The Hidden Hurdles Behind Building Southeast Asia's $100 Billion Supergrid
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The hardest part of building a wind farm along the misty ridges of southern Laos wasn't hauling 25-ton blades up mountain roads or laying 71 kilometers (44 miles) of cables in thick vegetation. It wasn't even removing unexploded bombs left over from the Vietnam War.
Instead, it was bureaucracy that kept engineering veteran Nat Hutanuwatr up at night — the delicate diplomacy and seemingly endless paperwork required for neighboring Southeast Asian nations to share clean electricity. It was, he says, like 'climbing a series of Everests.'
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The Hill
7 hours ago
- The Hill
Trump may rue the day he sued Murdoch for libel over Epstein's birthday card
President Trump is suing Rupert Murdoch, Dow Jones — the Wall Street Journal's parent company — and two of the paper's reporters for $10 billion over the Journal's story about a lurid birthday card that Trump allegedly sent to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. Trump claims that the card, which contains arguably compromising statements, was fabricated by unnamed Democrats. He posted about 'a POWERHOUSE Lawsuit against everyone involved in publishing the false, malicious, defamatory, FAKE NEWS 'article' in the useless 'rag' that is, The Wall Street Journal.' Murdoch and Trump have had an off-again-on-again relationship over the years. Murdoch's media outlets, principally the Journal and Fox News, after largely opposing Trump during the 2016 Republican primary, have been credited with helping propel him to the White House. According to the Journal's story, a letter bearing Trump's name 'contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman, which appears to be hand-drawn with a heavy marker.' 'Inside the outline of the naked woman was a typewritten note styled as an imaginary conversation between Trump and Epstein, written in the third person,' the paper reported. It reportedly contained a joking reference that 'enigmas never age' and ended with the words, 'A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.' Trump denied writing the note after the article was published, posting, 'These are not my words, not the way I talk. Also, I don't draw pictures.' The birthday note, if authentic, hints at Trump's contemporaneous awareness of Epstein's criminal behavior — as might Trump's comment to a reporter less than a year earlier that Epstein 'likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.' Dow Jones said it would 'vigorously defend' itself against the lawsuit. 'We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting.' And so the issue is joined in court as well as the court of public opinion. Libel suits have historically been gravely dangerous not only for defendants but for plaintiffs as well. Such a suit often serves only to magnify the allegedly defamatory statements. Roy Cohn advised his clients never to sue for libel. He knew that Oscar Wilde and Alger Hiss sued for libel, and the truth, which is always a complete defense in a libel suit, led to criminal prosecution, conviction and jail. Gen. William Westmoreland sued CBS over defamatory statements about his conduct of the Vietnam War. Israeli Gen. Ariel Sharon sued Time Inc. over its reporting about his actions in Lebanon. Both came up essentially empty-handed. Trump will have a steep uphill climb to make out his complaint against Murdoch. The venerable New York Times v. Sullivan (1964) is still good law, despite Justice Clarence Thomas's stated desire to overrule it. A public official suing for libel must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the defamatory statements were published with actual knowledge of their falsity or a reckless disregard for the truth. In this case, we are talking about the Wall Street Journal, not the National Enquirer. It is very unlikely that the Journal knew the birthday card was a fabrication or that they proceeded recklessly, knowing that the source of the document was unreliable. More likely than not, the document came from the files of the Justice Department. Indeed, Trump, apart from lashing back at Murdoch, may have sued mainly to unearth via discovery the source of the leak. Trump claims that he relishes discovery in the case. 'I hope Rupert and his 'friends' are looking forward to the many hours of depositions and testimonies they will have to provide in this case,' the president stated. Trump's lawyers have asked the court to expedite Murdoch's deposition while he is still alive because Murdoch is '94 years old' and 'has suffered from multiple health issues.' But those 'many hours' may prove more harmful than helpful to Trump. Murdoch's lawyers will be able to bring out just where the Journal obtained the birthday card, as well as all the torrid details of the 15-year relationship between Epstein and Trump, including such undisclosed gems as how the friendship began; how close was it; whether it involved under-age women; whether, and, if so, when Trump learned that Epstein was trafficking teenagers; when Trump learned that Epstein was engaged in criminal acts; and when there was a severance of the relationship and why. Reports have suggested Trump and Epstein had a rift in 2004 over competing bids on a Palm Beach mansion, but there may be more to the story. Peggy Noonan reminds us that Trump's mantra is 'fight, fight, fight,' and he will do so even when it hurts him. 'There is no way on earth that [the lawsuit] will be a net positive for him. Which surely he knows,' she writes. 'He fights even when he will hurt himself, because the fight is all.' Trump is essentially libel-proof. What are his damages? His reputation for sexual misconduct is well known. A civil jury in New York found him liably for sexually abusing writer E. Jean Carroll in a department store dressing room. A New York jury convicted him of 34 counts of felony document falsification to cover up a tryst with pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels. It is too early to tell, but Trump may not have the sort of walk in the park he's had in his recent media lawsuits. He settled with ABC shortly after his reelection for $15 million, arising from George Stephanopoulos carelessly saying Trump was convicted of rape instead of sexual assault. Trump's recent settlement with CBS for $16 million, arising out of the claim that '60 Minutes' left unfavorable footage of former Vice President Kamala Harris on the cutting-room floor, seemed influenced more by parent company Paramount's need for FCC approval of its corporate merger than by the merits of the case. The Murdoch libel lawsuit, if pressed, may be full of booby traps and surprises for Trump. It could result in disclosure of many of the documents in the possession of the Justice Department, which the Journal reported subsequently were riddled with references to Trump himself. People in a position to know tell me that Murdoch will never settle. But he did appear to blink a little with a front-page 'exclusive' Journal article Friday under the headline: 'Jeffrey Epstein's Birthday Book Included Letters From Bill Clinton, Leon Black.' The article was singularly uninformative.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Pension provider announces major investment in South Wales heat pump network
Workplace pension provider Smart Pension has announced a £330 million investment in green energy projects, including a major ground source heat pump network in South Wales. The company has partnered with Octopus Energy and Kensa to deliver long-term value for its 1.5 million pension savers by supporting the rollout of clean energy infrastructure in the UK. The initial £330 million will go towards two funds managed by Octopus Energy's renewable arm, Octopus Energy Generation, to support firms such as Kensa, which makes ground source heat pump technology. Smart Pension has committed to allocating 5% of its flagship growth fund to renewable energy companies as part of efforts to accelerate the energy transition, where the country's planet-warming carbon emissions are reduced to net zero. This finance will contribute to the UK's first investor-funded ground source heat pump network in South Wales, delivered by Kensa. The project aims to provide affordable renewable heating and hot water to 114 new homes at Parc Eirin. More widely, it is hoped the project helps to position ground source heat pump networks as an investable low-carbon utility. As part of the investment, Smart Pension said its members will have access to a range of materials, case studies and carbon reporting to help them better understand how their pensions are making a difference both financially and environmentally. Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: 'Our reforms are about unlocking investment to deliver higher returns for savers, drive growth and create good jobs. 'That's why I'm so excited about Smart Pension's investment in the UK's first commercially funded ground source heat pump network in South Wales, delivering returns, growth and jobs.' Andrew Evans, group chief executive and co-founder of Smart, said: 'As a leading workplace pension provider in the UK, we're always looking for innovative ways to grow our members' pensions and support the UK economy. 'This collaboration will help deliver strong, long-term returns for UK retirement savers, and also will support efforts to lower household bills and reduce emissions for homeowners. 'It's a great example of how UK tech businesses can come together to tackle important challenges, and create a positive impact.' Zoisa North-Bond, chief executive at Octopus Energy Generation, said: 'This partnership shows how pension savings can literally power the future — turning contributions into green electrons that heat homes, replace gas boilers and drive down energy bills. 'It brings everything full circle – the very money people are saving for retirement is helping to build the smarter, carbon-free energy system they'll rely on in years to come. 'By teaming up with Smart Pension and innovators like Kensa, we're proving that smart investment doesn't just deliver long-term returns, it creates real, tangible change for communities and speeds up the UK's journey to net zero.' Tamsin Lishman, chief executive at Kensa, said: 'As pioneers in ground source heat pump technology, we are proud of our role in delivering the switch to better, more affordable heating and hot water, powered by ultra-efficient ground source heat pumps designed and made here in the UK. 'The Parc Eirin investment demonstrates the transformative role private funding will play in helping both housebuilders and homeowners transition to effective, low-carbon heat – the critical next frontier in the UK for carbon reduction, which currently contributes around 13% of national greenhouse gas emissions.'
Associated Press
8 hours ago
- Associated Press
Waste Energy Corp to Present at OTCQB Venture Virtual Investor Conference August 7; Signs First Feedstock Agreement for Midland Waste-to-Energy Facility
MIDLAND, TX / ACCESS Newswire / July 29, 2025 / Waste Energy Corp ('Waste Energy' or the 'Company') (OTCQB:WAST), an emerging leader in clean energy and waste-to-energy innovation, today announced that it will present at the OTCQB Venture Virtual Investor Conference on Wednesday, August 7, 2025, at 2:30 PM EST. The Company's 20-minute investor presentation will provide an operational update, outline its near-term and long-term growth strategy, and highlight key milestones in the commercialization of its Midland, Texas waste conversion facility. The presentation will offer insights relevant to investors interested in emerging opportunities within the clean energy and sustainability sectors. Waste Energy also announced it has entered into its first feedstock agreement, securing a consistent supply of post-consumer and industrial plastic and rubber waste for its flagship 15-ton-per-day waste-to-energy system in Midland. This key agreement marks the beginning of revenue-focused operations and establishes the foundation for scaling production. 'Our participation in the OTCQB Venture Conference is a timely opportunity to update investors on the accelerating progress we're making in Texas and provide some insight into our revenue & business model going forward,' said Scott Gallagher, President & CEO of Waste Energy Corp. 'Securing the necessary feedstock to fuel our growth is a critical milestone that's now been checked. Based on our current pipeline, we're confident we'll have more than enough material to consistently supply our fully scaled 30-ton-per-day system as we prepare for commercial launch and initial revenue generation targeting early September. At the same time, we are in active discussions to finalize offtake agreements for both non-road ULSD (ultra-low sulfur diesel) and recovered carbon black. Once signed, we expect these agreements will include a commitment to purchase 100% of the fuel produced from our waste stream, representing a key step toward establishing predictable, recurring revenue as we move rapidly toward commissioning our first full waste-to-energy system.' Management anticipates signing offtake agreements in the near term, completing a closed-loop revenue model that supports both early profitability and long-term scalability and will provide updates during the presentation. To register for the August 7 presentation or learn more about Waste Energy Corp, visit: About Waste Energy Corp Waste Energy Corp (OTCQB:WAST) is transforming waste into opportunity by converting non-recyclable plastics and used tires into clean, U.S.-based energy sources. Through the integration of advanced waste conversion and AI technologies, the company seeks to divert waste from landfills and convert it into new U.S.-based energy streams that generate measurable environmental and economic value. Waste Energy Corp is a fully reporting SEC Exchange Act company, trading on the OTCQB under the symbol WAST. For more information, visit or access investor disclosures at Forward-Looking Statements This press release and any other publicly disclosed content contain forward-looking statements regarding Waste Energy Corp's business operations, future financial performance, and projections. These statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including market conditions, regulatory approvals, and other factors outside of the control of WEC, which may impact actual results. Investors are encouraged to review all risk factors and disclosures in the company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's quarterly and annual financial statements at before making any investment in a publicly traded equity. Investor Contact: Waste Energy Corp Email: [email protected] Phone: (727) 417-7807 Website: SOURCE: Waste Energy Corp. press release
