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☆ Russian assets seized in Ukraine may be used for reconstruction - minister
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KYIV, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Assets belonging to Russian and Belarusian individuals seized by Ukraine could be used for the country's massive post-war reconstruction effort, Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko was quoted on Friday as saying. The government has frozen Russian and Belarusian assets in Ukraine worth some 44 billion hryvnias ($1.21 billion) since the start of Moscow's invasion on Feb. 24, according to the Economic Security Bureau, a state agency. "Money seized on the territory of Ukraine from Russian and Belarusian citizens can be involved in this fund," he added, without elaborating. The European Union is also looking at using Russian assets frozen under Western sanctions against Moscow in the postwar reconstruction of Ukraine, the head of the European Council, Charles Michel, said at an EU summit last week. Moscow said on Thursday it would retaliate if the EU moved to confiscate assets belonging to the Russian state or its citizens.

☆ We moved from Arizona to upstate New York after droughts and wildfires scared us into meticulously researching the most climate-resilient spots in America
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Dan Latu | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Charles Matheus, 55, and Kelly Roberge, 54, lived in Prescott, Arizona, for over eight years. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Charles Matheus, a leadership consultant, and Kelly Roberge, who works in communications and graphic design. They were renting in Prescott, Arizona, when fears over the climate crisis prompted them to search for a new home. The spreadsheet that Matheus and Roberge used to evaluate and rank their relocation options. Courtesy of Charles Matheus and Kelly RobergeWe looked at Harrisburg and Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.

The 27 are expected to back an alternative price benchmark for liquefied natural gas and joint gas buying, after earlier agreeing to cut consumption and introduce levies on windfall profits in the energy industry. But they remain as split as they were months ago on whether and how to cap gas prices to stem high inflation and stave off recession, after Russia cut gas flows following its invasion of Ukraine. They will also discuss emergency spending to mitigate the effects the acute energy crunch has on their economies and 450 million citizens. But given EU countries' diverse energy mix and interests, the meeting risks falling short on concrete action, with other concerns being whether a gas cap would enable Britain to buy cheaper energy or compromise stability of supplies. EU energy ministers meet again next week but another senior EU diplomat said they did not expect more detailed decisions before November.

POSITIONS FAR APART1/6 European Council President Charles Michel attends the European Union leaders' summit in Brussels, Belgium, October 20, 2022. REUTERS/Yves Herman Read MoreThe most contentious issue facing the leaders is whether and how to cap gas prices. The leaders will also discuss emergency spending to cushion their economies and 450 million citizens from the energy crunch. Given EU countries' diverse energy mix and interests, the meeting risks falling short on short-term action to tackle high energy prices ahead of winter. EU energy ministers meet again next week and aim to agree on joint crisis measures in November.

The measure must not affect EU security of gas supply, cause an increase in gas use, or disrupt the functioning of gas markets, it said. The move to curb TTF gas prices would require a separate proposal from Brussels and require approval from EU countries. The EU package includes other measures aimed at lessening the impact of high prices on consumers and businesses. The EU package is unlikely to placate all 27 EU countries - whose leaders will discuss the proposals at a summit on Oct. 20-21. Most EU countries have urged the Commission to urgently propose a gas price cap, but disagree on its design.

☆ EU leaders will discuss gas price cap for power generation, Michel says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS, Oct 18 (Reuters) - European Union leaders will discuss putting a cap for the price of gas used to generate electricity - over which member states are divided - when they meet for a summit at the end of this week, European Council President Charles Michel said on Tuesday. "We must intensify our three lines of action: reducing demand, ensuring security of supply and containing prices," Michel said in his invitation letter to leaders for the Thursday-Friday meeting in Brussels. "This includes: jointly purchasing gas, developing a new benchmark that more accurately reflects conditions on the gas market, and examining a temporary dynamic price limit," Michel said. "I also expect us to address other short and long-term market interventions, such as an EU framework to cap the price of gas for electricity generation." Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Bart Meijer and John ChalmersOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Netflix reportedly delayed a docuseries from Harry and Meghan over criticism about the new season of 'The Crown'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Travis Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Netflix has delayed a docuseries from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, according to Deadline. The decision comes after former UK PM John Major criticized a storyline in the upcoming "Crown" season. In a comment to Deadline, Netflix said "there's never been any documentary from the Duke and Duchess of Sussex confirmed." The Duke and Dutchess signed a Netflix deal in 2020 to produce content for the company, including documentaries. This isn't the first time Netflix has faced criticism over the show's depiction of the royal family.

☆ California governor blocks Charles Manson follower’s parole who scrawled 'Helter Skelter' in blood at murder scene
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-16 | by ( Don Thompson | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California’s governor blocked the parole of Charles Manson follower Patricia Krenwinkel on Friday, more than five decades after she scrawled “Helter Skelter” on a wall using the blood of one of their victims. Gavin Newsom said Krenwinkel, now 74, is still too much of a public safety risk to be freed. Newsom has previously rejected parole recommendations for other followers of Manson, who died in prison in 2017. She forced the other women in the cult to obey Mr. Manson, and prevented them from escaping when they tried to leave,” he said. “We all come from homes with problems and didn’t decide to go out and brutally kill seven strangers,” Tate told parole officials.

☆ Xi wanted China to be at the tech frontier. 5 years on, tensions with the U.S. have dented that goal
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +10 min

Major Chinese technology firms have been put on export blacklists since then. Looking ahead, the latest package of U.S. controls will make a huge dent in China's technology ambitions. Paul Triolo technology policy lead, Albright StonebridgeThings did not look as "bleak" for China's semiconductors in 2017 as they do now, Triolo said. China's tech crackdownA major hallmark of Xi's last five years is how he has transformed China into one of the strictest regulatory regimes globally for technology. China's technology giants are also posting their slowest growth in history, partly due to tighter regulations.

☆ Europe is still quietly importing Russian nuclear energy
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

On presenting its latest sanctions package, the European Commission did not propose targeting the trade of Russian nuclear fuel. Hungary and Bulgaria were the most vocal in opposing sanctions on Russian uranium and other nuclear tech last week, according to Rodrigo. "Russian nuclear terror requires a stronger response from the international community - sanctions on the Russian nuclear industry and nuclear fuel," Zelenskyy said via Twitter at the time. Mikhail Metzel | Afp | Getty ImagesThere are 18 Russian nuclear reactors in Europe, in countries including Finland, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic. How 'green' is nuclear energy?

☆ ‘Let My Children Hear Mingus’ Review: A Rare Opportunity for Jazz Fans
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( John Anderson | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

One of the great things about “Let My Children Hear Mingus” is that it’s on television at all, never mind that it opens with about 10 solid minutes of blistering jazz and limits the usual documentary gas-baggery to people who know what they are talking about. What has often been called American classical music is the focus of what is mostly a performance special, a celebration of the centenary of Charles Mingus —bassist, composer, band leader; seminal figure in bebop, hard-bop, post-bop, free jazz and Third Stream music; someone who was politically aware and complicated. That he was an irascible character comes through. So does the compositional glory of several of his pieces.

☆ France accuses Russia of stoking Armenia, Azerbaijan conflict
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, Oct 12 (Reuters) - France's President Emmanuel Macron accused Russia on Wednesday of purposefully provoking the recent clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan as part of an effort destabilise the Caucasus region and beyond. The worst fighting between the two ex-Soviet countries since 2020 broke out in late September, killing more than 200 people. However, speaking to France 2 television on Wednesday Macron said Moscow had stoked tensions in recent months in favour of Azerbaijan. France, along with the United States and Russia are co-chairs of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's (OSCE) Minsk Group that mediates over Nagorno-Karabakh. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by John Irish; Editing by Sandra MalerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Putin's missile barrage on Ukraine showed weakness instead of strength, former speechwriter says. 'There's nothing else the army can do.'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Putin's former speechwriter said Putin was trying to was trying to project strength. His assessment was that Putin's attacks were an attempt to demonstrate power to his internal critics, but ultimately backfired. A man runs after missiles hit central Kyiv, Ukraine on October 10, 2022. REUTERS/Gleb GaranichCars burn after Russian military strike, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, in central Kyiv, Ukraine October 10, 2022. Russia's attacks on Monday did not appear hit any military targets.

LONDON — If anyone thought Britain was due a period of calm after Boris Johnson’s tumultuous premiership, no one told his successor. But the proposed solution by new Prime Minister Liz Truss has quickly sent the economy spiraling into chaos, threatening consequences both immediate and long-lasting for many Britons. Prime Minister Liz Truss's government unveiled a financial plan last week that sparked market concern and public criticism. The nose-diving pound will also make everyday products in Britain more expensive as importers face spiraling costs. It wants to supercharge Britain’s sluggish economy by any means necessary — even if that means short-term shocks.

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterEU leaders gave mixed messages ahead of a meeting of their ambassadors in Brussels on Monday, with another one planned for Tuesday. Russia invaded Ukraine - a former Soviet republic that now wants to join the EU - on Feb.24 by air, land and sea. More than 2,000 people have been detained across Russia for protests at the draft, says independent monitoring group OVD-Info. On Monday, senior Russian lawmaker Sergei Tsekov told RIA news agency that Russia itself should bar draft-age people from leaving. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by John Chalmers, Sabine Siebold, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Writing by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Andrew HeavensOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Factbox: Tokyo tightens security for slain Shinzo Abe's funeral
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Issei KatoTOKYO, Sept 25 (Reuters) - Japan's state funeral for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday is under the spotlight as authorities seek to avoid the kind of security blunders exposed in his assassination in July. Japanese authorities – including Prime Minister Fumio Kishida - have acknowledged security flaws contributed to Abe's death. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cancelled his planned attendance to focus on responding to a powerful storm. - The government plans to spend 1.65 billion yen ($11.5 million) on the funeral, including 800 million yen on security and 600 million yen to host foreign delegations. The high cost has partly fuelled a public backlash against the taxpayer-funded funeral at a time of economic hardship for many.

☆ Opinion: The British Empire: A legacy of violence?
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-25 | by ( Peter Bergen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +19 min

A related question is also surfacing now: What is the legacy of the British Empire writ large? Bergen: This reassessment of British Empire: You are leading the charge. Bergen: So, are the British in high school as they learn about British history being told a bunch of fairy tales? Are there similarities between the 1619 Project and what you and other colleagues are doing in your reassessment of the British Empire? And I think that’s what we’re seeing in different kinds of ways with the history of the British Empire.

☆ Duke Energy is one of the top leakers of a gas that is 25,000 times more polluting than carbon dioxide, EPA records show
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Phil Mckenna | Inside Climate News | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +22 min

The emissions were equal to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of more than 59,000 automobiles, according to the EPA’s greenhouse gas equivalency calculator. Under such a scenario Duke Energy would likely have years of low emissions punctuated by a single year of high emissions. While other utilities have participated for decades in a voluntary program with the EPA to reduce SF6 emissions to next to nothing, Duke Energy has not. Brooks said Duke Energy is also targeting its most leaky equipment for faster replacement. The figure is roughly half of 1% of all greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, far smaller than yearly emissions of carbon dioxide, the primary driver of climate change.

☆ Three EU leaders urge calm over Putin's nuclear rhetoric
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

His rhetoric on nuclear weapons is something we have heard many times before, and it leaves us cold," said Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterHis Belgian peer, Alexander de Croo, also urged a calm response between not provoking Russia, and supporting Ukraine. We must be clear in our position and continue to support Ukraine." The EU leaders' chairman, European Council President Charles Michel, said the bloc would not be scared away from supporting Ukraine. 'RECKLESS'While there have been no immediate comments from the leaders of Germany or France, the EU's executive European Commission said Putin's "reckless" nuclear gamble had to stop.

☆ EU says support for Ukraine steadfast in face of Russian aggression
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BRUSSELS, Sept 21 (Reuters) - The European Union's support for Kyiv will remain steadfast in the face of Russian aggression, the president of the council representing the bloc's 27 member states said on Wednesday after Russian President Vladimir Putin escalated the war in Ukraine. President Charles Michel wrote on Twitter from the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) meetings in New York this week: "Kremlin announces mobilization... while at UNGA countries work for cooperation, security and prosperity." "In this war, there is only one aggressor, Russia, and one aggressed country, Ukraine," he said. "EU's support to Ukraine will remain steadfast." Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by John ChalmersOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

But whatever your feelings toward Elizabeth, it’s clear that the institution of the British monarchy is far from benevolent. Meanwhile, the exact worth of the British monarchy is very difficult to calculate. The Sunday Times' Rich List calculated the queen’s personal net worth as 370 million pounds (more than $420 million), while the author and royal expert David McClure estimated it at 400 million pounds (around $460 million). In 2021-2022, the royal household’s financial report calculated this as 86.3 million pounds ($98.5 million). (According to the BBC, this portfolio generates around 20 million pounds a year in profits.)

☆ Exclusive: Former top FBI official involved in Trump-Russia investigation under scrutiny by federal prosecutors for his own ties to Russia
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-15 | by ( Mattathias Schwartz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A former high-level FBI agent who was involved in the investigation into the Trump campaign's contacts with Russia during the 2016 election has himself come under scrutiny by federal prosecutors for his ties with Russia and other foreign governments. A witness subpoena obtained by Insider indicates information that federal prosecutors were seeking about former FBI official Charles McGonigal. "It's very rare that former FBI people at all, and certainly former senior FBI people, wind up as grand-jury targets," the official said. McGonigal used his official FBI letterhead to try and arrange a business meeting with Edi Rama, the prime minister of Albania. Since he left the FBI, McGonigal has continued to trade on his expertise in counterintelligence.

☆ Factbox: World leaders to attend Queen Elizabeth's funeral
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Canadian Prime minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau attend the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey. Jack Hill/Pool via REUTERSRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterLONDON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Queen Elizabeth's state funeral will take place in London on Monday and a host of world leaders, royalty and other dignitaries will attend. Countries that have not been invited include Syria and Venezuela because London does not have normal diplomatic relations with those states. Britain has also not invited representatives from Russia, Belarus or Myanmar after it imposed economic sanctions on those countries. Related ContentFactbox: Plans for Queen Elizabeth's state funeral on MondayFactbox: Comments from crowds in London on Queen ElizabethFactbox: World leaders to attend Queen Elizabeth's funeralFactbox: Order of service for Queen Elizabeth's state funeralWindsor Castle, Queen Elizabeth's home and now final resting placeWestminster Abbey - traditional church for royals in life and death(This story was refiled to correct spelling of first name of Belize governor general)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterCompiled by Farouq Suleiman and Kate Holton Editing by Deepa Babington and Frances KerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ King Charles doesn't have to pay inheritance tax on the Queen's private estate worth more than $750 million
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-11 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

King Charles has inherited the Duchy of Lancaster estate valued at more than $750 million. He will not have to pay inheritance tax on the estate due to a rule approved in 1993. The provision was first exercised in 2002 when the Queen Mother passed on an estate worth about $80 million to the Queen including a collection of Faberge eggs. The Lancaster estate generated revenue of £24 million ($27 million) last year, its financial records state, and the King is now entitled to its income. It had assets worth more than £650 million ($754 million) at the end of March this year, the duchy's website states.

☆ The life and death of Queen Elizabeth
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

A picture of Britain's Queen Elizabeth is seen as people queue to pay their respects following her death, in London, Britain, September 17, 2022. June 2, 1953 - Queen Elizabeth is crowned at Westminster Abbey in the first televised coronation service. March 30, 2002 - Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, dies at Windsor Castle aged 101. Feb. 6, 2022 - Queen marks her 70th year on the throne, using the occasion to give her blessing to Charles's second wife Camilla being called Queen Consort when he becomes king. Sept. 8, 2022 - Queen Elizabeth dies at Balmoral, aged 96.

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