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☆ ‘And Just Like That …’ Season 2, Episodes 1 and 2 Recap: Relationship Place
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Ali Trachta | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Meanwhile, Seema actually gives up her Met Ball ticket in order to meet the son of her beau, Zed (William Abadie). This isn’t the only love interest we come to find still has a problematic tie to a former spouse. Over on the West Coast, Miranda finds herself stranded in Malibu without a phone to call an Uber. Which brings me to an argument I made throughout Season 1, which most people disagreed with me on. And it’s not the only swift pack-up we see within these episodes.

Persons: Seema, Zed, William Abadie, Victoire, Rachel Kylian, Miranda, Uber, Che, Lyle, Oliver Hudson, shrugs, biggie, Steve Brady, David Eigenberg, —, Nya, Andre Rashad, LeRoy McClain, hasn’t Organizations: Met Ball Locations: West Coast, Malibu

☆ Color of Change, pioneering racial-justice nonprofit, is plagued by allegations of sexual assault and bullying, ineffective leadership, and deep layoffs say sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Sean Campbell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

Misconduct by senior leadership was often ignored or glossed over, and choas led to high turnover. But behind the scenes, some staff members say the organization has been wracked with internal turmoil, ineffective leadership, and deep layoffs. Many sources said allegations of misconduct by senior leadership seemed to be ignored or glossed over, and a chaotic environment led to high turnover. The following day, Color of Change eliminated another 12 positions, and again, many of them were part of the union. (Color of Change did not report executive salaries on its 2020 tax filings and has not released its 2021 returns.)

While paying bonuses at bailed-out energy groups raises questions around the use of taxpayers' money, it also highlights the need for the companies to remain competitive. One of the sources said 200 of Sefe's traders in London had received hundreds of millions of dollars in bonuses, adding mid-level traders had received $5 million-$7 million each. Two of the other people said that generous subsidies had been paid at both Sefe and Uniper. Uniper confirmed that bonuses were paid to trading staff for 2022 but below the level of the previous year. The Finance Ministry, which is responsible for the government's ownership of Uniper, also referred questions on operating issues including staff remuneration to the company.

☆ Global gas markets rebalancing, to remain tight in 2023 - IEA
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Marwa Rashad | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, May 4 (Reuters) - Global gas markets are gradually rebalancing but are expected to remain tight in 2023 amid lower Russian pipeline gas deliveries to Europe, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Thursday. The European and global gas markets suffered a major supply shock in 2022 when Russia reduced its pipeline gas deliveries to the European Union by 80%, triggering a global energy crisis. Mild weather, an increase in liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports and a strong decline in gas demand helped to cushion the shock leaving Europe's storage 60% full. "The improved outlook for gas markets in 2023 is no guarantee against future volatility...global gas supply is set to remain tight in 2023, and the global balance is subject to an unusually wide range of uncertainties," the report said. In Europe, gas consumption fell by a record 16%, or 55 billion cubic meters (bcm), during the 2022/23 heating season.

☆ Earn Your Leisure co-founders on the importance of financial literacy
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailEarn Your Leisure co-founders on the importance of financial literacyTroy Millings and Rashad Bilal, Co-Founders of Earn Your Leisure, discuss their organization's impact on financial education.

CAIRO, April 21 (Reuters) - There are some aspirational prizes being doled out to winners of Ramadan tournaments in Egypt this week, with a team decked out in Liverpool's kit being awarded England's Premier League trophy for their success -- while another is set to receive UEFA Champions League silverware. The losers were presented with a replica of the African Champions League trophy for their efforts. "I bought the two cups from a friend who owns a sportswear store for two thousand Egyptian pounds ($65)," Ibrahim Abdel Salam, one of the organising committee, told Reuters. "There are two artificial turf courts, but we prefer the dirt court," Abdel Salam said. Meanwhile in El-Beheira governorate the European Champions League trophy appeared up for grabs.

But at the same time, EU countries have increased their overall purchases of Russian LNG, undermining the bloc's pledge to end its use of Russian fossil fuels by 2027. Russian LNG exports by region Russian LNG exports by regionEU analysis found Russian LNG imports increased to 22 billion cubic metres (bcm) last year, up from 16 bcm in 2021. Belgium and Spain nearly doubled their imports of Russian LNG in the 12 months since Russia invaded Ukraine, analysis by Kpler showed. The Netherlands has eliminated its Russian pipeline gas imports since the war and reduced, but not eliminated, Russian LNG imports. TO BAN OR NOT TO BANHalting Russian LNG imports would be double-edged, analysts say.

[1/2] A general view shows a special ship, "Neptune", the floating liquefied natural gas terminal, during the inauguration of the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal 'Deutsche Ostsee' in the port of Lubmin, Germany January 14, 2023. Northweat Europe LNG imports Northwest Europe LNG importsAnalysts estimate that Europe accounted for more than a third of global spot market trades in 2022, from around 13% in 2021. Such exposure could reach more than 50% this year if no long-term contracts were signed. Morten Frisch, senior partner at Morten Frisch Consulting, said Europe ideally needs about 70-75% of its LNG supply under firm long-term sale and purchase agreements (SPAs). LNG spot market prices LNG spot market pricesBut they are expected to rise again, with a hot summer that could cut hydro levels, a cold 2023-2024 winter and a rebound in Chinese LNG demand all seen as among the risk factors for price.

☆ Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg's ties to billionaire George Soros are not as close as Republicans claim
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

As Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg moves to bring an expected indictment against Donald Trump, Republicans lawmakers leaping to the former president's defense have fixated on what they call Bragg's ties to billionaire George Soros. There is also no indication the Open Society Policy Center's donation was directed toward an eventual Color of Change campaign to influence Bragg. The funding from Soros' nonprofit was not targeted toward the campaign to support McCarter, the Color of Change official told CNBC. Open Society's website says the group's donation was intended "to support [Color of Change]'s social welfare activities" over the course of five years. Months before Bragg won a 2021 Democratic primary on his way to becoming Manhattan DA, George Soros' son, Jonathan, and his wife, combined to donate $20,000 to Bragg's campaign, state records show.

☆ New: LAPD Officer Rashad Sharif Discovers A Murder Scene
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailNew: LAPD Officer Rashad Sharif Discovers A Murder SceneAs LAPD Officer Rashad Sharif is called to check on a home in posh Benedict Canyon with the back door left open, he is shocked when he happens upon a murder scene and a victim with Las Vegas Mafia connections. Blood & Money premieres Tuesday, March 7 at 10pm ET on CNBC.

If sealed, this would be the second such deal between major LNG exporter Qatar and the world's no.2 LNG buyer, as Beijing looks to beef up gas supply and diversify its sources in a drive to replace coal and cut carbon emissions. CNPC's talks follow a deal announced last November by China's Sinopec, in which QatarEnergy agreed to supply 4 million tonnes of LNG annually for 27 years, the longest duration LNG supply contract ever signed by Qatar. "This is a good move for CNPC, securing additional long term supply from a reliable and well positioned partner. Sinopec said in November the gas purchase agreement was part of an "integrated partnership", which indicated the Chinese firm could be considering acquiring a stake in Qatar's North Field expansion export facility. Chinese customs data showed the country's imports of Qatari LNG surged 75% last year from 2021 to 15.7 million tonnes, making up a quarter of the nation's total imports, while China's total LNG imports shrank nearly 20%.

[1/2] The main deck of the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) "Neptune" is seen during the official commissioning of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal "Deutsche Ostsee" at the harbour in Lubmin, Germany, January 14, 2023. John Macdougall/Pool via REUTERSLONDON/FRANKFURT, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Germany and Oman are in advanced talks to sign a long-term deal for liquefied natural gas (LNG) lasting at least 10 years as Berlin continues its search for alternatives to Russian fuel supplies, three sources familiar with the matter said. Europe has been scrambling to replace Russian gas since last year against a backdrop of war in Ukraine, with state-run Gazprom (GAZP.MM) progressively reducing and then suspending the lion's share of pipeline supplies to Europe. Germany has been holding talks for months with the world's biggest LNG producer Qatar for additional supplies, but negotiations have been lengthy. While supply deals with Qatar would be positive for Germany, they would not offer an immediate solution to Berlin's energy crisis.

☆ Shell still taking LNG cargoes from Russia under Novatek contract
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Shell (SHEL.L) is still receiving cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia under its long-term contract with Novatek (NVTK.MM), a Shell spokesperson said on Thursday. The world's largest LNG trader agreed a more than 20-year deal in 2015 for Novatek to supply around 900,000 tonnes per annum from the Yamal LNG plant in Siberia. Shell said in 2022 it would exit all its Russian operations, including a major LNG plant in the Sakhalin peninsula in the eastern flank of the country after Russia invaded Ukraine. However, Russia supplied Europe with some 17 million tonnes of LNG in 2022, up about 20% from 2021, Refinitiv Eikon data show. Novatek, Russia's largest LNG producer, provided most of the supplies, having shipped 20.8 million tonnes from the Yamal LNG project - including to other customers - and 700,000 tonnes from Kriogaz-Vysotsk on the Baltic Sea, according to Refinitiv Eikon.

☆ Police charge second teenager in Iowa school shooting that killed 2
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

DES MOINES, Iowa — Authorities on Friday charged a second teenager with murder in the shooting deaths of two students at a Des Moines educational program. Bravon Michael Tukes, 19, of Des Moines, faces two counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder and one count of criminal gang participation. Police said evidence shows Tukes communicated with Walls before and immediately after the shooting and drove the vehicle in which Walls allegedly fled. Police say the shooting was premeditated and that Walls, who was on supervised release for a weapons charge last year, cut off an ankle monitor 16 minutes beforehand. Classes at the education program, which works with Des Moines Public Schools to help students who haven’t succeeded in traditional schools, were cancelled this week.

LONDON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - European Union energy regulators published their first daily liquefied natural gas (LNG) price assessment on Thursday, a first step in the EU's plan to launch a new European LNG benchmark price by the end of March. WHY DOES THE EU WANT A NEW LNG PRICE? Unlike pipeline gas, LNG is not widely traded on exchanges, so there is less visibility on how much the fuel costs. HOW WILL ACER'S LNG PRICE BE DIFFERENT? ACER can only produce a price assessment if it receives at least five transactions in the assessed five-day period.

☆ US-China Tech War: How Money for Semiconductor Factories Costs Americans
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-19 | by ( Taylor Dorrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

If the first Cold War was defined by the development of nuclear weapons, this Tech Cold War is defined by the computer chip. The massive Intel plant in Ohio is a key part of the race with China for the future of tech. Even before the Intel plant, the Columbus area was well acquainted with these sorts of trade-offs. But, the Ohio State study found, Columbus' residential tax-abatement programs did little to meaningfully address the housing problem, while draining the city's funds. Federal, state, and local subsidies add up to billions of dollars that Intel is saving on its new Ohio semiconductor factory.

☆ Hope Global Forums rallies business leaders for financial literacy, ‘so that everyone learns the language of money’
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-26 | by ( Frank Holland | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"Our goal is that by the time your kids grow up, financial literacy is in school — kindergarten through college — as a requirement so that everyone learns the language of money." To that end, Operation Hope in 2021 launched Financial Literacy for All, a joint initiative with businesses such as Walmart, Bank of America, Disney and many others. Ambassador Andrew Young were among the business leaders joining Bryant on stage at the Hope Global Forums in Atlanta to talk about silver rights and the power of financial literacy. "John Hope Bryant and I have come together to form Financial Literacy for All to take on financial education. Operation Hope is focused on wealth inequality in the Black community and communities of color, and narrowing that gap.

A large dent has also come from industrial sectors forced to curb output as high gas prices make production uneconomic with some firms shifting production to regions with cheaper energy. FIGHT FOR SUPPLIESThe obvious way to boost supplies is through liquefied natural gas (LNG). That may not happen next year, meaning Europe would face fierce competition for LNG that would drive up the cost. Record high prices in Europe, however painful, helped the region to secure record volumes of LNG imports this year. Benchmark European gas prices hit a peak in August of more than 300 euros/MWh.

☆ ICE warns EU gas price cap could see prices rise
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Kate Abnett | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Companies Intercontinental Exchange Inc FollowBRUSSELS, Dec 6 (Reuters) - An exchanges operator has warned the European Union that its proposal to cap gas prices would make it more likely that prices rise to hit the cap, according to a document seen by Reuters. In a memo sent to the Commission, the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) - which hosts TTF trading - said that proposal could in fact drive prices higher, despite it being designed to cushion EU countries' economies from gas price spikes. The resulting shortage of sellers in the TTF market would drive up prices, it said. "The EU Commission hears the concerns and arguments expressed by the representatives of the European Gas Exchanges. The safeguards include that the Commission could immediately suspend the price cap if it caused negative consequences, including risks to financial stability or gas flows within Europe.

[1/6] QatarEnergy CEO and Qatar's Minister of Energy, Saad al- Kaabi and ConocoPhillips CEO, Ryan Lance attend the signing ceremony of two sales and purchase agreements to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Germany, in Doha, Qatar, November 29, 2022. The deal, the first of its kind to Europe from Qatar's North Field expansion project, will provide Germany with 2 million tonnes of LNG annually, arriving from Ras Laffan in Qatar to Germany's northern LNG terminal of Brunsbuettel, QatarEnergy's chief executive said. ICIS head of energy analytics Andreas Schroeder said the starting date of 2026 was late, as Germany needed LNG for 2023 and 2024. The deal comes a few days after QatarEnergy signed a 27-year sales and purchase agreement with China's Sinopec. The North Field is part of the world's biggest gas field, which Qatar shares with Iran.

☆ Twitter could be a new wild card for the midterms
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN Business —For years, Twitter has been a leader in countering misinformation and protecting elections. But concerns are growing that tumult inside Twitter in the first week after it was acquired by Elon Musk could weaken its safeguards for elections, just before the midterms are set to take place. Musk promised not to alter any of Twitter’s content policies until after the midterms. He tweeted: “Going forward, any Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying ‘parody’ will be permanently suspended,” and without warning. The shakeup at Twitter has turned the company itself into an election wildcard.

☆ Twitter prepares to roll out new paid subscription service that includes blue checkmark
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN’s testing of the service on Saturday afternoon, however, suggested the rollout was not yet complete. A fresh Twitter account created by CNN that signed up for the paid feature did not show the checkmark on its public profile. Twitter also still appeared to be charging $4.99, an outdated price. The feature was not mentioned on Twitter’s page on the Google Play Store for Android devices as of early Saturday afternoon. Musk has argued that allowing all users to pay to be verified on Twitter will raise the costs of producing spam and misinformation.

The pre-tax loss of around $900 million in its LNG trading offers rare insight into its trading operations that can also sharply boost the group's earnings. Shell's LNG trading performance contrasts with rivals BP and TotalEnergies (TTEF.PA) which both reported strong earnings from their trading divisions in the quarter, without providing details. The rally in European prices far outpaced Asian prices , leading to a collapse in the spread between the two benchmarks. Gorman added that for the first three quarters of 2022, LNG trading results were higher than the same period a year earlier. Asian prices have been weakened by muted Chinese demand since the start of the year due to covid and slow economic growth.

David Cruz, a spokesman for LULAC — the oldest Latino civil rights group in the United States — said a woman who joined the meeting claiming to represent the organization was "terminated" Oct. 22 and met with Musk "unlawfully." Johnson wrote and signed the letter along with the leaders of the National Urban League and the National Action Network, two of the most prominent civil rights groups in the country. "Her meeting with Mr. Musk was wholly unauthorized and breached our agreements and repeated notifications. Ms. Benavides is, in fact, a rogue, former respected leader who has decided to place herself above the organization that trusted her," Cruz added. The Dallas Morning News has reported that two factions inside LULAC have been vying for power in recent months.

☆ Twitter will not reinstate banned users without 'clear process,' Musk says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Sheila Dang | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Nov 2 (Reuters) - Banned accounts will not be allowed back onto Twitter until the social media platform has "a clear process for doing so," Elon Musk tweeted in the early hours on Wednesday, giving more clarity about the potential return of Twitter's most famous banned user, former U.S. President Donald Trump. Creating such a process would take at least a few more weeks, Musk tweeted. Twitter users, advertisers and its own employees have been watching closely for signs of what Musk will do in his first week as Twitter's owner. During the call, Musk committed to uphold Twitter's content moderation policies and enforcement around election integrity, said Rashad Robinson, president of Color of Change, in an interview. Musk also reiterated in his tweet on Wednesday that Twitter will create a content moderation council composed of representatives with "widely divergent views."

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