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☆ How to meet evolving regulations around climate change and water conservation without sacrificing profit
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Sponsor Post | Created Insider Studios With Ecolab | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Governments are creating incentives to help businesses reduce carbon emissions. Minimizing water use can help organizations comply with government regulations without sacrificing profit. Understanding the ties between water use and climate change is an important step for businesses as they look to meet evolving government regulations. "This is a great example of how Ecolab Water for Climate is helping organizations meet evolving regulations." These tactics help businesses achieve profitable outcomes, leverage incentives, and meet regulatory requirements.

[1/6] German Economy Minister Robert Habeck and French Minister for Economy, Finance, Industry and Digital Security Bruno Le Maire hold a joint news conference in Washington, U.S., February 7, 2023. "It's a process, and in a process you go step by step," Le Maire told reporters. After meetings with Yellen, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and White House officials, Habeck and Le Maire emerged with few specifics other than pledges to be clear about their competing green subsidies. Noting the agreement on both sides on the need for transparency on subsidies, Habeck said, "We will (create) a technical group to make this transparency work." But Commerce said she applauded the TTC's work to promote transparency for U.S. and EU semiconductor subsidies and support supply chains.

☆ Germany's Habeck optimistic that EU and U.S. can reduce trade tension
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Feb 6 (Reuters) - German Economy Minister Robert Habeck expressed optimism before departing on a trip to the United States on Monday that a European Union trade dispute with Washington can be resolved soon. Many EU leaders are worried the local content requirements of $369 billion of green subsidies in the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act will encourage companies to relocate, making the United States a leader in green tech at Europe's expense. Habeck said the European Commission was taking the lead on the trade issue, but added: "We want to lend support." "And supporting means: in the working atmosphere that we have developed, to explore ways in which the problematic parts of the Inflation Reduction Act - that is, this industrial project - can perhaps be resolved," he said. Habeck and French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire will hold talks with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Tuesday.

BERLIN, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Germany's Economy Minister Robert Habeck has called for cooperation in green investments between Europe and the United States ahead of meetings in Washington next week with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and other officials. "The USA is now gearing its economy towards green markets and driving forward cost reductions in the development of climate-friendly technologies," Habeck said. EU governments are worried the IRA could not only put European producers at an unfair disadvantage but lure investment away from Europe to the United States. They are likely to want to explore exceptions when the United States implements the plans. The talks will be focused on the U.S. subsidy package in the context of future trade relations between the EU and the United States.

☆ When a journalist's home was raided by the FBI, Glenn Beck and Tucker Carlson erroneously speculated about the government's motive. The journalist has now been charged with transporting child porn.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Glenn Beck, Tucker Carlson, and others initially treated the case as a part of a Biden war on journalism. An October report in Rolling Stone said that an indictment was being prepared but could not say why, noting only that "classified information" had been found on one of his laptops. Instead of updating his audience on the case, Beck released a video Thursday on how to prepare for a "HUGE cyber attack." Carlson did not address the development in Meek's case on his Wednesday broadcast. That report came after the department issued new guidance generally prohibiting investigators from targeting reporters over classified information gathered as part of their job.

Experts estimate that about half of the German electric vehicles registered in the United States are leased. While the scale of the U.S. subsidies has attracted most attention, the EU has large potential resources of its own. THE REAL PROBLEM"The amounts of subsidies in Europe are in line or even more than those in the United States, that is not the problem," said one senior European Union official. "The real problems are the incentives to make firms move production to the United States," said the official, referring to the local content requirements. To ensure Europe can compete with the United States, the European Commission on Wednesday proposed measures including loosening EU state aid rules and repurposing existing EU funds.

☆ Luxury developers in Los Angeles bet someone will pay record prices for these condos
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( Ray Parisi | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

According to the building's website, the crown-jewel residence delivers almost 13,000 sq ft of indoor living area and nearly 6,000 sq ft of outdoor space. According to Eklund, the package deal brings the total interior footage to somewhere around 13,000 sq ft with an additional 6,000 sq ft outside. Building amenities include an over 12,000 sq ft outdoor area with pool, fireplaces and dining area. Her mega-deal spanned 15,500 sq ft at a price per sq ft of almost $2,250. On Central Park, he said, trophy condos have surpassed $10,000 and even $12,000 a sq ft. "That happens a lot, so is Los Angeles undervalued still?

☆ I spent a night on a superyacht and now I know why the super-rich love them so much
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

I spent a night on a superyacht in Croatia that can accommodate up to 30 people. The super-rich love superyachts and the yachting industry is booming – I now know why. Miha Menegalija of charter broker Goolets says owning a superyacht is one way to showcase your wealth. GooletsBefore boarding the Ohana, I had never been on a boat, let alone on a superyacht. It may not come as a great surprise, but I certainly could get used to spending plenty of time on a superyacht.

☆ Germany's half-a-trillion dollar energy bazooka may not be enough
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Christoph Steitz | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Almost half a trillion dollars, and counting, since the Ukraine war jolted it into an energy crisis nine months ago. The money set aside stands at up to 440 billion euros ($465 billion), according to the calculations, which provide the first combined tally of all of Germany's drives aimed at avoiding running out of power and securing new sources of energy. That equates to about 1.5 billion euros a day since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. Energy rationing is a risk in the event of a long cold spell this winter, Germany's first in half a century without Russian gas. There's no security in sight either, with the push to build up of two alternatives to Russian fuel - liquefied natural gas (LNG) and renewables - years away from targeted levels.

But a new U.S. law offering hefty subsidies to local manufacturers of green technology has given the company pause for thought. That is roughly four times what the German government is offering, he said, with cheaper energy prices in the United States on top. The act introduces tax credits related to investment in green technology, plus tax breaks for consumers buying an electric vehicle or other green product made in North America. German carmakers and suppliers, for which the United States is a main export market, are among its biggest victims. "If we don't do anything, a lot will emerge in the United States," said Siemens Energy (ENR1n.DE) Chief Executive Christian Bruch.

☆ 'They are untouchable': Microsoft employees say 'golden boy' executives are still running wild, 8 years after the company vowed to clean up its toxic culture
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( Ashley Stewart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +23 min

The Microsoft executive walked into the small, windowless room in Studio C at about 8 o'clock that evening. Despite Nadella's public stance against those he has called "talented jerks," many inside the company say Microsoft retains a nearly unlimited tolerance for bad behavior by its top rainmakers and developers. "The Microsoft of 2021 is very different from the Microsoft of 2000 to me and to everyone at Microsoft," Nadella said. But some women say the investigations drag on for months or even years, with no clear timeline for resolution. What's more, some employees say Microsoft's efforts to promote racial equity often smack of tokenism.

☆ Japan scores 2 late goals to beat Germany in World Cup upset
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

DOHA, Qatar — Substitutes Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano scored late goals Wednesday to give Japan a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Germany at the World Cup. But Doan, who plays for German team Freiburg, pounced on a rebound to equalize in the 76th minute after Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer blocked a shot from Takumi Minamino. Then Asano, who plays for German team Bochum, sprinted clear of Nico Schlotterbeck and beat Neuer from a narrow angle in the 83rd. And team captains of several European teams had planned to wear “One Love” armbands to signal support for the “One Love” campaign for human rights. But the national soccer federations of those squads, instead, adhered to world body FIFA’s demand to not stage that in-game messaging, amid threats of punishment.

☆ I spent a night on a superyacht and now I know why the superrich love them so much
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-13 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

I spent a night on a superyacht in Croatia that can accommodate up to 30 people. The superrich love them and the yachting industry is booming and I now know why. Miha Menegalija of charter broker Goolets says owning a superyacht is one way to showcase your wealth. GooletsBefore boarding the Ohana, I had never been on a boat, let alone on a superyacht. It may not come as a great surprise, but I certainly could get used to spending plenty of time on a superyacht.

Elon Musk seems determined to remake Twitter in his own image — with some help from the men in his trusted inner circle. They are joined in Musk’s orbit by Alex Spiro, a trial attorney with a roster of celebrity clients who reportedly led the first round of Twitter layoffs. Bloomberg reported Wednesday night that Twitter is preparing to eliminate about 3,700 jobs, or roughly half its workforce. Musk's personnel decisions suggest a possible road map for the future of Twitter, one in which policies and internal rules are drawn at least in part from the views of Musk’s consiglieres. Sacks, Calacanis, Spiro and Birchall did not immediately respond to questions about the company’s future and the nature of their roles there.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (on screen), Economics Minister Robert Habeck and Finance Minister Christian Lindner attend a news conference about how to handle high gas prices, at the Chancellery in Berlin, September 29, 2022. Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday that Germany could not expect energy deliveries from Russia for the foreseeable future but that the situation could be managed. "If we all continue to adapt to the changed situation - the citizens, the companies and the politicians - then we will get safely through this winter," Scholz told an engineering conference. Other European countries once dependent on Russia gas, such as Italy, have also been building up storage and sourcing supplies from other countries including Algeria and Azerbaijan. If adopted, the plan would be paid for by a 200 billion euro ($194 billion) relief package Chancellor Scholz's government announced last month to reduce the impact of energy prices.

☆ Germany girds for gas supply pain, targets $93 billion price relief plan
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-09 | by ( Holger Hansen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Under a second stage of Germany's plan, the brake would cut the gas price to 12 cents from March through to the end of April 2024 on 80% of usage. For large industrial customers, a price brake of 7 cents is to apply to the procurement price from January 2023. Hans Juergen Kerkhoff, president of the German Steel Federation, said the scheme was a key building block to support companies during the energy crisis. Comparison portal Verivox said its calculations showed that the brake proposal would reduce household gas costs by around 41%. "The gas price brake is a very important first step that gives many companies back some confidence that they can overcome the crisis," VCI Managing Director Wolfgang Grosse Entrup said in a statement, calling for an electricity price brake as well.

☆ Factbox: Germany's measures to protect consumers from rising energy prices
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Lisi NiesnerBERLIN, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Germany agreed a 200 billion euro ($194 billion) "defensive shield" on Thursday to protect companies and consumers against the impact of soaring energy prices, in what the government called a show of strength in an "energy war" against Russia. GAS PRICE BRAKEThe measure will be temporary and benefit private households and companies, bringing prices down to more manageable levels. ECONOMIC STABILISATION FUND REACTIVATIONThe government will finance the gas price cap and the liquidity and subsidies required for the electricity price brake through the Economic Stabilisation Fund (ESF). The government will skim off short-term large gains made by some energy companies during the crisis. GAS VAT REDUCTIONThe government will lower value-added tax (VAT) on gas from 19% to 7% until Spring 2024 and will extend the tax cut to district heating as well.

☆ Germany agrees 200 bln euro package to shield against surging energy prices
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Holger Hansen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Lisi NiesnerBERLIN, Sept 29 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz set out a 200 billion euro ($194 billion) "defensive shield" on Thursday to protect companies and consumers against the impact of soaring energy prices. Europe's biggest economy is trying to cope with surging gas and electricity costs caused largely by a collapse in Russian gas supplies to Europe, which Moscow has blamed on Western sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine in February. To this end, we are setting up a large defensive shield," said Scholz, outlining the package. Finance Minister Christian Lindner has previously said he wants to comply with the limit next year. However, the need for the levy came into question after the government's decision to nationalise Uniper (UN01.DE), Germany's biggest Russian gas importer.

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