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☆ Petroecuador advancing in tender to appoint auditor
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( Alexandra Valencia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Talking to a local media outlet on Monday, Santos acknowledged Petroecuador is not audited by an international firm and its financial reporting does not comply with international standards. Petroecuador began a tendering process to appoint an auditor in August, it said. "As the process is financed with international cooperation funds, the hiring must follow the guidelines established by the international organization," the company added. Former Energy Minister Xavier Vera resigned at the end of October over a separate investigation into allegations that he took bribes in exchange for jobs at Petroecuador. Reporting by Alexandra Valencia Writing by Oliver Griffin Editing by Lincoln FeastOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ COP 27 Developing countries need $1 trillion a year in climate finance -report
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The report, released ahead of talks on climate change finance at the COP27 summit in Egypt, said the funding was required to cut emissions, boost resilience, deal with damage from climate change and restore nature and land. "The world needs a breakthrough and a new roadmap on climate finance that can mobilise the $1 trillion in external finance that will be needed by 2030 for emerging markets and developing countries other than China," said the report, commissioned by the current and previous climate summit hosts, Egypt and Britain. It said the total annual investment requirement of developing countries would hit $2.4 trillion by 2030, with half coming from external financing and the rest from public and private sources in those countries. "Unlocking substantial climate finance is the key to solving today's development challenges," said Vera Songwe, one of the report's authors. Delegates at the climate summit in Egypt are expected to focus on financing issues on Wednesday.

☆ German government says in talks with Wintershall Dea about Russia production
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FRANKFURT, Nov 7 (Reuters) - The German government is in talks with oil and gas producer Wintershall Dea (WINT.UL)(BASFn.DE) after a media report that the company's Russian gas condensate production helps support the Russian war effort against Ukraine, a spokesperson said. Asked for a comment, Wintershall Dea has pointed to its statement on Friday saying it rejected the accusations and reserved the right to consider legal action. German magazine Spiegel and public broadcaster ZDF had reported on Friday that their investigations had shown that gas condensate produced in Russia by joint ventures between Wintershall Dea and Gazprom (GAZP.MM) was processed into jet fuel, among other uses. Citing a military expert, the outlets said the jet fuel delivered by Wintershall Dea to Gazprom could be used for military purposes. Wintershall Dea had no influence over gas and condensate deliveries from two joint ventures, Achimgaz and Achim Development, to Gazprom, but they were marketed mostly for petrochemical applications, it said.

[1/2] Logo of Uniper is pictured at the company's headquarters in Duesseldorf, Germany, September 21, 2022. REUTERS/Wolfgang RattayFRANKFURT/DUESSELDORF, Nov 3 (Reuters) - Soon-to-be-nationalised gas importer Uniper (UN01.DE) unveiled a record 40 billion euro ($39.3 billion) net loss, among the biggest in German corporate history, reflecting expected future losses in the wake of Russia's move to stop supplies. Uniper said the net loss factored in 10 billion euros of realised losses the company incurred by replacing Russian gas volumes on the spot market at much higher prices as well as 31 billion euros of future losses related to this problem. "We are also working intensively to restructure our gas portfolio in order to minimise risks and to end by 2024 the losses resulting from suspended Russian gas deliveries," Tuomela said. Among the group's top priorities remains the planned exit from the Russian market, where it owns a 83.7% stake in Unipro (UPRO.MM), it said.

CNN —Houston officials vowed to deliver justice in the killing of rapper Takeoff, with the chief of police calling the 28-year-old Atlantan a “peaceful” man and urging any witnesses to the shooting to come forward. There were roughly 40 people at the event, many of whom left “possibly out of fear,” Houston Police Chief Troy Finner said. “This great city, with our great citizens, with our police department – we will find who’s responsible for it. Finner was clear, however, that investigators do not believe Takeoff was “involved in anything criminal at the time,” he said. Rap star was on an upward trajectoryThe news of Takeoff’s death was a blow to the hip-hop community, still reeling from the fatal shooting of rapper PnB Rock in September.

☆ German industry curbed gas demand by a fifth in crisis - study
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies Hertie School of Governance gemeinnützige GmbH FollowFRANKFURT, Nov 1 (Reuters) - German industry cut its gas consumption by nearly a fifth last month, sustainability experts said on Tuesday, after a plunge in Russian gas exports sparked a continent-wide energy crisis that led to soaring energy prices. "A further reduction in gas consumption in industry is likely in view of persistently high gas prices," they said. German households, half of whom heat with gas, increased savings to 36% year-on-year in September, having saved 10% in March, the study said. The researchers explained these findings with delayed billing effects, delayed saving appeal campaigns and a lower price exposure of household prices to the wholesale market. Germany's expert gas commission on Monday presented proposals to the government for a gas price cap to help citizens and encourage companies to keep up operations and protect jobs.

☆ Imelda Staunton picks up royal baton as new queen in 'The Crown'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Marie-Louise Gumuchian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Imelda Staunton picks up the royal baton as the latest actor to play Queen Elizabeth in hit Netflix drama "The Crown", whose new season has faced criticism as it addresses a difficult era for the British royal family so soon after the late monarch's death. "This time in the royal family’s life was very tumultuous and the writers didn’t shy away from any difficult issues," Staunton told Reuters in an interview. Season five is released on Nov. 9, two months after Elizabeth died and her son Charles became king. Some royal commentators have voiced concern about the impact the show could have at the start of Charles' reign. "I think the proximity of the queen’s death...Nerve-endings are still raw, and people are feeling very protective," Staunton said.

☆ Factbox: Germany's LNG import project plans
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FRANKFURT, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Germany is acquiring liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals as part of its efforts to diversify away from Russian gas. Wilhelmshaven will become the first LNG hub and Brunsbuettel the second, to be developed by Uniper UN01.DE and RWE RWEG.DE, respectively. Later, facilities to import ammonia and set up an electrolysis plant for turning ammonia into clean hydrogen will be set up at the location. Dutch gas network operator Gasunie, which has a 40% stake in the FSRU project, is planning two related gas pipelines. Shell (SHEL.L) has committed itself to some guaranteed purchases.

☆ Factbox: How is Germany replacing Russian gas?
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FRANKFURT, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Germany, Europe's biggest economy and historically a major importer of Russian gas, is scrambling to secure alternative supplies following a plunge in flows from Russia since its invasion of Ukraine. Germany is sourcing more gas from Benelux countries, Norway, and France. IMPORTERS' STRATEGIESStricken importer Uniper (UN01.DE) has said it is sourcing Norwegian, Dutch and Azeri gas via pipelines and using its global role as a trader of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to procure more of the super-cooled gas into north western Europe. LNG TERMINALSIn the absence of LNG reception terminals, Germany is building floating LNG terminals (FSRUs), of which two will be ready at the turn of the year, in Brunsbuettel and Wilhelmshaven. In the long term, fixed onshore terminals will be built with a view to receiving gas, carbon-free hydrogen, and ammonia.

☆ Russia tells people in occupied Kherson to 'save your lives' and leave
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Summary This content was produced in a part of Russian-controlled Ukraine, where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations. It's vital to save your lives," Russian Education Minister Sergei Kravtsov said in a video message. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterThe Kherson region sits to the north of the Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014. Civilians evacuated from the Russian-controlled city of Kherson walk from a ferry to board a bus heading to Crimea, in the town of Oleshky, Kherson region, Russian-controlled Ukraine October 23, 2022. "We are not going to give up Kherson," Stremousov said.

☆ Germany's Steag details return of coal plants to power market
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FRANKFURT, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Germany's Steag gave details on Friday about the return and operation of 2,500 megawatts (MW) of coal-fired power station capacity to the wholesale market to help boost energy supplies this winter. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterBoth sites are in Germany's southwestern Saarland state and can together supply four million households with power. Steag said it had informed the federal network regulatory agency, power transmission grid company Amprion and the EEX (DB1Gn.DE) power exchange of its intentions. The total power capacity is equivalent to just under 4% of German power generation in 2021 and to one third of electricity generated from natural gas last year, Steag said. Sector peers Uniper (UN01.DE) and RWE have also resurrected coal capacity or are planning to do so.

☆ Madrid exhibition shines a light on the scars of breast cancer
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MADRID, Oct 19 (Reuters) - An art exhibition in Madrid seeks to shine a spotlight on breast cancer and the physical and psychological scars left by mastectomies. 1/5 A woman stands in front of a replica of Peter Paul Rubens' "Venus and Cupid" showing a mastectomized breast, as part of a project between the Cultura en Vena Foundation and Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum on International Breast Cancer Awareness Day in Madrid, Spain, October 19, 2022. REUTERS/Susana Vera Read More"With this intervention we're calling attention to the process of the illness," said Juan Alberto Garcia de Cubas, president of the Fundacion Cultura en Vena (Culture in Your Veins Foundation), which organised the exhibition. Gema Salas, a 44-year-old architect who underwent a mastectomy to treat breast cancer, said the exhibition had a profound effect on her. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Charlie Devereux Editing by Peter GraffOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Germany to cap electricity prices by taxing excess profits
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Markus Wacket | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

BERLIN, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Germany's government plans to introduce a cap on electricity prices for households and industry to ease the impact of soaring energy costs, a ministry document seen by Reuters on Wednesday showed. To help finance the cap and pay for the stabilisation of power transmission grids, Berlin is considering skimming off some of electricity companies' profits, the document showed. Its design would be similar to a price brake for gas, details of which the government announced earlier this month, the document showed. As part of the plan, Berlin may skim off 90% of the power profits that electricity companies make above production costs, the paper showed. For spot prices, the levy would apply retroactively from March, and for future prices from December, it said.

☆ Germany to examine plans for skimming excess power profits
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FRANKFURT, Oct 19 (Reuters) - Germany's government plans to examine detailed proposals for skimming off excess power profits above production costs to help subsidise electricity bills and pay for the stabilisation of power transmission grids, a paper seen by Reuters on Wednesday showed. The move comes amid as Europe faces an energy crisis, prompted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, that has seen the European Union and national governments launch price brake measures for power, gas and other fuels. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterBoth household and industry consumers have been hit by runaway wholesale power prices, as a lack of gas drove up prices. The paper, from Germany's Economy Ministry, showed that power production from hard coal, gas and biomethane would not be included in the measures, which are separate to subsidy plans in the general budget. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Markus Wacket and Vera Eckert, editing by Miranda Murray and Alex RichardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Explainer: How will Germany implement its nuclear power extension?
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The operators of the three remaining nuclear power plants are E.ON (Isar 2), RWE (RWEG.DE) (Emsland) and EnBW (EBKG.DE) (Neckarwestheim 2). HOW LONG CAN THE PLANTS RUN WITH EXISTING FUEL RODS? According to industry group Nuclear Technology Germany (KernD), it usually takes around one year until fresh fuel rods are delivered. CAN GERMANY EXTEND NUCLEAR POWER BEYOND APRIL 2023? Politically, extending the lifespan of nuclear power is a red line for the Greens party, which has ruled out buying new fuel rods for longer operation of the country's remaining nuclear power plants.

☆ In one North Carolina community, mental health workers respond to 911 calls
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-07 | by ( Nadia Kounang | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

As one recent caller to the 911 center in Durham, North Carolina, said: “I feel kind of dangerous to myself. It’s often linked to someone who is unhoused and dealing with substance use and mental health problems. The most significant concern: a lack of training and awareness from police on how to deal with mental health issues. The KFF CNN Mental Health Survey was conducted by SSRS from July 28 through August 9 among a random national sample of 2,004 adults. Mental health already carries a stigma, and the presence of law enforcement officers in marked cars can add to that.

☆ Influencers are eating ghee by the spoonful. It’s led brands to create their own knockoffs
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Sakshi Venkatraman | Sakshi Venkatraman Is A Reporter For Nbc Asian America. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +11 min

In that time, South Asian food experts say, brands have taken notice. The South Asian household staple is now blowing up on health TikTok. Influencers have recorded themselves eating spoonfuls of ghee, posing with the product in stores and promoting it as a new find. “That’s part of the reason why it is important to a South Asian population.”In Hindu ceremonies, it’s a staple. Most of all, it’s an essential component of South Asian comfort food, one that many people can associate with the quick-fix meals of early youth.

☆ Germany's Leag eyes 1,000 MW solar park in renewables expansion
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies U-Leag Co Ltd FollowFRANKFURT, Sept 29 (Reuters) - German brown coal miner and power generator Leag unveiled plans on Thursday to build a 1,000 megawatt (MW) solar park that could open in early 2026, as it looks to expand in renewable energy. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register"Lusatia will become a magnet for consumer industries of green power." All going well, a doubling of green capacity to 14 GW by 2040 is conceivable, the company said. The 1,000 MW plant could supply power for around 300,000 households. Germany still aims to end coal power generation by 2038.

☆ German gas consumption too high, says energy regulator
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

FRANKFURT, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Germany's network regulator, which would be in charge of gas rationing in the event of a supply emergency, on Thursday said that household consumption was too high to be sustainable. Last week's usage of natural gas by German households and small industry was 483 gigawatt hours, up 14.5% above the average for that week over the past four years, the Federal Network Agency said. "Without significant savings in the private area of consumption, it will be difficult to avoid an emergency situation in winter." Germany requires more gas imports and its neighbours need to organise stable supplies, he said, but energy savings are the order of the day. Households and small industry account for 40% of consumption while big manufacturing industries require 60% of the country's gas.

CNN —The Los Angeles Police Department identified a suspect and arrested two other people in connection with the fatal shooting of rapper PnB Rock earlier this month. Freddie Lee Trone was identified “as being a person involved” in the killing of the rapper, according to a LAPD news release. The fatal shooting of PnB Rock took place September 12 while the rapper and his girlfriend were eating at Roscoe’s House of Chicken ‘N Waffles on West Manchester Avenue, according to LAPD Chief Michel Moore. PnB Rock “had an extensive amount of jewelry and other valuables,” Moore said. Between 2016 and 2019, PnB Rock had eight songs on the Billboard Hot 100, four of which were in 2019.

☆ NASA spacecraft closes in on asteroid for head-on collision
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-26 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

A NASA spacecraft closed in on an asteroid at blistering speed Monday in an unprecedented dress rehearsal for the day a killer rock menaces Earth. The galactic grand slam was set to occur at a harmless asteroid 7 million miles (9.6 million kilometers) away, with the spacecraft named Dart plowing into the rock at 14,000 mph (22,500 kph). The $325 million mission is the first attempt to shift the position of an asteroid or any other natural object in space. The spacecraft packed a scant 1,260 pounds (570 kilograms), compared with the asteroid's 11 billion pounds (5 billion kilograms). Monday's dramatic action aside, the world must do a better job of identifying the countless space rocks lurking out there, warned the foundation's executive director, Ed Lu, a former astronaut.

☆ Vera Bradley's founders Pat and Barb look back on the last 40 years as they embark into the metaverse
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-24 | by ( Chloe Melas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

It was 1982 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Patricia R. Miller was stopping by to introduce herself to new neighbor Barbara Bradley Baekgaard. “The Kappa [Kappa Gamma women’s sorority] house at Michigan State, they kind of brag that they started the company,” Baekgaard said. “We went through all kinds of names, but Barb’s mother’s name was Vera Bradley. Over the next several decades Vera Bradley expanded to bedding, tech and home accessories. Even as the women look back at 40 years of Vera Bradley, the brand is looking ahead and pushing the boundaries of its duffel-bag roots.

☆ German oil imports up 13.5% in January-July period; bill more than doubles
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterOil depots are pictured in the harbour in Hamburg, Germany, March 8, 2022. Russia remained the top supplier, holding a 30.5% share of Germany's oil imports in the period, monthly statistics from the BAFA foreign trade office showed. Oil imports in January through July from all origins increased to 51.0 million tonnes, from 44.9 million in the same months of 2021, BAFA said. Germany spent 35.9 billion euros ($35.07 billion) on crude oil imports in the first seven months of 2022, 100.6% more than the comparable year-earlier period. ($1 = 1.0235 euros)Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Vera Eckert and Nerijus Adomaitis; editing by Paul SimaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ How to get rid of razor burn, bumps and ingrown hair
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Zoe Malin | Zoe Malin Is The Associate Updates Editor For Select On Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +10 min

Razor burn and ingrown hairs are uncomfortable and unsightly, but thankfully, avoidable. So if you suffer from razor burn or bumps, or want to avoid them in the future, consider these expert tips from dermatologists. SKIP AHEAD: How to prevent razor burn | What are ingrown hairs and how to prevent themWhat is razor burn and how do you treat it? (Note that razor burn is different from razor bumps, or ingrown hairs, which we cover below). In fact, King said the worst marks come from picking at ingrown hairs, not the ingrown hairs themselves.

☆ German Jan-July gas import costs surge 164% as imports drop 25.5%
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Pipes at the landfall facilities of the 'Nord Stream 1' gas pipeline are pictured in Lubmin, Germany, March 8, 2022. REUTERS/Hannibal HanschkeFRANKFURT, Sept 21 (Reuters) - German natural gas import costs rose by 164% in the first seven months of 2022 from a year earlier, even though imports were down by 25.5%, official monthly data showed on Wednesday. Gas data also correlates with coal, as both compete in the production of electricity, while also giving clues about demand for mandatory European Union carbon emissions permits. BAFA's statistics, which are published with a two-month delay, showed January-July imports at 2,282,849 terajoules (TJ), or 64.9 billion cubic metres (bcm), compared with 3,065,578 TJ a year earlier. As supply disruptions propelled gas prices to record highs, Germany's import bill increased to 38.3 billion euros ($37.86 billion) in the seven-month period, compared with 14.5 billion euros in the same period of 2021, the data showed.

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