FORT WORTH, Texas – Fort Worth police are asking for information from anyone who saw a fight at the Chris Brown concert at Dickies Arena last weekend. Brown and his entourage allegedly assaulted four Denton County men after the concert on Saturday, July 20. The men filed a $50 million lawsuit against Brown, concert promoter Live Nation, and other musicians. Fort Worth detectives are asking to speak with anyone who witnessed the altercation and the events leading up to it. The lawsuit claims the attack was unprovoked. According to the suit, Brown told his entourage to attack one of the men over an old disagreement. The men claim Brown and his group punched them, stomped on them, and threw chairs at them. One of the men was hospitalized, and three others had to receive medical treatment, according to the lawsuit. Fort Worth police are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Fincher at 817-392-4445.
World’s First Eco-Milk Reduces Methane Emissions from Cows, Tasmania Dairy Leads the Way, Australia
A small dairy farm in Tasmania is stocking supermarket shelves with what it says is the world’s first branded milk produced by cows fed with a seaweed that makes them emit lower levels of environmentally damaging methane gas.
The livestock industry accounts for around 30% of global methane emissions, according to the United Nations. Seaweed and other feed additives for cattle could reduce these greenhouse gas emissions but have yet to be widely adopted due to cost.
Since February, family-owned Tasmanian dairy producer Ashgrove has been feeding around 500 cows – a fifth of its total – an oil containing a seaweed extract that reduces the methane released by a cow’s digestion, said co-owner Richard Bennett.
The cows produce around 10,000 liters of milk daily, a portion of which is bottled as Eco-Milk and sold across Tasmania, including at Woolworths, Australia’s largest supermarket chain.
We’re getting about 25% reduction in methane, Bennett said.
Eco-Milk is a test of whether consumers will pay extra for dairy products that have a lower environmental impact.
A 2-liter bottle sells for AU$5.50 ($3.67), 25 cents more than normal full cream milk, Bennett said, adding that sales were going well, but the company had yet to decide on whether to expand the project.
Producers of feed additives that inhibit the release of methane by microbes digesting plant matter in cows’ stomachs have invested hundreds of millions of dollars to produce enough to feed millions of animals.
French cheese maker Bel Group said last year it would feed an additive to around 10,000 dairy cows in Slovakia. Other firms, including JBS, Danone and Fonterra, have dabbled with additives but not rolled them out at scale.
The additive used by Ashgrove is supplied by a Tasmanian company called Sea Forest. Its CEO, Sam Elsom, said he hoped Eco-Milk would be popular.
If these products aren’t supported, things will go back to usual, he said. And the pace of decarbonization will be much slower.
Germany and UK Sign Comprehensive Defense Pact – Strengthening Euro-Atlantic Security
Numerous critics continue to denounce Germany and the United Kingdom’s defense partnerships. A contentious new partnership between the two nations around their alliance principles, such as strengthening joint security objectives and the deepening of defense projects.
Google’s Q2 Earnings Spike Prompts Goldman Sachs Buy Rating, US
Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ:GOOG) second-quarter earnings received a positive outlook from Goldman Sachs, highlighting growth potential and margin improvement opportunities. Key highlights include Search surpassing consensus estimates, cloud revenue growth driven by AI-related revenues, and potential challenges for YouTube.
Goldman Sachs noted management’s optimism regarding the evolution of the Search product, broader digital media consumption trends, and generative AI. The bank reiterated a buy rating with a target price of US$217, emphasizing Alphabet’s position in the enterprise computing landscape.
Overall, the Google owner remains a favorable investment opportunity according to Goldman Sachs, reflecting confidence in Alphabet’s future growth prospects.
Boeing Pushes P-8 for France’s MPA Replacement Plan
Boeing is pursuing several additional P-8 prospects in Europe, including a somewhat far-stretched effort to convince France to buy the maritime patrol aircraft (MPA).
France has a requirement to replace its fleet of turboprop-powered Dassault Atlantique 2 platforms and last year awarded Airbus and Dassault feasibility studies for replacement options.
Boeing is trying to make the case that rather than spending a significant chunk of money and waiting years for a new-design MPA, Paris should leverage the U.S. Navy investment in the P-8 and receive an aircraft more quickly.
As the procurement arm of France deliberates how to replace the Altantiques, I think including P-8 in that consideration with some indigenous, organic-developed programs — I think that makes sense, said Tim Flood, who leads Boeing’s regional business development in Europe, Israel and the Americas.
Flood acknowledged the long-shot nature of the argument, given France’s interest in supporting its homegrown defense industrial base. However, he added, at some point, there needs to be a balance between the national interest in European strategic autonomy … with an off-the-shelf solution that provides all the interoperability, interchangeability, affordability benefits and leveraging the way we partner with French industry.
For the French program, Airbus has explored an A320 MPA concept, with Dassault focused on its Falcon 10X business jet that is due for first commercial customer deliveries in 2027. A program to replace the Atlantique 2s could get underway in 2026, with entry into service in 2030-40.
France has not said how many aircraft it may buy, but based on the size of the current fleet and the greater capability of more modern aircraft, Boeing expects a 14-16 aircraft purchase is likely.
Boeing also sees prospects for P-8 purchases in Italy and Denmark, Flood said.
The U.S. OEM also faces the reality that the Navy program may be coming to an end, although Flood said there is still the prospect for follow-on purchases. But the company is thinking about slowing down production further, which would delay the decision on a line shutdown. Boeing already slowed production from 18 aircraft per year to 12 and could now go down to a rate of less than one aircraft per month.
JetBlue Launches New Manchester Flights to Florida, US
JetBlue announced they will be starting service in Manchester. Tickets are now on sale for JetBlue flights from Manchester to Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and Fort Meyers, Florida. The airline said the service will complement operations in Boston, giving customers more selection. The first Manchester flights begin in January.
US Agencies Warn Startups: Beware Foreign Investment Threats
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s (ODNI) National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) issued a joint bulletin with ODNI’s Office of Economic Security and Emerging Technology (OESET), the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) to protect U.S. emerging technology startups from investment by foreign threat actors.
U.S. emerging tech startups are at the forefront of American innovation, but they face risks when seeking potential foreign investment to expand their firms. Unfortunately, our adversaries continue to exploit early-stage investments in U.S. startups to take their sensitive data. These actions threaten U.S. economic and national security and can directly lead to the failure of these companies. Today’s bulletin highlights this evolving threat and provides guidance for startups to secure their innovation as they grow, said NCSC Director Michael Casey.
The joint bulletin provides information on this threat, as well as potential indicators, mitigation steps, and where to report incidents.
Brother-Sister Drown in Pond, US Military Intercepts Jets, Man Commits Suicide: Odisha Tragedies, India
A tragic incident unfolded in Odisha’s Ganjam district as a minor brother-sister duo drowned in a local pond. The siblings, aged 8 and 10, were playing near the water when the incident occurred. The authorities have been informed and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the tragic event. This unfortunate incident serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers that can lurk in seemingly innocuous environments. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time.
Origin to Expand Eraring Coal-Fired Power Station with A$450mn BESS Investment in NSW, Australia
Australia’s Origin to expand Eraring battery project
Sydney, 25 July — Australian utility Origin will expand the battery energy storage system (BESS) at the site of its 2,880MW Eraring coal-fired power station in News South Wales (NSW), as part of its strategy to pivot to renewable energy.
The A$450mn investment will add 240MW of four-hour duration supply to the 460MW, two-hour BESS already under construction as part of the project’s first stage, Origin said on 25 July. Agreements for equipment supply and construction have been made with stage two construction to begin in early 2025 before the expansion comes online during January-March 2027.
The sanctioning of Eraring’s second stage brings the firm’s total commitment on storage to 1.5GW, with Origin agreeing in January to outlay A$400mn on a 300MW BESS along with the firm’s 550MW Mortlake gas-fired power plant in Victoria.
Origin and the NSW Labor state government agreed in May to keep Eraring, Australia’s largest single power plant, open for at least two more years as part of a deal to maintain capacity because of delays with replacement projects.
Australia is struggling to replace its retiring coal-fired power generation because of cost blowouts and delays for renewable projects.
Indictment Charges Wesley Chapel Resident with Spying for China
A federal indictment unsealed today charges Ping Li, a 59-year-old resident of Wesley Chapel, with acting as an agent of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) without notifying the U.S. Attorney General, as required by law. Li faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.
Court documents allege that Li worked as a cooperative contact for the PRC’s Ministry of State Security (MSS), the country’s civilian intelligence agency.
He allegedly provided the MSS with information on various topics of interest to the Chinese government, including details about Chinese dissidents, pro-democracy advocates, members of the Falun Gong religious movement, and U.S.-based non-governmental organizations.
Li allegedly used anonymous online accounts to communicate with MSS officers and traveled to China to meet with them. He also reportedly provided the MSS with information obtained from his employers, a major U.S. telecommunications company and an international information technology company.
The indictment details several instances where Li allegedly provided sensitive information to the MSS, including the name and biographical information of a Falun Gong practitioner in St. Petersburg, Florida, and information about hacking events targeting U.S. companies.
