector fusion company, which has raised $2 billion since 2018 mainly for demonstration projects, is confident more money will flow for the plant. "The fact that there's a broad investor syndicate, that's a good thing," Bob Mumgaard, the company's CEO, told Reuters ahead of the announcement. CFS investors include Italian energy company ENI (ENI.MI) , opens new tab , Temasek, a sovereign wealth fund from Singapore, and Norway's Equinor (EQNR.OL) , opens new tab . For decades, scientists in the U.S., China, Europe, Russia and Japan have hoped that fusion, the reaction that produces the light and heat from the sun, can be replicated and sustained on Earth. To create fusion reactions, physicists use lasers or magnets to jam two light atoms into one, releasing large amounts of energy. When harnessed, the reactions could be used in power stations to generate emissions-free electricity, helping to fight climate change. As power demand rises due to growth in artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and cryptocurrencies, companies are raising billions of dollars in hopes of commercializing the technology. Unlike today's nuclear reactors, powered by fission, which splits atoms, fusion does not generate large amounts of long-lasting radioactive waste. But there are other challenges, such as ensuring materials withstand constant bombardments of high-energy neutrons and some of the hottest temperatures ever created on Earth, and how to transfer that heat to a turbine to generate electricity. Getting reactions to occur almost continuously instead of once in a while is yet another challenge. A fusion breakthrough came two years ago when scientists at a U.S. lab in California briefly achieved "fusion ignition" with lasers, though the energy output was tiny compared to the energy firing the lasers. CFS said it will start seeking local, state and federal permits next year. That is well before it expects to produce in 2026 its first plasma, or a superheated, charged state of matter that allows fusion reactions, at SPARC, its demonstration magnet-driven project in Massachusetts. It hopes to reach net energy shortly after. "There is of course no guarantee in life that all will go according to plan, but it's pretty sure if you don't prepare, it won't," Mumgaard said about the plan to build in Virginia before ironing out the science. Dominion Energy (D.N) , opens new tab will provide non-financial help, including development and technical expertise and leasing rights for the proposed site in Chesterfield County. Edward Baine, president of Dominion Energy Virginia, said CFS is "advancing the exciting energy potential of fusion." CFS expects ARC, the plant planned for Virginia, will have capacity to generate 400 megawatts of electricity — enough to power industrial sites or about 150,000 homes. Last year, the five-member U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission voted unanimously to separate fusion regulation from fission regulation, a move that developers of the new technology said would allow them to innovate. Last week, two anonymous NRC staffers who helped develop the rule, challenged the different licensing approach in a public document saying such plants could use large amounts of water for cooling and leak tritium, a hard-to-contain radioactive isotope. Mumgaard said CFS is learning how to deal with tritium at its Massachusetts facility and that the staffers' criticisms were "just part of the normal process of staff working through" fusion issues. Sign up here. Reporting by Timothy Gardner; editing by Richard Valdmanis and Rod Nickel Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab Thomson Reuters Timothy reports on energy and environment policy and is based in Washington, D.C. His coverage ranges from the latest in nuclear power, to environment regulations, to U.S. sanctions and geopolitics. He has been a member of three teams in the past two years that have won Reuters best journalism of the year awards. As a cyclist he is happiest outside.ST. PAUL, Minn. — Five weeks after losing a national election, Gov. Tim Walz is keeping his options open both in Minnesota and nationally, gearing up for the 2025 legislative session and trying to understand why the ticket he joined with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris didn’t win over enough voters. “Somehow we decided that electing a billionaire who screwed the middle class his entire life was better for the middle class,” Walz said in an interview, referring to the Harris-Walz ticket’s loss to President-elect Donald Trump. “Who knew making housing affordable was not as strong a message as: ‘They’re eating dogs and they’re eating cats.’ ” On the prospect of another national run, Walz said, “It would be too early to say that. I do want to be part of the conversation, because I think we are delivering, I think we are making a difference in people’s lives.” Walz is still trying to figure out how the party failed to better connect with working-class voters, whether it was a policy or messaging failure. “I would argue, if you ask people, ‘Would you like to see better education and more money in the pockets of the middle class, or would you like to see Elon Musk get richer?’ I think that election would probably swing heavily to, ‘We’d like to help the middle class.’” Walz acknowledged that Democrats have to figure it out. “I think the Democratic Party lost that message to the middle class,” Walz said. “I don’t think we focused on that, that bread-and-butter piece.” In every speech during his vice presidential run, Walz said he touched on how labor unions created safe working conditions, fair wages, a 40-hour work week and the ability to afford a home. “For whatever reason, that doesn’t seem to be what people identify as a core of the party,” Walz said. “I’d like to spend the time, you know, being that voice and continuing to fight for” the message that the party wants to make life easier for the middle class. He sounded exasperated when he talked about Trump backtracking on campaign promises, as the Republican is now acknowledging the tariffs on imports he promised could lead to price increases and that the United States may have to go to war with Iran. “For whatever reason, people were going to vote for Trump,” Walz said. “They didn’t believe us. They thought we were elite. (Republicans) were masterful at dragging us down on some of those things.” Walz said the goals of the middle class remain the same: Safety, earning more, having health care and good public schools. “Obviously, Donald Trump probably knows that they want that, too,” he said. “He didn’t message a damn thing about that, and I don’t believe he’s going to deliver on it.” The governor said he’s focused on the upcoming legislative session and he’s holding open the prospect of a run for an unprecedented third four-year term as governor in 2026. In coping with an incoming Trump administration, Walz said it will be a combination of fighting back and working with the president provided it doesn’t “compromise our values.” He noted that the GOP makes the case that states’ rights matter, and “we’re going to protect our states’ rights as much as we can,” he said. Walz said he worked with the Trump administration during COVID-19, but he recognized that Trump has expressed a desire to be vindictive. “I think we can expect that certain states will get hit harder than others,” Walz said. “My job will be here to make sure that none of that impacts negatively to people in Minnesota.” In other ways, he said Minnesota will be sheltered. “I’m not going to put women’s lives at risk when they need basic health care,” Walz said. “We’ll make the case that no matter what he thinks, he’s not a dictator. He needs to follow the law, and he needs to work with states.” His team already is looking into the possibility of dealing with selective federal funding cuts targeting Minnesota. He also openly wondered how voters will react as Trump’s policies play out. People “voted for it and they want mass deportations. I think now that’s going to become a little more realistic when federal agents come into your church during Mass, stop Mass and arrest the person sitting next to you worshiping, or they’re there when the child’s being dropped off at school, and they arrest the parents, and then we’ll have to figure out where the kids go after school.” After the legislative session, Walz said he expects to start thinking about 2026. Asked if he might step aside because other DFLers could be eager to run, Walz responded, “you could always have a primary.” He argued that life has improved in Minnesota under his tenure while Trump rescinded a basic American trait to not be cruel and voters endorsed that. “So I think for us as being a voice of more reason, maybe a little more kindness, a little more trying to find real solutions,” he said. ©2024 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Visit startribune.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLCDemocratic Gov. Wes Moore of Maryland, speaking with Fox News Digital, charges that 'what we're hearing from Donald Trump is insults' Maryland’s Democratic governor tapped one of the world’s largest risk-management firms for a short-term contract in preparation for Republican President-elect Trump moving in next door. Gov. Wes Moore hired Accenture PLC, an Irish IT and consulting firm with an estimated $60 billion in revenue, to be its eyes and ears on Trump’s return to Washington, D.C. Two days after Trump was projected to win, Maryland finalized its $190,000 contract. Consultants at Accenture have been charged with analyzing how Trump and congressional Republicans will affect Maryland , including in terms of federal monies sent across the Anacostia River as the new administration signals a major belt-tightening. MOORE: DEMS MUST EARN SUPPORT OF BLACK VOTERS Maryland Gov. Westley Moore (Getty) The contract includes a section focused on identifying state "resources and efforts and consider potential avenues for legal challenges." It also seeks to track Trump’s agenda and his circle’s engagements with third-party groups like the Heritage Foundation, according to the Baltimore Sun . Moore appeared to acknowledge there will be times Maryland’s interests run counter to the White House’s, but suggested his hiring of Accenture was not to create such an overtly adversarial relationship as critics have suggested. A spokesman for Moore appeared to dismiss claims the governor is trying to set up a showdown, saying there are four tenets guiding him into a new Trump era: "Defend our constitutional rights, grow our economy, and restore faith in our public servants [and] our institutions, and our democracy." "Governor Moore is ready to work with the incoming administration to ensure these goals are accomplished, and where there is common ground to be found, he will find it. Not only as a matter of principle – but as a responsibility to the people the Moore-Miller administration represents." The spokesman said hiring a firm like Accenture is standard practice in business, and that with the "unique role" the federal government plays in Maryland’s economy, it is important to fully understand how best to work with Trump. "With billions of dollars in potential liabilities for the state, it would be reckless of the Moore-Miller administration to not be prepared for any new policy directions taken by the federal government." BLACK VOTERS HAVE A ‘NATURAL SKEPTICISM’: MD GOV. WES MOORE Wes Moore (Fox News - Paul Steinhauser) Like Virginia and the District of Columbia itself, Maryland is inextricably linked to the federal government, which also comprises just under 10% of the state’s workforce. The Old Line State houses several federal agency headquarters. NASA’s Goddard Space Center boasts its own private exit off the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, the NIH campus sits in Bethesda and the FDA calls Silver Spring home. Geographically, what remains of the original federal district is also entirely former Maryland territory – as Arlington and Alexandria retroceded to Virginia in 1847. Fox News Digital reached out for comment from state House Minority Leader Jason Buckel, R-Cumberland. Buckel told Maryland Matters that the contract is "not in the best interests of any Marylander, particularly under the unified control of our federal government by Republicans," and suggested the contract is ill-timed given Maryland's reported billion-dollar deficit. D.C. and Virginia have also keyed into sweeping changes the Trump administration could bring to the region. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The Maryland state Capitol in Annapolis (Getty) District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser has requested a meeting with Trump, according to FOX5DC , while Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin was – unlike the other two leaders – a prominent Trump backer with few apparent concerns. "I look forward to having the wind at our backs as opposed to in our faces about everything that we’re doing because we’ve gone from the bottom of job growth to near the top of the country," Youngkin said. However, in Fairfax County, which, like Maryland’s Prince Georges and Montgomery counties, is home to a high proportion of federal workers, the top municipal leader warned of repercussions. Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey McKay told FOX5DC that Fairfax must "prepare to address the potential impacts of the new administration." He said a second Trump term poses a "risk" and noted Trump has a stated goal of "dismantling government bureaucracy." A representative for Accenture referred Fox News Digital back to Moore's office. Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital. He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant. Charles covers media , politics and culture for Fox News Digital. Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will miss Sunday's game against the Packers with a sore throwing shoulder.
Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products . There are numerous options for concert earplugs nowadays, so you don't have to settle for the bargain bin foam bits that completely seal off your ears anymore. The PPE-grade products vary in design and performance, with some offering different levels of noise reduction. That hearing protection always comes with the promise that the earplugs won't completely muffle the band, which is a real problem when you have to settle for the generic foam versions from the bartender. Loop has been in the concert earplug game since its founding in 2016. In that time, its product roster has grown to encompass nine different models, including dedicated options for sleep, travel, commuting and social events in addition to concerts, festivals and sporting events. The Switch 2 ($59.95) is Loop's latest, an improved version of the original Switch that debuted the ability to change sound filter levels while the earplugs were still in your ears. To put the audio quality to the test, I took them to a 100dB rock show in a small venue last month. Loop/Engadget 88 100 Expert Score Loop Switch 2 The Switch 2 delivers on Loop's promise to safely filter loud noise without overly muffling the sound for social gatherings, concerts, commuting and more. Pros Easy to adjust while wearing Very comfortable Cons Priciest model from Loop Noise levels on vary by 3dB $60 at Loop Loop has maintained mostly the same design from its first model. There's a silicone ear tip, similar to those on wireless earbuds, that's attached to a circular loop where all the protective bits reside. In the case of the Switch 2, the outer half of that loop rotates to allow you to select between three levels of sound filtration: Engage, Experience and Quiet. These settings reduce noise by 20dB, 23dB and 26dB... Billy Steele
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday voiced his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports, saying that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. The incoming president posted on social media that he met Harold Daggett, the president of the International Longshoreman's Association, and Dennis Daggett, the union's executive vice president. “I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it,” Trump posted. “The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen. Foreign companies have made a fortune in the U.S. by giving them access to our markets. They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. At the heart of the dispute is whether ports can install automated gates, cranes and container-moving trucks that could make it faster to unload and load ships. The union argues that automation would lead to fewer jobs, even though higher levels of productivity could do more to boost the salaries of remaining workers. The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract goes beyond ports to “supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace – from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products.” “To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains,” said the alliance, adding that it looks forward to working with Trump. In October, the union representing 45,000 dockworkers went on strike for three days, raising the risk that a prolonged shutdown could push up inflation by making it difficult to unload container ships and export American products overseas. The issue pits an incoming president who won November's election on the promise of bringing down prices against commitments to support blue-collar workers along with the kinds of advanced technology that drew him support from Silicon Valley elite such as billionaire Elon Musk. Trump sought to portray the dispute as being between U.S. workers and foreign companies, but advanced ports are also key for staying globally competitive. China is opening a $1.3 billion port in Peru that could accommodate ships too large for the Panama Canal. There is a risk that shippers could move to other ports, which could also lead to job losses. Mexico is constructing a port that is highly automated, while Dubai, Singapore and Rotterdam already have more advanced ports. Instead, Trump said that ports and shipping companies should eschew “machinery, which is expensive, and which will constantly have to be replaced.” “For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries,” Trump posted. “It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!”TN Delta farmers worried over fertiliser shortage
A wanted man when he took a dive down a chimney to evade police with a search warrant. or signup to continue reading The man, 33-year-old Robert Langlais from Fall River in Massachusetts, got wedged in the narrow passage forcing firefighters to pull apart the chimney's brickwork to retrieve him on December 10. "Due to his , Langlais was transported to a local hospital out of precaution and was medically cleared," Fall River Police Department said. Footage of police executing a search warrant at the Fall River home was released showing two suspects on the roof attempting to evade officers. One suspect escaped on foot by jumping from the house's roof to a parked car and police received a tip that the second suspect had hidden in the chimney. Mr Langlais was arrested over drug possession and multiple charges from outstanding warrants, Fall River Police said. Police said the tricky arrest was "proof that going down chimneys is really best left to the expert, Santa". Anna Houlahan reports on crime and social issues affecting regional and remote Australia in her role as national crime reporter at Australian Community Media (ACM). She was ACM’s Trainee of the Year in 2023 and, aside from reporting on crime, has travelled the country as a journalist for Explore Travel Magazine. Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au Anna Houlahan reports on crime and social issues affecting regional and remote Australia in her role as national crime reporter at Australian Community Media (ACM). She was ACM’s Trainee of the Year in 2023 and, aside from reporting on crime, has travelled the country as a journalist for Explore Travel Magazine. Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement AdvertisementMan United coach Amorim says argument between Hojlund and Diallo a 'very good sign'
Engadget has been testing and reviewing consumer tech since 2004. Our stories may include affiliate links; if you buy something through a link, we may earn a commission. Read more about how we evaluate products . There are numerous options for concert earplugs nowadays, so you don't have to settle for the bargain bin foam bits that completely seal off your ears anymore. The PPE-grade products vary in design and performance, with some offering different levels of noise reduction. That hearing protection always comes with the promise that the earplugs won't completely muffle the band, which is a real problem when you have to settle for the generic foam versions from the bartender. Loop has been in the concert earplug game since its founding in 2016. In that time, its product roster has grown to encompass nine different models, including dedicated options for sleep, travel, commuting and social events in addition to concerts, festivals and sporting events. The Switch 2 ($59.95) is Loop's latest, an improved version of the original Switch that debuted the ability to change sound filter levels while the earplugs were still in your ears. To put the audio quality to the test, I took them to a 100dB rock show in a small venue last month. Loop/Engadget 88 100 Expert Score Loop Switch 2 The Switch 2 delivers on Loop's promise to safely filter loud noise without overly muffling the sound for social gatherings, concerts, commuting and more. Pros Easy to adjust while wearing Very comfortable Cons Priciest model from Loop Noise levels on vary by 3dB $60 at Loop Loop has maintained mostly the same design from its first model. There's a silicone ear tip, similar to those on wireless earbuds, that's attached to a circular loop where all the protective bits reside. In the case of the Switch 2, the outer half of that loop rotates to allow you to select between three levels of sound filtration: Engage, Experience and Quiet. These settings reduce noise by 20dB, 23dB and 26dB... Billy SteeleNone
NoneTrump promises to end birthright citizenship: What is it and could he do it?
Dem Rep. Goldman: If Trump Attempts to Jail 'Political Enemies,' That's 'Banana Republic Stuff'NoneRCMP union applauds planned federal spending on border security
Copy link Copied Copy link Copied Subscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Already a subscriber? Login Tobacco and gambling companies will no longer be able to claim generous research and development tax incentives, saving the budget bottom line $10 million a year from July 1, 2025. The policy shift was included in Wednesday’s mid-year budget update and comes after The Australian Financial Review revealed poker machine giants Aristocrat and Ainsworth Game Technology were big users of the scheme. Copy link Copied Copy link Copied Subscribe to gift this article Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe. Already a subscriber? Login Introducing your Newsfeed Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you. Latest In Federal Fetching latest articles Most Viewed In Politics