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#accelerate#Ukrainian#embassy#commercial U.S. officials have warned that Moscow continues to amass more than 100,000 troops near Russia's border with Ukraine and in neighboring Belarus, and could launch destructive attacks, including on Kiev, at any time. Moscow denies Western accusations that it is planning an invasion."An invasion of Ukraine could trigger violence and destruction on a massive scale, with loss of life regardless of nationality -- American, Ukrainian" or others, State Department spokesman Ned Price said at a briefing. In a statement, Blinken said the decision to move embassy operations to Lviv was made for the safety of staff. Lviv is about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Ukraine's western border with Poland. Most embassy staff have been asked to leave Ukraine, and American citizens have been advised to leave the country by commercial means.Mr Blinken said the move would "in no way" undermine US support for Ukraine's "sovereignty and territorial integrity" and that US diplomats would "remain engaged" with the Ukrainian government.He said the US was continuing to press Moscow for a diplomatic solution.But Price told reporters, "We don't know if Russia is interested... Explore diplomatic options." He said Washington took note of comments made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a televised meeting with President Vladimir Putin that Moscow would continue diplomatic efforts to secure security guarantees from the West.Price continued, "What we haven't noticed is any indication of a de-escalation of the Russian military." |
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#accelerate#estimates#agricultura Germany is launching an initiative to support solar projects on agricultural land, which the economy ministry estimates could lead to 200GW of additional photovoltaic development capacity. The package announced jointly by the ministers of agriculture, Climate and environment will enable agricultural PHOTOVOLTAIC plants to be supported and promoted under the German Renewable Energy Law (EEG), enabling land to be used for both electricity generation and farming. Agricultural wastelands could be used to install solar projects under EEG, as long as the land can be restored, and agricultural photovoltaic projects are also likely to receive funding from the EU common Agricultural Policy. Cem Ozdemir, Germany's agriculture minister, said the proposals represented "a win-win situation for climate, nature and agriculture, as the three ministries have set out to ensure the best possible communication between agricultural needs, energy production and nature conservation". Germany's new coalition government aims to generate 80% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030 The plans form part of an effort by Germany's new coalition government to generate more than 80 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources within nine years. In 2020, the figure is only 45%, and Germany is aiming for 200GW of pv capacity by 2030. The Bundesverband Solarwirtschaft, the German solar trade association, recently warned that obstacles needed to be "dismantled" in order to reach the 200GW target. The association welcomed the government's agricultural PV proposals, but said there was a need to expand the current "very strict" framework on where new solar power stations could be built. Carsten Kornig, CHIEF executive of BSW, said: "The proposals now submitted by the federal ministries are a step in the right direction, but they are not enough. Predictably, the lack of sites to build solar farms will be a barrier to investment." A recently unveiled agricultural photovoltaic research project in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate is being used to explore how solar systems can protect plants and fruits from extreme weather. BayWa R.E. and Fraunhofer Solar Systems Institute, renewable energy developers and partners in the project, are testing different photovoltaic module configurations to determine the impact on plant growth and crop yields. According to SolarPower Europe, a trade association, the commission's new rules will encourage bidding for some renewables, including agricultural photovoltaics. |
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#accelerat#intercepting#condition#intercept The United States is trying to speed up the delivery of Taiwan's next generation of newly built F-16 fighter jets by the end of 2026 to strengthen its air force's ability to counter China's growing military threat, Reuters quoted US officials as saying.The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said they had not yet come up with a solution on how to speed delivery of the Block 70 F-16, built by Lockheed Martin Corp. and equipped with the new features. The planes are currently scheduled for delivery by the end of 2026.As Taiwan's air force took to the air to intercept the Chinese aircraft, a senior Taiwanese official noted that the island's government had privately told the Biden administration that it wanted the aircraft delivered more quickly.As Taiwan's air force scrambled to intercept Chinese aircraft, the government privately expressed to the Biden administration its desire to speed up deliveries because more flights would also mean more wear and tear on Taiwan's aircraft, the sources said, citing a senior Taiwanese official. "It's all about risk assessment......," the official said And it's clear where the risks are, "he said, referring to the tensions dividing Taiwan. The F-16, on the other hand, has long been considered a highly mobile aircraft, proven in air-to-air combat and air-to-ground attacks.Once Taiwan receives 66 newly built F-16 C/D Block 70 aircraft, it will have one of the largest F-16 fleets in Asia, under the deal approved by the US State Department in 2019. That would bring Taiwan's total fleet of F-16s, including older models, to more than 200 by 2026. Any move to speed up delivery of the new aircraft could ultimately come down to the Biden administration's determination that Taiwan's defense needs are more pressing than those of other U.S. Allies and partners, according to experts. |
