ReNew Power

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for renewed negotiations among nuclear-weapon states, marking 35 years since the closure of the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. He warned that global arms-control safeguards are weakening, urging world powers to return to the negotiating table as disarmament commitments signed at Semipalatinsk face growing strain amid rising nuclear tensions.

New figures on global electricity generation show coal remained the largest source in 2024, producing about 34% of the world's power, while wind and solar together reached 15%, up from just 4% a decade earlier. The data, presented as charts mapped onto the world map, are drawing attention to the slow pace of the energy transition despite rapid renewables growth.

Japan is converting closed golf courses into solar farms because the country has little open land for renewable energy projects. With mountains, farmland and dense cities off-limits, the wide, sunny fairways left behind by shuttered golf resorts are seen as some of the few suitable sites for large-scale solar power, according to a Japan Times report.

A full-length documentary titled 'The Weaponization of Space: The Race for Military Power' is drawing attention as global powers expand their military capabilities beyond Earth's atmosphere. The film explores how nations are developing satellites, anti-satellite weapons and space-based systems as part of a new strategic race, and viewers are engaging heavily with the topic of space as a potential future battlefield.

The New York Power Authority will take a 51% ownership stake in a 240-megawatt solar project developed with French utility EDF. The arrangement gives the state public power authority majority control of a large-scale renewable energy project, part of New York's push to expand clean energy generation. The move highlights growing public utility involvement in solar development.

Solar power is reportedly outcompeting nuclear energy on one of its key advantages, according to a widely watched energy analysis. The piece argues that advances in solar technology and falling costs are allowing renewables to match or beat nuclear on metrics long considered its stronghold, such as reliability and cost per unit of energy. Viewers are debating whether solar can truly displace nuclear in the transition to clean power.

The US Energy Information Administration's history of photovoltaic technology is drawing attention, tracing how solar cells evolved from early scientific discoveries into a mainstream power source. The page is part of the agency's educational timeline series explaining the history of energy for students and general readers.

Japan has called for a renewed push toward diplomacy to bring an end to the war between the United States and Iran. Tokyo's appeal positions Japan, historically a mediator-friendly power with economic ties to both countries, as urging de-escalation while the conflict continues to draw international concern.

A commentary argues that the United States and its allies must balance deterrence with diplomacy in their approach to major strategic rivals, warning that neither tool works well without the other. The piece reflects an ongoing debate in defence policy circles over how firmly to confront adversaries while keeping diplomatic channels open, especially amid ongoing conflicts and rising great-power tensions.

Commenters are arguing that the current fossil fuel crisis is not actually an energy crisis, since renewable power keeps getting cheaper. The claim is that people simply need to commit to switching to the cheaper, cleaner option, which would also cut atmospheric damage and reduce dependence on autocratic oil and gas exporters.

M. V. Ramana, a professor at the University of British Columbia, said nuclear power is not the solution to climate change as renewable power sources become cheaper and more advanced. He argued that larger nuclear plants make little economic sense compared with rapidly advancing renewables, a view circulating in energy-focused discussions.

Central Asian states are pursuing a carefully balanced foreign policy, engaging partners in Bishkek and at the United Nations in New York. The region's governments are working to maintain ties with Russia, China, the United States and other powers without aligning fully with any of them, a strategy that continues to draw attention from analysts watching how these smaller states navigate great-power competition.

Former U.S. diplomats are assessing the American military withdrawal from Iraq and what it means for the country's stability and the wider Middle East. Their analysis, presented in a public discussion, focuses on the risks of renewed sectarian conflict, the influence of Iran, and how Iraq's political future will take shape after the departure of U.S. forces. The conversation comes as regional powers reposition themselves following years of American military presence.

Jordan is pursuing a major water security plan, but Climate Home News reports the mega-project could lock the country into long-term fossil gas demand for decades. The concern is that infrastructure built to secure scarce water supplies would rely on gas power, undermining Jordan's climate goals and making it harder to shift to renewable energy as the projects run their multi-decade lifetimes.

The US Department of Defense has moved a demonstration contract forward for a project to collect solar power in space and beam it back to Earth. The effort aims to prove that space-based solar energy can deliver continuous, weather-independent power, a capability long studied for military bases and remote operations.

Fashion industry commentary is examining the renewed popularity of the classic rugby shirt, tracing what is driving the sportswear staple's comeback in contemporary style. The striped shirt, long associated with British heritage and preppy dressing, is being reinterpreted by brands and consumers, with commentators weighing the trend's origins, its appeal to younger shoppers, and its staying power in current collections.

Florida Congressman Byron Donalds has dismissed solar energy as a 'fad', even as utilities across his home state continue to expand their solar capacity. His remarks draw a sharp contrast between political rhetoric and industry practice, with power companies investing heavily in solar farms to meet demand. The comments have drawn attention amid ongoing national debate over renewable energy policy.