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☆ Latino immigrant workers died on the Baltimore bridge. More will likely rebuild it
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | Gloria Pazmino | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

More than two-thirds of Hispanic construction workers in America are foreign born. Working without a safety netFor the workers paid to rebuild the bridge, the job will be grueling — and dangerous. CNNWork-related deaths among foreign-born Hispanic or Latino workers rose to their highest level in 2021, according to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Fourteen percent of all work-related fatalities in 2021 were foreign-born Hispanic or Latino workers, and most of them worked in construction. The agency’s reports also “consistently show” that Latino and/or immigrant workers are less likely to report employer health and safety violations.

Persons: Francis Scott Key, We’re, It’s, Reinaldo Quintero, “, Carlos Hernández, Miguel Luna, Yassir Suazo Sandoval, Jose Mynor Lopez, Dorlian Castillo Cabrera, ”, Saket Soni, Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, Soni, ” Quintero, ’ ”, Sean McGarvey, Ligia Guallpa, Quintero, Hurricane Michael, Reinaldo Quintero “, ” Guallpa, Guallpa, Hurricane, Dave Einsel, ” Soni, Ron DeSantis ’, Fort Organizations: New, New York CNN, Bureau of Labor Statistics, CNN, Key, CNN Construction, Resilience Force, Force, of Labor Statistics, New York Committee, Occupational Safety, Health, York, New York State Department of Labor, Workers, North, Unions, Worker’s, Hurricane, Panama City, Safety, Health Administration, Historic New, New York Times, Gov Locations: New York, America, Louisiana, Hurricane, Florida, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, United States, New York City, North America’s, Canada, Venezuela, Panama, Baltimore, New Orleans, Texas, North Carolina, Historic New Orleans, Fort Meyers

Breton also is co-chair of a government working group on charging infrastructure. "People seem to forget that the backbone of the infrastructure is not public charging, it's home charging," Breton said. 'SERIOUS CHALLENGE'Breton said that 30% of the cost of installing a home EV charging station in the U.S. is covered by a federal tax credit, while California residents can receive rebates for upgrading charging stations and electric panels. Most Canadians drive short distances to work, meaning that public charging is mainly necessary for longer-haul travellers, Breton said. Canada had 19 EVs per public charging point in 2022, while the number was 24 in the U.S., according to the Paris-based International Energy Agency.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Justin Trudeau's, Canada's, Daniel Breton, Breton, Brian Kingston, Kingston, Joanna Kyriazis, Rod Nickel, Denny Thomas, Paul Simao Organizations: Volkswagen, Canadian, REUTERS, Companies Parkland Corp, Justin Trudeau's Liberal, Infrastructure Bank, Parkland Corp, EV, Electric Mobility Canada, Natural Resources, International Energy Agency, Clean Energy Canada, Simon Fraser University, Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers ' Association, Thomson Locations: Toronto , Ontario, Canada, WINNIPEG , Manitoba, British Columbia, Canadian, Parkland, Breton, U.S, California, Natural Resources Canada, Paris, Vancouver, Ottawa, Winnipeg , Manitoba

Some developers are building homes like Paulson's with an eye toward making them more resilient to the extreme weather that's increasing with climate change, and friendlier to the environment at the same time. Solar panels, for example, installed so snugly that high winds can't get underneath them, mean clean power that can survive a storm. Recycled or advanced construction materials that reduce energy use as well as the need to make new material. Pearl Homes' Mirabella community in Bradenton, Florida, consists of 160 houses that are all LEED-certified platinum, the highest level of one of the most-used green building rating systems. “We’re building the same old stuff that got blown away.”Babcock Ranch is another sustainable, hurricane-resilient community in South Florida.

Persons: Hurricane Michael, Bonny Paulson's, ” Paulson, Steve Linton, “, Marshall Gobuty, ” Gobuty, Paulson, she's, ”, ” Babcock, Syd Kitson, Ian, Kitson, you’re, Nature, Natalia Padalino, Alan Klingler, ” Klingler, ” Padalino, Laura Bargfeld, Gerald Herbert Organizations: Hurricane, Florida Panhandle, Homes, Pearl Homes, University of Central, Babcock, Florida Keys, Associated Press, AP Locations: Mexico Beach , Florida, Bradenton , Florida, University of Central Florida, Florida, Mexico Beach, South Florida, U.S, New Orleans

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Wab Kinew will soon be the only First Nations premier in Canadian history after voters in Manitoba elected a New Democratic Party government on Tuesday. "This is a great victory for all of us in Manitoba," Kinew told supporters at NDP campaign headquarters Tuesday night. He said becoming the first-ever First Nations premier would show Canada is changing for the better. "It's a very challenging role to be a First Nations premier. Reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba; editing by Denny Thomas and Marguerita ChoyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kinew, Justin Trudeau, Kelly Saunders, Trudeau, Real Carriere, Rod Nickel, Denny Thomas, Marguerita Choy Organizations: First Nations, New Democratic Party, CBC, NDP, Progressive Conservatives, Conservatives, Liberal, Brandon University, Reuters, Nations, University of Manitoba, Thomson Locations: WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Canada, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Winnipeg , Manitoba

☆ The rest of 2023 hurricane season in 'uncharted waters' because of El Niño, record ocean temperatures
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Mary Gilbert | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Experts fear an already active hurricane season could come to an eventful and exceptional end as unusually warm, storm-boosting ocean temperatures and a slow-to-emerge El Niño combine. The first half of October is typically the final stretch of the busiest time of the Atlantic hurricane season. The battle between warm ocean water and the effect of El Niño has posed a forecasting challenge throughout this hurricane season, as one factor is seemingly negating the other. “Usually as we get into the back half of the hurricane season, El Niño tends to dominate, even if the Atlantic is warm. “Is El Niño at some point going to say, ‘Forget this, I’m in charge?’” Klotzbach said.

Persons: Phil Klotzbach, Hurricane Lee, Brian McNoldy, El Niño, Fischer, Klotzbach, we’ve, ” Michael Fischer, ” Fischer, Idalia, Lee –, El, ” Klotzbach, “, ” Organizations: CNN, Colorado State University, Atlantic, Hurricane, University of Miami Locations: Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas, Caribbean, Florida, Africa, Bermuda, East, El

Manitoba had a Metis premier in the late 1800s and the Nunavut territory currently has an Inuk premier. Kinew, 41 and a former television journalist, would be the first Canadian premier who identifies as First Nations. The Conservatives, currently led by Manitoba's first female premier, Heather Stefanson, 53, have ruled the western farming, mining and manufacturing province since 2016. Manitoba's legislature has 57 seats and a party needs to win 29 to win a majority and govern without another party's support. Reporting by Rod Nickel in Winnipeg, Manitoba Editing by Denny Thomas and Marguerita ChoyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Kelly Saunders, Manitoba's, Heather Stefanson, Allen Mills, Rod Nickel, Denny Thomas, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Nations, Kinew's New Democratic Party, Progressive Conservatives, First, Brandon University, Manitoba, Metis, Canadian, First Nations, NDP, Probe Research, Conservatives, University of Winnipeg, Liberals, Thomson Locations: WINNIPEG, Manitoba, First Nations, Nunavut, Winnipeg

The logo of Oil and Natural Gas Corp's (ONGC) is pictured along a roadside in Ahmedabad, India, September 6, 2016. Russian President Vladimir Putin last year removed an Exxon Mobil subsidiary as operator of the Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project in Russia's Far East and transferred it to a new operator. Western governments have slapped sanctions on Russian oil over the war in Ukraine, which Russia calls a special military operation. It is difficult to secure insurance and shipping to transport Russian oil, Gupta said, and such shipments must abide by an international price cap. ONGC accounts for about two-thirds of India's oil production and about 58% of its gas output.

Persons: Amit Dave, ONGC Videsh, Vladimir Putin, Videsh, Rajarshi Gupta, ONGC, Gupta, Japan's, Rod Nickel, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Gas, REUTERS, Rights, Natural Gas Corp, Exxon Mobil, World Petroleum Congress, Thomson Locations: Ahmedabad, India, Rights CALGARY , Alberta, Sakhalin, Russia's Far, Calgary, Canada, Ukraine, Russia, Calgary , Alberta

ATLANTA (AP) — Hurricane Lee is rewriting old rules of meteorology, leaving experts astonished at how rapidly it grew into a goliath Category 5 hurricane. Political Cartoons View All 1148 Images"That extra heat comes back to manifest itself at some point, and one of the ways it does is through stronger hurricanes,” Shepherd said. More intense major hurricanes are also threatening communities farther inland, since the monster storms can grow so powerful that they remain dangerous hurricanes for longer distances over land. It has been 69 years since a major hurricane made landfall in New England, McNoldy said. Margot is far to the east of Lee, but as Margot strengthens it could affect the weather systems in the region that steer hurricanes.

Persons: Hurricane Lee, Lee, ”, Marshall Shepherd, ” Shepherd, “, Shepherd, Kerry Emanuel, Brian McNoldy, Idalia, Hurricane Michael, it’s, McNoldy, Gale, there’s, ” Mike Brennan, ” Brennan, Emanuel, they’re, Margot, it's Organizations: ATLANTA, Hurricanes, University of Georgia’s Atmospheric Sciences Program, American Meteorological Society, D.C, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Miami, Florida Panhandle, Hurricane, U.S ., National Weather Service, National Hurricane Center Locations: Hurricane, Washington, New York, Boston, Florida, Georgia, Valdosta, U.S . East Coast , New Englanders, New England, Maine, Rhode, U.S, Lee, New Harbor , Maine, Louisiana

☆ Who Profits After Natural Disasters Like Hurricanes and Wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Anthony Dimauro | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

After Hurricane Michael struck Florida in 2018, home sales rose significantly, allowing disaster investors to reap the rewards. This venture has the potential to be even more rewarding given the increasing frequency of natural disasters in the US. But federal disaster relief is painfully slow to respond and often doesn't cover most of the costs. And while moratoriums on damaged land sales aren't a long-term, legally tenable solution, there are ways state officials might be able to deter disaster investors. As the threat of natural disasters increases, so will disaster profiteers.

Persons: Josh Green, Ian, Hurricane Michael, Hurricane, Joe Raedle, Hurricane Maria, Congress —, Hurricane Sandy, it's, Anthony DiMauro Organizations: Nashville Metro Council, FEMA, Hurricane, Centers for Environmental, Federal Reserve's Survey, Consumer Finances, Emergency Managment Agency, Small Business Administration, Urban Institute, Office, Congress, of Housing, Urban, Bloomberg, Newsweek, L.A Locations: Hawaii, Maui, Hawaii's, Tennessee, Nashville, Florida, Wilsey, New Orleans, California, Puerto Rico, Lahaina, New York

☆ Ron DeSantis faces new leadership test as Hurricane Idalia barrels toward Florida
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —With the eyes of the country on Hurricane Idalia as it spins toward Florida’s Gulf Coast, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential ambitions are also under the spotlight as he puts his campaign on hold to manage the crisis at home. The Florida governor is also staving off a field of GOP contenders, who must now also balance sensitivities around Hurricane Idalia with their attempts to overcome DeSantis in the polls. DeSantis has also asserted that he could send his “Florida people” to the southern border to build a wall. “The governor of our state of Florida has created an environment ripe for this.”

Persons: Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, ” DeSantis, Ian, Republican Rick Scott, Hurricane Michael, Bill Nelson, Scott, Jeb Bush, George W, Bush, Chris Christie, Christie, “, ”, Alex Conant, Florida Sen, Marco Rubio’s, Andrew Romeo, ” Romeo, Hurricane Ian, Joe Biden –, Biden, Joe Biden, Saul Young, Donald Trump, Todd Belt, Angie Nixon Organizations: CNN, Gulf Coast , Florida Gov, Republican, White, Hurricane, US, GOP Gov, GOP, Knoxville News Sentinel, George Washington University, Democrats, Trump, ” Democratic, Jacksonville Locations: Gulf Coast , Florida, Tallahassee, Iowa, Florida, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Fort Myers Beach , Florida, Lee County, Florida’s Big, Jacksonville, DeSantis

☆ How does Storm Idalia compare to the most powerful hurricanes in US history?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Here is a list of some of the most powerful hurricanes to hit the mainland U.S. based on minimum atmospheric pressure, which scientists use to rate storm intensity. A lower pressure, measured in millibars, or mb, means a more powerful storm. UNNAMED FLORIDA KEYS HURRICANE, LABOR DAY 1935 (892 MB)The hurricane struck the Florida Keys as a Category 5 storm, the highest ranking on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale. After ravaging the Keys, the storm moved north off the western coast of Florida before turning inland. Ian almost hit as a Category 5 storm, with the wind speed falling just short of the threshold of 157 mph (252 km).

Persons: Ian, Marco Bello, Idalia, Florida . HURRICANE CAMILLE, Camille, MICHAEL, Michael, HURRICANE KATRINA, HURRICANE ANDREW, Andrew, HURRICANE IAN, Hurricane Ian, Rich McKay, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, National Hurricane Center, Florida Panhandle, U.S, HURRICANE, Texas Gulf, Hurricane, Thomson Locations: Fort Myers Beach , Florida, U.S, Florida, Florida , Georgia, Carolinas, FLORIDA, Florida . HURRICANE, Mississippi's Gulf, Central America, HURRICANE, New Orleans, South Miami, Dade County, TEXAS GULF, Texas, Texas Gulf Coast, Indianola, Galveston, Atlanta

☆ Ron DeSantis leaves campaign trail and returns to Florida amid crises
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-27 | by ( Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Ron DeSantis left the campaign trail Sunday and returned to his state to navigate the crises. Before speaking on the storm, DeSantis read a statement addressing the attack at a Dollar General store in Jacksonville. DeSantis’ return to Florida to manage two high-profile crises comes as he has intensified his criticism of President Joe Biden’s response to the Maui wildfires. “As somebody that’s handled disasters in Florida, you’ve got to be activated. DeSantis was elected in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, a powerful, destructive storm that ripped through the Florida panhandle.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, DeSantis, Idalia, ”, “, ” DeSantis, Donald Trump, we’re, Jeff Duncan’s, Casey, Bryan Griffin, Joe Biden’s, Biden, “ Biden, that’s, you’ve, You’ve, rallys, Carlos Guillermo Smith, Councilwoman Ju’Coby Pittman, Hurricane Michael, Ian Organizations: CNN, Republican, GOP, South Carolina Rep, Faith, National Hurricane Center, Hawkeye State, Jacksonville Locations: Gulf of Mexico, Florida’s, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Florida, South Carolina, Cuba, Mexico, of Mexico, Iowa, Milwaukee, Georgia, Orlando, Israel, Hurricane, DeSantis

Alberta, the country's main oil and gas producing province, paused approvals on Aug. 3 of new renewable electricity generation projects over one megawatt until Feb. 29, chilling investment in the fast-growing industry. The pause is necessary to address concerns about renewables' reliability and land use, said a spokesperson for Alberta's utilities minister. A second company has paused design work on its first Alberta project, Dye added. Along with domestic firms, foreign companies like Berkshire Hathaway's (BRKa.N) BHE Canada, EDF Renewables and Enel Green Power generate renewable power in Alberta. The pause directly affects 15 projects in the approvals queue, the government spokesperson said.

Persons: Todd Korol, Danielle Smith, Smith, Justin Trudeau's, Jorden Dye, Dye, Pembina, Grant Arnold, Arnold, BluEarth, Dan Balaban, Rod Nickel, Steve Scherer, Denny Thomas, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Justin Trudeau's Liberal, Business Renewables, THE, THE ALBERTA WAY, EDF Renewables, Companies, Pembina Institute, Renewables, U.S . Alberta Utilities Commission, Greengate, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Thomson Locations: Rocky, Pincher Creek, Alberta, Rights WINNIPEG , Manitoba, Canadian, U.S, Calgary, THE ALBERTA, THE ALBERTA WAY Alberta, Berkshire, Canada, Winnipeg , Manitoba, Ottawa

Burps are the top source of methane emissions from cattle. The company this spring began marketing semen with the methane trait in 80 countries. Selecting for the low methane trait could lock in lower and lower emissions for successive generations, she said. Semex is not initially charging extra for the methane trait, said Michael Lohuis, Semex's vice-president of research and innovation. Juha Nousiainen, senior vice-president at Valio, a Finnish dairy, warned that breeding cattle to burp less methane could create digestive problems.

Persons: Nathan Frandino, Loewith's, Loewith, Drew Sloan, Frank Mitloehner, University of California Davis, Mitloehner, Lactanet, Christine Baes, Baes, Michael Lohuis, Burger, Lohuis, Juha Nousiainen, Rod Nickel, Caroline Stauffer, Suzanne Goldenberg Organizations: Johann, REUTERS, University of California, University of Guelph, University of Alberta, biosciences, Canadian, Ottawa, Nestle, Burger King, Restaurant Brands, Thomson Locations: Fresno , California, U.S, WINNIPEG , Manitoba, Lynden , Ontario, Semex, Britain, US, Slovakia, United States, New Zealand, Valio, Winnipeg , Manitoba

Reducing fuel's carbon intensity is critical to Canada's efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% from 2005 levels by 2030. But Canada's location bordering the United States makes it especially vulnerable to a possible future flood of cheaper U.S. biofuels, said Ian Thomson, president of Advanced Biofuels Canada. The lobby group estimates there are some C$10 billion worth of Canadian projects at early stages of development, not counting more advanced ones by Imperial Oil (IMO.TO) and others. Canada offers nothing similar, but unlike the United States, has negative incentives such as a carbon tax. The companies considering investment in the United States include Arbios Biotech, a joint venture of forestry company Canfor (CFP.TO) and Licella Holdings.

Persons: Justin Trudeau's, Joe Biden, Ian Thomson, Thomson, Don Roberts, Roberts, feedstocks, Keean Nembhard, Frank Almaraz, Almaraz, Pete Sheffield, Rob Colcleugh, Colcleugh, Rod Nickel, Steve Scherer, Denny Thomas, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Tidewater Renewables, REUTERS, U.S, Advanced Biofuels, Imperial Oil, Arbios Biotech, Licella Holdings, OTTAWA Biofuels, Ottawa, Reuters, Canada, Fortis, Thomson Locations: Tidewater, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada, REUTERS WINNIPEG , Manitoba, United States, Columbia, U.S, Ottawa, Newfoundland, Labrador, Canadian, Alberta, Winnipeg , Manitoba

REUTERS/Carlos OsorioWINNIPEG, Manitoba, June 11 (Reuters) - The number of wildfires raging out of control across Quebec dropped on Sunday as firefighters in the Canadian province gained the upper hand in some areas, a provincial minister said on Sunday. Quebec Natural Resources Minister Maite Blanchette Vezina said told reporters that the number of out-of-control fires in the eastern province dropped to 44 from 72 on Saturday, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp reported. By Monday, around 1,200 firefighters, including more than 100 from France and some from other provinces, are expected to be battling blazes across Quebec. A federal government meteorologist forecast on Saturday that Quebec could receive light rain on Tuesday in some burning areas. "Last Wednesday, we thought we could close down our emergency control center and come Friday, that idea went out the door when the fires went out of control very drastically," said Luc Mercier, chief administrative officer for Yellowhead County.

Persons: smokey, Carlos Osorio, Maite Blanchette Vezina, Blanchette Vezina, Luc Mercier, Karley, Rod Nickel, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Carlos Osorio WINNIPEG, Quebec Natural Resources, Canadian Broadcasting Corp, Canadian Interagency Forest Fire, Edmonton, Wildfire Service, Thomson Locations: Ontario, Quebec, Toronto , Ontario, Canada, Carlos Osorio WINNIPEG , Manitoba, Canadian, France, New Brunswick, Alberta, Edson, Yellowhead County, Pacific, British Columbia, Tumbler, Winnipeg, Manitoba

☆ Opinion | Ron DeSantis Thinks Power Corrupts … Everyone Else
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Ezra Klein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

“For years, the default conservative position has been to limit government and then get out of the way,” DeSantis writes. And DeSantis is trying to show, in vignette after vignette, that he has both the will and the discipline to do what Trump did not. Trump often appears in DeSantis’s book as a faintly comic figure. As Lozada observes, this is DeSantis criticizing Trump by proxy — Dr. Fauci served under Trump, and DeSantis is making clear he would have never let that stand. And so DeSantis delights in describing the methodical, relentless effort he put in to bending the state of Florida to his will.

Persons: ” DeSantis, ”, Carlos Lozada, Trump, Hurricane Michael, “, Mick Mulvaney, DeSantis, Fauci, Lozada Organizations: Facebook, Disney, Hurricane, Panhandle, Trump Locations: Mar, Trump, Florida

Companies Equinor ASA FollowBp Plc FollowWINNIPEG, Manitoba, May 31 (Reuters) - Norway's Equinor ASA (EQNR.OL) said on Wednesday that it will postpone its Bay du Nord Canadian offshore oil project for up to three years, due to rising costs. Ottawa backed Bay du Nord saying that it would produce relatively low emissions. "Bay du Nord is an important project for Equinor. "The (Bay du Nord) economics are positive but if you play around with costs and risk more, it's not going to be the best opportunity in their portfolio," he said. Bay du Nord would be so far from shore - 500 kilometers (311 miles) - that it falls in international waters.

Persons: Justin Trudeau's, ”, Trond Bokn, Equinor's, Equinor, Newfoundland & Labrador Premier Andrew Furey, it's, Mark Oberstoetter, Wood Mackenzie, Rod Nickel, Nia Williams, Marguerita Choy Organizations: ASA, Bp, Equinor ASA, Ottawa, Newfoundland & Labrador Premier, BP, Wood, Sierra Club Canada, Columbia, Thomson Locations: WINNIPEG , Manitoba, du Nord Canadian, Bay, Nord, Newfoundland, Norway, Brazil, Winnipeg , Manitoba

REUTERS/Lisi NiesnerBILOZERKA, Ukraine, March 1 (Reuters) - When Ukraine recaptured Kherson in November, Andrii Povod returned to find his grain farm in ruins. The institute's Baliuk said the war damage could lead to an alarming loss of fertility. ECHOES OF WORLD WAR ONEA working group of soil scientists created by the Ukrainian government estimates it would cost $15 billion to remove all mines and restore Ukraine's soil to its former health. If studies of damage to land during World War One are anything to go by, some areas will never recover. To be sure, World War One lasted four years, and the war in Ukraine only one year so far, but lead remains a key component of many modern munitions, Rintoul-Hynes said.

"America will stand with Ukraine as long as it takes," Yellen, flanked by sandbags at the cabinet ministers' office, told Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. Yellen also announced the transfer of the first $1.25 billion from the latest, $9.9 billion tranche of economic and budget assistance from Washington. The latest funds are part of $45 billion in new military, economic and humanitarian approved by Congress in December as part of broad U.S. budget legislation. Yellen said such economic support is keeping Ukraine's government and critical public services running, schools open and pensions paid, providing a "bedrock of stability" that fuels Ukrainian resistance. 168, where the salaries of teachers, administrators and support staff are reimbursed from U.S. budget support funds.

REUTERS/Lisi NiesnerLUCH, Ukraine, Feb 27 (Reuters) - For a Ukrainian village devastated by war, Cold War bunkers built to withstand a nuclear attack that never happened have proven a lifeline for residents who have spent much of the past year living in them. In April, with their village caught between Russian and Ukrainian forces, Gynzhul, her husband Dmytro and their son moved into a warehouse basement, just before their second-storey apartment was shelled. Ukrainian soldiers pushed the Russians south away from Luch last autumn and by early November had recaptured Kherson city. Gynzhul and the others in her bunker live off humanitarian aid and her 4,000 hryvnia ($109) per month salary from her administrative job in the village. Bunker resident Iryna Sichkar said her son was captured early in the war in Mariupol.

KHERSON, Ukraine, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Vladyslav Antoniuk felt euphoric three months ago when he returned to his home city Kherson, the day Ukrainian troops rolled back in and jubilant residents waved blue and yellow flags in the main square to celebrate. Russian soldiers, who retreated just across the Dnipro River, have not been pushed back further and are pummelling the city daily with artillery. On Wednesday, Russian shells hit a bus stop in the city centre, killing six people and wounding a dozen. He said his administration evacuates about 100 people from the city daily on trains and buses on a voluntary basis. Reporting by Rod Nickel in Kherson, Ukraine Editing by Peter GraffOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

One company is injecting liquid clay into California desert to trap moisture and help fruit to grow, while another in Malaysia boosts soil with droppings from fly larvae. Biochar, liquid clay and fly larvae droppings are all in limited commercial production. Some, like liquid clay and biochar add nutrients while also improving the ground's ability to retain water, and require fewer applications than fertilizer. Norway-based Desert Control has spent 18 years and $25 million developing liquid clay to boost soil. In Malaysia, Nutrition Technologies produces "soil conditioner" from frass - the waste and skin of Black Soldier Fly larvae.

REUTERS/Eva Plevier/File PhotoWINNIPEG, Manitoba, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Netherlands-based Rabobank NA (RABOVR.UL) is aiming to grab 10-15% of the Canadian farm lending market within 15 years, as it aims to shake up a sector dominated by government and domestic banks, its new Canadian agricultural head told Reuters on Wednesday. It took Rabobank a decade before deciding to expand into Canadian farm lending, taking a methodical approach, Lieverse said. Rabobank expects Canadian farm lending to be profitable from the start and plans to announce hiring plans shortly, she said. Rabobank did not release its estimate of the value of the Canadian farm lending market, but government agency Statistics Canada pegged 2021 farm debt at a record-high C$129 billion ($96.1 billion), with chartered banks accounting for 37%. Farm Credit Canada, owned by the Canadian government, is the biggest agricultural lender, controlling a market share of about one-third, Lieverse said.

Oil companies are facing faltering prices and Canadian firms are also absorbing an unusually punishing discount for their heavy-grade crude. Net debt represents a company's gross debt minus cash and cash-like assets. It faced an existential threat in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic crushed oil prices. Canadian producers also absorb a $29 per barrel discount due to distance from U.S. refineries and lower heavy oil demand. If oil prices dip below $65, companies may tighten spending but opt to reduce capital budgets before shareholder returns, Bushell said.

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