NEW DELHI, India, April 9 -- The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs issued the following transcript of an interview on April 8 with John Kerry, special presidential envoy for climate, and Raj Chengappa of India Today: * * * India Today: Hello, I'm Raj Chengappa and we are delighted that Mr. John Kerry, the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, is speaking exclusively to India Today on his mission to India, a very important mission, Mr. Kerry. Mr. Kerry  more

WASHINGTON, April 7 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RS20871) on April 6, 2021, entitled "Iran Sanctions": (Continued from Part 1 of 3) Iran-Iraq Arms Nonproliferation Act and Iraq Sanctions Act The Iran-Iraq Arms Nonproliferation Act (Title XIV of the FY1993 National Defense Authorization Act, P.L. 102-484, signed in October 1992) imposes a number of sanctions on foreign entities that supply Iran with WMD technology or "destabilizing numbers and types of  more

WASHINGTON, April 8 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL33436) on April 6, 2021, entitled "Japan-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress": The report was co-authored by Asian affairs specialists Emma Chanlett-Avery and Mark E. Manyin, Asian affairs analyst Caitlin Campbell and international trade and finance analysts Cathleen D. Cimino-Isaacs and Brock R. Williams. Summary Japan is a significant partner of the United States in a number of foreign policy areas,  more

NEW YORK, April 9 (TNSPol) -- The Environmental Defense Fund issued the following fact sheet entitled "Vote YES on SB 8" : Now more than ever, New Mexicans understand the importance of protecting our health, air, and climate. Antiquated state laws prevent the Environmental Improvement Board and local air quality boards from adopting regulations under Air Quality Control Act and the Hazardous Waste Act that are stronger than the federal regulations. Senate Bill 8 would allow these entities to a  more

COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 9 (TNSOps) -- Earthjustice issued the following news release on April 8, 2021: Several groups, including Buckeye Environmental Network, Concerned Ohio River Residents, OVEC, Freshwater Accountability Project, and the Sierra Club, sent a letter to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) urging the director to reject applications by Powhatan Salt Company/Mountaineer NGL Storage for three planned solution mining wells. The Division of Oil and Gas Resources Management   more

CLEVELAND, Ohio, April 9 (TNSRep) -- The Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis issued the following news release: India has stockpiled a record 132 million tonnes of coal - enough to run India's power plants for two months - greatly exceeding the average of the previous five years, finds a new briefing note by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). The note by analyst and guest contributor Charles Worringham says that while power plants have reduced   more

NEW YORK, April 9 (TNSPar) -- The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility issued the following news release on April 8, 2021: Building on the groundbreaking majority vote in support of a proposal on climate lobbying at Chevron's 2020 annual meeting, investor members of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility are announcing agreements reached with five companies on similar proposals requesting a report on if and how the companies' lobbying activities (direct and through trade ass  more

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania, April 9 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory issued the following news: NETL and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to share geologic samples containing rare earth elements (REE) and critical minerals (CM). The arrangement will bolster REE and CM research for both organizations and help ensure vital components of clean energy technology will continue to be manufactured well into the future a  more

SAN FRANCISCO, California, April 9 (TNSPol) -- Earthjustice issued the following news release: Representative Steve Cohen introduced the Ensuring Safe Disposal of Coal Ash Act, building upon Energy and Commerce leaders' CLEAN Future Act coal ash language to tackle the second largest source of industrial waste in the United States and its disproportionate impact on underserved communities. The bill, which would amend the Solid Waste Disposal Act, would direct the Environmental Protection Agency  more

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, April 9 (TNSRep) -- PennEnvironment issued the following news release: Pennsylvania ranks sixth in the nation for its potential to reduce global warming pollution by electrifying buildings, according to a new report released today by the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center, PennPIRG Education Fund, and Frontier Group. The study, Electric Buildings: Repowering Homes and Businesses for Our Health and Environment, found that completely electrifying Pennsylvania's h  more

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania, April 9 (TNSRep) -- The PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center issued the following news release on April 8, 2021: Pennsylvania ranks sixth in the nation for its potential to reduce global warming pollution by electrifying buildings, according to a new report released today by the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center, PennPIRG Education Fund, and Frontier Group. The study, Electric Buildings: Repowering Homes and Businesses for Our Health and Environment, fo  more

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, April 9 -- Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tennessee, issued the following news release on April 8, 2021: Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09) today introduced the Ensuring the Safe Disposal of Coal Ash Act, strengthening protections against coal ash contamination by rectifying deficiencies in the 2015 Coal Ash Rule weakened by the Trump Administration's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Congressman Cohen made the following statement: "I have been acutely aware of the dangers of coal   more

WASHINGTON, April 9 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration issued the following news release on April 8, 2021: U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced that the Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2 million grant to the city of Johnson City, Tennessee, to upgrade the Sinking Creek Pump Station in support of current and future business needs. This EDA grant, to be matched with $3.8 million in local funds, is expected t  more

WASHINGTON, April 9 -- The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration issued the following news release on April 8, 2021: The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $600,000 CARES Act Recovery Assistance grant to the Hawaii Technology Development Corporation (HTDC), Honolulu, Hawaii, to provide technical assistance to small businesses in the state's food manufacturing sector. This EDA grant, to be matched with $150,000 in loc  more

CHARLESTON, West Virginia, April 9 -- Gov. Jim Justice, R-West Virginia, issued the following statement: * * * Gov. Jim Justice issued the following statement, commending Senate President Craig Blair and the West Virginia Senate for passing an amended version of HB 3300 Wednesday evening, which would repeal West Virginia's personal income tax using key elements of the Governor's Justice 4 All plan: "I applaud the Senate in every way for stepping up to the plate and advancing a bill that would  more