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☆ Norway 'Reasonably Optimistic' Funding to UNRWA Can Get Back on Track
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

OSLO (Reuters) - Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide told Reuters on Thursday he was "reasonably optimistic" some countries that had paused funding to the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) would resume payments. UNRWA on Thursday said its entire operations in the Middle East, not only in Gaza, will most likely be forced to shut down by the end of February if its funding remains suspended. "I am reasonably optimistic that we will get funding back on track," Barth Eide said in an interview. The Nordic country, a top donor to UNRWA, said on Wednesday it was urging countries that have paused funding to the agency to consider the consequences of their actions on the population in Gaza. Asked whether he was speaking with his counterpart in Sweden, a top UNRWA donor that paused funding and is a close Norway ally, he said: "I'll be very careful about mentioning individuals.

Persons: Espen Barth Eide, Barth Eide, Gwladys Fouche, Terje Solsvik Organizations: Reuters, UNRWA Locations: OSLO, Norwegian, Gaza, Israel, Oslo, Sweden, Norway

☆ Finns Choose New President for NATO Era With Russia in Mind
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-27 | by ( Jan. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

The Nordic country's admission to NATO last year drew threats of "counter measures" from its vast Russian neighbour. In December, Finland closed its entire border with Russia to passenger traffic in response to a surge in migrants trying to cross. Partial results are expected shortly after polls close at 1800 GMT and the competitors for the probable second round should be clear by 2030 GMT unless the results are very close. The new president will replace 75-year-old incumbent Sauli Niinisto who is required to step down after two six-year terms in office. He earned the nickname "the Putin Whisperer" during his tenure for his role in maintaining close ties with Russia, which had long been a key role for Finnish presidents.

Persons: Anne Kauranen, Alexander Stubb, Pekka Haavisto, Finns Party's Jussi Halla, Olli Rehn, Jutta Urpilainen, Sauli Niinisto, Putin, Terje Solsvik, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Anne Kauranen HELSINKI, NATO, Nordic, Moscow, Finnish Defence Forces, Green Party, Finns, Bank of Finland, Social Democrat European Locations: Finland, Ukraine, Russia, Helsinki, Oslo

☆ Indian Navy Rescues Crew After Attack on Ship off Coast of Yemen
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

The Houthi movement said its missiles had made a "direct hit" on the bulk carrier. U.S. officials said the move was aimed at cutting off funding and weapons the movement has used to attack or hijack ships. On Monday, Houthi forces had struck the U.S.-owned and operated dry bulk ship Gibraltar Eagle with an anti-ship ballistic missile. The alternative shipping route around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope can add 10-14 days to a journey compared to passage via the Red Sea and the Suez Canal. Freight rates have more than doubled since early December, according to maritime consultancy Drewry's world container index, while insurance sources say war risk premiums for shipments through the Red Sea are also rising.

Persons: Krishn Kaushik, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart NEW, Yemen's, Houthi, Denmark's, Shivam Patel, Simon Lewis, Pavel Polityuk, James Davey, Terje Solsvik, Keith Weir, Catherine Evans Organizations: Indian Navy, U.S, U.S . Navy, Shipping, Genco, Wednesday, Pepco, Denmark's Maersk, Maersk Locations: Phil Stewart NEW DELHI, WASHINGTON, U.S, Gulf, Aden, Genco Picardy, Iran, Asia, Europe, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, India, Picardy, States, Yemen, South Africa's, Suez, Ukraine, Africa

☆ Icelandic Volcano Calms Down but Risk Remains
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

Live video footage on Tuesday morning no longer showed signs of molten rock erupting from the ground, even as experts warned that new fissures could emerge at short notice. Grindavik resident Hrannar Jon Emilsson watched his almost-finished house burn down on live TV after the volcano erupted on Sunday. "You sit and watch the news showing everything go up in smoke," Emilsson told Icelandic independent broadcaster Channel 2. It was the second eruption on the peninsula of Reykjanes in four weeks, and the fifth since 2021. The Icelandic Civil Defence, the IMO and other experts are due to meet later on Tuesday to discuss the situation.

Persons: Hrannar Jon Emilsson, Emilsson, Gerhard Mey, Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Tom Little, Terje Solsvik, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Channel, Icelandic Meteorological, Icelandic Civil Defence Locations: REYKJAVIK, Iceland, Grindavik, Reykjanes, Reykjavik, Copenhagen

☆ Danish dockworkers join Swedish strike action against Tesla
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A view shows the ship Malacca Highway at shore as port workers are blocking the loading of Tesla vehicles, in Malmo, Sweden, November 7, 2023. Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency/via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHELSINKI, Dec 5 (Reuters) - Denmark's 3F labour union said on Tuesday it will support Swedish mechanics in their strike action against Tesla (TSLA.O), and will refuse to unload or transport cars made by the U.S. auto company for customers in Sweden. "Like the companies, the trade union movement is global in the fight to protect workers," 3F Chair Jan Villadsen said in a statement, adding that Sweden's IF Metall union had asked 3F to help. The strike by Danish dockworkers and lorry drivers only affects cars that are meant for the Swedish market, the union said. Swedish labour groups have been taking industrial action against Tesla since October in a bid to force the car manufacturer to sign collective bargaining agreements with mechanics.

Persons: Johan Nilsson, Jan Villadsen, Tesla, Essi Lehto, Terje Solsvik Organizations: TT, Agency, Rights, U.S, IF Metall, Thomson Locations: Malacca, Malmo, Sweden, Swedish, Danish

☆ Spotify to reduce staff by 17% in second layoff this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Small figurines are seen in front of displayed Spotify logo in this illustration taken February 11, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Ilustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSTOCKHOLM, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Spotify (SPOT.N) will reduce its total headcount by around 17% across the company, it said in an email on Monday, after laying of 6% of this staff in January citing higher costs. CEO Daniel Ek told Reuters at that time the company was still focusing on efficiencies to get more out of each dollar. "We debated making smaller reductions throughout 2024 and 2025," CEO Daniel Ek said in a mail to employees. Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee, writing by Anna Ringstrom, editing by Essi Lehto and Terje SolsvikOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Daniel Ek, Supantha Mukherjee, Anna Ringstrom, Essi Lehto, Terje Solsvik Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, Thomson

☆ Swedish property firms should cut debt, raise equity, Riksbank chief says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Commercial property companies ramped up borrowing when rates were low and some are now struggling to pay off or roll-over debt after eight interest rate hikes by the central bank. Thedeen said many companies in the commercial real estate sector needed to restructure their balance sheets. Even if rates have peaked, problems for the commercial real estate sector are not over. Short-dated debt and large refunding needs mean "the Swedish property sector has more risk" than in other European countries, Maria Gillholm, senior credit officer at Moody's, said. The commercial real estate sector triggered a financial crisis in Sweden in the early 1990s and authorities have said it is once again the biggest risk to financial stability.

Persons: Erik Thedeen, Jonas Ekstromer, Thedeen, It's, Riksbank, Moody's, Maria Gillholm, Simon Johnson, Terje Solsvik, Essi Lehto, Susan Fenton Organizations: TT, Agency, Rights, Moody's, Thomson Locations: Stockholm, Sweden, Swedish, Europe

☆ Finland will close Russian border for 2 weeks to stop asylum seekers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Essi Lehto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/4] A view of closed gates at the Raja-Jooseppi international border crossing station before its opening in Inari, northern Finland on November 24, 2023. Finland last week shut all but one of its border posts to travellers from Russia, keeping open only the northernmost crossing located in the Arctic. On Monday he said his country had intelligence information on Russian authorities assisting the asylum seekers and that despite Finnish border closures, there were still more people heading towards Finland in Russia. On Monday, only three asylum seekers arrived in Finland through the remote Raja-Jooseppi station, the last open border post, and on Tuesday there were no entrants. The border station will remain open on Wednesday before closing until Dec. 13, the government said.

Persons: Korhonen, Petteri Orpo, Essi Lehto, Terje Solsvik, Anna Ringstrom, Louise Rasmussen, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Nordic, Finnish Border Guard, Finland's Border Guard, Kremlin, NATO, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Inari, Finland, Russia, Moscow, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Helsinki, United States, Ukraine

Workers at state-owned postal company PostNord joined the strike on Nov. 20 and stopped distributing the license plates to Tesla. The state-run transport agency turned down Tesla's request to pick up the license plates itself and also declined to send them via distribution channels other than PostNord. Tesla sued both PostNord and the transport agency in two separate lawsuits, first reported by Swedish business daily Dagens Industri. It said the refusal to deliver license plates could affect "a large number of consumers who ordered a new car from Tesla". The transport agency confirmed to Reuters on Monday that Tesla had filed a lawsuit, believing the agency had not kept its obligations to deliver Tesla's license plates.

Persons: Yves Herman, PostNord, Tesla, Metall, carmaker, Seko, Marie Mannes, Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Terje Solsvik, Bernadette Baum Organizations: REUTERS, Swedish Transport Agency, U.S, Workers, Dagens, IF Metall, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Drogenbos, Belgium, Swedish, Sweden, U.S

☆ Tesla sues Sweden over blocked license plates, business daily DI reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of a Tesla electric vehicle is placed on a car seen outside a dealership in Drogenbos, Belgium November 25, 2023. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Tesla Inc FollowCOPENHAGEN, Nov 27 (Reuters) - Tesla (TSLA.O) has filed a lawsuit against the Swedish government's Transport Agency over a workers' strike that has blocked the U.S. auto maker's requests for license plates for new vehicles, business daily Dagens Industri reported on Monday. IF Metall, Sweden's biggest manufacturing union, is locked in a fight with Tesla to get a collective bargaining agreement for its mechanics in Sweden. Members of other unions, including postal workers, dockworkers and cleaners have since joined in a sympathy action, resulting in Tesla not getting license plates distributed, among other things. The Swedish Transport Agency was not immediately available for comment.

Persons: Yves Herman, Tesla, Metall, Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Marie Mannes, Terje Solsvik Organizations: REUTERS, Swedish government's Transport Agency, Dagens, IF Metall, Swedish Transport Agency, Thomson Locations: Drogenbos, Belgium, Swedish, Sweden

☆ Finland plans more measures to stop asylum surge from Russia border
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-27 | by ( Anne Kauranen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Finnish Border Guards escort migrants arriving at the Raja-Jooseppi international border crossing station in Inari, Finland, November 25, 2023. Some 900 asylum seekers from nations including Afghanistan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen have entered Finland from Russia in November, an increase from less than one per day previously, according to the Finnish Border Guard. Finland blames a change in Russian border protocol for the increase and calls this a hybrid attack. Finland infuriated Russia when it joined NATO in April, ending decades of military non-alignment, due to the war in Ukraine. If this continues, more measures will be announced in the near future," Prime Minister Petteri Orpo told a press conference.

Persons: Korhonen, Petteri Orpo, Ulf Kristersson, Orpo, Jens Stoltenberg, " Stoltenberg, Anne Kauranen, Anna Ringstrom, Andrew Gray, Louise Rasmussen, Terje Solsvik, Alison Williams Organizations: Finnish Border Guards, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Finnish Border Guard, Kremlin, NATO, Border Guard, Swedish, Frontex, Monday, European Union, Thomson Locations: Inari, Finland, Russia, Moscow, Afghanistan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, United States, Ukraine, Sweden, EU, Brussels, Finland's, NATO, East, Africa, Belarus, Poland, Minsk, Helsinki, Stockholm

Injection pens and boxes of Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drug Wegovy are shown in this photo illustration in Oslo, Norway, November 21, 2023. REUTERS/Victoria Klesty/Illustration Acquire Licensing RightsSummaryCompanies Novo racing to meet demand for obesity drugsObesity market to reach $100 billion by 2030-analystsNew investment in France will boost capacity for obesity, diabetes drugsPARIS/LONDON Nov 23 (Reuters) - Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO) on Thursday announced a $2.3 billion investment to boost production of its wildly popular weight-loss and diabetes drugs at a site in Chartres, France as it races to meet soaring demand. There is a growing crisis in Europe over supply of diabetes therapy Ozempic, which uses the same ingredient semaglutide as the hugely popular weight-loss drug Wegovy, which is not yet widely available in Europe. Thursday's announcement comes after Novo earlier this month announced a $6 billion investment in its native Denmark to boost production. Analysts have estimated the obesity drug market will be worth as much as $100 billion by 2030.

Persons: Victoria Klesty, Danish drugmaker, Emmanuel Macron, Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen, Eli Lilly, Novo, Anna Ringstrom, Ludwig Burger, Terje Solsvik, David Goodman, Emelia Organizations: REUTERS, Novo Nordisk, WIN, French, Thomson Locations: Oslo, Norway, Victoria, France, PARIS, Chartres, Danish, Europe, Union, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, U.S, Paris

☆ EU to deploy more staff on Finnish-Russian border amid asylum crisis
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Abandoned bicycles lie at the international border crossing, as migrants arrive to the northern border stations between Finland and Russia, in Salla, Lapland, Finland November 23, 2023. Helsinki has accused Moscow of funnelling migrants to the border from nations such as Yemen, Afghanistan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia and Syria, a charge the Kremlin has denied. Frontex in a statement on Thursday said it would deploy 50 border guard officers and other staff to Finland along with equipment such as patrol cars, to bolster control activities. Finland earlier this week said it had asked for 60 Frontex officers on top of 10 already stationed in the country. Frontex said it would send a first group of staff on Nov. 29, including border surveillance officers, support for registering migrants, document experts and interpreters.

Persons: Lehtikuva, Jussi Nukari, Coast Guard Agency Frontex, Frontex, Anna Ringstrom, Essi Lehto, Terje Solsvik Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Coast Guard Agency, Nordic, Kremlin, Finland, Thomson Locations: Finland, Russia, Salla, Lapland, Rights STOCKHOLM, Helsinki, Moscow, Yemen, Afghanistan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria

Abandoned bicycles lie at the international border crossing, as migrants arrive to the northern border stations between Finland and Russia, in Salla, Lapland, Finland November 23, 2023. Finland on Wednesday said it will close all but the northernmost crossing point on its 1,340 km (830 miles) border with Russia, leaving open only a remote Arctic route from Friday morning onwards. Frontex in a statement said it would deploy 50 border guard officers and other staff to Finland along with equipment such as patrol cars, to bolster control activities. Frontex said it would send a first group of staff on Nov. 29, including border surveillance officers, support for registering migrants, document experts and interpreters. Reporting by Anna Ringstrom in Stockholm and Essi Lehto in Helsinki, editing by Terje Solsvik and Christina FincherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Lehtikuva, Jussi Nukari, Coast Guard Agency Frontex, Mari Rantanen, Rantanen, Frontex, Anna Ringstrom, Essi, Terje Solsvik, Christina Fincher Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Coast Guard Agency, Nordic, Kremlin, Finland, Thomson Locations: Finland, Russia, Salla, Lapland, Rights STOCKHOLM, Helsinki, Moscow, funnelling, Yemen, Afghanistan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Stockholm

☆ Finland May Shut Entire Russian Border, Foreign Minister Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

"We have already taken measures to close border crossing points, and if need be, we will be doing further closings," Valtonen said in an interview, adding that closing the entire border was one option the government was currently discussing. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday that Russia will "of course" respond if Finland closes the remaining border posts between the two countries. Valtonen confirmed observations by the Finnish border guards and said Finnish decision-makers had additional evidence that the Russian border service was transporting the migrants to the border but declined to reveal her sources. Valtonen said Finland had tried discussing the matter with Russia but Moscow had so far declined to engage in dialogue. On Wednesday, 51 migrants arrived from Russia to apply for asylum at the Salla border crossing and at least 11 at Vartius in Northern Finland, the Border Guard said.

Persons: Elina Valtonen, Valtonen, Maria Zakharova, Ylva Johansson, Essi Lehto, Anne Kauranen, Terje Solsvik, Frances Kerry Organizations: Essi Lehto, Reuters, European Union, Kremlin, Foreign, Valtonen, NATO, Frontex, Border Guard Locations: Essi Lehto HELSINKI, Finland, Russia, Helsinki, Moscow, Yemen, Afghanistan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Ukraine, Russian, EU's, Finnish, Vartius, Northern Finland

☆ Finland may shut entire Russian border, foreign minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Essi Lehto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A car is seen at the border between Russia and Finland at the Nuijamaa border checkpoint in Lappeenranta, Finland, November 16, 2023. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday that Russia will "of course" respond if Finland closes the remaining border posts between the two countries. Valtonen confirmed observations by the Finnish border guards and said Finnish decision-makers had additional evidence that the Russian border service was transporting the migrants to the border but declined to reveal her sources. Valtonen said Finland had tried discussing the matter with Russia but Moscow had so far declined to engage in dialogue. On Wednesday, 51 migrants arrived from Russia to apply for asylum at the Salla border crossing and at least 11 at Vartius in Northern Finland, the Border Guard said.

Persons: Moilanen, Elina Valtonen, Valtonen, Maria Zakharova, Ylva Johansson, Essi, Anne Kauranen, Terje Solsvik, Frances Kerry Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Reuters, European Union, Kremlin, Foreign, Valtonen, NATO, Frontex, Border Guard, Thomson Locations: Russia, Finland, Lappeenranta, Helsinki, Moscow, Yemen, Afghanistan, Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, Ukraine, Russian, EU's, Finnish, Vartius, Northern Finland

☆ IEA sees surplus oil supply in 2024 even if OPEC+ extends current cuts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Nerijus Adomaitis | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

An oil pump of IPC Petroleum France is seen during sunset outside Soudron, near Reims, France, February 6, 2023. OPEC+ is set to consider whether to make additional oil supply cuts when the group meets later this month, three OPEC+ sources have told Reuters after prices dropped by some 16% since late September. Oil has slid to around $82 a barrel for Brent crude from a 2023 high in September of near $98. Concern about demand and a possible surplus next year has pressured prices, despite support from the OPEC+ cuts and conflict in the Middle East. The cuts include 3.66 million bpd by OPEC+ and additional voluntary cuts by Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Persons: Pascal, Toril Bosoni, Brent, Nerijus Adomaitis, Terje Solsvik, Gwladys Organizations: IPC Petroleum France, REUTERS, Rights, International Energy, Reuters, Oil, OPEC, Brent, Thomson Locations: Soudron, Reims, France, Rights OSLO, OPEC, Oslo, East, Saudi Arabia, Russia

☆ Politicians waking up to higher-cost offshore wind power, Equinor says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Nora Buli | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"I believe that politics and markets will adjust, and that is also necessary in order to keep up the pace of offshore wind developments," Paal Eitrheim told Reuters on the sideline of the Norwegian company's autumn conference in Oslo. The offshore wind industry has found itself in a perfect storm of rising inflation, interest rate hikes and supply chain bottlenecks, in some cases leading to project cancellations as support schemes failed to adjust. Similarly, Britain has adjusted the price for next year's renewables auction higher by 66%, after failing to attract offshore wind bids in the previous round. Equinor is considering extensions to existing offshore wind farms in Britain that could qualify for auctions in future, and Eitrheim defended higher prices in the near term after over a decade of cost reductions. "Although it's dramatic right now, I think, as we are building this supply chain, we are going to come back to a price level for offshore wind that is competitive for governments, for companies and also consumers."

Persons: Paal Eitrheim, Equinor, Eitrheim, Nora Buli, Terje Solsvik, Mark Potter Organizations: ASA, Bp, Reuters, BP, York, Thomson Locations: OSLO, United States, Britain, Norwegian, Oslo, York, New York

☆ Finland mulls more border restrictions as asylum seekers 'impossible' to return
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Essi Lehto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Finland's President Sauli Niinisto addresses the 78th United Nations General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York, U.S., September 20, 2023. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsHELSINKI, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Finland said on Monday it had become impossible to return asylum seekers who did not meet the criteria for protection and said that it might further restrict migrant entries from Russia following a jump in the number of applicants. Over 500 asylum seekers, mostly from Yemen, Somalia, Syria and Iraq, arrived in Finland - an eastern outpost of the European Union - via Russia in the past two weeks, prompting Helsinki to shut half its border crossings and accuse Moscow of funnelling migrants to its border. Migrants entering Finland from Russia can now only request asylum at two of the remaining four crossing points on their shared 1,340-km (830-mile) border. The Kremlin said on Monday it had lodged a formal protest over the partial border closure, saying the decision reflected an anti-Russian stance.

Persons: Sauli Niinisto, Caitlin Ochs, Niinisto, Petteri Orpo, Orpo, Tomi Kivenjuuri, Kivenjuuri, Moscow's, Essi Lehto, Terje Solsvik, Anna Ringstrom, Jonathan Oatis, Gareth Jones Organizations: United Nations General Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, European, Migrants, Finnish Border Guard, Reuters, Thomson Locations: U.N, New York, U.S, Finland, Russia, Yemen, Somalia, Syria, Iraq, Helsinki, Moscow, Poland, EU, Finnish, Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus, East, Africa, Oslo, Stockholm

☆ Finland's OL3 nuclear reactor suffers unexpected outage
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

OSLO, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Finland's Olkiluoto 3, Europe's largest nuclear power generator as measured by output, suffered an unexpected outage on Sunday due to a turbine problem, Nordic power bourse Nord Pool said in a statement. The 1.6 gigawatt (GW) unit, known as OL3, was expected to reconnect on Monday at around 1000 GMT, an extension of the outage by 11 hours compared to the initial estimate, according to the regulatory statement. Plagued by construction delays, OL3 began regular electricity output in April this year, some 14 years behind schedule. Finland has said the nuclear reactor, Europe's first in 16 years, is expected to meet around 14% of the country's electricity demand, boosting energy security. Reporting by Terje Solsvik; Editing by David Holmes and Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: OL3, Terje Solsvik, David Holmes, Chris Reese Organizations: Nord, Thomson Locations: OSLO, Nord Pool, Finland

A view of the border between Russia and Finland at the Nuijamaa border checkpoint in Lappeenranta, Finland on November 15, 2023. The four border crossings - at Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Imatra and Niirala in southeastern Finland - are normally the busiest points of travel between the two countries. Nearly 100 asylum seekers had entered Finland from Russia on Friday by midday, officials said. Finland shares a 1,340-km (833-mile) border with Russia that also serves as the EU's external border. Finland's ombudsman for non-discrimination said on Thursday Helsinki still had a duty under international treaties and EU law to allow asylum seekers to seek protection.

Persons: Helsinki, Matti Pitkaniitty, Pitkaniitty, Essi Lehto, Anne Kauranen, Terje Solsvik, Gareth Jones Organizations: Finnish Border Guard, European Union, NATO, Kremlin, Helsinki, Thomson Locations: Russia, Finland, Lappeenranta, Finnish, HELSINKI, Vaalimaa, Russia's, Salla, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Syria, Moscow, Ukraine, United States

☆ Dozens of migrants wait at Finland-Russia border after Helsinki blocks crossings
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Anne Kauranen | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HELSINKI, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Dozens of migrants stood behind barriers at two crossings on Finland's border with Russia on Saturday, the Finnish Border Guard said, after Helsinki erected barricades to halt a flow of asylum seekers it says was instigated by Moscow. Despite the closure, dozens of migrants arrived on Saturday afternoon at the Nuijamaa and Vaalimaa crossings, and lit a campfire in sub-zero temperatures behind razor-wire barriers mounted by border guards, Finnish Border Guard told reporters. Four regular border crossings remain open for the time being, but asylum can now only be sought at two of those, in Salla and Vartius, further north, the Border Guard said. On Saturday, 67 people arrived to seek asylum at the Vartius post, the local border guard unit said on X, formerly known as Twitter. The Kremlin on Friday said Finland was making a "big mistake" by closing down border crossings and that Helsinki's move was destroying bilateral relations.

Persons: Mika Rytkonen, Jouko Kinnunen, Moscow's, Riikka Purra, Anne Kauranen, Attila Cser, Kevin Liffey, Terje Solsvik, Ros Russell Organizations: Finnish Border Guard, Kremlin, YLE, Finland, Border Guard, Twitter, MTV, Union, Frontex, Friday, Reuters, Finance, Finns Party, Thomson Locations: HELSINKI, Russia, Helsinki, Moscow, United States, Finland, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, Syria, Salla, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Belarus, East, Africa, Nuijamaa, London

☆ Volvo Cars shares drop to record low as Geely trims stake
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The sale of the 3.4% stake leaves Geely with a holding in Volvo Cars of 78.7%, the Chinese company said in a statement. Proceeds received by Geely Holding are intended to be used to support business development within the group," it added. It allows a wider base of shareholders to invest in Volvo Cars," the Swedish company's CEO Jim Rowan said in a statement. At 0926 GMT, Volvo Cars shares were down 10.9% at 36.38 crowns, having traded as low as 35.25 crowns. Geely Holding has committed to a lock-up period of 90 days for its remaining shareholding, "subject to customary exceptions and waivers" by the bookrunners.

Persons: Aly, China's Geely, bookrunners, Jim Rowan, Goldman Sachs, SEB, Geely, Terje Solsvik, Louise Rasmussen, Mark Potter Organizations: Volvo, Auto Shanghai, REUTERS, Rights, Swedish, HK, Volvo Cars, Geely, BNP, Marie Mannes, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, China, Rights OSLO, Swedish, Oslo, Stockholm

☆ Finland closes four Russian border crossings to stop asylum seekers
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A car is seen at the border between Russia and Finland at the Nuijamaa border checkpoint in Lappeenranta, Finland, November 16, 2023. Lehtikuva/Vesa Moilanen via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsHELSINKI, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Finland will close four of the nine crossing points on its border with Russia to stem a flow of asylum seekers to the Nordic nation, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said on Thursday. The Finnish president on Wednesday said a rise in the number of asylum applicants arriving on the country's eastern border appeared to be triggered by Russian revenge for Finland's defence cooperation with the United States. "The government has today decided that Finland will close some eastern border crossing points. The eastern border for that part will close on the night between Friday and Saturday," Orpo told a press conference.

Persons: Moilanen, Petteri Orpo, Orpo, Essi Lehto, Terje Solsvik Organizations: REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Nordic, Thomson Locations: Russia, Finland, Lappeenranta, United States

☆ Estonian PM Kallas Signals Interest in Top NATO Job -Politico
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

OSLO (Reuters) - Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said late on Tuesday she would like to be considered for the job of NATO secretary general once Jens Stoltenberg steps down, Politico reported. Speaking at a Politico conference in Washington, Kallas responded "yes" when she was pressed on whether she'd like to be considered for the role, according to the report. NATO diplomats have said, however, Kallas may be regarded as too hawkish by some members of the Western defence alliance. Stoltenberg has been in post since 2014 and is due to step down in October 2024. Outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has also said he would be interested in the job of leading NATO.

Persons: Kaja Kallas, Jens Stoltenberg, Kallas, Stoltenberg, Mark Rutte, Terje Solsvik, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Estonian, Politico, European Union, NATO, Dutch Locations: OSLO, Washington, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, NATO, Ukraine

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