Data Apparently Obtained From Three Breaches, ZeroFox Reports
Hackers are attempting to sell a fresh trove of approximately 26 million user records apparently obtained from three data breaches, according to researchers at the security firm ZeroFox.

Data Apparently Obtained From Three Breaches, ZeroFox Reports
Hackers are attempting to sell a fresh trove of approximately 26 million user records apparently obtained from three data breaches, according to researchers at the security firm ZeroFox.

Data Apparently Obtained From Three Breaches, ZeroFox Reports
Hackers are attempting to sell a fresh trove of approximately 26 million user records apparently obtained from three data breaches, according to researchers at the security firm ZeroFox.

Data Apparently Obtained From Three Breaches, ZeroFox Reports
Hackers are attempting to sell a fresh trove of approximately 26 million user records apparently obtained from three data breaches, according to researchers at the security firm ZeroFox.

Data Apparently Obtained From Three Breaches, ZeroFox Reports
Hackers are attempting to sell a fresh trove of approximately 26 million user records apparently obtained from three data breaches, according to researchers at the security firm ZeroFox.

Data Apparently Obtained From Three Breaches, ZeroFox Reports
Hackers are attempting to sell a fresh trove of approximately 26 million user records apparently obtained from three data breaches, according to researchers at the security firm ZeroFox.

Data Apparently Obtained From Three Breaches, ZeroFox Reports
Hackers are attempting to sell a fresh trove of approximately 26 million user records apparently obtained from three data breaches, according to researchers at the security firm ZeroFox.

The commissioner for the digital portfolio, Margrethe Vestager, warned that "without the technology, it will be very difficult to open [society] to the degree that we all want" - since new outbreaks might surge back until there is a vaccine.

The EU's disease prevention agency says more funds will be needed to shore up surveillance of infectious diseases, which it wants to make less reliant on humans.

France will not make a decision on holidays until early June - while Germany is warning against a "race to allow tourism first", and some smaller EU states, such as Greece, Denmark and Austria, are considering allowing foreign holidays.

The number of coronavirus deaths in the UK reached 29,427 Tuesday, surpassing Italy (29,029), to become Europe's worst-struck country and the second-worst globally after the US, while prompting calls for a public enquiry into government handling of the crisis. "I really don't like this league table of who's top and who's not, but there's no denying that these are really serious numbers," Cambridge University expert David Spiegelhalter told The Guardian.

Sicily's regional government is offering to subsidise holidays on the island for both domestic and international visitors in an effort to kickstart tourism after the coronavirus pandemic, the Guardian writes. Current plans include subsidising visitors' accommodation costs, as well as vouchers for cultural and heritage activities. It may also pay for up to half of the cost of flights, but this has not been confirmed yet.

The eurozone will contract by a record 7.75 percent in 2020 but grow by 6.25 percent in 2021, the EU Commission said in its economic forecast on Wednesday. The EU-wide economy is to contract by 7.5 percent this year and grow by around six percent in 2021. The sharpest drop is estimated in Greece with 9.7 percent, in Italy with 9.5 percent and in Spain by 9.4 percent.

Oxford University study says fiscal stimulus for green projects offer higher returns on government spending in the short and long term than traditional incentives on fossil fuels.

Debt levels around Europe, especially in southern states, forecast to rise alarmingly, but EU commission remained confident countries can manage, despite fears of a second viral wave.

Doctors and nurses around the world are asking tech giants to correct the record on health misinformation and tweak their algorithms which decide what people get to see on social media platforms.

The Bank of England on Thursday warned that the UK economy is heading towards its deepest recession on record, as the British economy will shrink by 14 percent this year. The Covid-19 pandemic was "dramatically reducing jobs and incomes in the UK", it said. Bank governor Andrew Bailey told the BBC there would be no quick return to normality. The EU has forecast an eight-percent contraction for the UK.

EU home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson told MEPs that "the demand for child sexual abuse material has increased by up to 30 percent in some member states." Her comments were among a number of examples of criminal behavoir that has erupted since the pandemic outbreak. She said criminals also tried to cheat authorities out of €50m by selling them non-existent face masks.

"The coronavirus has ending blowing up the model of global multilateral governance that has been functioning over the past few years," EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell told a group of reporters on Thursday.

The EU's foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell called agreeing to Chinese censorship on the origins of coronavirus "misguided". Nevertheless, he said diplomacy works like that in China.

Global private capital renewable energy investments are still above $250 billion for 2013. While the final numbers are not in yet, 3rd quarter global renewable energy investments, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s latest data on deals and projects, notes slightly lower global investment than in 2012 due faltering “political will to decarbonise energy mix.” They further note that the third quarter’s decline in investment will push the year’s overall investment in renewable energy and energy-smart technologies down below 2012's $281 billion. But $250+ billion ain’t shabby.

U.K. electricity from low-carbon sources accounted for almost a quarter of the country’s generation in the fourth quarter as Drax Group Plc converted a second coal-power plant to burn wood.

Investors have spent more than $2 trillion on clean-energy plants in the past decade and last year added more renewable capacity than ever before.

Executives from 13 major U.S. corporations are announcing at least $140 billion in new investments to decrease their carbon footprints as part of a White House initiative to recruit private commitments ahead of a United Nations climate-change summit later this year in Paris.

Companies including Apple Inc., Berkshire Hathaway Energy Co., and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. will join Secretary of State John Kerry and top administration officials at the White House for the announcement. In addition to pledges to cut emissions, provide financing to environmentally-focused companies, and reduce water consumption, the companies have said they will procure at least 1,600 MW of new, renewable energy. The White House said in a statement that it expects to announce a second round of similar pledges later this fall from additional companies.

The commitments are being announced as President Barack Obama is looking to build momentum toward a legacy-defining global climate accord in Paris. In addition to company-specific commitments, the corporate leaders on Monday will signal their support for a strong climate agreement out of the United Nations talks. They administration is using the pledges to set an example for companies to find ways to eliminate their carbon emissions.

Climate Talks

“As the world looks toward global climate negotiations in Paris this December, American leadership at all levels will be essential,” the White House said in a fact sheet detailing the announcement.

The administration’s actions are pushing the issue into the 2016 presidential debate. Hillary Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, released an energy strategy saying she would both defend and go beyond Obama’s efforts. Republican candidates have criticized the administration’s initiatives as costly to the economy and unnecessary.

Among the pledges, aluminum manufacturer Alcoa Inc. has agreed to reduce emissions by 50 percent from its 2005 levels, while agricultural giant Cargill Inc. says 18 percent of its total energy use will come from renewable sources.

Coca-Cola Co. said it would drive down the carbon footprint of its beverage production by 25 percent over the next five years, while Google says it plans to triple its purchases of renewable energy over the next decade. Berkshire Hathaway says it plans to invest up to an additional $15 billion in the construction and operation of renewable energy generators, while Bank of America Corp says it will increase its environmental business initiative by $75 billion over the next decade, according to the White House

Other participating firms include Wal-Mart, United Parcel Service Inc., PepsiCo Inc., Microsoft Corp., General Motors Inc.

The corporate commitments won’t be the administration’s only major climate announcement in the next few weeks. The Environmental Protection Agency is set to present final regulations that aim to reduce carbon emissions from power plants by 30 percent from 2005 levels by 2030 later this week.

While visiting Kenya over the weekend, Obama repeatedly praised the country for its efforts to address climate change, saying its efforts tor educe emissions “has put it in the position of being a leader on the continent.” And next month, the president will travel to Alaska for an international summit on Arctic climate issues.

©2015 Bloomberg News

For more, see Big Companies, Big Renewable Investments.

Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.

Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.

Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.

Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.

Check here each week to keep up with the latest from John MacArthur's pulpit at Grace Community Church.

Now I thought it might be helpful for us through this Passion Week, which is today and often called Palm Sunday - and then Good Frida

When I was a boy growing up in the Bronx, I would often stay at my Aunt Gloria and Uncle Mike’s apartment when I got home from school until my mom got home from work. They lived on the ground floor of the same apartment building that my family lived in. My Grandpa Corbin lived with them. It was a wonderful neighborhood of many different nationalities and many wonderful cooking smells! Sometimes when turning the corner to our block, I would be greeted by the unmistakable aroma of Grandpa’s Codfish Cakes! Once, being the little chubby piggy kid that I was I ate the last two Codfish cakes from the day before. Aunt Gloria quickly scooted me outside to play, but I could hear Grandpa yell “Who ate the last codfish cakes!!” After he cooled off – Grandpa had a temper – I apologized, but I could tell he was still pretty angry. Not long after, I turned the corner to the smell of Codfish Cakes! There sat Grandpa with a glint in his eye. “I made these codfish cakes the way I really like them! It might keep you from eating them all!” He handed me one with a smile on his face. I took a bite and thought my head might explode! But I think that started my love of hot foods! I finished and asked for another through the tears. He laughed and handed me another – this one wasn’t quite so hot – I do think the first one was specially made just for me. Over the years I tried to duplicate Grandpa’s Cod Fishcakes – without any success – thinking it was an English recipe. It wasn’t until I found out that Grandpa Corbin was born in Barbados and I found a recipe from there that tasted almost like I remembered. With some adjustments over the years, I think I finally have it! -- posted by Billy R.

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