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Gas accounted for around 51% of Italy's total electricity generation in 2022, making the country the most gas-reliant among Europe's largest economies, data from Ember shows. INDUSTRIAL BASEKey to natural gas' staying power in Italy's generation mix is the country's high level of industrial energy demand. However, Italy's power costs have climbed sharply since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 cut natural gas supplies to Western Europe and sent regional power costs soaring. This week's ENI deal offers additional protection for consumers by further reducing Italy's reliance on Russia for natural gas supplies, even as it cements Qatar's position as Italy's top LNG supplier. Higher gas supplies may also help reduce overall power costs, and in turn should help boost the competitiveness of Italy-based businesses relative to regional rivals.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Gavin Maguire, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, Italy's ENI SpA, Gas, Energy Institute, United States, Department of Commerce, LSEG, ENI, Reuters, Thomson Locations: LITTLETON , Colorado, QatarEnergy, Southern, Italy, Europe Italy, Europe, United, Ukraine, Western Europe, Germany, Russia, United States, Algeria, Qatar

☆ Vivaldi's Four Seasons gets climate change makeover
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

If today someone were to compose 'The Four Seasons' from an absolutely realistic perspective, it would be frankly daring," composer and producer Hache Costa told Reuters. It will be accompanied by projected images of wildfires and other effects of climate change, such as drought. [1/5]Spanish music director Hache Costa rehearses prior to performing an adaptation of Antonio Vivaldi's famous “The Four Seasons” concertos as a screen shows an image of flowers in spring on International Day against Climate Change in Madrid, Spain, October 24, 2023. Scientists have linked searing temperatures and dry and windy conditions in many parts of the world, including southern Europe, to climate change. Ernesto Rodriguez Camino, president of the Spanish meteorology association, said the impact of climate change in Spain was evident.

Persons: Antonio Vivaldi's, Vivaldi, Hache Costa, Hache, Costa, Ernesto Rodriguez Camino, Antoine Demaison, Silvio Castellanos, Andrei Khalip, David Latona, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Spanish, Italian, Madrid, Spain, Europe

High funding needs and central banks removing support are increasing pricing uncertainty for investors, Sophia Drossos, hedge fund Point72 Asset Management's chief economist, said. Spending plans lacking credibility were seen as most likely to spark market turmoil. I suspect not by default, but when markets start reflecting their worries in Treasury prices, by a political crisis and a potentially ugly adjustment," the former IMF chief economist said. "We need more investment, not less," said King's College London professor Jonathan Portes, Britain's cabinet office chief economist during the financial crisis. Not enough reforms are being implemented, OECD chief economist Clare Lombardelli warned.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Peter Praet, Praet, Sophia Drossos, Daniel Ivascyn, Claudio Borio, Olivier Blanchard, Ray Dalio, Janet Yellen's, Yellen, Jim Leaviss, Giancarlo Giorgetti, Daleep Singh, Joe Biden, Britain's, Yellen's, Jonathan Portes, Clare Lombardelli, Moritz Kraemer, Yoruk Bahceli, Maria Martinez, Leigh Thomas, Giuseppe Fonte, Nell Mackenzie, Naomi Rovnick, William Schomberg, Jan Strupczewski, Dan Burns, Elisa Martinuzzi, Riddhima Talwani, Jayaram, Emelia Sithole Organizations: Financial, of, REUTERS, Institute of International Finance, Reuters, European Central Bank, ECB, Bank for International, Peterson Institute for International Economics, Associates, U.S . Treasury, Wall, Economy, Britain's Treasury, Congressional, Britain's, Institution, Reuters Graphics ACT, King's College London, Labour Party, OECD, Graphics, Thomson Locations: of Manhattan , New York City, U.S, Italy, Britain, United States, Europe, Ukraine, Berlin, Paris, Rome, London, Brussels, Washington, Marrakech

High funding needs and central banks removing support are increasing pricing uncertainty for investors, Sophia Drossos, hedge fund Point72 Asset Management's chief economist, said. Spending plans lacking credibility were seen as most likely to spark market turmoil. I suspect not by default, but when markets start reflecting their worries in Treasury prices, by a political crisis and a potentially ugly adjustment," the former IMF chief economist said. Italy's 2.4 trillion-euro debt pile is the focus in Europe, where the IMF has said high debt leaves governments vulnerable to crisis. "We need more investment, not less," said King's College London professor Jonathan Portes, Britain's cabinet office chief economist during the financial crisis.

[1/4] The International Monetary Fund (IMF) logo is seen outside the headquarters building in Washington, U.S., September 4, 2018. The IMF adjusted this year's stress test to probe the impact of its baseline economic scenario of higher interest rates for longer, as well as the possibility of consumers yanking deposits. "Under the baseline, it's about 5% of banks that are relatively weak in terms of their capital. And in severe stress, that number goes up to 30% or sometimes higher," Adrian said. The IMF did not identify the banks that could be in trouble if those economic circumstances arose, but they included both small and large lenders.

Persons: Yuri Gripas, Tobias Adrian, Adrian, There's, Pete Schroeder, Michelle Price, Paul Simao Organizations: Monetary Fund, REUTERS, Rights, International Monetary Fund, IMF, Valley Bank, Switzerland's Credit Suisse Group, Monetary, Capital Markets Department, Palestinian, World Bank, U.S, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, California, Israel, Gaza, Marrakech, Morocco, Italy, Federal, U.S

☆ Dengue Will 'Take Off' in Southern Europe, US, Africa This Decade, WHO Scientist Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

By Jennifer RigbyLONDON (Reuters) - Dengue fever will become a major threat in the southern United States, southern Europe and new parts of Africa this decade, the WHO's chief scientist said, as warmer temperatures create the conditions for the mosquitoes carrying the infection to spread. Many cases go unrecorded, but in 2022 4.2 million cases were reported worldwide and public health officials have warned that near-record levels of transmission are expected this year. Earlier this week, the WHO recommended Takeda Pharmaceuticals' Qdenga vaccine for children aged 6 to 16 in areas where the infection is a significant public health problem. Qdenga is also approved by the EU regulator, but Takeda withdrew its application in the United States earlier this year, citing data collection issues. Dengue is spread by infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which behave differently to the malaria-carrying kind.

Persons: Jennifer Rigby LONDON, ” Jeremy Farrar, ” Farrar, Farrar, ”, “, Takeda, Jennifer Rigby, Michele Gershberg, Sharon Singleton Organizations: World Health Organization, Reuters, Wellcome, WHO, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, U.S . Food, Drug Administration Locations: United States, Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Saharan Africa, EU

[1/2] Mosquitoes are seen on stagnant water on the roadside during countrywide dengue infection, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, August 24, 2023. REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd FollowLONDON, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Dengue fever will become a major threat in the southern United States, southern Europe and new parts of Africa this decade, the WHO's chief scientist said, as warmer temperatures create the conditions for the mosquitoes carrying the infection to spread. Many cases go unrecorded, but in 2022 4.2 million cases were reported worldwide and public health officials have warned that near-record levels of transmission are expected this year. Qdenga is also approved by the EU regulator, but Takeda withdrew its application in the United States earlier this year, citing data collection issues. Dengue is spread by infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which behave differently to the malaria-carrying kind.

Persons: Mohammad Ponir Hossain, ” Jeremy Farrar, ” Farrar, Farrar, ”, “, Takeda, Jennifer Rigby, Michele Gershberg, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Takeda Pharmaceutical, World Health Organization, Reuters, Wellcome, WHO, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, Thomson Locations: Dhaka, Bangladesh, United States, Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America, Vietnam, Saharan Africa, EU

☆ An unusual military build-up in southern Europe sparked fears of another invasion like Russia's full-scale assault on Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The US warned last week that Serbia staged an "unprecedented" military build-up along its border. AdvertisementAdvertisementA massive build-up of military power in Serbia has officials in neighboring Kosovo drawing comparisons to what Russian forces were doing before Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On September 24, heavily armed Serb gunmen killed a Kosovar police officer and stormed a monestary in northern Kosovo, setting off a shootout that left several attackers dead. Meanwhile, on Friday, the US made public its observation of the Serbian military build-up along the border and expressed concerns over the situation. "We are monitoring a large Serbian military deployment along the border with Kosovo that includes an unprecedented staging of advanced Serbian artillery, tanks, and mechanized infantry units.

Persons: —, Biden, Donika Gervalla, Schwarz, Deutschlandfunk, Ukraine —, Vladimir Putin, STRINGER, Jens Stoltenberg, John Kirby, Albin Kurti Organizations: US, Russia, Service, Reuters, Yugoslavia, NATO, Kosovo, Intervention, Serbian, AP, Kosovo Force, KFOR, UK, Getty, Belgrade, National Security Locations: Serbia, Kosovo, Kosovo's, Ukraine, Serbian, Russia, Belgrade, Pristina, Mitrovica, EU, Kosova

☆ A pair of sandals from the Stone Age reveals that ancient people were not immune to unfortunate fashion choices
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-30 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementAdvertisementIt appears dads could have been making fashion faux pas even since the Stone Age. The dating reveals evidence of basketry — the ancient craft of basket making — in hunter-gatherer communities in southern Europe during the Mesolithic period and the early Neolithic period when societies began to transition to agricultural ways of life. As to whether the sandals were rocked with socks — that fashion offense wouldn't appear until several millennia later.

Persons: —, Cueva, los, Francisco Martínez Sevilla, University of Alcalá, los Murciélagos Organizations: Service, University of Alcalá, Autonomous University of Barcelona, University of, Nike, Archaeological Museum Locations: Granada, Spain, Europe, Barcelona, Madrid

☆ These 6,000-year-old sandals found in a Spanish cave are Europe’s oldest shoes
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-29 | by ( Issy Ronald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —New analysis has identified the oldest shoes ever discovered in Europe, according to a study published this week in the journal Science Advances. The ancient footwear, along with Mesolithic baskets and other tools, was first discovered back in 1857, when a cave in southern Spain was looted by miners. The sandals were made of grasses as well as other materials, including leather, lime and ramie bast, a type of natural fiber. Using the descriptions provided by Góngora, the study hypothesizes that the bodies were buried wearing the sandals. The first phase was related to the Early Holocene hunter-gatherer populations, and the second phase to Middle Holocene farmers, researchers said.

Persons: Manuel de Góngora, Martínez, bast, ”, ” Francisco Martínez Sevilla Organizations: CNN, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Alcalá University, Adv, Góngora Locations: Europe, Spain, Spanish, Madrid, Granada

Ever pack workout clothes for a vacation — only to unpack them, unworn, upon returning home? Data from exercise apps, which track users' physical locations and search history, show travelers tend to be more active in some locations more than others. Fitness app Strava shows travelers tend to exercise when they visit smaller cities in Europe. Conversely, the company's data shows travelers are less active, compared to locals, in parts of the Caribbean and Central America, namely:Trinidad and TobagoDominican RepublicPhilippinesVenezuelaCosta RicaThose who struggle to exercise on vacation can take heart in knowing that even active travelers tend to ease up from their usual routines on holiday. Nearly four in 10 runners cut their running times by at least 30% during their summer vacations in 2022, according to Strava's data.

Organizations: Portugal Las Palmas, Spain Nord, Trinidad and Tobago Locations: Europe, Split, Croatia Dodecanese, Greece Lagos, Portugal, Spain, Aurdal, Norway, Nord, Norway's, Lillehammer, Caribbean, Central America, Trinidad and, Trinidad and Tobago Dominican Republic Philippines Venezuela Costa

CNN —Storm Elias dumped several months-worth of rain in less than a day as it swept across Greece on Wednesday, just weeks after Storm Daniel killed 17 people in the southern European nation. The flooded city of Volos after storm Elias hit on September 27. The port city of Volos in Thessaly is among those to have been hit hard by both storms. Floods in the city of Volos, Greece, after storm Elias hit on September 27. The floods caused by Storm Daniel, which followed devastating wildfires in the country, “have the fingerprints of climate change,” Greek environment minister Theodoros Skylakakis told CNN on September 12.

Persons: Storm Elias, Storm Daniel, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Elias, Louisa Gouliamaki, Daniel, ESWD, Istiaia, Theodoros Skylakakis, “, ” Organizations: CNN, World Meteorological Organization, ERT Locations: Greece, European, Thessaly, Volos, Evia

[1/2] A suspected illegal migrant is searched after he was detained by German police during their patrol along the German-Polish border to prevent illegal migration, in Forst, Germany, September 20, 2023. In August, registered illegal border crossings to Germany reached 14,701, up 66% on the same month last year, police data shows. Czech police have increased random checks on the Slovak border as well as on highways to Germany, Czech police president Martin Vondrasek said. LAMPEDUSA CRISISAs well as the increase in illegal border crossings, Germany has also taken in around 1 million Ukrainian refugees over the past year. Previously, there have been random police checks on the borders and Germany has maintained stationary controls on the Bavarian border with Austria since 2015.

Persons: Lisi Niesner, Nancy Faeser, Martin Vondrasek, Markus Soeder, Rome, Faeser, Piotr Muller, Alexander Ratz, Sarah Marsh, Alan Charlish, Anna Wlodarczak, Jan Lopatka, Rachel More, Kirsti Knolle, Alison Williams Organizations: REUTERS, Faeser, Social Democrats, Reuters, Warsaw, Thomson Locations: Forst , Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, BERLIN, Germany, Berlin, Czech, Bavaria, Hesse, Bavarian, Austria, North Africa, Lampedusa, Italy, EU, Europe

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Quincy Jones, who once embarked on an international diplomatic tour with jazz great Dizzy Gillespie, will receive the U.S. Department of State's inaugural Peace Through Music Award. A ceremony honoring the 28-time Grammy winning producer, musician and arranger will be held Wednesday night and as part of the launch of the State Department's new Global Music Diplomacy Initiative. The tour was part of a Cold War program to spotlight American music and culture and counteract similar efforts by the Soviet Union. “You’re going to see a long-standing partnership between the Academy and the State Department,” Mason said in an interview. We have no more powerful tools in our diplomatic toolkit, and I look forward to seeing – and listening to – the results of this initiative.”The Global Music Diplomacy Initiative was developed following the 2022 Promoting Peace, Education, and Cultural Exchange (PEACE) through Music Diplomacy Act.

Persons: — Quincy Jones, Dizzy Gillespie, Jones, Antony Blinken, Harvey Mason, Dave Grohl, Mickey Guyton, Herbie Hancock, Jamie Barton, GAYLE, Christopher Jackson, LADAMA, Aimee Mann, Rakim, Armani White, Gillespie, Michael Jackson’s, Oscar, “ You’re, ” Mason, “, ”, Roosevelt, Bruce Springsteen, “ I’ve, ” Blinken Organizations: ANGELES, U.S . Department, State's, State, Music Diplomacy Initiative, Recording Academy, American, U.S . State Department, State Department, Fulbright, Arts and Science, Academy, Inter, American Affairs, AP, Education, Cultural Exchange, Diplomacy Locations: Southern Europe, South Asia, Soviet Union, East Berlin

☆ Why you should be traveling to Europe in fall, not summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Terry Ward | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

And now it’s fall, when the continent really comes into its own as the leaves – and visitor numbers – start to drop. A recent report from luxury travel network Virtuoso named Paris, London and Florence as the most booked cities for fall travel. “Fall is one of the best times to visit Europe because of the vast variety of interests [the season] can cater to,” says Mina Agnos, president of luxury travel company Travelive. If you’re ready for a different take on Europe this fall, we’ve got ideas. Fall also means it’s harvest time in Rebland – an area southwest of Baden-Baden famous for its Riesling.

Persons: ”, Mina Agnos, foodies, Brian Young, we’ve, Sérgio Duarte, Octant, Val, Culinarium Urtijei, Christopher Hill, Holger Leue, it’s, Jack Ezon, Samantha Pearson, Notte Bianca, Valery Bareta, Belle, Caracalla Organizations: CNN, EMEA, G, Gran Canaria, UNESCO, ADLER, Mallorca Locations: Europe, Paris, London, Florence, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Croatia, Greece, Sicily, Slovenia, Gibraltar, Tenerife, Ibiza, Mallorca, Gran, Alentejo, Douro, Val Gardena, Dolomites, Italy, Northern Italy, South, Ortisei, Romania, Brasov, Baia Mare, Saxon, Moșna, Mallorcan, Pollença, Palma . Thessaloniki, Thermaic, Santorini, Greece’s, Balkans, Mount Olympus, Thessaloniki, Malta Malta, Malta, Gozo, Comino, Valletta, Madeira, Morocco, Terrabona, Funchal, Savoy, Baden, Germany Baden, Black, Friedrichsbad

Spanish farmer Miguel Moreno was an early adopter of so-called cover crops. Spain's drought-hit olive oil production slumped to 663,000 tonnes last year, less than half the average of 1.45 million tons recorded in the previous four harvests, according to the government. In January, it began subsidising farmers who use cover crops as part of the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). She said the company was pushed both by customers such as Walmart in the U.S. and by regulation to buy olive oil from producers using sustainable practices. Ecology professor Manzaneda is also coordinator of EU-funded project SOIL O-LIVE and is testing methods for coaxing Albacete's degraded earth back to health.

Persons: Chiclana de Segura, Jon Nazca, Andrea Ronca, Miguel Moreno, Angel, Dcoop, Gonzalo Delacamara, Emilio Gonzalez, Antonio Manzaneda, Manzaneda, Olive, Syngenta, Luis Miranda, Domingo, Marco Trevisan, Dean, Simone Rech, Catalonia's Cava, Sebastiano Conti, Charlie Devereux, Antonella, Corina Pons, Keith Weir, Frank Jack Daniel Our Organizations: REUTERS, Companies Southern, VILLANUEVA DEL ARZOBISPO, Farmers, European Union, of Nutrition, Plant Science, IE, Water, University of Cordoba, University of Jaen, European, Walmart, Swiss, Syngenta, EU, TECH, Smart, Milan Polytechnic, University of Brescia, of Agricultural Sciences, Catholic University of Piacenza, Thomson Locations: Olive, Chiclana, Jaen, Spain, ROME, Italy, Madrid, European, France, Germany, Mantua, Andalusia, European Union, U.S, ITALY, Treviso, Venice, Sicily

☆ He moved from Reno to rural Portugal, bought a house for $300,000, and makes travel videos for a living: How one American guy pieced together his dream life at 32
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Amanda Goh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Dave Alastair moved from Reno, Nevada, to a rural province 45 minutes north of Lisbon, Portugal, in 2022. He bought a three-bedroom house with a pool for $300,000 and says he appreciates his new laidback lifestyle. The exterior of Dave Alastair's house in Portugal. "My neighbors within a mile have tons of wine vineyards, so I'm guessing this was all wine country back then." Buying property in Portugal as a foreigner can be challenging because of the legalities of the process, he said.

Persons: Dave Alastair, Alastair, Dave, Sara, Dave Alastair's, there's, it's, Portugal Alastair, they're, you'll, he's, you've, Amanda Goh Organizations: Service, YouTube Locations: Reno , Nevada, Lisbon, Portugal, United States, Wall, Silicon, American, Nevada, Europe, Algoz, Lisboa, Reno, Dave, America, agoh@insider.com

☆ Europe's economy threatened by extreme heat, fires and floods
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Olesya Dmitracova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

London CNN —Mounting climate risks, illustrated by the extreme heat, wildfires and floods that ravaged parts of Europe this summer, could hurt the region’s economy as soon as this year, the European Commission warned Monday. In its latest economic forecast, the European Union’s executive arm downgraded its predictions for growth in the region in 2023 and 2024. But it added that there was “formidable uncertainty” over its latest forecast, with extreme weather among the “downside” risks. Construction and manufacturing are among other economic sectors vulnerable to extreme heat, said Owen at Saltmarsh Economics. Similarly to the European Commission, on Sunday the International Monetary Fund pointed to “grave risks to economic well-being” from climate change.

Persons: ” David Owen, Kyle Holland, Owen, Kristalina Georgieva Organizations: London CNN, European, European Travel Commission, CNN, Saltmarsh, Bank of Italy, Sunday, International Monetary, Group Locations: Europe, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Ireland, Denmark, Italy, Greece, Spain, India

☆ Nearly all world's population exposed to global warming over June-Sept - study
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Alexandros Avramidis/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSINGAPORE, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Nearly all of the world's population experienced higher temperatures from June to August as a result of human-induced climate change, according to a peer-reviewed research report published late on Thursday. A study by Climate Central, a U.S.-based research group, looked at temperatures in 180 countries and 22 territories and found that 98% of the world's population were exposed to higher temperatures made at least twice more likely by carbon dioxide pollution. "Virtually no one on Earth escaped the influence of global warming during the past three months," said Andrew Pershing, Climate Central's vice president for science. The heatwaves in North America and southern Europe would have been impossible without climate change, said Friederike Otto, a climate scientist at the Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment. They have been made infinitely more likely because they would not have occurred without climate change."

Persons: Alexandros Avramidis, Andrew Pershing, Friederike Otto, David Stanway, Ali Withers, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Firefighters, REUTERS, Rights, Climate Central, Climate, Grantham Institute, Thomson Locations: Sesklo, Greece, Rights SINGAPORE, North America, Europe, U.S, Singapore, Copenhagen

☆ Tunisian heatwave hits wine output
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-07 | by ( Jihed Abidellaoui | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Estimates of how far wine output has fallen vary, from a roughly 20% drop according to the Agriculture Ministry's Kilani Belhaj, to a reduction of 40-50% according to Vineyard Producers' Syndicate head Salim Chaouch. Winemakers in France and elsewhere in southern Europe have also warned of lower wine output this year due to the heat. "Climate change has impacted both the quantity and quality of production, with a broad effect on the sector. In ancient times Tunisia was a major wine producer under the Carthaginian and Roman empires and commercial-scale output began again under French colonialism, though it has not become a significant exporter. The grapes are picked early in the morning and driven to a modern processing facility at Takelsa in central Tunisia to be turned into wine.

Persons: Kilani, Salim Chaouch, Farmer Wajdi Graya, Hammadi Brik, Latifa Guesmi, Angus McDowall, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: Agriculture, Vineyard Producers, Syndicate, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: TUNIS, North Africa, France, Europe, Tunisia, Bon, Takelsa, Coteaux

☆ Milan records hottest day since 1763
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] People use umbrellas to hide from the sun, as they queue to enter the Milan's Duomo Cathedral, during a heatwave, in Milan, Italy, August 21, 2023. It was the hottest day since the Milano Brera weather station started recording temperatures in 1763. ARPA statement that Aug. 23 and 24 have been the hottest days of the summer across the whole of the Lombardy region which surrounds Milan, with several towns registering peak temperatures above 40 C.It added that "intense and abnormal" temperatures also hit the Italian Alps. The heatwave is about to end though, the agency said, giving way to heavy thunderstorms and a sharp drop in temperatures of up to 10-15 C early next week. Reporting by Federica Urso, editing by Gavin Jones and Emelia Sithole-MatariseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Claudia Greco, Federica Urso, Gavin Jones, Emelia Organizations: Cathedral, REUTERS, Rights, Milano, ARPA, Thomson Locations: Milan, Italy, Milano Brera, Rome, Europe, Lombardy, Italian

☆ Dutch pick for EU climate job to face tough hearing
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-25 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Hoekstra needs to win a positive assessment from the EU Parliament and pass a potentially close vote in the assembly with majority support. If appointed, Hoekstra is expected to assume responsibility for climate change policies in the EU Commission. He belongs to the Dutch Christian-Democratic CDA party, part of the European People's Party group in the EU Parliament. Bas Eickhout, a Green EU lawmaker, said Hoekstra would need to prove his commitment to Europe's climate change agenda. He'll have a tough time convincing the European Parliament that he's the right man for the job," said Paul Tang, a Dutch Socialist member of the EU Parliament.

Persons: Wopke Hoekstra, Hoekstra, Frans Timmermans, Timmermans, Maros Sefcovic, Eickhout, Hoekstra's, Paul Tang, Kate Abnett, Bart Meijer, Giles Elgood Organizations: EU, Parliament, Dutch Christian, Democratic CDA, European People's Party, EPP, EPP Group, Green Deal, European, Socialist, Dutch Finance, Socialists, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Netherlands, Dutch, Europe, EU, The Hague, New EU, Bas, Southern Europe, Spain, Italy

Sitting in a park in Zaragoza, a city in northeastern Spain, Jorge Jiménez, 41, was trying to enjoy a day off from his job as a municipal garbage collector. But the heat was making it difficult. “We get very hot these days,” Mr. Jiménez said. Large areas of southern Europe baked under extreme temperatures on Thursday, the latest in a string of heat waves that have scorched the continent over the summer and sent residents and tourists scrambling for cool shelter. Temperatures in some cities were not as high but still far above the norm for so late in the summer.

Persons: Jorge Jiménez, ” Mr, Jiménez, “ Locations: Zaragoza, Spain, Europe

Some experts caution that progress may be slow, noting parts of Germany's administrative machinery are already creaking under a big backlog of existing citizenship applications. German citizenship is not a condition of employment for migrants, but Germany wants to establish itself as a migration destination for foreign talent, like the U.S. and Canada, and Berlin hopes the prospect of a smoother, quicker path to German nationality will attract skilled migrants. But with German authorities already overwhelmed by thousands of backlogged naturalisation applications, some experts doubt the reforms can quickly achieve their main goal of luring global talent to fill hundreds of thousands of vacancies. Migrants complain of long waits even for a first citizenship consultation appointment. "Even with this reform in Germany, access to citizenship is still much easier in traditional immigration countries like Canada.

Persons: Fabrizio Bensch, Holger Kolb, Kolb, Mediendienst Intergation, Nancy Faeser, Tariq Tabbara, Tabbara, Riham Alkousaa, William Maclean Organizations: Office of Health, Social Affairs, REUTERS, Rights, Integration, Reuters, Berlin University of Economics, Law, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, U.S, Canada, Turkey, Europe, Germany's, Cologne, Dresden, Bielefeld, Hamburg, Munich, Chemnitz

☆ Extreme August Arrives With a Warning: Expect More
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Somini Sengupta | More About Somini Sengupta | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

In India, torrential rains triggered deadly landslides, Morocco and Japan hit new heat records, and southern Europe braced for another scorching heat wave. Those extremes have also brought high-stakes tests for public officials: Where public alerts and education worked, death and destruction were minimized. Maui has so far recorded more than 100 deaths from the blaze that started Aug. 8, and that number is projected to rise. Not all of the extreme weather events can be immediately attributed to climate change. Scientists have repeatedly warned of more heat, wildfires, droughts and intense rainfall with every degree of future warming.

Persons: El Locations: United States, Texas, Maui, India, Morocco, Japan, Europe

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