Expansion | Common News Update

May152018 by adminNo Comments

'Feel good' factor not CO2 boosts global forest expansion

Forests are increasing around the world because of rising incomes and an improved sense of national wellbeing say researchers.The authors refute the idea that increasing levels of CO2 in the atmosphere are the key cause of the spread of trees. As countries become better off, farmers focus on good quality soils and abandon marginal lands, the authors say.As a result, trees are able to rapidly reforest these deserted areas.The study highlights the fact that between 1990 and 2015 forest growing stock increased annually by 1.31% in high income countries and by 0.5% in middle income nations, while falling by 0.72% in 22 low income countries. Several global climate models have attributed this change to what's termed CO2 fertilisation -...

Mar52018 by adminNo Comments

Google expansion plans helping to turn NYC into tech hub

Technology

As New York City waits to hear whether it's been chosen as the site for Amazon's second headquarters, recent moves by another tech giant, Google, to expand its footprint in the city are helping to legitimize New York's claim to be Silicon Valley East. Google is reportedly close to a reaching a $ 2.4 billion deal to add a landmark Meatpacking District building to its already substantial New York campus. The building, a block-long former Nabisco factory named after its ground-floor upscale food mall, Chelsea Market, sits across the street from Google's current New York City headquarters, a massive, art deco, former shipping terminal that also occupies an entire city block. Google already leases space in Chelsea Market, which also contains offices for Major League Baseball and the local cabl...

Nov282017 by adminNo Comments

United Continental Continues Its Small-City Expansion

Finance

Since joining airline giant United Continental (NYSE: UAL) last year, company president Scott Kirby and CFO Andrew Levy have pushed a strategy of expanding in smaller cities. The first big batch of new routes associated with this strategy started up in June. Since then, management has made it clear that additional small-city routes would be coming next year.Sure enough, United Continental announced a new set of routes to small cities last week. However, while its interest in small cities makes sense, United may have trouble competing with Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) and American Airlines (NASDAQ: AAL) in some of these markets, due to its reliance on 50-seat jets.The logic of smaller citiesPrice competition from budget carriers has made American, Delta, and ...

Sep282017 by adminNo Comments

Europe plans Sentinel satellite expansion

Science

Europe has begun the process of scoping an expansion to its Sentinel Earth observation network. Six new satellite concepts will be studied, including a constellation of spacecraft that can monitor emissions of carbon dioxide. Invitations to tender (ITTs) for the feasibility work will be sent out to industry in the coming weeks. The European Space Agency hopes to put a list of satellites for implementation before ministers in late 2019. Those platforms that are selected would launch in the mid-2020s. Precisely how many of the six will make it to the launch pad will depend on the funds available, but Esa's Earth observation director is bullish about what can be achieved. "I'm not thinking about down-selection at this stage," said Josef Aschbacher. "I'm preparing six candidates and I want to...

Jul142017 by adminNo Comments

Social Security expansion is possible despite future funding woes, advocates say

Finance

Advocates for increasing Social Security's benefits are counting on today's release of the annual trustees report to provide some fodder for their cause.While the yearly analysis confirmed the program's long-term funding woes, proponents for expansion say it also proves the government can afford it."The numbers make it clear that the question about whether to expand or cut Social Security is a question of values, not affordability," said Nancy Altman, president of Social Security Works and chair of the Strengthen Social Security Coalition.The report, released this afternoon, echoed last year's projected revenue shortfalls starting in the mid-2020s and leading to a depleted surplus by 2035. At that point, unless Congress has taken steps to shore it up, the program will be able to fund about...