Kemi Badenoch WINS Tory leadership race and says ‘it’s time to tell the truth’ and ‘get down to business’

Business News

KEMI Badenoch has won the Tory leadership race after knocking out her rival Robert Jenrick in a tight race.The outspoken MP was announced as the new Conservative Party leader this morning with 53,806 votes.Kemi Badenoch has been elected as the new leader of the Conservative PartyCredit: AFPThe moment Kemi was elected as Robert Jenrick congratulates herCredit: GettyKemi gives a speech after becoming the new Tory leaderCredit: GettyLeadership candidates Mr Jenrick and Kemi waiting for the resultsCredit: GettyKemi, 44, beat Robert Jenrick who received 41,388 votes with a 72.8 per cent turnout.The former Business Secretary replaces Rishi Sunak four months after the Tories’ crushing defeat at the General Election.Bob Blackman, chairman of the 1922 Committee, said: “Isn’t it great we’ve got another female leader and isn’t it great we’re the first party to have a black leader?”Another glass ceiling shattered.”Read More PoliticsNext she will have to formally appoint a new Shadow Cabinet from a rump of just 121 Conservative MPs.And as leader of the opposition, one of Kemi’s first jobs will be taking on Sir Keir Starmer at Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions.Speaking after the result, Kemi said: “Our party is critical to the success of our country, but to be heard we have to be honest.”Honest about the fact that we made mistakes. Honest about the fact that we let standards slip. The time has come to tell the truth.Most read in The Sun”The time has come to tell the truth, to stand up for our principles, to plan for our future, to reset our politics and our thinking, and to give our party, and our country, the new start that they deserve.”It is time to get down to business. It is time to renew.”Kemi Badenoch says Tories must enforce annual migration cap & hints at axing net zero target in party conference pitchShe told her party: “The task that stands before us is tough but simple.”Our first responsibility as His Majesty’s loyal Opposition is to hold this Labour Government to account. Our second is no less important.”It is to prepare over the course of the next few years for government.”To ensure that by the time of the next election, we have not just a clear set of Conservative pledges that appeal to the British people, but a clear plan for how to implement them.Kemi said the party’s task was ‘tough but simple’Credit: GettyKemi and her husband Hamish are seen outside their London homeCredit: LNPMr Jenrick is seen leaving his home in Westminster with his wife Michal BerknerCredit: LNPTory MPs liken Kemi to Margaret ThatcherCredit: LNPMr Jenrick’s wife attends the leadership contest resultCredit: Getty”A clear plan to change this country by changing the way that government works.”The Prime Minister is discovering all too late the perils of not having such a plan.”That huge job begins today.”Kemi also thanked her family and former prime minister Mr Sunak.In her speech, she said: “There are so many people to thank. Firstly my family – especially my husband Hamish.”Hamish, I couldn’t have done this without you. I also want to thank Rishi – no one could’ve worked harder in such difficult times.”Thank you for everything you did. I’d also like to pay a special tribute to Robert Jenrick. Rob, we’ve all been impressed.”We don’t actually disagree on much. You have a key role to play in our party for many years to come.”Tory MPs liken her to Margaret Thatcher and say she will be a formidable opponent for the lawyerly Prime Minister.The task that stands before us is tough but simple.Kemi BadenochThe anti-woke crusader has been critical of transgender rights – particularly self-identification and gender neutral toilets.Her leadership campaign focused on restoring the party’s Conservative values.Kemi said her party had “talked right but governed left” and acted “like Labour” while in power.The North West Essex MP was backed by Tory grandees Sir David Davis and Sir Iain Duncan Smith as well as rising stars Claire Coutinho and Laura Trott.During the campaign she sparked outrage by branding maternity pay “excessive” and urging mothers to show “more personal responsibility”.KEMI BADENOCH IS TORY LEADER… WHAT HAPPENS NOW? By Sophia Sleigh, Political CorrespondentJob number one on Ms Badenoch’s list will be appointing her shadow cabinet.Will she extend an olive branch to rival Robert Jenrick by offering him a senior role?She certainly hinted at it in her acceptance speech when she told how Mr Jenrick had a “key role” to play.And with just 121 Conservative MPs there will likely be some famous faces on the opposition front benches.Ms Badenoch may also want to appoint younger rising stars to junior positions to give them a taste of taking on Labour.Her second big job will be preparing for Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.All eyes will be on the new leader who will be expected to set the tone for Tory fightback.Thirdly, Ms Badnoch will try to unite her party after years of vicious infighting.And finally, policies. Ms Badenoch’s team will have to start drafting up plans to win back voters lost to Labour and reform.Mr Sunak congratulated Kemi on becoming Conservative leader, urging the party to unite behind her.He said: “Congratulations to Kemi Badenoch on being elected Conservative Party leader.”I know that she will be a superb leader of our great party. She will renew our party, stand up for Conservative values, and take the fight to Labour.”Let’s unite behind her.”Prime Minister Sir Keir said in a post on X: “Congratulations, Kemi Badenoch on becoming the Conservative Party’s new leader.”The first Black leader of a Westminster party is a proud moment for our country.”I look forward to working with you and your party in the interests of the British people.”Six contenders made the initial shortlist after gaining the support of at least 10 MPs.             Dame Priti Patel was the first candidate knocked out in the ballot of MPs.Mel Stride, Tom Tugendhat and James Cleverly followed suit.It is time to get down to business. It is time to renew.Ms Badenoch and Mr Jenrick made it to the final ballot of paid-up Tory members.Kemi was born in Wimbledon in 1980 to Nigerian parents. Her father was a GP and her mother was a physiology professor.Ms Badenoch spent much of her early childhood abroad before returning to the UK aged 16 to obtain her A Levels.She went on to study computer engineering at the University of Sussex, took up roles as a software engineer as well as a director at Coutts private bank and at The Spectator magazine.Kemi served on the London Assembly before she was handed the safe seat of Saffron Walden in Essex in 2017.She took on a number of junior government roles before throwing her hat in the ring to replace Boris Johnson in 2022.Ms Badenoch came fourth with the backing of 59 MPs.READ MORE SUN STORIESWinner Liz Truss made her Trade Secretary before Mr Sunak handed her Business as well as Women and Equalities.Ms Badenoch is married to banker and party activist Hamish Badenoch and they have three children.Kemi is the new Tory leaderCredit: PAShe beat rival Robert JenrickCredit: AFPKemi said her party had ‘talked right but governed left’Credit: Getty

Chemical spill by Costco Business Center in Lynnwood

Business News

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South County fire hazmat team search for chemical leakPhoto courtesy South County FireSouth County Firefighters contained a chemical spill involving a semi-truck outside of Costco Business Center in Lynnwood.Hazmat technicians responded to the spill shortly after 10:30am and wore special protective suits to access the truck’s trailer, where a container was leaking. Firefighters took samples and conducted air monitoring before determining the spill involved a low-hazard chemical used in water treatment. About 60 gallons spilled before firefighters plugged the leak. Costco and the state Department of Ecology will determine the next steps of cleanup.Thanks to Everett Fire Department for your help with this response.

UK to Introduce New ETA System for Tourists

Travel

The UK will gradually implement the new ETA system for those who want to travel to the country. Credit: A.P. / Colombia OneThe United Kingdom (UK) will change its border control system with the expansion of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme.
This new digital system will roll out in stages from late 2024 and it is an attempt on behalf of the British authorities to modernize the UK’s immigration process, whilst protecting the UK’s borders more effectively.
Starting November 27, 2024, eligible non-European travelers will be able to apply for an ETA, which will then become mandatory for entry into the UK from January 8, 2025.

European Union citizens that want to visit the UK will be able to begin their applications on March 5, 2025, with the requirement coming into effect in a mandatory way on April 2, 2025.
This new system will apply to all non-British and non-Irish citizens, including those who currently do not need a visa for short stays. Irish citizens are exempt because of the Common Travel Area (CTA) arrangement, which is a long-standing agreement between the UK, Ireland, and the Crown Dependencies (Isle of Man and Channel Islands).

This agreement allows the citizens of the UK and Ireland to travel freely between the two countries.
How much will it cost to travel to the UK under the ETA system?
The ETA will cost travelers £10 (approximately €12/$13) and will be electronically linked to the traveler’s passport.
Those who successfully issue the ETA, will be able to conduct multiple entries into the UK for stays up to six months over a two-year period or until their passport expires, whichever comes first.

This digital authorization system is an attempt to streamline the process and clarify issues that arose following the UK’s exit from the European Union and the end of the freedom of movement between the UK and the EU.
It has to be noted that the UK has already implemented eVisa systems for individuals who need permission to live, work, or study in the UK.
This digital proof of immigration status is gradually replacing physical documents such as biometric residence permits (BRPs) and visa stickers, which are largely not used anymore.
Most BRPs are set to expire by December 31, 2024, and holders are urged to create online accounts to access their eVisas before expiration. The same digital system has applied to EU nationals who live in the UK following Brexit, as their Settled Status is only proven in a digital form.
According to the UK government website, ”The government continues to work closely with global airline, maritime and rail carriers, who are crucial to ensuring smooth implementation of our digitisation programme.”

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‘Don’t Come Home’ Time Travel & Ending Questions Answered: Did Varee Give Birth To Min?

Travel

If you ignore all the time-travel plot holes in Don’t Come Home, then at the end of the day, it is a pretty simple and straightforward series. But I guess a lot of confusion arises in the viewer’s mind, simply because the writers didn’t bother to explain the gaps in the story, especially the matter of how Min came into existence. I was kind of shocked to see so many people still confused about the “time travel” aspect of it even after reading our ending explained article, and since the replies aren’t the best place to discuss things in detail, I decided to lay it all out in layman’s terms. Hope this one helps.

Spoiler Alert

Panida Didn’t Create A Time Machine

So, first things first, Panida Jarukanant, Varee’s real mother, didn’t create a time machine. It would be blasphemous to call that glass chamber a time machine. In any science fiction film or series that you’ll come across, a time machine is basically a device where you can set a particular time or date so it can take you to your intended destination. The lake in the recently released film Caddo Lake was not a time machine. It was a portal. And because these things don’t have any set coordinates, the screenwriters often take advantage of such a flaw to make the audience believe that these time portals have a mind of their own. So, what did Panida actually create?

I really don’t want to get into the complexities of branching universes, so I will keep it as simple as I can for the sake of my own sanity and yours. Thanks to Avengers: Endgame, we all know a little about different timelines running parallel to the original timeline, right? Taking that into consideration, Panida’s faulty generator created a portal between two timelines, and because of that, people or objects from one timeline ended up in another timeline due to this mischievous portal. Again, you might wonder how Varee (or adult Min) from 2024 (I suppose) ended up in 1992 if the timelines run parallel to each other. The hole created by the generator should be in a straight line, right? The thing is, there isn’t any defined law. We are just assuming that timelines run parallel to each other, which doesn’t mean that the time periods would match up as well. I know this is one of the biggest time travel flaws in Don’t Come Home, but Apple TV’s Dark Matter handled this concept quite well. In that show, despite traveling across different timelines, the traveler landed in the same time period as the one they had originated from. Meanwhile, HBO’s Caddo Lake didn’t bother to explain how the time travel portal really worked. People entered the liminal space in one time period and ended up in a different time period altogether, thereby creating all kinds of paradoxes and complications. So, you have just to accept that that’s how things are in Don’t Come Home. 

Additionally, the electrical vibrations from the generator not only created a portal but “slightly shifted” it, because of which the two timelines converged into each other, which is the only reason why young Min and Varee (adult Min) were seeing ghosts in the house in the present time (2024). But that’s only one out of the many theories that we can come up with to talk about the time travel shenanigans.

Don’t Come Home doesn’t really address the time paradox, but we have often seen in popular time travel narratives that if two versions of the same person exist in the same timeline, then things get pretty weird, and so these terrifying visions or hallucinations could be a result of that. The third possibility is that both Mins (adult and young) had lived pretty traumatized lives, and their trauma might have had a crucial role to play in their hallucinations. Funny thing is, a plethora of policemen, househelp workers, Fah, and many other people visited the house, but the time traveling portal didn’t affect anyone except for the Jarukanant family. Well, there isn’t any logical reason for it, but the creators didn’t want more work on their hands by getting other characters’ lives affected by the time-traveling portal. 

Yes, Min Gave Birth To Herself

I won’t be referring to adult Min as Varee because the original Varee already died with her father in a car accident that took place in 1991. Many of us are only confused with the names because Varee’s mother, who blamed herself for her daughter and husband’s deaths, started calling young Min Varee. 

Moving forward, I really want to let you know that Min doesn’t exist in the original timeline. There is no way she could, and she came into existence only because Panida decided to fiddle with the timeline. But I know a question comes to your mind: How could Min exist in other timelines? There has to be a starting point, right? Well, there isn’t. This is one of the biggest paradoxes in the series, which is why Min’s existence cannot be explained. We can bang our heads on the table but still won’t be able to answer the question of which came first: the chicken or the egg.

In Caddo Lake, the character of Anna Bennett, who went into the past and created a branched timeline, was an adopted child, which would have made a bit of sense in Don’t Come Home if we consider the possibility that Min didn’t give birth to herself and young Min was an adopted child. Even adult Min’s husband, Yutthachai, had told Inspector Fah that young Min wasn’t his child. But even after moving in circles, the question remains the same: if in the original timeline, adult Min doesn’t exist, then how did young Min, whom we are considering not to be Yutthachai’s biological child, end up at the Jarukanant house to start the infinite loop? There has to be a person to bring her to that house so she can hide in the wardrobe and fall into the madness of the multiverse. I know you all eagerly want to ask who came first, adult Min or young Min, but there isn’t any logical answer to that question, and it’s a paradox that could never be explained.

But if you are not going into that complex zone and just want to ask how someone could give birth to themselves; then it is a case of simple human biology. To “create” a human, we just need X and Y chromosomes (I am sure I am going to upset a lot of religious fanatics and medical experts, but pardon my science). Even though it sounds like an incestuous relationship, Min did give birth to her own daughter, and her own father was the father of her new child, also named Min. It does sound creepy, but it’s not impossible.  

Min Is Stuck In A Time Loop

Time is a flat circle, and just like any geometrical circle, there isn’t any beginning or end. The lore of Don’t Come Home says that an adult Min fell in love with Colonel Yutthachai while working as a reporter and married him, only to find out in the end that he was a toxic “alpha male” who accused adult Min of cheating on him and started to physically and sexually abuse her. As per the final montage of the series, Yutthachai started raising his hand against his wife only after she got pregnant, and it surely had something to do with Min’s pregnancy. Maybe he believed that adult Min was carrying someone else’s child, and that was the reason he told Fah that the child wasn’t his.

Min was stuck in an abusive marriage, and the day she decided to break the chain, she ended up in another loop. Adult Min, with her daughter, also Min, arrived at the Jarukanant house, and after spending a day or two in the house, she switched on the generator that opened the time-travel portal in the house. Both mother and daughter started to experience supernatural events around them, which were nothing but events of the past occurring in front of their eyes due to the faulty generator. On one stormy night, a frightened young Min hid in the closet, only to fall into another timeline where she met her grandmother, Panida, who had recently lost her entire family. Panida decided to keep Min and raise her as her own, but soon she reactivated the generator, and an adult Min arrived in 1992, looking for her lost daughter. Panida, possessed by demons of her own, refused to give young Min to adult Min and finally killed an adult Min in the end. Both Panida and young Min left the house after such a tragic turn of events, and as Min grew up, she made the same mistakes as her former self, or her mother, whatever you want to call her. Maybe, it is an example of how history repeats itself and we are destined to repeat our parents’ mistakes. 

I guess, at this point, it would be safe to assume that Min would never be able to break out of the time loop because she never really finds out that she was stuck in one. We, as normal human beings, are imprisoned in the cage of our own thoughts and upbringing, and only in retrospect are we able to see the mistakes we have committed. Adult Min found out that she was stuck in the past only a day before her death, and she couldn’t have done much to escape it. Panida had imprisoned herself in her own grief, and while trying to overcome her own trauma, she was ready to steal a mother’s child and kill the mother to protect her vested interest. Last but not least, men like Yutthachai are prisoners of their own pride, and I will leave it at that.

I believe, in the end, it was only Fah who was able to break “her” loop. She made peace with the fact that she would never be able to bring back adult Min, as she’d already died in 1992, and Fah didn’t have the means to travel to the past. She knew that she couldn’t save a young Min either because the young girl was already lost in time. So, looking ahead, Fah decided to change what she could. She broke off her secret affair with Superintendent Danai, the man who had gotten her pregnant but refused to acknowledge the relationship they had. Fah decided to raise her child without a father and even asked the nurse not to mention the child’s father’s name on the birth certificate because Danai didn’t deserve it. And I am sure Fah is the only person who comes out transformed in the end. As far as Min is concerned, it’s a tragedy that no one can really resolve, and one can only learn from her story. Before wrapping up, I think I answered pretty much all the things that have been bugging you after finishing the series, but apologies if I missed anything. Feel free to drop your queries in the comment box below, and I would be happy to discuss further.

Related

Rwanda’s global appeal draws tourists and investors alike, spurring growth 

Travel

 It is easy to fall in love with Rwanda–the world renowned land of 1000 hills.
From the gorilla trekking that attracts thousands of tourists annually, to expanding infrastructure, preserving its past that tells the story of how far it has come in recent years, and the peaceful transition with ample security and harmony among its population, Rwanda has won global acclaim.To boot, it now ranks as one of the best countries in the central African region whose ease of doing business is attracting foreign investment, helping embrace a new narrative and ambition, moving away from an old era of genocide that saw thousands of its population perish three decades ago.
“I came as a tourist and decided to stay permanently after I saw ample opportunities for business and in Rwanda, there is no corruption and you feel there is a functioning public service and system that benefits everyday people and is what is attracting people from other nations,” FasilTilahun,an Ethiopian entrepreneur, said as he contemplates a future in Rwanda.
He is not alone.- Advertisement –

Business Beat: Work proceeds on Longview wine storage, social club

Business News

A March opening is expected for a new wine social club and climate-controlled wine storage facility on Judson Road in Longview.Noah and Mary Yoder are renovating a former house as the home of Flatt 55, which will be the first wine storage facility in Longview.The house at 1900 Judson Road was built in the late 1940s by the Johnston family, according to Noah Yoder and online appraisal district records. It’s tucked away from the road on about 3 acres of land with ducks from a nearby pond roaming around on the rear of the property. Noah Yoder said the house still features the hand-hewn timbers it was constructed with from North or South Carolina. He also said it was built with Clinker bricks that have black marks on them because they were burned in the San Francisco fire in 1906. #placement_588479_0_i{width:100%;margin:0 auto;}

Judson Rd. location of Flatt, Longview’s first wine storage business/social club, with a kitchen for events. (Les Hassell/Longview News-Journal Photo)

“It’s a wine social club,” Noah Yoder said. “You have to buy a membership to use the facility.”He has not yet determined how many memberships will be available. A chef’s kitchen is being added on one side of the house that will have seating for 25 people. Members may rent the room, bring their own chef and host parties and other events there. Mary Yoder, a registered nurse, said the entrance to the social club will feature a lobby where members can meet with clients or sit and work.”It’s pretty much like a fancy hotel lobby,” she said. The business also will sell boutique wines from wineries that are too small to have their own distribution systems. That means they are limited supply wines. “When we sell out of one, we’ll go to another,” Noah Yoder said. “It’s kind of unique in that sense.”When renovations are complete, the business will include a 2,000-square-foot climate-controlled wine cooler that will hold 50,000-60,000 bottles of wine. It will feature about 250 wine lockers of various sizes, with the largest walk-in locker measuring 40 square feet. The business also will accept shipments of wine for customers, Noah Yoder said, explaining that people join wine clubs and then get automatic shipments. They might have wine cellars in their homes but run out of room, or they just have some they want to keep for years. Noah Yoder is retired but previously owned Yoder Construction in Longview for 35 years. He also owns climate-controlled storage facilities, which is how he became aware of the wine storage industry.He and Mary said they’ve visited other wine storage businesses in Tyler, Shreveport and Dallas, for instance, but theirs is the first in Longview.”They only do storage,” Mary Yoder said and don’t have a lounge or kitchen.The Yoders have hired Julie Ober as membership director. She previously was a manager at Harley’s and then worked for 10 years in wine sales with Republic National Distributing Co. “She brings a lot to the table,” Mary Yoder said.Wine tastings and education opportunities will be offered at Flatt 55, which also will feature an outdoor patio area.@import url(https://fonts.bunny.net/css?family=ibm-plex-sans:400,600);

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New Etsy-style marketAnnie Edwards has introduced a new shopping event to East Texas with a market dedicated to people’s homemade products.The first East Texas Etsy Market was held during the Longview Mall’s recent Boo and Brew.

Annie Edwards

The next East Texas Etsy Market will be staged 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Nov 30 at Longview Mall. That’s the same day the mall will celebrate its annual Christmas Tree lighting, from 5:30-8 p.m.The East Texas Etsy Market — named for the popular website where people sell their homemade items — will be held the first weekend of the month on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, starting in DecemberEdwards and her husband, Devin, recently moved to the Longview area. He was born and raised here, and they met in San Diego when he was in the Navy.She said there was always a “crazy” demand for homemade items in San Diego. That city had a similar monthly market as the events she is organizing,In San Diego, she made and sold candles. Her candle business is on hold for now until the couple get settled in from their move.When she moved here, Edwards realized there were a lot of women who don’t work outside the home but have home-based businesses, she said. The market will help those women make some sort of income, Edwards said.”We want to bring that here because not only is it something that’s very popular around here, it helps people have some sort of income,” she said. Deadline for registration for each market is the Monday before the event. Vendor fee is $75. For information, email Edwards at [email protected] or visit East Texas Etsy Market on Facebook at tinyurl.com/4xzyban6 .Jewelry storeValliani Jewelers is expected to open in Longview Mall in the coming weeks.The company is remodeling the space previously occupied by Gordon Jewelers.Valliani Jewelry started in 1999 in California.

Ocean full of alien life could be hiding on nearby icy moon system, say scientists in ‘incredibly surprising’ discovery

Science and Health

AN ocean full of alien life could be hiding on an icy moon system not far from earth, in what scientists have called an “incredibly surprising” discovery.The moon, named Miranda, orbits the planet Uranus – just 1.7 billion miles away in our very own solar system.2Scientists have discovered that Miranda, a moon orbiting Uranus, may have a hidden ocean full of alien lifeCredit: NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory-Caltech2Uranus has 13 known rings and around 27 moonsCredit: YouTube/Olhar DigitalIt is now believed to have a hidden ocean, trapped under a layer of ice, according to a recent study.The presence of water on the moon means it could harbour alien life.No extra-terrestrial life has ever been discovered by scientists, but it could include intelligent, non-human beings.The ocean could be as large as 62 miles deep, underneath an icy crust that’s 19 miles thick.Read more Tech News Planetary scientist Tom Nordheim, who did the study along with fellow scientists Caleb Strom and Alex Patthoff, expressed his astonishment at the findings.He said: “To find evidence of an ocean inside a small object like Miranda is incredibly surprising.”It helps build on the story that some of these moons at Uranus may be really interesting – that there may be several ocean worlds around one of the most distant planets in our solar system, which is both exciting and bizarre.”Mr Strom echoed: “The suggestion of an ocean inside one of the most distant moons in the solar system is remarkable.”The trio used images captured by a Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1986 to technologically map out Miranda’s geological past.As they modelled the moon’s contours, they saw shapes on the its surface similar to a patchwork. Mystery of ‘alien song’ in deepest point on Earth SOLVED after eerie audioThey believe this could signal that a subsurface ocean may have been formed between 100 and 500 million years ago.Equally remarkable was the discovery that this ocean might have stayed warm enough to remain liquid, despite the moon being a significant distance from the Sun.This is due to a friction build-up between Miranda and about 27 neighbouring moons also orbiting Uranus – generating heat.Mr Nordheim urged for further research in this area, adding that he and his colleagues were “squeezing the last bit of science we can from Voyager 2’s images”.It comes as Nasa discovered mysterious green dots on Mars, which could also point to the presence of alien life.Meanwhile, the space agency also described the planet Kepler-70b, which is also believed to possibly have alien life, as “another circle of hell” – with temperatures “hotter than the Sun”.

Business News | Deepak Fertilisers Reports Impressive Growth & Margin Expansion

Business News

NewsVoirPune (Maharashtra) [India], November 2: Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation Limited, one of India’s leading producers of industrial & mining chemicals and fertilisers (“DFPCL” or the “Company”), announced its results for the quarter ended September 30, 2024. The company reported a remarkable 237% year-on-year surge in net profits.Also Read | Srinagar Encounter: 2 CRPF Troopers, 2 Policemen Injured in Gunfight Between Terrorists and Security Forces in Jammu and Kashmir (Watch Video).*Q2FY24 includes the impact of NBS subsidy on channel inventories of Rs 106 Cr and Rs 87 Cr on account of stabilization of Ammonia Plant Key Highlights for Q2FY25* EBITDA Margin Growth: Improved to 18% compared to 12% year-over-year.Also Read | Gujarati New Year 2024: PM Narendra Modi Wishes People for Nutan Varshabhinandan; Amit Shah, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel Meet Supporters.* Record Sales Volume in Bulk Fertilizer: Achieved an 83% year-over-year increase in sales volume of manufactured bulk fertilizer, marking the highest sales in a quarter.* Anti-Dumping Duty Implementation: USD 217 per metric ton Anti-Dumping Duty (ADD) on IPA for a period of 5 years.* In-House Capture of Ammonia Price Hikes: Increases in global ammonia prices are now fully captured internally.* Capacity enhancement of approximately 10% resulting from debottlenecking of the TAN plants, delivering an additional 50 KTPA and bringing the total TAN capacity volumes to 587 KTPA to support the growing needs of India’s Mining sector.* Debt Reduction: Prepaid Rs. 200 crores in debt, improving the Net Debt to EBITDA ratio from 2.66x to 1.64x.* Change in key RM Prices in Q2FY25: Ammonia: ~11% YoY; MOP: ~40% YoY; Gas: ~9% YoY Commenting on the performance, Sailesh C. Mehta, Chairman & Managing Director said, DFPCL has shown impressive performance in Q2 FY25, achieving a 13% growth in revenue. This growth was primarily driven by the Crop Nutrition business, which experienced an 18% YoY increase in revenue, while the Chemical business grew by 8% YoY despite a lean quarter for the chemical sectors. Fertilizer and Chemical businesses acted as a natural hedge, enabling the company to deliver consistent and improved performance.There has been a consistent increase in the proportion of revenue from specialty products, along with an overall rise in revenue, driven by the strategic move of transitioning from commodity to specialty.- Crop Nutrition Business (CNB) achieved a remarkable 83% YoY increase in sales volume of manufactured bulk fertilizer, which is highest ever sales.- Mining Chemical: Monsoon is a lean period due to slowdown in mining activities. Accordingly, we had taken a planned shutdown of Technical Ammonium Nitrate (TAN) plant for maintenance and capacity enhancement of 50 KTPA, taking total capacity to 587 KTPA.- The Industrial Chemicals business experienced a healthy revenue growth of 9%, despite marginal decrease in volumes. This performance underscores our strategic shift from commodities to specialty chemicals, which has effectively mitigated price volatility.- The ammonia plant has enabled all our businesses to reap substantial benefits from backward integration, effectively mitigating supply chain risks and price volatility. As a result, we are now able to capture the increases in global ammonia prices within the group. As India continues to grow, the chemical and fertilizer sectors are poised to thrive. The demand outlook for the Crop Nutrition, Mining Chemicals, and Industrial Chemicals Business is well aligned with India’s growth story, providing strong and positive tailwinds. We are actively working on the execution of the TAN Project and the Nitric Acid Project in Gopalpur and Dahej, respectively, to capitalize on future growth.Chemicals Review* Mining Chemicals (Technical Ammonium Nitrate):- In Q2 FY25, our premium product LDAN’s sales volume soared by 16% YoY and rose by an impressive 20% in H1 FY25 compared to H1 FY24- Overall sales volume was down by 21% YoY in Q2 due to a planned shutdown and lean seasons due to monsoon. The volumes were down by 1% in H1 FY25 compared to H1 FY24.- Business Outlook: The mining and infrastructure is expected to pick up post monsoon as demand for Power (Coal), Cement & Steel is expected to increase thereby providing robust support for TAN demand.* Industrial Chemicals: – Nitric acid volumes was marginally down by 1% on YoY basis and up by 13% on QoQ basis.- The specialty stainless steel grade nitric acid has received positive feedback from customers.- IPA volumes experienced a 10% YoY decline due to process constraints and a plant shutdown. However, the recent implementation of an ADD at USD 217 per metric ton for a period of five years is anticipated to enhance both demand and pricing moving forward.- Business Outlook: For Nitric Acid, the demand and margins are expected to be stable over the next few quarters. Propylene-based IPA demand and margins are expected to be stable and improve following the implementation of the ADD on Chinese suppliers over few quarters.Crop Nutrition Business (Fertilisers) Review* In Q2 FY25, manufactured bulk fertilizer has achieved highest ever sales volume of 268 KMT, an 83% YoY increase, driven by improved demand from above-average rains, which led to 102% Kharif crop sowing and positive market sentiment across all regions.* Sales volume of Croptek surged to 37 KMT, reflecting a 70% YoY growth, with continued focus on providing crop-specific solutions for targeted crops, including cotton, soybean, sugarcane, corn, grapes, pomegranate, and banana.* The company has recently launched premium water-soluble fertilizer grades.* Sale of specialty fertilizer Bensulf was 9 KMT, up 7% YoY.* Business Outlook: Above-normal monsoon rainfall in our core states has significantly enhanced groundwater table as well as water reservoirs for irrigation, which will help promising rabi season ahead.* We expect the acreages under rabi cash crops to go up especially for Sugarcane, Onion, Potato etc.Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd. (DFPCL) is among the India’s leading manufacturers of industrial chemicals and fertilisers. With a strong presence in Technical Ammonium Nitrate (mining chemicals), Industrial Chemicals and Crop Nutrition (fertilisers), the Company supports critical sectors of the economy such as infrastructure, mining, chemicals, pharmaceutical and agriculture. DFPCL is a publicly listed, multi-product Indian conglomerate and has plants located in four states, namely Maharashtra (Taloja), Gujarat (Daher), Andhra Pradesh (Srikakulam) and Haryana (Panipat).DFPCL is Leading manufacturer and marketer of Iso Propyl Alcohol (IPA) in India and Largest Manufacturer of Nitric Acid in Southeast Asia. The Company is developing specialised grades of Nitric acid and IPA to meet specific requirements to cater needs of the industry/consumer.DFPCL is one of the leading manufacturers of Technical Ammonium Nitrate in the world, it is the only producer of pilled Technical Grade Ammonium Nitrate solids and medical grade Ammonium Nitrate in India. The Company has commenced best in-class Technical Services to drive downstream productivity benefits for the mining end consumers.CNB Segment (fertilisers) offers a basket of 48 products which include bulk fertilisers, Crop nutrient solutions, specialty fertilisers, water-soluble fertilisers, bio-stimulants, micro-nutrients, and secondary nutrients, catering to every crop’s nutrient requirement. Enhanced-efficiency speciality fertilisers are developed basis rigorous R&D efforts and product trials at over 50,000 farmer demo plots. The R&D efforts have shown distinct yield and quality improvements for crops across segments such as cotton, sugarcane, onion, fruits and vegetables. Over last three years, value-added nutrition products have benefitted 6 million farmers.(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)

Recognition at last for Tom Bacon, the scientist you’ve never heard of who helped put men on the moon

Science and Health

It has been nearly 70 years since Francis Thomas Bacon developed a source of clean green energy that would help power the first moon landing and change the course of history.Yet, few are aware of the Cambridge-based engineer, known as Tom, whose invention of the first working hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell helped send Apollo 11 to the moon. His pioneering work is still a source of inspiration for scientists working on renewable energy solutions today.Now, the charity Cambridge Past, Present & Future is seeking to shine a light on Bacon’s remarkable achievements by honouring him with a blue plaque at his former home in Little Shelford, Cambridgeshire.Bacon’s fuel cells – nicknamed “Bacon Cells” by Nasa in his honour – provided secondary power for the Apollo missions, producing electricity for the communications, air conditioning and lights, as well as water for the astronauts.“Normally, in the course of time, a battery runs down and you’ve got to recharge it,” Bacon told BBC Radio 4, shortly before the moon landings in 1969. “Now, [with] this device, as long as you go on feeding hydrogen and oxygen into it, and you remove the water formed, it will go on generating power indefinitely – and the astronauts drink the water.”View image in fullscreenThe efficiency and high energy density of the fuel cells played such an integral role in the success of the Apollo missions that President Richard Nixon told Bacon: “Without you, Tom, we wouldn’t have gotten to the moon.”Sam Stranks, professor of energy materials and optoelectronics at Cambridge University, said: “He was a pioneer. Fuel cell technology was extremely important to the space programme, because as long as you can continuously supply the gases, you can keep producing electricity.” This is vital in a remote location like outer space. “Obviously, there’s no easy means to get electricity there.”Bacon’s legacy is still inspiring scientists working on new technologies for solar power, hydrogen generation and battery storage today, Stranks said, and fuel cells remain “very relevant” as a potential way of providing green electricity and emergency power, particularly in remote places.They could also power the electric engines of long-haul trucks and ships in the future, avoiding the need for impossibly large and heavy rechargeable batteries and fulfilling a dream Bacon shared in his BBC radio interview. “I always hoped it would be used for driving vehicles about,” he said, before predicting: “In a modified form, it is going to come.”Stranks said: “I see him very much as a visionary and an unsung hero. The fuel cell is a sustainable power solution that foreshadows today’s clean energy efforts and was decades ahead of its time.”A direct descendent of the Elizabethan philosopher and empiricist Francis Bacon, he began researching fuel cells while working for an engineering firm in 1932, a few years after graduating from Cambridge with a third-class degree in mechanical sciences.Nearly a century earlier, the physicist William Grove had demonstrated the theoretical concept of fuel cells in 1839, but failed to generate much electricity. Excited by the huge potential, Bacon secretly started conducting experiments with the highly flammable gases, on his employer’s premises.skip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotionTold to either stop or leave, he quit his job and devoted his life to engineering a solution to this complex problem, working first at Cambridge University, then Marshalls, a local manufacturer.He later revealed in his BBC interview that it was unclear for decades what the practical use of his invention would be, and he struggled to fund his research as a result. Then, in 1962, Nasa decided to develop his alkaline fuel cell for the Apollo programme and a US company invested $100m in the project.“British engineers have some of the most brilliant ideas, but turning those ideas into commercial successes is what then often fails, and Bacon faced this,” said Cambridge professor Clemens Kaminski, head of the chemical engineering and biotechnology department where Bacon once worked. “Yet he persevered.”After they returned to Earth, astronauts Neil Armstong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins met Bacon at Downing Street and presented him with a signed photograph of Armstrong’s famous first “small step” on the moon.Outside the scientific community, however, Bacon, who died in 1992, is not very well known, Kaminski said. “He was an incredibly modest and quiet man. His delight was solving problems and coming up with real solutions for the benefit of society.”

A 102-year-old shares her simple, science-backed skincare secrets — and they don’t include antiaging creams

Science and Health

Health

A 102-year-old shares her simple, science-backed skincare secrets — and they don’t include antiaging creams

Serafina Kenny

2024-11-02T10:02:02Z

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Deborah Szekely shared her skincare secrets.

Rancho La Puerta

Deborah Szekely is 102 years old and works three days a week.She attributes her fitness and plump skin to her lifestyle.She shared the things she does that have helped her reduce wrinkles and sun spots.