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☆ Putin tells mothers of soldiers killed in Ukraine: 'We share your pain'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Guy Faulconbridge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Putin said he understood the anxiety and concern of soldiers' mothers - and the pain of those who had lost sons in Ukraine. Putin said he sometimes called Russian soldiers at the front, and that their words had made them heroes in his eyes. But some relatives of soldiers killed in the war said the Kremlin had ignored their pleas for a meeting. Russia last publicly disclosed its losses in the war on Sept. 21, when Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said 5,937 Russian soldiers had been killed. The United States' top general estimated on Nov. 9 that Russia and Ukraine had each seen more than 100,000 of their soldiers killed or wounded.

☆ EDF could lose 5 bln euros from France's windfall tax -Les Echos
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, Nov 24 (Reuters) - A planned French windfall tax on energy companies' profits during Europe's current energy crisis would likely cost debt-laden nuclear giant EDF (EDF.PA) around 5 billion euros ($5.20 billion) next year, newspaper Les Echos reported on Thursday. The levy, which is part of the 2023 fiscal bill parliament is currently deliberating, would make EDF by far the biggest contributor to the scheme, Les Echos said. EDF, the operator of France's nuclear plants and many renewables sites, declined to comment. The French government intends to trigger the levy at 100 euros per megawatt hour (MWh) for nuclear and renewable energy production. The move will further strain EDF finances, which after various profit warnings this year linked to problems at its nuclear reactors, is in the process of being fully nationalised.

☆ Neymar: what can we expect from Brazil forward at World Cup 2022?
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Nov 24 (Reuters) - Brazil kick off their quest for a record-extending sixth World Cup title when they play Serbia in Lusail, Qatar on Thursday with all eyes on Neymar who could be playing in his last finals. MORE HEARTBREAK IN RIOHaving become a household name after his move to Barcelona, a lot was expected from Neymar who spearheaded Brazil's attack at the 2014 World Cup on home soil, but the event would end in tears for the talismanic player. Neymar suffered a sprained right ankle that affected the fifth metatarsal in his foot and he was never fully fit during the World Cup in Russia, as Brazil were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Belgium. Criticised for his antics off and on the pitch in the past, fans were surprised by a seemingly different Neymar ahead of the Qatar World Cup thanks to his physical and mental preparation. A trophy-laden club career apart, delivering Brazil's first World Cup since 2002 will go a long way in helping Neymar cement his place among the game's modern greats.

☆ China Evergrande communicates with Wuhan over repossessed land
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] A crane stands at a construction site near the headquarters of China Evergrande Group in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China, Sept. 26, 2021. REUTERS/Aly Song/File PhotoNov 24 (Reuters) - Debt-laden developer China Evergrande Group (3333.HK) is communicating with a Chinese municipal district in Wuhan City that repossessed 134,500 hectares (332.4 acres) of land formerly held by a unit of the group. China Evergrande said it is communicating with the government of Jiangxia District in Wuhan City and "will file an administrative review on this matter to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the company". The company clarified that the municipal district retrieved its land-use rights over only 11 parcels of land under the project and it does not involve the project's other land parcels. China Evergrande, engulfed by $300 billion of liabilities in a deepening property sector debt crisis, aims to start negotiating restructuring terms next month and is combing through onshore assets to offer as credit enhancement to holders of its U.S. dollar-denominated bonds.

☆ Evergrande creditors ask chairman for $2 bln fund infusion -Bloomberg
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 24 (Reuters) - Debt-laden developer China Evergrande Group (3333.HK) has told offshore creditors that it plans to present a restructuring proposal as soon as the first week of December, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday. The proposal could include swapping debt for shares in the company's Hong Kong-listed auto and property management units, the report said, citing unnamed sources. The group of creditors asked Chairman Hui Ka Yan to infuse at least $2 billion of his personal wealth into Evergrande as a condition for agreeing on any proposals from the company, it added. Reuters last week reported that Evergrande plans to use domestic assets as sweeteners to win offshore creditor approval for a long-awaited debt restructuring. Once China's top-selling property developer, Evergrande has been at the centre of a deepening property debt crisis that has led to multiple developers defaulting on offshore debt obligations over the past year.

☆ Mbappe has to understand Messi and Neymar are bigger than him, says Alves
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 24 (Reuters) - France striker Kylian Mbappe is yet to understand that his Paris St Germain team mates Lionel Messi and Neymar are bigger players than him, Brazil defender Dani Alves said, as he urged the 23-year-old to make the most of their time together. Alves shared a dressing room at PSG with compatriot Neymar and a newly-arrived Mbappe between 2017 and 2019 and also played alongside Messi at Barcelona in a trophy-laden eight-year spell. Galtier said last month PSG had changed their system to test how their attacking trio of Messi, Mbappe and Neymar could work more effectively. "Neymar and Messi are unique: they see and do things nobody else sees or can do. Alves, who now plays for Pumas UNAM, said Mbappe should take advantage of playing with Messi and Neymar.

Deals for European football clubs this year, beginning with the sanctions-driven sale of Chelsea Football Club by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich in May, have fetched top dollar. Those complaints were aired again this month by superstar player Cristiano Ronaldo, who parted ways with Manchester United for the second time. Spokespeople for the six members of the Glazer family that are major Manchester United shareholders could not be reached for comment. More deals are in the works, with Manchester United arch rival Liverpool Football Club also exploring a sale. In August, Elon Musk tweeted: "I'm buying Manchester United ur welcome" only to then clarify he meant it as a joke.

☆ What is Hive? I tried the latest Twitter alternative to gain steam
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Catherine Thorbecke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

This week, Hive Social garnered the top spot in the social networking category on the US App Store. As I tried to download the Hive app on my Apple device, however, I was greeted with a series of errors. Hive Social, which lists just two employees on LinkedIn, did not respond to CNN Business’ requests for an interview or further comment. On its website, Hive Social also outlines goals for keeping the community respectful. To be fair, Hive started in 2019 and never sought to be a Twitter clone or to welcome a sudden influx of disgruntled Twitter users.

The report noted that potential disposals of non-core assets may include Fosun's stake in Cainiao. According to Refinitiv data, Fosun has agreed to sell or sold over $5 billion in assets this year. Reuters reported on Tuesday that Fosun has appointed Deutsche Bank to sell its stake in reinsurance company Peak Re. read moreIn 2013, Fosun had invested 500 million yuan as a co-founder of Cainiao, the logistics firm that underpins delivery for Alibaba's e-commerce marketplaces. Cainiao raked in 26 billion yuan in revenue in the six months ended September, up 19% year-on-year and accounting for 6% of Alibaba's total revenue.

☆ Chinese lender BoCom agrees $14 bln credit line with developer Vanke
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING, Nov 23 (Reuters) - China's Bank of Communications Co Ltd (BoCom) (601328.SS) said on Wednesday it would provide a 100 billion yuan ($13.98 billion) credit line to developer Vanke in the latest sign of support for the embattled property sector. The property sector makes up about a quarter of the economy. Under the agreement, BoCom will likely offer Vanke (000002.SZ) property development loans, mortgage loans and loans for merger and acquisition deals, according to a statement released by the lender. The agreement is part of the bank's efforts to implement 16 measures outlined by Chinese regulators to support the property sector, it said in the statement. China's property sector, once a pillar of growth, has slowed sharply this year due to government efforts to restrict excessive borrowing by developers.

☆ Fact Check-Altered image of John McCain and Lindsey Graham standing with Osama bin Laden resurfaces online
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

An altered image of late Arizona senator John McCain and South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham standing with the late Al-Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden has resurfaced online. The image appears to show McCain and Graham pictured with bin Laden standing between them. Other recent examples of the altered image being shared online can be found (here), (here) and (here). McCain and Graham visited troops in Kabul, Afghanistan on July 4, 2013, during celebrations of the U.S. The original photograph shows McCain and Graham pictured with former Afghan President Karzai in July 2013.

☆ Debt-laden China Evergrande gives back land sites to Wuhan city
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

HONG KONG, Nov 22 (Reuters) - A Chinese municipal district said it had taken back 134,500 hectares (332.4 acres) of land formerly held by a unit of debt-laden developer China Evergrande Group (3333.HK) and had made no payment for doing so. The government of Jiangxia District in the central city of Wuhan retrieved its land-use rights over the undeveloped sites at the Evergrande Technology Tourism City on November 16, according to a statement by the district's Planning and Natural Resources Bureau. China Evergrande unit Wuhan Baden City Investment Co Ltd has held the land as developer of Evergrande Technology Tourism City. A right to use land is the Chinese equivalent of ownership, since title is always ultimately held by the state. read moreThe land parcels taken back by Jiangxia comprised nine residential sites, two commercial and one for mixed development, the filing, dated Nov. 18 showed.

☆ Messi feeling fit ahead of 'special' last World Cup
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Anita Kobylinska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The 35-year-old, who in Qatar will be playing his fifth World Cup, added that he did not prepare differently for the tournament which for the first time is being played in November and December. "It's a beautiful thing that many people outside Argentina want us to be champions and that it's largely because of me," Messi said. "I'm grateful for the love I've received around the world during my career, and here in Qatar it's another example of that. "It makes us work in a different way, without anxiety about the national team and its results, and enjoying ourselves." Argentina kick off their World Cup campaign with a Group C opener against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and will then face Mexico and Poland.

☆ Bob Iger is back. He's the steady hand that Disney needs as CEO to get it back on track
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Kevin Stankiewicz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Iger has committed to serve two years as CEO and agreed to help the board develop his eventual replacement, according to Disney. The Club's take Iger will be the steady hand Disney needs in this critical moment. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. Bob Iger, CEO, The Walt Disney Company Scott Mlyn | CNBC

☆ Chinese carmakers target more European sales with five-star EVs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( Nick Carey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

"All Chinese EV makers want to achieve Euro NCAP five-star ratings in order to be more competitive in the European market," said Brian Gu, president of Chinese EV maker Xpeng (9868.HK). Perhaps more importantly for sales, high safety ratings also open up the potentially huge corporate car fleet market for Chinese EV makers. European carmakers are also pursuing five-star ratings for their EVs and hybrids, from BMW's (BMWG.DE) iX to Volkswagen's (VOWG_p.DE) ID.4 and ID.5. But almost half the Chinese cars sold were EVs, according to Inovev, giving them a 5.8% share of Europe's fully-electric vehicle market. Inovev vice-president Jamel Taganza said all Chinese cars sold in Europe would be EVs within a few years, with more lower-cost models on the way.

☆ The big new Exxon Mobil climate change deal that got an assist from Joe Biden
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( Tim Mullaney | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The law may help oil companies like ExxonMobil build profitable businesses to replace some of the revenue and profit they'll lose as EVs proliferate. Maybe, if carbon capture and storage is indeed as big a deal as ExxonMobil's first-of-its-kind deal to extract, transport and store carbon from other companies' factories implies. Could it be that Big Oil's next big thing got a big assist from Joe Biden? An industrial facility on the Houston Ship Channel where Exxon Mobil is proposing a carbon capture and sequestration network. And big oil and gas companies are where the expertise is."

☆ Dead Costco chickens produce piles of bones outside a Nebraska town. Residents complain about 'smell of death'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-19 | by ( Mary Meisenzahl | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Some Nebraska residents are complaining about discarded chicken parts from Costco's operations. Residents said the smell from discarded poultry was "unbearable," the Nebraska Examiner reported. David City Mayor Alan Zavodny also expressed concern that composting operations were near the city's water wells, the Examiner reported. Bones and other discarded parts from dead chickens can be piled up at the chicken barns themselves, the Examiner reported, citing state laws. "It was just the smell of death," Greg Lanc, a farmer who lives within a mile of nearly 50 chicken barns, told the Examiner.

Last decade 2100 scenarios LOW EMISSIONS By 2100, Basra would see almost six months of dangerous heat under the most likely scenario. MEDIUM EMISSIONS HIGH EMISSIONS Jan. July Jan. July Dec. Dec. Heat Index 80°F Caution 90°F Extreme Caution 103°F Danger 125°F Extreme Danger Basra Kuwait City Last decade 2100 scenarios Lower emissions Medium emissions Higher emissions Jan. July Jan. July Dec. Dec. Heat Index 80°F Caution 90°F Extreme Caution 103°F Danger 125°F Extreme Danger Basra Last decade 2100 emissions scenario LOW Medium HIGH Jan. July Dec. Kuwait City Last decade 2100 emissions scenario LOW Medium HIGH Jan. July Dec. Heat Index 80°F Caution 90°F Extreme Caution 103°F Danger 125°F Extreme Danger Basra Last decade 2100 emission scenarios Low Medium High Jan. July Dec. Kuwait City Last decade 2100 emission scenarios Low Medium High Jan. July Dec. Heat Index 80°F Caution 90°F Extreme Caution 103°F Danger 125°F Extreme Danger Kuwait City Basra Today, Basra experiences about 60 dangerously hot days per year. MEDIUM EMISSIONS HIGH EMISSIONS Jan. July Jan. July Dec. Dec. Heat Index 27°C Caution 32°C Extreme Caution 39°C Danger 52°C Extreme Danger Basra Kuwait City Last decade 2100 scenarios Lower emissions Medium emissions Higher emissions Jan. July Jan. July Dec. Dec. Heat Index 27°C Caution 32°C Extreme Caution 39°C Danger 52°C Extreme Danger Basra Last decade 2100 emissions scenario LOW Medium HIGH Jan. July Dec. Kuwait City Last decade 2100 emissions scenario LOW Medium HIGH Jan. July Dec. Heat Index 27°C Caution 32°C Extreme Caution 39°C Danger 52°C Extreme Danger Basra Last decade 2100 emissions scenario Low Medium High Jan. July Dec. Kuwait City Last decade 2100 emissions scenario Low Medium High Jan. July Dec. Heat Index 27°C Caution 32°C Extreme Caution 39°C Danger 52°C Extreme Danger Kuwait City Basra Today, Basra experiences about 60 dangerously hot days per year. Last decade 2100 scenarios LOW EMISSIONS By 2100, Basra would see almost six months of dangerous heat under the most likely scenario. MEDIUM EMISSIONS HIGH EMISSIONS Jan. July Jan. July Dec. Dec.

☆ FTX’s Unraveling Is Latest Blow to Softening Ad Market
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Suzanne Vranica | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Cryptocurrency exchange FTX spent tens of millions of dollars over the past couple of years on slick marketing efforts, including sports-sponsorship deals and celebrity-laden TV ads featuring Tom Brady and Larry David. Then, last week, FTX filed for bankruptcy protection in the midst of a liquidity crisis, sending shock waves throughout the crypto world and putting in question an important revenue stream for advertising, sports-sponsorship and media businesses already coping with a softening ad market.

☆ 2 little-known intel agencies are helping US partners keep an eye on Russia's and China's frontline forces
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Two little-known US intelligence agencies have made significant contributions to countering Russia in Ukraine. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the National Reconnaissance Office have gathered and distributed valuable information about Russian activity. Little-known intel agenciesA National Reconnaissance Office payload is launched into space from Vandenberg Air Force Base in September 2017. US Air Force/Senior Airman Ian DudleyThe US response to Russia's war in Ukraine has pulled the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and the National Reconnaissance Office out of the shadows. NRO satellites have many customers, but the NGA is probably the most reliant on the satellites operated by the NRO.

☆ How Ukraine Blew Up a Key Russian Bridge
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Marco Hernandez | James Glanz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +8 min

Last month, a truck laden with explosives drove across the Kerch bridge, a critical artery connecting Russia with its troops fighting in southern Ukraine. Structural and explosive experts who reviewed the bridge’s design and imagery of the blast offered new details on how the bridge was damaged. There are few direct parallels to such a spectacular act of sabotage on a bridge behind enemy lines in wartime. The blast ignited a train carrying large fuel tanks on an adjacent bridge, creating flames and a plume of smoke. “If it were a suicide truck bomb,” Mr. Nair said, “I would think the guy would have destroyed the main span.”But the trigger for the bomb is still unknown.

The leaks were different from those that forced NASA to call off the first two Artemis launch attempts. As part of the Artemis program, NASA envisions regular missions to the moon to establish a base camp on the lunar surface before the agency eventually ventures to Mars. Martin added that each Artemis launch is expected to cost around $4.1 billion. If successful, Artemis I will be followed by a planned Artemis II test flight, tentatively scheduled for sometime in 2024. After that, NASA said the Artemis III flight will include the first woman and first person of color to land on the moon.

David Vladeck, a former director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, said there would likely be another investigation, and potentially another enforcement action before Twitter executives would be held personally liable. Many former FTC officials said the agency's current chair, Lina Khan, has shown interest in going after executives if consent orders are violated. The FTC on Thursday said it is "tracking recent developments at Twitter with deep concern. It is Twitter itself (not individual employees) who is a party and therefore only Twitter the company could be liable," he wrote. In the May settlement, Twitter agreed to pay $150 million and assess potential features for data privacy and security issues.

☆ Demichelis to leave Bayern, take over as River Plate coach
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 14 (Reuters) - Former Argentina defender Martin Demichelis will leave his role as coach of Bayern Munich's reserve team to take charge of his former side River, the German Bundesliga club said on Monday. Marcelo Gallardo is leaving River Plate after more than eight years at the Argentine club during which he won 14 titles. "Bayern and Martin Demichelis have agreed that the second-team coach will move to his former club, River Plate in Buenos Aires, at his own request, to take over as head coach," Bayern Munich said in a statement. Demichelis, 41, began his career as a centre back with River Plate in 2001 before moving to Bayern. "I came to Europe as a player from River to Bayern, now I'm going the other way as a coach," Demichelis said.

☆ Spain's Ramos disappointed by World Cup omission
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Nov 14 (Reuters) - Spain defender Sergio Ramos said he was disappointed to be excluded from their World Cup squad after returning to full fitness following a calf injury that limited his playing time with Paris St Germain last season. Ramos, 36, who joined PSG last year after 16 trophy-laden years at Real Madrid, wrote an emotional letter to fans after missing out on the chance to feature in his fifth World Cup. "The World Cup? Ramos won the 2010 World Cup with Spain. Spain play Jordan in a friendly on Thursday ahead of their World Cup opener against Costa Rica.

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