UAE residents have the chance to witness a rare celestial moment as the final supermoon of 2024 coincides with the Leonids meteor shower on November 16
space2 hours ago
The US Senate Energy Committee on Thursday narrowly passed a bill to lift a 40-year-old ban on the export of crude oil, but the measure faces an uphill battle in getting passed by the full Senate.
The bill to allow the United States to export oil and boost state revenue-sharing for offshore oil and gas drilling passed along party lines by a vote of 12-10.
It was the second significant step in two days for advocates of lifting the ban: Republican House Speaker John Boehner announced his support on Wednesday for repealing the law.
But Congressional Democrats remain reluctant to reverse the ban, citing a fear it would lead to higher gas prices. Democratic support is seen as crucial to getting President Barack Obama to sign any legislation permitting crude exports.
Senate Energy Committee Chair Lisa Murkowski, a Republican senator from Alaska, has been a long-time advocate for lifting the ban, which she said was outdated due to the US drilling boom that has propelled the country to vie with Russia and Saudi Arabia as the world's biggest oil producer.
In addition to unlocking crude oil exports, Murkowski's bill would speed up exports of liquefied natural gas and ensure that states that have offshore oil and gas development get their share of federal revenues.
Combining the revenues measure with repeal of the exports ban was an attempt by Murkowski to gain more Democratic votes.
Murkowski and Democratic Senator Mark Warner, of Virginia, released an Atlantic Council report on Wednesday called "Empowering America: How energy abundance can strengthen US global leadership" that recommending lifting the ban, to allow the drilling boom to be an asset in foreign policy.
It was Warner's first signal that he is open to lifting the ban. In addition, Senator Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, who is on the energy committee, said on Thursday he supports repealing the restriction, though he did not vote for the bill.
Murkowski will need to fully convince many more Democrats to vote for the bill for it to have a chance of advancing. - Reuters
UAE residents have the chance to witness a rare celestial moment as the final supermoon of 2024 coincides with the Leonids meteor shower on November 16
space2 hours ago
The queen's diary of events has been shortened this week to help her recovery
europe3 hours ago
Counting all age groups, every fifth man responded the same, reveals survey
europe3 hours ago
Rubio has frequently spoken of his working-class background — a father who worked as a bartender, coming home late, and a mother who was a cashier
americas3 hours ago
The share of adolescents who report high levels of family support has fallen from 73 per cent in 2022 to 67 per cent in 2018
europe3 hours ago
A cool 18°C is expected in some parts of Abu Dhabi
weather3 hours ago
The president-elect said the new department 'will provide advice and guidance from outside of government'
americas3 hours ago
Just 136 pages long, "Orbital" is the second-shortest novel to win the award and the first to be set in space, according to the Booker Prize Foundation
europe3 hours ago