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☆ Norway poised to open vast ocean area to controversial deep-sea mining
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-09 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Activists take part at a "Look Down action" rally to stop deep sea mining outside the European Parliament in Brussels on March 6, 2023. In a parliamentary vote on Tuesday, lawmakers in the northern European country are expected to approve the government's proposal to open Norwegian waters for commercial-scale deep-sea mining. Critics say deep-sea mining is "extremely destructive," while scientists warn the full environmental impacts are hard to predict. Ocean Rebellions protest The Deep Sea Says No Why the deep sea? (Photo by Charles M. Vella/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images

Persons: Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD, KENZO TRIBOUILLARD, Kenzo Tribouillard, What's, Luciana, Charles M Organizations: Getty, Afp, Environmental Justice Foundation, European Commission, SOUTH Locations: Brussels, AFP, Norway, Svalbard, ROTTERDAM, SOUTH HOLLAND, NETHERLANDS

☆ ASML forced to suspend some China exports after US escalates tech battle
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-02 | by ( Diksha Madhok | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Editor’s Note: Sign up for CNN’s Meanwhile in China newsletter, which explores what you need to know about the country’s rise and how it impacts the world. CNN —ASML has been ordered by the Dutch government to restrict shipment of some of its chip-making equipment to China, the company said on Monday. For several years, the Dutch government has faced pressure from the United States to limit chip-related exports to China. ASML said when the rules were updated that due to “the length and complexity of the regulations, ASML will need to carefully assess any potential implications.”The updated export restrictions would affect between 10% and 15% of the firm’s sales to China, ASML Chief Executive Peter Wennink said during an earnings call in October. China reacted on Tuesday, by calling the US curbs “hegemonic” and “bullying.”These actions will “undermine the global semiconductor landscape,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said.

Persons: CNN — ASML, ASML, Biden, Peter Wennink, ” ASML, Wang Wenbin Organizations: CNN, United, NXT, ASML, Foreign Locations: China, United States, Veldhoven, Netherlands

☆ ASML blocked from shipping some of its critical chipmaking tools to China
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-02 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

ASML sells lithography machines that are a key part of the chip manufacturing process. The NXT:2050i and NXT:2100i, which are caught up in the Dutch government's latest export curbs, are DUV lithography machines. The revocation of the shipping license comes after the U.S. government tightened export controls on advanced semiconductors and chipmaking tools to China in October, building on previous rules. ASML said it does not expect the revocation of its export license of U.S. export controls "to have a material impact on our financial outlook for 2023." The company has previously said it expects fourth-quarter net sales of between 6.7 billion euros and 7.1 billion euros ($7.34 billion and 7.78 billion).

Persons: ASML Organizations: Apple, NXT, U.S, U.S ., Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, CNBC Locations: U.S, Veldhoven, Netherlands, China, Dutch

Here's the state of play globally for crypto regulation and enforcement in 2023 — and a look at what to expect in 2024. "However, much of their work has involved providing guidance to the industry through enforcement actions," continued Levin. Crypto market participants nevertheless hope that the spate of legal challenges brought to crypto companies in 2023 will bring clarity in the form of new regulations. The U.S.'s dominant role in global finance and its focus on consumer protection plays a crucial role in its leading position in crypto regulation enforcement. The region has been increasingly warming to crypto assets, despite a broader anti-crypto push from China, which banned bitcoin trading and mining in 2021.

Persons: Al Drago, Binance, Sam Bankman, Renato Mariotti, Mariotti, Richard Levin, Nelson Mullins Riley, Levin, ada, Changpeng Zhao, Damian Williams, Brian Armstrong, Armstrong, Alyse Killeen, Scarborough's Levin, FinCEN, Killeen, Diem, USDC, Braden Perry, it's, Kennyhertz Perry, Perry, Bafin Organizations: U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, Bloomberg, Getty, Regulators, Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S, Alameda Research, U.S . Justice Department's Securities, Commodities, CNBC, Capitol, SEC, Futures Trading Commission, Department of Justice, Scarborough, CFTC, Protocol Labs, Southern, of, Stillmark, Meta, Visa, Mastercard, U.S ., European, IRS, European Union, EU, France's Financial Markets Authority, AMF, Treasury, Monetary Authority of, Three Arrows, Terra Labs, Terra, Hong Kong Securities, Futures Commission, SFC, OSL Locations: Washington, Europe, Asia, U.S, Alameda, of New York, European, Crypto, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands, Singapore, Dubai, Hong Kong, Monetary Authority of Singapore, China, East, Africa

☆ Climate tech in 2023: More grants, experienced founders, and new laws help sector to standout year
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-29 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

While much of Europe's startup ecosystem has been hobbled by the rocky macroeconomic environment and soaring interest rates, climate tech has continued to lure funds from venture capitalists. Many climate tech companies work with hardware, meaning debt financing is also an attractive non-dilutive option for working capital between funding rounds. Global private market equity and grant funding for climate tech startups is actually down – it slid 40% to $65 billion in the 12 months ending September 30, according to PwC. Some smaller climate tech companies have made cuts, including vertical farming company InFarm, which retreated from Europe and was declared bankrupt in the Netherlands. Generally, however, layoffs have been a boon for climate as big tech talent has moved into or launched climate tech startups.

Persons: —, Siobhan Brewster, Atomico, Brewster, Piotr Bukanski, Mike Schroepfer, Greg Sandoval, retrofits, Barcelona's, Balderton Capital's Magda Lukaszewicz, Stuart Ferguson, Schroepfer, Warner, Aenu's Brewster Organizations: Service, Business, Venture, Energy, Beringea, Gigascale, Sustainable Ventures, Silicon Valley Bank, Global, Ada Ventures Locations: London, Europe's, Ukraine, United States, Europe, Silicon, Netherlands

☆ El Niño's 'sweet tooth' means indulgent treats could soon be even more expensive
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-25 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Futures contracts on orange juice , cocoa , coffee and sugar have soared in part because of extreme weather and supply concerns related to El Niño. "You can say El Niño has a sweet tooth because it sort of eats or takes away much of the sugar in the world," Carlos Mera, head of agri commodities market research at Netherlands-based Rabobank, told CNBC. "Sugar prices have probably already been passed on [to consumers] but certainly for chocolate we should expect a big increase at retail level — and El Niño is certainly something to watch." Joe Raedle | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesThe effects of El Niño tend to peak during December, but the impact typically takes time to spread across the globe. It also warned that several crops could be adversely affected by El Niño early next year, while acknowledging there is the potential for some crops to benefit, citing those in the United States, southern Brazil and Argentina.

Persons: El, Carlos Mera, El Niño, Joe Raedle, Dave Reiter, Reiter, Sia Kambou Organizations: Future Publishing, Rabobank, CNBC, Getty, Reiter Capital Investments, Twitter, Workers, Afp Locations: Yichang City, China's Hubei, Netherlands, El, Orange, Miami , Florida, Southeast Asia, India, Australia, Africa, United States, Brazil, Argentina, Florida, Hermankono

☆ Houthi attacks rocking Red Sea trade routes likely won't end anytime soon. Here's what could happen next
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-21 | by ( Natasha Turak | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Houthi military helicopter flies over the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea in this photo released on Nov. 20, 2023. Houthi Military Media | Via ReutersDrone and missile attacks by Yemen-based Houthi militants have upended shipping through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, a narrow waterway through which some 10% of the world's trade sails. And will a U.S.-led naval security coalition be effective enough to make the Red Sea trade routes safe for trade again? Zoom In Icon Arrows pointing outwards An infographic titled 'Bab-el-Mandeb Strait: Trade route between East and West narrows amid Houthi threat' created in Ankara, Turkiye on December 18, 2023. Concerns grow as major maritime transportation companies alter their ship routes in response to the increasing Houthi threats in the Red Sea.

Persons: Lloyd, Ryan Bohl, Rane, Khaled Abdullah, Houthi, Rather, Mohammed Hamoud, Mohammed al, Sidharth, , Kaushal, Corey Ranslem Organizations: Galaxy Leader, Houthi, Media, Reuters, . Central Command, BP, Maersk, MSC, CMA, Pentagon, DHL, Middle East, CNBC, Hezbollah, Saudi, Arab, Hamas, Royal United Services Institute, Maxar, Dryad Locations: Red, Yemen, Suez, Africa, Asia, Europe, North Africa, U.S, Lebanese, America, Israel, Saudi, Sanaa, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Mandeb, Trade, East, West, Ankara, Turkiye, Hodeida, Islamic Republic, Gaza, Palestinian, Israel's, Sana'a, London, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain

6 Held in Belgium and the Netherlands on Suspicion of Links to Russia Sanction ViolationsBelgian prosecutors say six people have been detained in connection with an investigation into suspected exports of “sensitive” products and technology that could be banned under sanctions against Russia

Organizations: Russia Locations: Belgium, Netherlands, Russia

☆ These 3 stocks could rally by another 50%, analysts say, despite big jumps this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Three stocks — Liberty Broadband , U.K.'s BT Group and JD Sports Fashion — have risen by double-digit percentages this year. Liberty Broadband Liberty Broadband is a telecommunication holding company that has an ownership interest in Charter Communications, the second-largest cable operator in the United States. The consensus price target of analysts polled by FactSet points to a 55% upside potential for Liberty Broadband shares from the current share price of $82. Deutsche Bank views Liberty Broadband as an attractive way to invest in Charter, estimating it trades at a 32% discount to net asset value (NAV). BT.A-GB YTD line Their price target of 220 pence implies an additional 79% share price increase over the next year from the current share price of 123 pence.

Persons: FactSet, Bryan Kraft, Benjamin Soff, Morgan Stanley, Openreach, Terence Tsui, Kate Calvert, Calvert, JD, Michael Bloom Organizations: Liberty Broadband, BT Group, JD, Wall, CNBC Pro, CNBC Pro Stock, Liberty Broadband Liberty Broadband, Charter Communications, Deutsche Bank, CHTR, BT, JD Sports, North America, Dick's Sporting Goods Locations: United States, Alaska, U.K, BT.A, Europe, North, Derby, Heerlen, Netherlands, U.S

☆ Mathematics, reading skills in unprecedented decline in teenagers
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Leigh Thomas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said it had seen some of the steepest drops in performance since 2000 when it began its usually triennial tests of 15-year-olds reading, maths and science skills. On average across the OECD, one out of four 15-year-olds tested as a low performer in maths, reading and science, which means they could not use basic algorithms or interpret simple texts, the study found. Poorer results tended to be associated with higher rates of mobile phone use for leisure and where schools reported teacher shortages. The OECD said the decline was not inevitable, pointing to Singapore, where students scored the highest in maths, reading and science, with results that suggested they were on average three to five years ahead of their OECD peers. After Singapore, Macau, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea also outperformed in maths and science, where Estonia and Canada also scored well.

Persons: Stephane Mahe, COVID, Andreas Schleicher, Leigh Thomas, Bernadette Baum Organizations: REUTERS, Economic Cooperation, Development, OECD, Thomson Locations: Savenay, France, PARIS, Paris, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Singapore, Macau, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Estonia, Canada, Ireland

☆ An EU wealth tax and the end of U.S. capitalism: One bank’s ‘outrageous’ predictions for 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An EU wealth tax, the "end of capitalism" in the U.S. and a major health crisis arising from obesity drugs are just some of the "outrageous predictions" put forward by Saxo Bank in a report published Tuesday. Heading into 2024, the Danish investment bank suggested the world is at an "inflection point, with the familiar road of the last decade coming to an end." The predictions focus on a "series of unlikely but underappreciated" events that if they were to occur, would "send shockwaves across the financial markets." This would be rendered more likely if the population "realises how little in tax billionaires are actually playing," he speculated, with social unrest frequently simmering across the continent. In the Netherlands, it is even better to be a billionaire, as the average tax rate is below what US billionaires pay, Garnry noted.

Persons: Irene, I've, Steen Jakobsen, Robin Hood, Peter Garnry, Garnry Organizations: Saxo Bank, CNBC, EU, European Union, Equity Locations: Lower Manhattan , New York, EU, U.S, Ukraine, North America, East Asia, France, Netherlands

Released Tuesday, it finds the average international math score fell by the equivalent of three-quarters of a year of learning. Reading scores fell by the equivalent of half a year. Reading scores fell by 10 points. A national study in the U.S. last year found math scores fell by more than ever, with reading scores dropping to 1992 levels. It was joined in the upper echelons by other East Asian countries including Japan and China.

Persons: ”, Peggy Carr, “, didn’t, Jordan, Miguel Cardona, Joe Biden’s Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Program, Organisation for Economic Co, OECD, Reading, National Center for Education Statistics, U.S . Education Department, Associated Press, Carnegie Corporation of New, AP Locations: United States, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, U.S, Belgium, Finland, Canada, France, Sweden, Brazil, Ireland, Singapore, Japan, China, Estonia, Albania, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Dominican Republic, Cambodia, Carnegie Corporation of New York

☆ Netherlands returns colonial-era artefacts to Sri Lanka
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Uditha Jayasinghe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] People view colonial-era artefacts that have been returned from the Netherlands, at the main Museum in Colombo, Sri Lanka December 5, 2023. Sri Lanka asked the Netherlands to return the artefacts after the Dutch government approved the restitution of historic objects in 2021. The artefacts were taken in 1765 from Kandy, the last kingdom of ancient Sri Lanka, when the Dutch besieged the palace, a statement from the Netherlands embassy said. Sri Lanka is grateful to the government and the people of the Netherlands for returning the artefacts, said Buddhasasana Religious and Cultural Affairs Minister Vidura Wickramanayake. The Netherlands returned over 300 artefacts to Indonesia earlier this year, according to its government.

Persons: Dinuka, Vidura Wickramanayake, Dewi Van de Weerd, Lord Elgin, Uditha, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Cultural Affairs, National Museum, Sri, International Cultural Cooperation, British Museum, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Netherlands, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Kandy, Great Britain, Indonesia, Britain, Greece, Elgin, Athens, Ottoman

☆ EU clears up to 1.2 bln euros of aid for cloud computing
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

European flags fly outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Dec 5 (Reuters) - The European Commission approved on Tuesday up to 1.2 billion euros ($1.30 billion) of state aid for a European cloud computing project to try to boost the involvement of EU business in a field dominated by U.S. companies. Those countries will provide up to 1.2 billion euros in public funding, which in turn is expected to unlock 1.4 billion euros in private investments, the European Commission said. The European cloud technology project features 19 companies, including French companies Atos (ATOS.PA) and Orange (ORAN.PA), Deutsche Telekom (DTEGn.DE) and Germany's SAP (SAPG.DE), Telecom Italia (TLIT.MI) and Telefonica Espana (TEF.MC). The three biggest players in cloud computing are Amazon (AMZN.O), Microsoft (MSFT.O) and Google (GOOGL.O).

Persons: Yves Herman, Didier Reynders, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Piotr Lipinski, Philip Blenkinsop, Barbara Lewis Organizations: European Commission, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Infrastructure, Services, IPCEI CIS, Union, Deutsche Telekom, SAP, Telecom Italia, Telefonica Espana, Microsoft, Google, Thomson Locations: Brussels, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain

At least 118 countries at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai have backed a pledge to improve energy efficiency rates by 4% each year until 2030. In its simplest form, energy efficiency can simply mean using appliances, technology, or electronics that are designed to consume less energy, such as heat pumps or LED lighting. Industries worldwide could save $437 billion per year by 2030 with improved energy efficiency, according to an October 2023 industry collective report by the Energy Efficiency Movement. As a result, energy efficiency improved globally this year by about 1.3% compared with last year, slower than the 2% improvement posted in 2022 due largely to rising energy demand, the IEA's annual Energy Efficiency report said. In the U.S., energy efficiency is beating the global average efficiency improvement rate this year at 4%, with $86 billion allocated for the goal under the Inflation Reduction Act.

Persons: Andrew Boyers, Larissa Gross, Sofie Irgens, Nick Eyre, Gloria Dickie, Katy Daigle, Jan Harvey Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, International Energy Agency, BE, European Union, Industries, Energy, U.S . Department of Energy, IEA, Oxford University, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Watchfield, Swindon, Britain, Dubai, leakages, India, Africa, U.S, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands

☆ France puts country on 'high' alert for bird flu
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS, Dec 5 (Reuters) - France raised the risk level of bird flu to 'high' from 'moderate' on Tuesday after the detection of new cases of the disease, forcing poultry farms to keep birds indoors to stem the spread of the highly contagious virus. Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has led to the culling of hundreds of millions birds worldwide in recent years. France said last week that it had detected a first bird flu outbreak on a farm this season in Brittany, in the northwest of the country. The "high" risk level implies that all poultry should be kept inside on farms and additional security measures taken to avoid a spread of the disease. Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide and Gus Trompiz; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta, Kirsten DonovanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sybille de La Hamaide, Gus Trompiz, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Thomson Locations: France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Brittany

☆ Israel may try to drive Hamas out of its tunnels in Gaza by pumping them full of seawater: WSJ
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Israel has a plan to flood Hamas tunnels in Gaza using seawater pumps, per The Wall Street Journal. Israel's military said the tunnel system is used to transport Hamas weapons and militants. Hamas' tunnel system, known as the "metro," is believed to extend some 300 miles. AdvertisementWim Zwijnenburg, who works for PAX, a Netherlands-based peace organization, told the Journal that flooding the tunnels could exacerbate that pollution. He added that hazardous substances stored by Hamas in the tunnels could also seep into the ground.

Persons: —, Israel, Jon Alterman, Wim Zwijnenburg Organizations: Street, Service, Israel, Hamas, Wall Street, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Reuters, PAX, Business Locations: Israel, Gaza, Hamas, Netherlands

☆ China says visa-free travel policy has boosted tourism
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BEIJING, Dec 5 (Reuters) - China's foreign ministry said on Tuesday its visa-free travel policy has produced a clear effect, making things easier for travellers. "Going forward, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to adjust visa policies to create more favourable conditions and further facilitate cross-border travel," spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a press briefing when asked for an update on tourism after China announced the policy, which covers several European countries and Malaysia. Travellers walk past an installation in the shape of five stars, at Beijing Daxing International Airport in Beijing, China April 24, 2023. Germany's ambassador to China had expressed hope that China would extend the measures to all European Union members. Reporting by Andrew Hayley; Writing by Liz Lee and Bernard Orr; Editing by Tom Hogue and Miral FahmyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Wang Wenbin, Tingshu Wang, Wang, Andrew Hayley, Liz Lee, Bernard Orr, Tom Hogue Organizations: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China, Beijing Daxing International, REUTERS, European Union, Thomson Locations: BEIJING, Malaysia, Beijing, China, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain

☆ Maersk quietly settled its $44 million lawsuit against the companies behind the Ever Given, the ship that blocked the Suez Canal
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Shipping giant Maersk has settled a case over the grounding of the Ever Given in the Suez Canal. When the lawsuit was first reported by Danish news site Shipping Watch in February, Maersk had sought about $44 million from several entities connected to the ship. According to Shipping Watch, Maersk had estimated that about 50 of its ships had been severely delayed by the blocking of the Suez Canal. Both Evergreen and Bernhard Schulte Ship Management have denied having any responsibility for damages, Shipping Watch reported. According to shipping news outlet Maritime Executive, the Maersk case was being closely watched by relevant companies worldwide as a potential roadmap for further litigation.

Persons: —, Moller, Bernhard Schulte, Janina von Spalding, Shoei Kisen Organizations: Shipping, Maersk, Service, Shipping Watch, Bernhard Schulte Ship Management, Bloomberg, Evergreen, Authority, Maritime Locations: Suez, Danish, Denmark, Rotterdam, Netherlands

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Human rights lawyers went to court in the Netherlands on Monday to call for a halt to the export of fighter jet parts to Israel that could be used in attacks on Gaza. The organizations allege that delivery of parts for F-35 jets makes the Netherlands complicit in possible war crimes being committed by Israel in its war with Hamas. The rights lawyers want The Hague District Court to issue an injunction banning the exports of F-35 parts that are stored in a warehouse in the town of Woensdrecht. “The state must immediately stop the delivery of F-35 parts to Israel,” lawyer Liesbeth Zegveld told the court. “Israel must be able to respond to threats from the region.

Persons: Khan Younis, Liesbeth Zegveld, Zegveld, Reimer Veldhuis, “, ” Veldhuis, ___ Organizations: Hamas Locations: HAGUE, Netherlands, Israel, Gaza, The Hague, Khan, Hague, Woensdrecht, United States, “ Israel, israel

☆ Court hears suit to stop Netherlands exporting F-35 parts to Israel
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Stephanie Van Den Berg Tosterling | Stephanie Van Den Berg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] A district court hears a case against the Dutch state launched by human rights organisations, who say the export of F35 fighter jet parts to Israel makes the Netherlands complicit in alleged war crimes in Gaza, in The Hague, Netherlands, December 4, 2023. The Netherlands houses one of several regional warehouses of U.S.-owned F-35 parts which are then distributed to countries that request them, including Israel. Preventing that was more important than the Netherlands fulfilling its commercial or political obligations to allied countries, they argued. "The (Dutch) state must immediately stop its deliveries of F-35 parts to Israel," lawyer Liesbeth Zegveld said in summary proceeding at the Hague District Court. Lawyer for the Dutch state Reimer Veldhuis said it was "legitimate" to wonder whether Israel's reaction to Hamas had gone too far.

Persons: de Wouw, Israel, Liesbeth Zegveld, Zegveld, Reimer Veldhuis, Stephanie van den Berg, David Holmes, Alex Richardson Organizations: REUTERS, HAGUE, Oxfam Novib, Hague, Thomson Locations: Israel, Netherlands, Gaza, The Hague, U.S, Geneva

☆ Vaishali Rameshbabu: Indian chess siblings become first brother and sister duo to earn grandmaster title
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Chess player Vaishali Rameshbabu followed in the family tradition by becoming a grandmaster on Friday. Her brother, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, became one of the youngest grandmasters in history in 2018 at the age of 12. Together, the siblings have now become the first brother and sister duo to become grandmasters, according to Chess.com. Vaishali Rameshbabu, pictured here at a tournament in the Netherlands in January, became a chess grandmaster on Friday. Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images“Becoming a [grandmaster] has been my goal since I started playing chess,” Vaishali told Chess.com after earning the title at the IV El Llobregat Open in Spain.

Persons: Vaishali Rameshbabu, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Dean Mouhtaropoulos, Vaishali, Chess.com, “, ”, Arun Sankar, Vaishali’s, she’s Organizations: CNN —, Chess Federation, Getty, FIDE Locations: Vaishali, India, Chess.com, Netherlands, El Llobregat, Spain, Chennai

But that came after they had sold petroleum in eight of the previous nine weeks, reducing their position by a total of 342 million barrels. In the premier NYMEX WTI contract, funds had amassed bearish short positions amounting to 116 million barrels by Nov. 28, up from 20 million barrels eight weeks earlier. Funds purchased the equivalent of 10 million barrels split between U.S. gasoline (+2 million), U.S. diesel (+4 million) and European gas oil (+4 million). Funds held a net long position in gasoline of 66 million barrels (72nd percentile) up from 26 million barrels (19th percentile) six weeks earlier. Related columns:- Record U.S. oil output challenges Saudi mastery (December 4, 2023)- Investors bet against OPEC+ raising oil prices (November 28, 2023)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

Persons: de Wouw, John Kemp, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Port, REUTERS, ICE, Fund, U.S, . Funds, U.S ., Funds, Saudi, OPEC, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Rotterdam, Netherlands, Brent, Saudi Arabia, United States, U.S

☆ Far-right parties eye gains in next year's EU parliament elections
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( Alvise Armellini | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

ROME, Dec 3 (Reuters) - European far-right parties met in Italy on Sunday vowing to reshape the European Union after next year's European Parliament elections, toughening the bloc's approach on immigration and softening its climate policies to protect jobs and industry. Parties from around a dozen countries gathered in Florence, galvanised by last month's general elections in the Netherlands, which handed a surprise win to Geert Wilders' anti-immigration Freedom Party (PVV). The far-right Identity and Democracy (ID) group is now the sixth-largest in the EU assembly, also behind liberal, green and conservative groups, but current polling data place it in fourth position. Salvini, who has failed to include in his alliance Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her poll-leading Brothers of Italy party, fronted a previous unsuccessful push in 2019 for a far-right breakthrough in EU elections. Wilders hailed Salvini, leader of the League party, as an inspiration and his "number one Italian friend."

Persons: Geert Wilders, Matteo Salvini, Salvini, Giorgia Meloni, Wilders, Tino Chrupalla, Jordan Bardella, righters, Chrupalla, Harald Vilimsky, Vladimir Putin, Chizu Organizations: European Union, Party, League, Marine, Austrian Freedom Party, Thomson Locations: Italy, European, Florence, galvanised, Netherlands, Europe, Germany, Africa, Austrian, Russia, Ukraine, Israel

☆ ICC prosecutor says Israel must respect international law
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan speaks during an interview with Reuters about the violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories in The Hague, Netherlands October 12, 2023. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAMSTERDAM, Dec 3 (Reuters) - The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Sunday called on Israel to respect the international rules of war and said he was accelerating his investigation into violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. Imagine the pain," ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said in a video message posted online after a four-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. But Khan in October stressed his court had jurisdiction over potential war crimes carried out by Hamas militants in Israel and by Israelis in the Gaza Strip. The ICC has had an ongoing investigation in the occupied Palestinian territories into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity there since 2021.

Persons: Karim Khan, de, Israel, Khan, Bart Meijer, Bernadette Baum, David Holmes Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Rights, Criminal Court, West Bank, ICC, Palestinian Authority, Thomson Locations: Israel, The Hague, Netherlands, Gaza, Hague

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