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☆ Free-diver plunges to record depth beneath frozen Swiss lake
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

David Vencl Organisation/Handout via REUTERSLAKE SILS, Switzerland, March 14 (Reuters) - David Vencl emerged from the depths of Switzerland's Lake Sils on Tuesday after a record dive beneath the ice to a depth of more than 50 meters without a wetsuit. "There is nothing difficult for him to be in cold water... But this was completely different because it's really difficult to work with the pressure in your ears in cold water," he added. "If you combine all these three things: cold water, lack of oxygen and the problem with working with pressure, it's something very unique," he added. Reporting by Denis Balibouse in Lake Sils, Switzerland Writing by Emma Farge Editing by Matthew LewisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Russia suggests renewing Black Sea grain deal for shorter term
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Black Sea grain initiative, brokered between Russia and Ukraine by the United Nations and Turkey last July, aimed to prevent a global food crisis by allowing Ukrainian grain blockaded by Russia's invasion to be safely exported from three Ukrainian ports. Russia, he said, "does not object to another extension of the 'Black Sea Initiative' after its second term expiration on March 18, but only for 60 days." 'CRITICAL MOMENT'The United Nations said it noted the Russian position and that it remained "fully committed to the Black Sea Grain Initiative, as well as to efforts to facilitate the export of Russian food and fertilizer." "The UN Secretary-General has confirmed that the UN will do everything possible to preserve the integrity of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and ensure its continuity," it said in a statement. "To extend it for 60 days, you have to amend the deal."

☆ Ukraine scorns Russian missile strikes on civilians, defence of Bakhmut holds
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( Pavel Polityuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/7] Ukrainian servicemen walk along a muddy road near the frontline town of Bakhmut amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, Donetsk region, Ukraine March 8, 2023. Kyiv says the air strikes have no military purpose and aim to harm and intimidate civilians, a war crime. Ukrainian military analyst Oleh Zhdanov said that the failure of Russian intelligence to identify military targets and led to a "Plan B - demoralising the population". HYPERSONIC MISSILESThe White House said that the barrage was "devastating" to see and Washington would continue to provide Ukraine with air defence capabilities. Moscow says Bakhmut is important as a step to securing the surrounding Donbas region, a major war aim.

☆ Solar firms Sunnova and Sunrun shed light on exposure to Silicon Valley Bank
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

March 10 (Reuters) - Residential solar companies Sunrun Inc (RUN.O) and Sunnova Energy (NOVA.N) on Friday disclosed their exposure to SVB Financial Group (SIVB.O), which has been closed down by California banking regulators. Sunrun stated SVB was one of the lenders in two of its credit facilities, but said it was less than 15% of its total hedging facilities and does not anticipate significant exposure. Sunrun has cash deposits with SVB totaling nearly $80 million, while SVB's undrawn commitment in the non-recourse senior aggregation warehouse facility is about $40 million. Sunnova also views its exposure to SVB as negligible since it does not hold cash deposits or securities with the financial group. California banking regulators closed startup-focused lender SVB on Friday, which does business as Silicon Valley Bank, making it the largest bank failure since the 2008 financial crisis.

☆ Ukraine and U.N. call at talks for Black Sea grain deal extension
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-08 | by ( Pavel Polityuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KYIV, March 8 (Reuters) - Ukraine's president and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on Wednesday for the extension of a deal with Moscow that has allowed Kyiv to export grain via Black Sea ports during Russia's invasion. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said after talks with Guterres in Kyiv that the Black Sea Grain Initiative was necessary for the world, and the U.N. chief underlined the importance of the deal to global food security and food prices. "I want to underscore the critical importance of rolling over the Black Sea Grain Initiative on 18 March and working to create the conditions to enable the greatest possible use of export infrastructure through the Black Sea in line with the objectives of the initiative," Guterres told reporters. Russia, which lifted a blockade of three Ukrainian Black Sea ports under the deal, has signalled that obstacles to its own agricultural exports need to be removed before it lets the deal continue. To help convince Russia to allow Ukraine to resume Black Sea grain exports, a three-year deal was also struck last year in which the United Nations agreed to help facilitate Russian food and fertilizer exports.

[1/5] Grain farmer Oleksandr Klepach points at trenches in his field, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Snihurivka, southeast Ukraine, February 20, 2023. Agricultural companies, which plant most of Ukraine's fields, are short 40 billion hryvnia ($1.08 billion) to carry out spring work, the Agrarian Council said. Grains have traditionally dominated Ukraine's fields, but lower-cost and higher-priced oilseeds are gaining popularity during war. Ukraine was the world's fourth-largest corn exporter before Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022 and the biggest sunflower oil exporter. Companies lacking demining certification are charging farmers up to $3,000 per hectare to clear fields, Ukrainian media reported on Tuesday.

☆ Ukraine military names man allegedly shot by Russian invaders in video
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

In a Facebook post, the 30th Mechanized Brigade named the man as Tymofiy Shadura. - or Glory to Ukraine - before multiple shots are heard coming from an unseen shooter or shooters. "According to preliminary information, the deceased is a serviceman of the 30th separate mechanized brigade, Tymofiy Mykolayovych Shadura," the brigade's Facebook post said. "The command of the 30th separate mechanized brigade and the Hero's brothers express their sincere condolences to his relatives and friends. Ukrainian and Western authorities say there is evidence for thousands of war crimes committed in Ukraine since Russia invaded in February, 2022.

☆ Most of Ukraine's winter grain crops in good condition - scientists
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Sofiia GatilovaKYIV, March 6 (Reuters) - Most of Ukraine's winter grain crops - winter wheat and barley - are in good condition and could produce a good harvest, Ukraine's academy of agricultural science was quoted as saying on Monday. Ukraine is a traditional grower of winter wheat which accounts for around 95% of the country's overall wheat output, and key for both local consumption and exports. Of the winter wheat sown last year, only 4.9 million hectares were harvested in Ukrainian-controlled territory, as Russian forces occupied some areas. Ukraine's wheat harvest declined to 20.2 million tonnes in 2022 from 32.2 million tonnes in 2021. Overall grain output fell to around 54 million tonnes from a record 86 million in 2021.

☆ NHL roundup: Bruins become fastest to 100 points
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

With their ninth consecutive win, the Bruins improved to 48-8-5 on the season and became the fastest team in NHL history to record 100 points, doing so in 61 games. Charlie Coyle, Brandon Carlo and David Krejci each recorded two assists while Patrice Bergeron and Connor Clifton also scored goals. Casey Mittelstadt scored the lone goal and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 35 saves for the Sabres, who dropped their second straight. The Lightning are 2-3-3 in their past eight games and have lost three straight for the first time. The Stars gave goalie Matt Murray his NHL debut, and he finished with 19 saves for the win.

☆ Putin’s Secret Weapon on Energy: an Ex-Morgan Stanley Banker
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Benoit Faucon | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Russia urgently needs to develop new markets for its oil and gas companies, with Western sanctions cutting into the backbone of its economy. It’s relying on a 37-year-old former Morgan Stanley banker to keep profits flowing. Pavel Sorokin , Russia’s deputy energy minister, is part of a cadre of young technocrats with deep knowledge of the West, fast-tracked by Vladmir Putin to the upper echelons of power. Mr. Sorokin, who studied finance in London, has negotiated deals in Africa and the Middle East. He played an early role in the development of OPEC+, the partnership between Russia’s oil industry and the Saudi-led Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

☆ Djokovic powers past Griekspoor into Dubai quarter-finals
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] ATP 500 - Dubai Tennis Championships - The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates - March 1, 2023 Serbia's Novak Djokovic in action during his round of 16 match against Netherlands' Tallon Griekspoor REUTERS/Amr AlfikyMarch 1 (Reuters) - Novak Djokovic stormed into the quarter-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Wednesday with a 6-2 6-3 thrashing of Tallon Griekspoor, swiftly returning to his best form at a tournament he has won five times. A day after being taken to three sets by Czech qualifier Tomas Machac, Djokovic was back to his ruthless best and blasted past a shell-shocked Griekspoor to take the first set with two breaks of serve. Griekspoor managed to win a game and world number one Djokovic dropped serve with a double fault before sealing victory in style. Yesterday, I really had to work hard to get a win," Djokovic said. I have no words to describe it," Rublev, who has saved match points en route to victory three times this season, said.

REUTERS/Lisi NiesnerBILOZERKA, Ukraine, March 1 (Reuters) - When Ukraine recaptured Kherson in November, Andrii Povod returned to find his grain farm in ruins. The institute's Baliuk said the war damage could lead to an alarming loss of fertility. ECHOES OF WORLD WAR ONEA working group of soil scientists created by the Ukrainian government estimates it would cost $15 billion to remove all mines and restore Ukraine's soil to its former health. If studies of damage to land during World War One are anything to go by, some areas will never recover. To be sure, World War One lasted four years, and the war in Ukraine only one year so far, but lead remains a key component of many modern munitions, Rintoul-Hynes said.

☆ NHL roundup: Linus Ullmark's record night lifts Bruins
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Dmitry Orlov scored twice in a three-point game while Pavel Zacha also scored for the Bruins. Panthers 4, Lightning 1Eric Staal, Anton Lundell and Eetu Luostarinen scored first-period goals as Florida broke Tampa Bay's club-record 16-game home point streak. Sergei Bobrovsky's 29 saves helped him set a record for most NHL wins by a Russian goaltender (354). Jesse Ylonen, Kaiden Guhle and Christian Dvorak scored third-period goals for the Canadiens, who have won three of four. Travis Boyd, Barrett Hayton and Jack McBain also scored goals and Clayton Keller added a pair of assists for Arizona, which snapped a two-game losing streak.

☆ NHL roundup: Connor McDavid's 49th, 50th goals can't stop Bruins
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Edmonton's Connor McDavid scored twice for the first 50-goal season of his NHL career. Rantanen has goals in five straight games and MacKinnon recorded at least a point in his eighth consecutive game. Andrei Kuzmenko scored the winner 48 seconds into the overtime for the Canucks, who are 3-1-1 in their past five games. Isac Lundestrom, Jakob Silfverberg and Troy Terry also scored goals for the Ducks, with Silfverberg recording his 150th in an Anaheim uniform. Tyler Johnson and Andreas Athanasiou each scored goals for the Blackhawks, who saw their season-best five-game winning streak come to an end.

☆ NHL roundup: Roope Hintz's SO goal lifts Stars past Knights
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

Rookie Wyatt Johnston also scored a goal and Jamie Benn added two assists for the Stars. Eichel and Michael Amadio both scored goals for Vegas, which saw its five-game home winning streak snapped. Patrik Laine had a goal with two assists and Kirill Marchenko scored twice for the Blue Jackets, who swept the two-game season series from Edmonton. It was Oshie's first career game with a goal, assist and a fight, known as a Gordie Howe hat trick. Tyler Toffoli scored, Jacob Markstrom turned away 18 shots and Nazem Kadri had an assist in his return to Colorado.

☆ Russia steps up hostilities to deplete Ukraine's forces - Kyiv
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( Pavel Polityuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Ukrainian service members ride tanks, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, near the frontline town of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine February 21, 2023. "The enemy, having an advantage in the resource of human mobilisation, is deliberately intensifying hostilities in an effort to deplete the units of the armed forces of Ukraine," Gromov said. "To try to capture Bakhmut, the occupiers have used the most prepared units of the regular forces." 'STEPPING STONE'Donetsk and Luhansk are two of four regions that Russia has declared part of Russia although it does not fully control of either. Russia controls nearly a fifth of Ukraine but has suffered a number of setbacks in recent months as Ukrainian forces counter-attacked, using weapons received from Western allies.

☆ Exclusive: Ukraine deepens Bystre Canal on Danube, aims to boost exports - deputy minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Pavel Polityuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine, which was invaded by Russia a year ago, said last week the draught of ships passing through the Bystre Canal had deepened to 6.5 metres from 3.9 metres. sediment clearance, and received no comments," Yuriy Vaskov, Ukraine's deputy minister for restoration, told Reuters in an interview. Ukraine had previously developed a plan to deepen the canal to 8.2-8.3 metres, which it says could be implemented in the future. Romania is an important economic partner for Ukraine, and exporters shipped 8.6 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain through Romania's Black Sea port of Constanta last year. Despite a decrease in the 2022 grain harvest to about 54 million tonnes from a record 86 million in 2021, at least 30 million tonnes of grain are still in silos and could be exported, according to the agriculture ministry.

☆ Ukraine wants one-year grain deal extension to include new ports
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Pavel Polityuk | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] A grain ship carrying Ukrainian grain is seen in the Black Sea, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Ukrainian port of Odesa, Ukraine November 2, 2022. The Black Sea Grain Initiative brokered by the UN and Turkey last July allowed grain to be exported from three Ukrainian ports. At the same time, the UN, Turkey and Ukraine are ready to conduct 40 inspections per day if necessary. Ukraine exports around 3 million tonnes of agricultural products a month under the deal, but Vaskov said Ukraine was able to export 6 million tonnes a month from the ports of Odesa region and boost it to 8 million tonnes if Mykolaiv joins. Despite a decrease in the 2022 grain harvest to around 54 million tonnes from a record 86 million in 2021, at least 30 million tonnes of grain are still in silos and could be exported, according to the agriculture ministry.

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy brushes off criticism from Italy's Berlusconi
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KYIV, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy brushed off criticism from Silvio Berlusconi on Tuesday, saying Italy's ex-prime minister had not had to live under daily bombardment and blackouts caused by Russian air strikes. Zelenskiy was asked at a news conference with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni about remarks by Berlusconi this month saying he would not want to meet Zelenskiy, blaming him for Russia's war in Ukraine. Berlusconi, leader of the conservative Forza Italia party that is part of Italy's ruling coalition, is an old friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin. "Mr. Berlusconi, it seems to me, has never had his house bombarded with missiles every day. Russia launched a campaign of air strikes against Ukraine in October, striking critical infrastructure and causing regular blackouts and other power outages.

Hours before Biden spoke in Poland following a surprise visit to Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed that Moscow would achieve its objectives in Ukraine and accused the West of plotting to destroy Russia. Biden proclaimed "unwavering" support for Kyiv and a commitment to bolstering NATO's eastern flank facing Russia, while rejecting Moscow's contention that the West was plotting to attack Russia. "I can report: Kyiv stands strong, Kyiv stands proud, it stands tall and, most important, it stands free. "When President Putin ordered his tanks to roll into Ukraine, he thought we would roll over. Putin said Ukraine had sought to strike a facility deep inside Russia where it keeps nuclear bombers, a reference to the Engels air base.

[1/3] Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual address to the Federal Assembly in Moscow, Russia February 21, 2023. In a major speech almost a year after his invasion of Ukraine, Putin said Russia was not abandoning the New START treaty - the agreement signed in 2010 that limits the number of Russian and U.S. deployed strategic nuclear warheads. But nuclear experts noted the treaty contains no provision for either side to "suspend" its participation, as he said Moscow was doing - they only have the option to withdraw. According to the Federation of American Scientists, Russia has an estimated 5,977 nuclear warheads in total, while the United States has 5,428. "HUGE INSTABILITY"Putin justified the Russian move by saying it was "absurd" for the United States to demand the right to inspect Russian nuclear sites, as the treaty allows, while NATO was helping Ukraine to attack them.

He suspended a nuclear arms control treaty on Tuesday, accusing Washington of turning the war into a global conflict by arming Ukraine. China and Russia struck a new "no limits" partnership just weeks before the invasion, and China's foreign minister Wang Yi was due to meet Putin on Wednesday. 'FIND A SOLUTION'U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Putin's suspension of the nuclear treaty was "deeply unfortunate and irresponsible". On Wednesday, Biden will meet leaders of the Bucharest Nine, NATO's eastern members that joined the alliance after years of Cold War domination by the then Soviet Union. Two civilians were wounded in a Russian missile strike on Wednesday on industrial facilities in Kharkhiv, the biggest city in eastern Ukraine, local officials said.

☆ Ukraine troops prepare for threat of Russia capturing Bakhmut
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SIVERSK, Ukraine, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Ukrainian troops conducting weekend exercises near the small town of Siversk, in the country's east, said they were preparing to defend one of the possible targets of a new Russian offensive. Ukrainian forces have appealed for more advanced weapons from Kyiv's Western allies to help defend Bakhmut, which is being attacked by Russia's Wagner mercenary group. "We have one artillery attack from our side, and the Russians can do it five times more," said 30-year-old Stefan. Capturing Bakhmut would give Russian forces a stepping stone to advance on two bigger cities further west, Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. But Ukraine and its Western allies say success there would be a largely Pyrrhic victory for Moscow, given the time taken and losses sustained.

Of at least 36 missiles that Russia fired about 16 were shot down, the air force said, a lower rate than normal. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris are among many top officials attending the Munich Security Conference. As Russian troops massed on Ukraine's borders, Western leaders in Munich urged President Vladimir Putin not to invade and warned of dire consequences if he did. Russian leaders will be notable by their absence at the conference, which runs until Sunday, but senior Ukrainian officials are expected to address it. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address his priority was to hold off Russian attacks and get ready for an eventual Ukrainian counter-offensive.

☆ A top Russian military official is dead after falling out of a 16th-floor window, the latest in a string of untimely deaths
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Russian defense official has died after reportedly falling out of a high-rise window. Marina Yankina, who worked for Russia's Western Military District, was found dead on Wednesday. Her death is the latest in a string of untimely deaths among officials and allies tied to Vladimir Putin. Before Yankina joined the Western Military District, she worked for the Federal Tax Service of Russia. Last September, 67-year-old Russian energy oligarch Ravil Maganov also died after falling from a hospital window, Insider reported at the time.

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