** Researchers at The Ohio State University have developed a battery that can convert nuclear waste into electricity. This innovative technology utilizes ambient gamma radiation from spent nuclear fuel to power electronics and offers a cleaner and more efficient energy source.
** Donald Trump’s freshly appointed Environmental Protection Agency chief is trying to seize $2 billion in federal grant money from a coalition of nonprofits that includes Habitat for Humanity. Trump’s EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has publicly vowed to try to prevent it from being paid out by Citibank, where the previous administration deposited $20 billion in green grants for disbursement.
** Solar panel maker First Solar forecast higher current-year sales, and posted a rise in fourth-quarter profit on Tuesday, and said it has initiated legal action against JinkoSolar for patent infringement. Shares were up 3.8% $153.00 in extended trading.
** General Motors’ quarterly results report the company is the “fastest growing high volume EV manufacturer, doubling market share in 2024.” GM is optimistic about 2025, particularly along three product lines.
** The U.S. Trade Representative’s office has proposed charging up to $1.5 million for Chinese-built vessels entering U.S. ports as part of its investigation into China’s growing domination of the global shipbuilding, maritime and logistics sectors.
World
** Ukraine has agreed to a US-proposed deal for the rights to its mineral wealth after Donald Trump backed down on his most extreme demands. Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, is set to sign the deal in Washington DC as early as this Friday, bringing to an end a heated dispute with the US president over the terms of the pact.
** Russia’s Ryazan oil refinery has suspended operations after an attack by Ukrainian drones on Monday, three industry sources told Reuters. The main crude distillation unit at the refinery, CDU-6, caught fire in the attack and the plant has fully suspended oil processing, the sources said.
** The oil/energy industry is witnessing a wave of consolidation as energy giants seek to strengthen their market position amid changing dynamics. The latest speculation about a possible merger between Shell plc SHEL and BP plc BP has reignited discussions about mega-mergers, drawing comparisons to ExxonMobil’s XOM acquisition of Pioneer Natural Resources and Chevron Corporation’s CVX deal with Hess Corporation HES reported Zacks.
** Indian state power company NTPC will invest more than 2 trillion rupees ($23.07 billion) on renewable energy projects in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, the company said on Monday.
** France’s WEST fusion reactor has shattered a nuclear fusion record set by China just a few weeks ago, marking yet another small but significant step on the road toward near-limitless clean energy.