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☆ Saudi provides $240 mln for Pakistan hydro-power dam
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-07 | by ( Asif Shahzad | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ISLAMABAD, April 7 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia will provide a $240 million loan to co-finance Pakistan's multi-purpose Mohmand dam project, a major hydro-power complex being built in northwest of the country, statements from both sides said on Friday. The project will "contribute to Pakistan's energy security, increase sustainable water supply for agriculture and human consumption and improve resilience to floods," Pakistan's economic affairs ministry said in a statement. Saudi state news agency issued the same statement in Arabic. "The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has signed a $240 million loan agreement," the statements said. Reporting by Asif Shahzad in Islamabad; Additional reporting by Claudia Tanios in Dubai; Editing by Jason Neely and Barbara LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

[1/5] A supporter of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi stands near the 'San Raffaele' hospital, where former Italian Prime Minister is hospitalised, in Milan, Italy, April 7, 2023. REUTERS/Claudia GrecoMILAN, April 7 (Reuters) - Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is "better than he was", his friend Fedele Confalonieri said on Friday after visiting him in hospital, where he is being treated for a lung infection caused by chronic leukaemia. "I'm sure he'll make it because he's a strong man, and because he's the best prime minister we've had in Italy. A friend of Berlusconi, Vittorio Sgarbi, said before he went into hospital the two had discussed his future. Berlusconi's Forza Italia party is part of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing coalition, although he does not have a direct role in her government.

"Wow, the PRC (People's Republic of China) just sanctioned me again, for the second time," Hsiao tweeted in response to the announcement. Taiwan's Foreign Ministry reacted angrily, saying China had no right to "butt in" when it came to Tsai's overseas trips and that Beijing was "deceiving itself" if it thought the sanctions would have any effect. China has also banned the leaders from entering the country, and frozen any properties they have in China, it said. Chinese sanctions will have little practical impact as senior Taiwanese officials do not visit China while Chinese courts do not have jurisdiction in Taiwan. Others on the August sanctions list include Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu; Wellington Koo, Secretary-General of Taiwan's National Security Council; and DPP politicians.

☆ World Court says it can rule on Guyana-Venezuela border dispute
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

THE HAGUE, April 6 (Reuters) - Judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday ruled they had jurisdiction over a long-running border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela, which could determine which country has rights to offshore oil and gas fields. Guyana asked the ICJ, also known as the World Court, in 2018 to confirm that the border was laid down in an 1899 arbitration between Venezuela and the then-colony of British Guiana. The court "by 14 votes to 1, rejects the preliminary objection raised by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela," said presiding judge Joan Donoghue, while reading the decision. Venezuela does not want the ICJ to rule and instead insists on a bilateral negotiated solution to determine the course of the land border, which may ultimately determine which country has rights to certain offshore oil and gas fields. Offshore oil discoveries in recent years have given Guyana, which has no history of oil production, the potential to become one of the largest producers in Latin America.

☆ King Charles backs research into monarchy's slave links
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Michael Holden | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] Britain's King Charles III arrives on a boat for a trip at the port in Hamburg, Germany, Friday, March 31, 2023. Matthias Schrader/Pool via REUTERSLONDON, April 6 (Reuters) - King Charles has given his support to research that will examine the British monarchy's links to slavery, Buckingham Palace said on Thursday, after a newspaper report said a document showed a historical connection with a transatlantic slave trader. The issue of the British Empire's slavery links and calls for possible reparations from the monarchy has been growing in the Caribbean where Charles remains head of state of a number of countries including Jamaica and the Bahamas. That process had continued with "vigour and determination" since Charles succeeded his mother on the throne last September, it said. "Given the complexities of the issues it is important to explore them as thoroughly as possible," the Palace statement said.

LISBON, April 6 (Reuters) - Portugal's government approved on Thursday the abolition of the scandal-hit immigration agency SEF, whose border force officers, uncertain about their future, have mooted industrial action during the usually busy Easter period. It was not immediately clear whether the strike will go ahead from Friday. Parliament approved SEF's abolition in November of the same year, but the process has been slow. There will be a transition period of six months, and SEF officers will help to train their replacements, the government said. Additional reporting by Patricia Rua, editing by Andrei Khalip and Barbara LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Iberdrola aims for US subsidies after Mexican asset sale
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Pietro Lombardi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Iberdrola SA FollowMADRID, April 5 (Reuters) - Spanish power company Iberdrola (IBE.MC) will seek to expand in the United States and take advantage of its green subsidies after announcing the sale of gas assets worth $6 billion in Mexico, Chief Financial Officer Jose Sainz said on Wednesday. "Due to IRA, we will probably review our renewable plans in the U.S.," he said, adding that the Mexican sale could also allow acquisitions. Mexico remains a core market for the company, which aims to grow its renewables operations there, he added. Mexico's president hailed his government's purchase of 13 power plants from Iberdrola as a "new nationalisation" that will increase state control. For Iberdrola, RBC analyst Fernando Garcia said in a research note it "got rid of the Mexican headache".

☆ India-China competition, OPEC cuts nudge Urals above price cap
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MOSCOW/SINGAPORE, April 5 (Reuters) - Russian Urals oil broke through the $60 per barrel price cap on Wednesday, boosted by strength in international benchmark Brent after OPEC+ announced an output cut, three sources involved in Russian oil trade said and Reuters calculations showed. The price cap was introduced in December by G7 countries and Washington said it would help to avoid supply disruptions by keeping Russian oil flowing, while limiting revenues for Russia's President Vladimir Putin. The Urals oil price for a particular deal is normally calculated on the basis of a monthly or several-days average of Brent differentials. Given current ICE Brent and dated Brent prices, Urals oil cargoes on Wednesday traded slightly above $60 per barrel on a FOB (free on board) basis in Russian western ports, according to Reuters calculations. If international prices fall, the actual price of the deal could still be below the cap.

Iluka Resources/Handout viaApril 4 (Reuters) - Six projects outside China, which dominates global rare earth production, plan to extract the critical minerals from waste or byproducts. The projects will produce rare earths that are needed to fuel a green revolution of electric cars and wind turbines while trying to avert the shortages expected in coming years. Below are details of the companies and their projects, in order of output of neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr) oxide, the rare earths most in demand. ENERGY FUELS INC (UUUU.A)The main business of U.S. Energy Fuels is producing uranium, but it has moved into rare earths. VHM LTD (VHM.AX)Australia's VHM Ltd is working on the Goschen mineral sands project, which will also produce rare earths.

☆ Japan aims to boost hydrogen supply to 12 million T by 2040
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TOKYO, April 4 (Reuters) - Japan is to revise its hydrogen strategy by the end of May with an ambitious target to boost annual supply to 12 million tonnes by 2040, the industry ministry said on Tuesday, as competition increases in the global market for the fuel. Citing massive hydrogen investment by the United States and Europe, Kishida said Japan will speed up the roll out of supply chains in cooperation with Australia, the Middle East, and Asia. Japan's existing goal is to increase annual hydrogen supply to about 3 million tonnes in 2030 from 2 million tonnes now, which is mainly used by oil refiners, and to expand the figure to 20 million tonnes in 2050, according to the ministry. The fuel, together with ammonia, has a major role in helping Japan to meet its target of becoming carbon neutral by 2050. ($1 = 132.6500 yen)Reporting by Yuka Obayashi, Miho Uranaka and Yoshifumi Takemoto; editing by Barbara LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Dutch online bank Bunq applies for U.S. banking licence
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

AMSTERDAM, April 4 (Reuters) - Bunq BV, a prominent European online banking start-up, formally filed for a banking licence with U.S. regulators on Tuesday, the company's CEO told Reuters in an interview. Bunq raised $228 million at a $1.9 billion valuation in 2021. Bunq, which competes with Britain's Revolut and Germany's N26, said that as of March 14, it had deposits of around 2.3 billion euros, up 27% from 1.8 billion euros at the end of 2023. Bunq offers savers in its native Netherlands 1.56% interest on deposits, a percentage point above rates offered by the three big banks that dominate Dutch banking, ING, ABN Amro and Rabobank. Bunq makes some mortgage loans but keeps more than half of its reserves at the European Central Bank's deposit facility, which Niknam said should reassure depositors.

☆ Factbox: Economic reliance on China that EU wants to 'rebalance'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen leaves after an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Belgium March 24, 2023. Von der Leyen said the bloc could not decouple from China, but needed to reduce risk and "rebalance" economic ties. China is the EU's third largest outside market for its cars, and some 15% of EU car exports head there. Chinese EV exports to the bloc shot up to 6.9 billion euros in 2022 from less than 800 million euros in 2020. CLEAN TECHThe EU imports 80% of its solar panels from China, importing 21 billion euros worth in 2022.

[1/2] The landfall facilities of the 'Nord Stream 1' gas pipeline are pictured in Lubmin, Germany, March 8, 2022. Russia has a 51% stake in Nord Stream 1 through a subsidiary of state-owned energy group Gazprom (GAZP.MM). While the import of Russian crude oil and oil products is banned under European Union (EU) sanctions, Russian gas imports are allowed. In September 2022, several unexplained underwater explosions ruptured the Nord Stream 1 and newly-built Nord Stream 2 pipelines, each more than 1,200-km-long, that link Russia and Germany across the Baltic Sea. Gazprom and Swiss-based Nord Stream AG did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

☆ Indian G20 presidency opposes watering down green hydrogen standards
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Sarita Chaganti Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

If the energy used to power the plants is renewable, it is called green hydrogen. Singh said the Indian G20 presidency had put forward a draft definition that he considered reasonable and held discussions with various countries. "If the world wants to decarbonise, the world must agree on a definition of green hydrogen. Across the world, countries are turning to green hydrogen as a solution to climate-related energy problems. India in January said it had approved an incentive plan of 174.9 billion rupees ($2.11 billion) to promote green hydrogen to cut emissions and try to become a major exporter in the field.

Iraq's Oil Minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani, who took office in October, plans to update Iraq's oil production strategies to meet local needs while complying with the OPEC+ agreement, oil ministry spokesman Asim Jihad told Reuters. It is too early for the new government to talk about any significant increases in Iraq's oil production outside the OPEC+ agreement, Jihad said. 'HARD, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE'For the oil sector, the country has repeatedly delayed a target to reach 7-8 million bpd capacity, from the current 5 million bpd. The beneficiaries were not the international oil companies, but UAE firm Crescent Petroleum and two Chinese companies. Iraq's oil minister this month revived seven investment opportunities in Iraq's refining sector.

BRUSSELS, March 23 (Reuters) - European Union leaders agreed on Thursday to back a revamp of the single market, simplified regulations and other steps to ensure the bloc can compete with the United States and China as an industrial leader in green and digital technologies. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said it was vital to cut red tape and make the most of the single market. EU leaders, meeting in Brussels from Thursday for a two-day summit, said the single market was essential to future economic growth, while highlighting areas for improvement. "The European Council calls for ambitious action to complete the single market, in particular for digital and services," the summit conclusions said. The conclusions also called for progress in areas to improve the long-term competitiveness of the European Union.

Hohn, who runs hedge fund TCI Fund Management, owns 3.1% of Cellnex's shares and 5.9% in derivatives, corporate records show. However, Hohn last month wrote to Airbus, in which TCI has a 3% stake, demanding it drop a deal. "We believe that the subsequent hiring process for a new CEO has been mishandled by the board and resulted in insufficient progress to recruiting a suitable replacement," Hohn wrote in the letter, published on TCI's website. "We intend to exercise our shareholder rights to request certain shareholder resolutions be added to the next AGM," the letter said. Kan was named Cellnex's chairman in 2021 and has been an independent member of the board since 2015.

March 23 (Reuters) - Large companies, including asset manager Franklin Templeton (BEN.N) and web-services provider Akamai Technologies Inc (AKAM.O), joined an effort on Thursday to defend sustainable investment practices from a backlash by U.S. Republican politicians. Republicans, often from energy-producing states, have sought to block the growing use of environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations by shareholders and corporate executives. BlackRock Inc (BLK.N) for instance on Thursday said it would continue to press companies for information about climate risks. Mindy Lubber, CEO of sustainability nonprofit Ceres, which organized Thursday's statement, told a call with reporters that companies showed "some hesitancy" to speak up. But Anne Simpson, head of sustainability for Franklin Templeton, part of California-based Franklin Resources Inc (BEN.N), said on the same call that ESG efforts are "fiduciary duty at work".

☆ Central banks stick to rate hikes with eye on market turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Overall, 10 developed economies have raised rates by a combined 3,290 basis points (bp) in this cycle to date. Reuters Graphics1) UNITED STATESThe Fed raised rates by a quarter point on Wednesday, continuing its most aggressive series of hikes since the 1980s. After setting its policy rate to 4.75%-5.00%, the Fed hinted it may soon pause rate rises. Reuters Graphics3) CANADAThe Bank of Canada on March 8 became the first major central bank to halt monetary tightening during this cycle. Reuters Graphics5) AUSTRALIAAustralia's central bank raised its key rate by a quarter point to 3.6% in March, the highest since May 2012, but hinted rate hikes may be over for now.

BRUSSELS, March 23 (Reuters) - European Union leaders are expected on Thursday to back a revamp of the single market, simplified regulations and other steps to ensure the bloc can compete with the United States and China as an industrial leader in green and digital technologies. "This failure to complete the single market needs to be addressed," one EU diplomat said on condition of anonymity. EU leaders, meeting in Brussels from Thursday for a two-day summit, are expected to say the single market is essential to future economic growth, while highlighting areas for improvement. "The European Council calls for ambitious action to complete the single market, in particular for digital and services," draft conclusions of the summit say. The draft conclusions also call for progress in areas to improve competitiveness of the European Union beyond 2030.

☆ China expected to account for 40% of this year's oil demand recovery
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Rowena Edwards | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, March 23 (Reuters) - China is expected to account for around 40% of the increase in global oil demand this year as its economy emerges from strict lockdowns, but the increased use will not take prices back to 2022 levels, consultancy Wood Mackenzie said on Thursday. This would equate to 1 million barrels per day (bpd) of a 2.6 mln bpd increase in global oil demand this year. A high-growth scenario, under which China's GDP rises by 7%, would add a further 400,000 bpd of Chinese demand, the report said. Global refining margins are set to decline to around $6/bbl in the fourth quarter compared with $11/bbl a year earlier, WoodMac said, as additions to global refining capacity outpace demand growth for transport fuels. The consultancy expects diesel profit margins to crude to average $30/bbl in the fourth quarter, while gasoline is expected to average around $5-6/bbl, Williams said.

But combining Credit Suisse into UBS could take much longer, potentially months, because the deal needs approval from regulators in tens of countries, the people said, seeking anonymity given the sensitivity of the matter. Spokespeople for UBS and Credit Suisse declined to comment. The longer the deal takes to close, the harder it will be for Credit Suisse to hold on to its business as the uncertainty erodes confidence in the lender. Bank of America's electronic stocks desk had halted trading with a desk at Credit Suisse that uses computer-led strategies, an email seen by Reuters on Monday said. Bloomberg News reported on Thursday that Wall Street banks and European firms are lifting hiring freezes to lure staff from Credit Suisse.

Neither of the two contentious issues is on the official summit agenda and some EU diplomats said they hope to avoid a formal debate on them. EU leaders take decisions unanimously, meaning one country can block a deal. Escalating the car CO2 debate to leaders would therefore be pointless, one EU diplomat said on condition of anonymity. A German government official said on Wednesday the talks were "very constructive", but that the issue would not be addressed at the EU summit. ENERGY REFORMSOn the second day of the summit on Friday, EU heads of state and government will discuss a reform of the EU electricity market.

☆ Cocaine use has risen across Europe, study shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LISBON, March 22 (Reuters) - Cocaine use has increased across Europe, an EU-wide wastewater study showed on Wednesday, with the highest levels of residues found in Belgium, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands. The study, the largest to date by the Lisbon-based European drugs monitoring agency EMCDDA, analysed daily wastewater in the catchment areas of treatment plants serving some 54 million people in 104 European cities. More than half of the 66 European cities with data for 2021 and 2022 recorded increases in cocaine residues. Ketamine was included for the first time in the 2022 analysis due to "signs of increased availability of ketamine in Europe". The highest amount of residues were found in wastewater in cities in Denmark, Italy, Portugal and Spain.

BRUSSELS, March 21 (Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators have raided a company active in the energy drinks sector in several EU countries on suspicion of taking part in a cartel and also abusing its dominance, the European Commission said on Tuesday. Austrian energy drinks maker Red Bull confirmed that its premises had been searched, the Austrian news agency APA reported, although the company declined further comment when contacted by Reuters. "The Commission has concerns that the inspected company may have violated EU antitrust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices," the EU enforcer said in a statement. "The inspected company may also have violated EU antitrust rules that prohibit abuses of a dominant position." Companies found breaching EU antitrust rules face fines of as much as 10% of their global turnover.

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