All posts tagged: expand

ESA and EBRD expand Earth observation data use in development finance

ESA and EBRD expand Earth observation data use in development finance

Published by skeptic

The European Space Agency (ESA) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) have signed a new cooperation agreement to increase the use of Earth observation data in development and impact finance projects. The agreement was formalised during the EBRD Annual Meeting in Riga, Latvia, on 6 June, with the partnership building on nearly two years of exploratory work between the organisations, including pilot activities linked to the EBRD Green Cities programme. By combining satellite-derived insights with development financing initiatives, both institutions aim to improve project planning, implementation and long-term outcomes. The expected result is greater integration of space-based technologies into sustainable development programmes, enabling more accurate monitoring, stronger decision-making and enhanced measurement of environmental and social impacts. Commenting on the collaboration, Simonetta Cheli, ESA’s Director of Earth Observation Programmes, said: “This partnership with the EBRD reflects the strength of European cooperation in addressing global challenges. “By working together, we can further unlock the potential of Earth observation data and services, ensuring they are fully integrated into development initiatives that deliver real-world impact. “ESA’s …

Finland’s Stubb says EU should expand to 40 states, including Canada

Finland’s Stubb says EU should expand to 40 states, including Canada

Published by Sam Flores

President of Finland Alexander Stubb is seen during a joint press conference with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda (not in view) at the Presidential Palace. Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images HELSINKI, Finland — Finnish President Alexander Stubb has outlined his vision for a much larger European Union, saying the 27-nation bloc needs to “think big” and seize the moment to project power on the global stage. Speaking at an energy conference in the Finnish capital on Wednesday, Stubb said the EU should push to increase its membership to 40 states and named the U.K., Canada, Turkey, Norway and Iceland as potential candidates to join. His comments come as the Trump administration’s actions, alongside Russia’s war with Ukraine, prompt some countries to reconsider the benefits of EU membership. Stubb told the Eurelectric Power Summit that “the window of opportunity” for EU enlargement “is quite short because when the war in Ukraine ends and perhaps when the U.S. administration changes, I don’t know, then people are going to take their foot off the gas pedal and …

OCP hires Dr. Richard W. Robbins to expand choral programming

OCP hires Dr. Richard W. Robbins to expand choral programming

Published by Sam Flores

PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon Catholic Press (OCP) is pleased to announce that Dr. Richard W. Robbins has joined OCP in the newly created role of Choral Editor and Market Development Manager. Robbins’ addition to the team marks a new phase in the company’s commitment to expand its choral offerings. The OCP Choral website launched in 2024, making it easy for choirs to find OCP’s high quality sacred choral music repertoire, featuring hundreds of titles suited to ensembles of all sizes and abilities. Exciting composer partnerships have since produced a range of new series in a variety of styles and genres. Robbins will assist in the promotion and development of more OCP Choral series and composer partnerships, producing repertoire for a broad choral audience in and outside the Church. Richard W. Robbins is the Director and James Erb Choral Chair of the Richmond Symphony Chorus. A conductor, scholar, and educator, he has led professional, collegiate, church, school, community, and early music ensembles. His background includes service as a tenured professor of choral music and as an …

Netanyahu vows to expand Israel’s grip on Lebanon after deepest incursion in 26 years

Netanyahu vows to expand Israel’s grip on Lebanon after deepest incursion in 26 years

Published by Sam Flores

UNESCO, the U.N. cultural agency, said Friday ahead of the site’s capture that it was “deeply alarmed” by Israeli strikes near Beaufort Castle, which has a provisional protected status. Such sites should receive the “highest level of legal protection against attack and use for military purposes,” the body said. The crossing of the Litani River and capture of Beaufort Ridge are a major escalation in the current conflict. The river has become a de facto boundary in Lebanon since Israel’s invasion, with large areas to the south under Israeli military control and residents ordered to leave. Israeli forces had already begun striking and destroying bridges over the Litani that connect the south to the rest of the country. Israel’s military says they were being used by Hezbollah to smuggle weapons and move fighters. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot on Sunday requested an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, a French foreign ministry spokesperson confirmed to NBC News. He told France’s BFMTV channel that “nothing can justify” the “ever-deeper occupation” of Lebanese territory. Fears …

Blink and Kempower expand US East Coast EV fast charging

Blink and Kempower expand US East Coast EV fast charging

Published by skeptic

Photo: Kempower Kempower and Blink Charging are expanding their EV fast-charging partnership across the US East Coast, with 14 new charging sites planned through 2026. The rollout will focus on high-traffic locations near convenience stores. Kempower will supply its Power Units and Satellite DC fast chargers while Blink handles the software side of the charging experience. Two locations are already live: a site at Vasa Fitness in Colorado and another in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Blink said Kempower’s reliability and charger uptime played a big role in choosing the company’s hardware for the expansion. Advertisement – scroll for more content “Reliable charging infrastructure depends on more than the equipment itself. The training we’ve received through Kempower has helped our teams approach installation and commissioning with confidence and consistency,” said Blink senior VP of global business engineering Alex Calnan. “That foundation shows up in smooth deployments and strong long-term site performance.” The remaining charging sites are set to open across multiple states along the East Coast over the next year. Kempower’s dynamic power sharing and modular, scalable …

iPhone Driver’s License Feature Set to Expand to a 15th U.S. State

iPhone Driver’s License Feature Set to Expand to a 15th U.S. State

Published by skeptic

Apple’s digital driver’s license feature in the Wallet app is set to expand to Virginia, according to a person familiar with the matter. In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver’s license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature has rolled out to 14 states so far, including Arkansas earlier this week, and it is also available in Puerto Rico. The other states are Arizona, Maryland, Colorado, Georgia, Ohio, Hawaii, California, Iowa, New Mexico, Montana, North Dakota, West Virginia, and Illinois. Now, Apple is preparing for the feature to go live in Virginia, the person said. However, we do not have an exact timeframe for availability. Towards the end of 2025, Virginia’s Department of Motor Vehicles said it planned to support the Apple Wallet’s digital ID feature in the coming months, so hopefully it goes live soon by this point. When the feature goes live, Virginia …

Álvaro Díaz dares Latin trap fans to expand their palates in ‘Omakase’

Álvaro Díaz dares Latin trap fans to expand their palates in ‘Omakase’

Published by Sam Flores

When you first press play on Álvaro Díaz’s “Omakase,” you are immediately transported into the kitchen. A stove flickers on. A knife hits the cutting board. Chants of “¡Sí, chef!” ring out like a dubbed episode of “The Bear.” Then, before the listener can fully settle in, the Puerto Rican rapper and singer fires off bars claiming that Grammys were stolen from him and details his many nights spent sleeping on the floor to his new normal of earning $500,000 per show. It is a boastful, theatrical and deeply specific opener — but after the double whammy of past album releases “Felicilandia” (2021) and “Sayonara” (2024), which helped Díaz ascend well beyond the Puerto Rican trap scene he called home, his swagger feels earned. Across the next 16 tracks, Díaz invites listeners into what he describes as his own kitchen. The title comes from the Japanese tradition of trusting the chef to serve whatever they choose. For Díaz, that idea became the album’s creative language. “I was like, exactly, I want to be the chef,” …

Senate Confirms Trump’s Pick to Lead Federal Land Agency as Drilling and Mining Expand

Senate Confirms Trump’s Pick to Lead Federal Land Agency as Drilling and Mining Expand

Published by Sam Flores

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Senate confirmed President Donald Trump’s pick to oversee the management of a quarter-billion acres of public lands on Monday, as the administration pushes ahead with more mining and drilling while reversing conservation plans. Former congressman Steve Pearce will lead the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management following Monday’s 46-43 confirmation vote. Pearce’s background as a Republican Party leader in New Mexico known for supporting public land leasing and industry made him a contentious pick. Democrats and environmental groups were strongly opposed. He attempted to assuage any fears during his February confirmation hearing by noting that he grew up on a family farm where conserving the land and water was a necessity. “The security and economic health of the country, especially the western states, rests squarely with the BLM,” he testified. “We can and must balance the different uses of public land. Local economies and future generations depend on us doing our job right.” The land bureau has about 10,000 employees who manage roughly 10% of land in the U.S. …