World’s largest solar power plant planned for Chernobyl nuclear wasteland

The world’s most famous and damaging nuclear meltdown is now being considered for the world’s largest solar power plant. The Ukrainian nuclear power station Chernobyl had a nuclear meltdown on April 26, 1986. Since then 1,600 square miles of land has been deemed an ‘exclusion zone’ as the radiation levels are too high for human health. But in a recent interview, Ukraine’s ecology minister said the government was negotiating with two US investment firms and four Canadian energy companies, which have expressed interest in the Chernobyl’s solar potential.

It would be among the modern world’s greatest technical ironies if one of the worst industrial accidents ever would be replaced with a solar power plant, one of the world’s safest energy technologies. Greenpeace estimates that 100,000 people will die of cancer as a result of fallout from the disaster. Interestingly,  as a result of human activity within the region being minimized larger animal populations are thriving, while the smallest of animals – microbes that digest leaves – are showing signs of stress.

According to PVTech, the Ukrainian government is pushing for a 6 month construction cycle. Deploying this amount of solar power within such a time frame would involve significant resources being deployed. The proposed 1GW solar plant, if built today, would be the world’s largest. There are several plans for 1GW solar plants in development (Egypt, India, UAE, China, etc) – but none of them have been completed yet. One financial benefit of the site is that transmission lines for Chernobyl’s 4GW nuclear reactor are still in place.

The European Bank for Reconstruction & Development has stated they would be interested in participating in the project, “so long as there are viable investment proposals and all other environmental matters and risks can be addressed to the bank’s satisfaction.” A 2GW solar project – based upon a global market price of $1-1.5/W – would cost between $2 and $3 billion dollars.

One interesting and perhaps important logistical concern to be considered: what constraints will the workers who build this be under? Will they have to wear radioactive suits and will they be able to work normal days? How will this affect the construction costs?

Resource: http://electrek.co/
Resource: https://www.kvtr.com/world/

The world is still mad about Harry Potter

LONDON -- There are fans with wands and wizard costumes, midnight book parties and throngs of excited muggles. Harry Potter's magic is back.

Nine years after J.K. Rowling's final novel about the boy wizard, Harry has returned -- on the stage and the page -- and he's still producing commercial alchemy.

"Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," a two-part stage drama that picks up 19 years after the novels ended, has its gala opening Saturday at London's Palace Theatre. It's already a hit. Although producers won't release ticket sales figures, the show is largely sold out through December 2017; another 250,000 tickets will go on sale Aug. 4.

"It is event theater in the truest sense," said theater commentator Terri Paddock, who co-founded stage website MyTheatreMates. "You can't turn up at the Palace Theatre and not get caught up in the excitement. There is such a buzz: passers-by stopping and staring ... children with their capes and wands and wizard excitement."

It is not just the theater that is seeing a Potter-related boom. Booksellers expect a bonanza when the script is published Sunday. Thousands of bookstores around the world are holding midnight Potter parties Saturday, and are reporting advance sales not seen since the 2007 publication of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the final novel in Rowling's seven-book series. North American publisher Scholastic has printed 4.5 million copies, according to Publishers Weekly.

"Cursed Child" is not a novel, and it's not primarily written by Rowling. She helped develop the story, but the script is by playwright Jack Thorne, whose work includes the stage adaptation of a Swedish vampire story, "Let the Right One In."

But that doesn't matter to Harry's many fans.

"There is huge excitement," said Melissa Anelli, webmistress of Harry Potter website The Leaky Cauldron. "It's the next piece of the Harry Potter canon that we love."

Rowling has long insisted there will be no new Harry Potter novels, so excitement about the new stage story is stratospherically high. She created the story for the drama alongside Thorne and director John Tiffany, who helmed the Tony Award-winning musical "Once."

It runs for five hours over two parts, which can be seen on separate evenings or during two-show days.

Since finishing the Potter books, Rowling has written a novel for adults, "The Casual Vacancy," and three crime thrillers under the name Robert Galbraith. She has also kept a foot in Harry Potter's world with the screenplay for "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," a film set in the same magical universe as the earlier stories.

"Cursed Child" would seem ripe for a movie adaptation, but Rowling's spokeswoman says there are "no plans for there to be a film."

Resource: http://www.cbsnews.com
Resource: https://www.kvtr.com/world/

End of the world? Doomsday believers predict the apocalypse

It’s the end of the world as we know it? Or is it?

This might just be one of the last things you ever read if you believe the doomsayers who predict the end of the world is today. No, really.

After 200,000 [mostly] fantastic years on planet Earth, the human race has just a few hours left on the Blue Marble, according to apocalypse believers.

A number of online theorists base their assertion on a supposed 'polar flip', subsequent global earthquakes and a 'rolling cloud' to destroy the Earth.

Nasa has conceded that an accelerated polar shift has been in place from July 14 but don't worry, they say this is a continual and gradual process.

A YouTube video uploaded by the End Times Prophecies asking ‘Why The World Will End Surely on 29 July 2016? Shocking Facts’ has racked up more than five million views, however Armageddon News referenced in the video deny this is the correct date.

So if you’re worried about being charged 5p for plastic bags for the rest of your life or surviving the UK heatwave, then you apparently should worry no more.

Just in case it does look like the world will actually end, I’ve come in to work to bring you all the latest updates on Doomsday.

Resource: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Resource: https://www.kvtr.com/world/

World of Warcraft Legion update LIVE: Blizzard reveal launch time for Pre-Expansion Patch

A huge range of changes are set to be made to WoW in line for the launch of the Legion DLC, set for release next month.

And Blizzard have confirmed the times players can expect the patch to be put into maintenance and made ready for fans to download.

This week’s scheduled World of Warcraft maintenance begins at 1pm BST and lasts around six hours, leaving fans unable to login and play till 7pm.

The patch itself adds a huge range of new features, Blizzard have revealed a big patch notes post that covers everything coming to the popular MMO.

One of the big new changes is the Transmogrification Collections System, which adds a new tab and allows for new appearance options:

•     Unlock new appearances by collecting Soulbound weapons and armor your character can equip.
•     Unlocked appearances are account-wide and usable for transmogrification by other characters that can equip the item.
•     When first logging into a character after Patch 7.0, the appearances of appropriate items in your bags, bank, and Void Storage are learned automatically. Additional appearances will be unlocked based on previously-completed quests.
•     Transmogrifiers located in most major cities have been improved with additional features.
•     Got a look that you like? Save the entire transmogrification set as an outfit. Create and swap between outfits at the Transmogrifier.
•     Additionally, transmogrifications can now be associated with your current specialization. Your outfit automatically changes when switching specializations if you so desire.
•     Added a new option to hide shoulders.
•     The option to hide helmets, cloaks, and shoulders has been moved into the transmogrification system.

Another big one to be aware of is that the Legendary Ring Quest Line will no longer be active and those currently playing it have until the launch of Legion to complete it; at which point uncompleted quests will be removed from the quest log.

Other changes include:

•     Revamped PvP Progression and Honor System
•     The PvP Reward System will now provide appropriate items for players level 100 and below.
•     Honor Points and Conquest Points have been removed as a currency.
•     Items that were purchased using Honor or Conquest are now available for purchase with Marks of Honor that can be earned from Battlegrounds, Arenas, and Skirmishes.

    Learn more about upcoming PvP changes in our Legion PvP Preview.

Equalised PvP Gear:

•     Gear has been normalised in PvP combat. Characters entering a Skirmish Arena, Battleground, Rated Arena, Rated Battleground, or Ashran now receive an aura called Principles of War.
•     Principles of War removes all stats gained from gear (Strength, Stamina, Haste, etc.), disables gear related bonuses (like trinket effects and set bonuses), and gives the character stats based on their specializations, and increases based on overall item level. The goal is to provide a much more finely tuned and balanced PvP experience.

Arenas

•     The pennant attached to the back of characters now changes its appearance based on the player’s best rating in the Arena bracket.
•     The 5v5 Arena bracket has been retired. "Arena Master" achievement has been converted into a Feat of Strength.

Battlegrounds

•     Winning a Battleground with characters below level 110 now awards a Crate of Battlefield Goods. Players on the opposing team also have a chance to receive a crate with an increasing chance based on team score at the end of a match. The crate contains a piece of armor appropriate for the character’s level and specialization with a chance for the crate to contain additional rewards such as weapons or relics.

A lot more has been updated for World of Warcraft: Legion and fans can check out the full list of graphic tweaks, Raids and characters changes on the official WoW Legion Page.

Resource: http://www.express.co.uk/
Resource: https://www.kvtr.com/world/

Daimler makes the world's first self-driving bus

Having succeeded in bringing the world's first self-driving truck to public roads, luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz and its parent company Daimler can now claim another self-driving world first, this time with buses.carmaker Mercedes-Benz and its parent company Daimler can now claim another self-driving world first, this time with buses.

The Mercedes-Benz Future Bus with CityPilot has driven autonomously for the first time on a 20km route in Amsterdam, stopping at bus stops with centimeter accuracy, autonomously obeying traffic lights, hitting speeds of up to 70km/h, avoiding pedestrians, following bends and negotiating tunnels.CityPilot has driven autonomously for the first time on a 20km route in Amsterdam, stopping at bus stops with centimeter accuracy, autonomously obeying traffic lights, hitting speeds of up to 70km/h, avoiding pedestrians, following bends and negotiating tunnels.

Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard, Member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG for Daimler Trucks & Buses: "With our Highway Pilot, we showed nearly two years ago that autonomous driving will make long-distance truck transport safer and more efficient. We are now putting this technology into our city buses with CityPilot."

Although a driver was on board for the duration of the journey, the bus was capable of taking the strain due to the company's CityPilot technology, which communicates with sensors and markings integrated into a specially prepared bus lane, which, Daimler claims is the fastest, simplest and most cost effective way of adapting existing highway stretches for use by semi-autonomous vehicles.

It allows us to drive partially autonomously on specially marked bus lanes. This makes public transport safer, more efficient and more productive. More people can travel from A to B quickly, punctually and in comfort. To the benefit of all: bus operators, bus drivers and passengers," said Dr. Bernhard.

As well as self-driving innovation, the record-setting bus also offers passengers a glimpse of how interiors are set to evolve to meet changing mobility demands. Inside the bus, space is divided into two, a central space for those traveling short distances balanced by larger spaces modelled on the idea of a public square, packed with natural light for those travelling further with park-inspired bench seating. All tickets are electronic with the bus automatically ‘validating' passengers as they board or alight again.

And of course, in an age of hyper-connectivity, two huge 43-inch monitors display all necessary information regarding the route alongside points of interest, news headlines and other potentially useful or rich information for those on board.

Following this initial success, Mercedes is now aiming to bring this tech to market before decade's end.

Resource: http://www.dnaindia.com/
Resource: https://www.kvtr.com/world/

This new Pokemon game is causing some real-world bruises

LOS ANGELES -- Beware: "Pokemon Go," a new smartphone game based on cute Nintendo characters like Squirtle and Pikachu, can be harmful to your health.

The "augmented reality" game, which layers game play onto the physical world, became the top grossing app in the iPhone app store just days after its Wednesday release in the U.S., Australia and New Zealand. And players have already reported wiping out in a variety of ways as they wander the real world -- eyes glued to their smartphone screens -- in search of digital monsters.

Mike Schultz, a 21-year-old communications graduate on Long Island, New York, took a spill on his skateboard as he stared at his phone while cruising for critters early Thursday. He cut his hand on the sidewalk after hitting a big crack, and blames himself for going too slowly.

"I just wanted to be able to stop quickly if there were any Pokemons nearby to catch," he says. "I don't think the company is really at fault."
Real world, virtual creatures

The game was created by Niantic Inc., a San Francisco spinoff of Google parent Alphabet Inc. that previously became known for a similar augmented-reality game called "Ingress."

To play, you fire up the game and then start trekking to prominent local landmarks - represented in the game as "Pokestops" - where you can gather supplies such as Pokeballs. Those are what you fling at online "pocket monsters," or Pokemon, to capture them for training. At other locations called "gyms" -- which may or may not be actual gyms in the real world -- Pokemon battle one another for supremacy.

Naturally, the game has also induced people to post pictures of themselves on social media chasing creatures in all sorts of dangerous situations.

Zubats and Paras have appeared on car dashboards. Caterpies have been spotted at intersections. Police in Darwin, Australia, have even asked players not to waltz into their station, which of course is a Pokestop in the game.

"You don't actually have to step inside in order to gain the pokeballs," the Northern Territory Police Fire and Emergency Services says on its Facebook page.

Ankle injuries, mishaps with revolving doors and walking into trees have been among the painful results.

Kyrie Tompkins, a 22-year-old freelance web designer, fell on the sidewalk and twisted her ankle while wandering in downtown Waterville, Maine, on Thursday night.

"It vibrated to let me know there was something nearby and I looked up and just fell in a hole," she says. Her parents had to drive her and her fiance home.

As an upside, players get more exercise than usual and can learn more about the historical landmarks incorporated into the game as Pokestops. Digital signposts describe their significance in the real world.
A new social medium

And players are actually meeting face to face, despite the fact they arrived at nearby high schools, water towers and museums by staring at their screens.

Lindsay Plunkett, a 23-year-old waitress in Asheville, North Carolina, made a point on Friday of parking six blocks away from the restaurant where she works, instead of the usual three. "Just so I could get some more Pokestops on the way," she says.

She's still nursing a bruised shin from the previous night, when she and her boyfriend spent hours wandering downtown in the rain. She tripped over a cinder block that had been used as a doorstop at a local women's museum.

But she's got something to look forward to. Soon, she'll be traveling cross country to California with a friend. That means more chances to encounter Pokestops and Pokemons "the whole way," she says.

At least the game has one failsafe -- you can't hatch digital eggs while driving. That requires slower in-person movement in the real world. "It doesn't count as walking if you're going more than 20 miles per hour, so that's good, I guess," Plunkett says.

Resource: http://www.cbsnews.com
Resource: https://www.kvtr.com/world/

Chris Coleman says 2018 World Cup campaign will be his last as Wales boss

Chris Coleman says the 2018 World Cup campaign will be his last as Wales manager.

Having led Wales to a historic semi-final at Euro 2016, Coleman's stock is at an all-time high.

The 46-year-old is contracted until the end of the next World Cup, with his team playing their first qualifier at home to Moldova on 5 September.

"I am sure this will be my last campaign whether we qualify or not," said Coleman.

"That will be six or seven years in the job, which is a long time. So I think this will be my last hit, at it so I will give it my best shot, but I would not consider going anywhere else. I want to see this through.

"There's success in this team, I think, because they're at a good age. But I'll certainly give everything I've got in this next campaign. I'll make sure they do."

Coleman has overseen a remarkable transformation in Wales' - and his own - fortunes since his appointment in January 2012.

•     Wales' homecoming party
•     Wales should stay at Cardiff City Stadium
•     Joe Ledley misses homecoming party

Five months earlier, Wales had fallen to their lowest world ranking of 117th and, despite making the worst start of any Wales manager with four defeats from his first four games, Coleman is now guiding his country through its most successful era.

Euro 2016 was Wales' first appearance at a major tournament for 58 years, and their progress to the semi-finals saw them eclipse the previous best performance at a major tournament - reaching the last eight at the 1958 World Cup.

Coleman was rewarded for qualification with a new contract in May, which runs until after the 2018 tournament in Russia, and has no regrets about agreeing the deal before Wales' Euro 2016 success.

"If they [FAW] wanted to talk to me about another contract I would be cashing in a bit, wouldn't I? Same as if I jumped ship and went somewhere else because we had done well at a tournament.

"I would not feel right. I have signed a good contract and I am looking forward to the campaign."
 

'We will be a scalp'

Wales have been the underdogs for much of their history, though that could change following their achievements at Euro 2016.

Coleman's men have been handed a relatively kind qualifying draw for the 2018 World Cup, playing in the same group as Austria, Serbia, Republic of Ireland, Georgia and Moldova.

"The biggest challenge for us is that we will be a scalp now in this campaign because of what we've just done," said Coleman.

"Teams will play differently against us and rather than us being the underdogs, which we're very good at, we'll be expected to win.

"We've not been used to breaking teams down. We've been used to hitting teams on the counter-attack because they've attacked us because they expect to get something from us.

"We may have to look at how we approach it slightly differently in terms of what the opposition are going to do to us."

Making 'brave' changes

Coleman favoured a 5-3-2 formation at Euro 2016, having used the same system for most of the qualifying campaign.

The former Fulham manager has switched to a four-man defence in the past - a goalless draw in Belgium in 2014 among its most effective deployments - and he is considering further tactical alterations before the 2018 World Cup campaign.

"When you change formation with an international team, sometimes you're on thin ice, but you have to be brave and I will," Coleman added.

"I'd rather do that than not do anything. In my first campaign, for large parts of it I didn't do anything. I left it the same. I wouldn't make that same mistake again.

"You learn from that, you learn from failing and coming up short. I was trying to do everything that Speeds [the late Gary Speed, Coleman's predecessor] was doing because I was told it was working and don't change it.

"It didn't work for me - it blew up in my face. I'll never make that mistake again."

Resource: http://www.bbc.com/
Resource: https://www.kvtr.com/world/