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☆ Thousands rally across Australia in support of Indigenous reform
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, July 2 (Reuters) - Thousands rallied in Australia on Sunday to back a campaign to recognise the country's Indigenous people in the constitution ahead of a referendum later this year, after a recent dip in support for the change. Another attendee, Isabelle Smith, said in her opinion the referendum was the most important issue in Australia. "It’ll bring Australians together and I think voting 'Yes' is the most important thing that people can do," she said. Opponents, including some Indigenous people, have said the proposal lacks detail and will divide Australians. Indigenous Australians, who account for 3.8% of the population, face disadvantages including discrimination, poor health and education outcomes and high incarceration rates.

Persons: Anthony Albanese's, Jason Howard, Isabelle Smith, It’ll, Yes23, Rachel Perkins, Sam McKeith, James Redmayne, Jill Gralow, Simon Cameron, Moore, William Mallard Organizations: SYDNEY, Voice, Aboriginal, Torres Strait, Labor, Liberal, Australian, of Social, Sydney, Indigenous, ABC, Thomson Locations: Australia, Sydney

☆ What next for Wagner? Russia’s Putin battles to regain control after short-lived revolt
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Members of Wagner group looks from a military vehicle in Rostov-on-Don late on June 24, 2023. It marked what many regard as the greatest challenge to Russian President Vladimir Putin's authority in his more than two decades in power. Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with servicemen at the Kremlin in Moscow on June 27, 2023. At best, Granville said the Wagner Group was likely to be "a shadow of its former self" in Ukraine following the revolt. Russia's political crisisRussian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday dismissed questions about a political crisis.

Persons: Wagner, Roman Romokhov, Vladimir Putin's, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin, Mikhail Tereshchenko, nationalize Wagner, Putin, Wagner Group's Prigiozhin, Alexander Lukashenko, that's, Pat Ryder, Faustin, BARBARA DEBOUT, Ryder, It's, Christopher Granville, Granville, Sergey Lavrov, Lavrov, Sergei Surovikin, Surovikin Organizations: AFP, Getty, Wagner Group, Kremlin, Russian Ministry of Defense's, Wagner, Russian Armed Forces, Belarusian, Analysts, CNBC, Pentagon, Central African, TS Lombard, Reuters, Associated Press Locations: Rostov, Ukraine, Moscow, Europe, U.S, Russia, Asipovichy, Belarus, Belarusian, Africa, Syria, BANGUI, Central African Republic, Bangui, France, AFP, Russian

☆ Stream These 8 Movies Before They Leave Netflix in July
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Jason Bailey | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

‘Julie & Julia’ (July 31)Julia Child was an easy figure to impersonate but perhaps not so simple to inhabit. The film focuses on Gardner’s period of homelessness and the sacrifices he made while completing an unpaid internship at a prestigious firm. It’s a formulaic piece of work but a nevertheless affecting one. ‘Stepmom’ (July 31)The “Home Alone” director Chris Columbus continued the softening of his touch that began with “Mrs. Julia Roberts plays the title character, a fashion photographer who is dating, and then marries, a much older, divorced father (Ed Harris).

Persons: ‘ Julie, Julia ’, Julia Child, Meryl Streep, Julie Powell, Amy Adams, Nora Ephron, Stanley Tucci, Chris Messina, Happyness ’, Gabriele Muccino, Chris Gardner, Oscar, Will Smith, Gardner, Jaden, Skyfall ’, Daniel Craig, James Bond, “ Bourne, Sam Mendes, Roger Deakins, Thomas Newman, Javier Bardem, Stepmom ’, Chris Columbus, “ Mrs, Doubtfire ”, Julia Roberts, Ed Harris, Susan Sarandon, —, It’s, ’, Kate Beckinsale Organizations: “

☆ A shipping emissions showdown stands in the way of one of the biggest climate deals of the decade
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The IMO is expected to update its current target of halving shipping emissions by 2050, from 2008 levels, but many are concerned about the maritime regulator's appetite to embrace interim targets. There is a lot of outside pressure pushing on the IMO because it is the climate negotiation of the summer. Gregor Fischer | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesIf stringent abatement measures are not implemented, the IMO has warned that shipping emissions could jump by up to 50% by mid-century. The 1.5 degrees Celsius goal is recognized as a crucial global target because beyond this level, so-called tipping points become more likely. Stefan Rousseau - Pa Images | Pa Images | Getty ImagesAsked which delegates were likely to seek to block calls for tougher climate targets, Maggs replied, "I think there are, of course, the usual suspects.

Persons: Aoife O'Leary, Opportunity Green John Maggs, Maggs, Gregor Fischer, General Kitack Lim, " Lim, Stefan Rousseau Organizations: International Maritime Organization, Getty, Environment, Opportunity, Clean Shipping Coalition, CNBC, United, Chamber of Shipping, Associated Press, ICS Locations: London, decarbonize, Paris, Germany, Russia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Brazil, India

☆ Shocked by the speed of the Wagner revolt, Russia's neighbors want to beef up NATO's eastern flank
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Petras Malukas | Afp | Getty ImagesThe fallout of the Wagner Group's short-lived armed rebellion has raised the alarm among Europe's Baltic countries. Speaking alongside his counterparts from Latvia and Estonia on Tuesday, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said that the speed of the Wagner uprising underscored the strategic importance of strengthening NATO's eastern flank. Germany has offered to send around 4,000 troops to Lithuania on a permanent basis to bolster NATO's eastern flank. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year had already fueled concerns about the regional security of the Baltic region. Regional security concernsLatvia Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics described the Wagner rebellion as an example of "one evil fighting another evil."

Persons: Griffin, Silvestras, Petras Malukas, Wagner, Vladimir Putin's, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Alexander Lukashenko, Prigozhin, Gabrielius Landsbergis, Landsbergis, Malukas, Catherine Colonna, Jens Stoltenberg, Russia's, Mario Bikarski, Federica Reccia, Edgars Rinkevics, Rinkevics, Wagner Group's, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Shoigu, Gavriil Grigorov Organizations: Afp, Getty, Belarusian, Lithuanian, NATO, French, European Union, Economist Intelligence Unit, CNBC, Latvia, AFP Locations: Lithuanian, Pabrade, Lithuania, Baltic, Moscow, Latvia, Estonia, Russia, Paris, Belarus, Estonian, Germany, Vilnius, Ukraine, Belarusian, Russian

☆ How Wagner's short-lived mutiny could shape the direction of Russia's war in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Sergei Supinsky | Afp | Getty ImagesUkrainian forces can look to take advantage of the Wagner Group's short-lived armed rebellion, analysts said, with confusion among Russia's military leadership expected to considerably weaken their war effort. A weekend of mayhem has left observers of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine questioning what could happen next. Tony Brenton, former British ambassador to Russia, agreed that the Wagner mercenary group had been the most effective component of Russia's military in Ukraine to date. watch nowUltimately, Barranco said the recent turn of events is likely to provide Ukraine's military leadership with something of an opportunity after more than 16 months of fighting. Head of the Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin left the Southern Military District headquarters on June 24, 2023 in Rostov-on-Don, Russia.

Persons: Sergei Supinsky, Wagner, Vladimir Putin's, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Alexander Lukashenko, Prigozhin, John Barranco, Wagner Barranco, Barranco, Tony Brenton, Brenton, CNBC's, Putin, Roman Romokhov, Oleksii Reznikov, Defense Lloyd Austin, Reznikov, Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin Organizations: Afp, Getty, Belarusian, . Marine Corps, Strategy, Security, CNBC, Southern Military, Southern Military District, Ukrainian Defense, U.S, Defense, Twitter, Wagner Group, Stringer, Anadolu Agency Locations: Ukrainian, Russian, Kyiv, Ukraine, Moscow, British, Russia, Rostov, Belarus, Don, U.S, Bakhmut

☆ Mortgage catastrophe brews in Britain as millions are pushed toward insolvency
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conceded shortly after the BOE's rate hike that the government's mission to halve inflation to 5% by the end of the year had recently become more difficult. There is intensifying pressure on Britain's government to do more to help struggling households, with the country's shadow finance minister warning of a "mortgage catastrophe" as millions are pushed to the brink of insolvency. The Bank of England last week hiked interest rates by 50 basis points to 5%, a bigger increase than many had expected. The BOE's 13th consecutive rate rise takes the base rate to the highest level since 2008. "The rise in interest rates to 5% will push millions of households with mortgages towards the brink of insolvency," said Max Mosley, an economist at NIESR.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, NIESR, Max Mosley Organizations: Bank of England, National Institute of Economic, Social Research Locations: Wales, England

☆ Australian prime minister's visit to China to be locked in at 'appropriate time'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, June 25 (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Sunday that he would set the date for a China visit at an "appropriate time" as he stressed the importance of bilateral trade and expressed concerns about an Australian journalist detained in Beijing. Talks are under way about a visit by Albanese to China as Australia's centre-left Labor government pushes to end unofficial Chinese bans and tariffs placed on some Australian products in 2020 during a lowpoint in diplomatic relations. Australia continued to advocate for the removal of any impediments to trade between the "two great nations", Albanese added. China in May said it was set to resume imports of Australian timber days after Trade Minister Don Farrell returned from a trip to Beijing. A visit by Foreign Minister Penny Wong in December was followed weeks later by the resumption of coal shipments.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Cheng Lei, it's, Don Farrell, Penny Wong, Sam McKeith, David Gregorio Our Organizations: SYDNEY, Australian, Labor, NATO, Vilnius, Sky News, Trade, Foreign, Thomson Locations: China, Beijing, Lithuanian, Australia

SYDNEY, June 25 (Reuters) - PwC Australia on Sunday entered an exclusivity agreement with private equity firm Allegro Funds to sell its government practice for A$1 as it brought in an executive from Singapore to lead its local firm through the fallout from a national scandal. Amid a growing backlash from key government clients, PwC said it had entered an exclusivity agreement to divest its federal and state government business to Allegro Funds for A$1 ($0.67) as first reported on Friday. A spokesperson for Allegro Funds declined to comment. NEW CHIEF EXECUTIVEGlobal PwC Chair Bob Moritz publicly apologised in a statement and said PwC Australia had failed to meet the firm's standards and values under past leadership. "PwC Australia has significant work to do and I am confident that the steps they are taking ... will result in a stronger firm," Moritz said.

Persons: PwC, Justin Carroll, Deborah O'Neill, Bob Moritz, Kevin Burrowes, Kristin Stubbins, Burrowes, Moritz, Lewis Jackson, Sam McKeith, Christopher Cushing, Tom Hogue Organizations: SYDNEY, Sunday, Funds, Allegro Funds, PwC, Labor, Global, & Industries, Thomson Locations: Australia, Singapore, Sydney

☆ Veterans Rapinoe, Morgan named in U.S. World Cup squad
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Amy Tennery | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Jun 10, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; OL Reign forward Megan Rapinoe (15) is seen before the game against the Kansas City Current at Lumen Field. Five players, Rapinoe, Morgan, midfielder Julie Ertz, defender Kelley O’Hara and goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher were part of the victorious U.S. World Cup squads in 2015 and 2019. The top-ranked Americans are fielding one of their least experienced squads in recent memory, with 14 of the 23 players going to their first World Cup, compared to 11 in 2019 and seven in 2015. Sam's sister and fellow midfielder, Kristie Mewis, was included in the roster for her first World Cup at age 32. Her Gotham FC team mate, Lynn Williams, also made the cut for the global showpiece tournament for the first time at age 30.

Persons: Megan Rapinoe, Michael Thomas Shroyer, Alex Morgan, Vlatko Andonovski, Alyssa Thompson, Naomi Girma, Savannah DeMelo, Andonovski, Sophia Smith, Trinity Rodman, Morgan, Julie Ertz, Kelley O’Hara, Alyssa Naeher, Mallory Swanson, Becky Sauerbrunn, Catarina Macario, Sam Mewis, Kristie Mewis, Lynn Williams, Aubrey Kingsbury, Casey Murphy, Alana Cook, Crystal Dunn, Emily Fox, Sofia Huerta, Kelley O'Hara, Emily Sonnett, Lindsey Horan, Rose Lavelle, Kristie, Ashley Sanchez, Andi Sullivan, Amy Tennery, Ed Osmond Organizations: Kansas, Lumen, YORK, Savannah, Women's Soccer League, U.S, Gotham FC, Washington, North, Courage, Chicago Red Stars, Portland Thorns FC, Diego Wave FC, NY Gotham FC, Racing Louisville FC, FC, Olympique Lyonnais, San Diego Wave FC, Angel, Thomson Locations: Seattle , Washington, USA, States, Australia, New Zealand, NJ, Angel, New York

☆ Heavens above! Church of England clergy demand pay rise for first time in history
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Sachin Ravikumar | Thomson Reuters | Sachin Ravikumar Is A Correspondent For Reuters In London Covering General News Across The Uk. Over Nine Years At Reuters | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, June 19 (Reuters) - Even the clergy are not immune from Britain's cost-of-living crisis, which has now forced Church of England vicars to make a formal pay claim for the first time in their nearly 500-year history. A Church of England spokesperson said it was aware that its clergy were dealing with a cost-of-living crisis. The Church last year set aside 3 million pounds for dioceses to make grants to help clergy struggling with the rising energy bills. Unite proposed the clergy's national minimum stipend rise to 29,340 pounds ($37,600) and the national stipend benchmark be increased to 31,335 pounds, it said. "Last year many clergy had to turn to charitable aid because they couldn't make ends meet," said Sam Maginnis, a member of the clergy and Unite.

Persons: Sharon Graham, Sam Maginnis, Sachin Ravikumar, Angus MacSwan Organizations: of, of England, Archbishop's Council, Thomson Locations: of England

☆ Australian senator quits Liberal Party after allegations of misconduct
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, June 18 (Reuters) - A senator from Australia's main opposition Liberal Party facing accusations of sexual misconduct by several female politicians has resigned from the party but will stay in parliament, the senator's office said on Sunday. The claims against Liberal Party Senator David Van follow a 2021 inquiry into Australia's parliament house culture that found one in three people working there had experienced sexual harassment. Van, who denies the accusations, said in a message to the president of the Victorian division of the Liberal Party that he would resign his membership immediately. Following Thorpe's comments, former Liberal senator Amanda Stoker said in a statement that Van inappropriately touched her at a party in 2020 by squeezing her bottom twice. A third claim has also emerged against senator Van, Dutton told the media on Friday, without giving details.

Persons: David Van, Van, Peter Dutton, Lidia Thorpe, Amanda Stoker, Dutton, Scott Morrison, Sam McKeith, Lincoln Organizations: SYDNEY, Liberal Party, Liberal, Victorian, Reuters, Thomson

☆ Australian PM pledges $1.4 bln for afforable homes
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, June 17 (Reuters) - Australia's centre-left Labor government said on Saturday it would commit A$2 billion ($1.4 billion) to deliver thousands of new affordable homes nationwide, as the country grapples with soaring living costs. "The Labor government that I lead believes that every Australian deserves the security of a roof over their head," Albanese said in Melbourne. "One hundred percent will be public housing, this is money for public housing." Separately, the government wants to establish an A$10 billion housing fund to build at least 30,000 new affordable homes, but has faced opposition in parliament from minor party senators. At June 2021, there were 417,800 households on major social housing programmes, including public housing, up from 378,600 in June 2008, according to government data.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, " Albanese, Albanese, Sam McKeith, Stephen Coates Organizations: SYDNEY, Labor, stoke, Thomson Locations: Melbourne

☆ Cash and carbon cuts stall UN climate talks — setting the stage for a 'huge fight' at COP28
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) looks on during the opening session at the UNFCCC SB58 Bonn Climate Change Conference on June 05, 2023 in Bonn, Germany. The Bonn Climate Change Conference, which wrapped late Thursday, is designed to prepare decisions for adoption at the COP28 summit in the United Arab Emirates later this year. For many at the two-week-long event, the lack of progress on issues such as climate finance and the pace of cuts in carbon pollution left a lot to be desired. The UAE, the third-largest oil-producing member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, will host the COP28 summit from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12. WRI's Waskow said that, while the thorny issue of climate finance was not on the official agenda, "it clearly cast a shadow over the negotiations."

Persons: Simon Stiell, David Waskow, Waskow, WRI's Waskow Organizations: United Nations, Change, United Arab, World Resources Institute, Organization of, Petroleum Locations: Bonn, Germany, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Paris, Dubai

☆ 'A war for water': Europe sounds the alarm on water stress ahead of another extreme summer
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A view of the practically empty swamp that supplied water to Fuente obejuna village in Cordoba, Spain on May 19, 2023. European lawmakers issued a stark warning about the region's growing water crisis ahead of another extreme summer, saying there is a pressing need to tackle issues such as scarcity, food security and pollution. Speaking at a European Parliament plenary session entitled "The Water Crisis in Europe" on Thursday, lawmakers called for increased action to preserve and improve water resources, already affected by several years of depleting groundwater levels as the climate crisis continues to intensify. "Some regions are suffering from water scarcity due to the droughts, while others are suffering from floods. "Let us not be the continent that learns the value of water after the well has run dry."

Persons: Energy Kadri Simson, Simson Organizations: Energy, EU Locations: Fuente obejuna, Cordoba, Spain, Europe, France

Global oil demand growth will trickle nearly to a halt in the coming years and peak this decade, according to the International Energy Agency, with Chinese consumption set to slow down after an initial pent-up recovery. "The shift to a clean energy economy is picking up pace, with a peak in global oil demand in sight before the end of this decade as electric vehicles, energy efficiency and other technologies advance," IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said in a statement. Annual demand growth, however, will thin down from 2.4 million barrels per day this year to 400,000 barrels per day in 2028. Global supply capacity will rise by 5.9 million barrels per day to 111 million barrels per day by 2028 in IEA estimates, with growth lulling amid a U.S. slowdown. This will lead to a spare capacity cushion of 4.1 million barrels per day, focused in OPEC heavyweights Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Persons: Fatih Birol Organizations: International Energy Agency, Organization of, Petroleum, U.S, Global, Saudi, IEA Locations: OPEC, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Russian, Russia

☆ Shell boosts dividend by 15%, maintains oil output through to 2030
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

British oil major Shell on Wednesday announced plans to boost returns to shareholders and keep oil output steady, as part of its strategy to simplify the group's business and improve investor confidence. This includes raising the dividend per share by an expected 15% from the second quarter and executing at least $5 billion of share buybacks in the second half of the year. "Performance, discipline, and simplification will be our guiding principles as we allocate capital to enhance shareholder distributions, while enabling the energy transition," said Shell CEO Wael Sawan. The British oil major reported a record annual profit of nearly $40 billion for 2022. The firm on Wednesday announced capital spending will be reduced to $22 billion to $25 billion per year for 2024 and 2025, respectively.

Persons: Shell, Wael Sawan Organizations: Shell, Wednesday, Markets Locations: New York, U.S, London

☆ Shares of Manchester United briefly pop 16% after Qatar media hints at takeover bid ‘success'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

A statue of George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton standing outside Old Trafford, home of Manchester United in Manchester, England. Shares of Manchester United rose as much as 16% in premarket trading on Tuesday after Qatari media suggested Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani was likely to succeed with his takeover bid. Al-Watan is co-owned by Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani. Shares of Manchester United, which exclusively trade on the New York Stock Exchange, were around 4% higher at 3:15 a.m. "All the news received indicates the success of Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad bin Jassim's acquisition of Manchester United, and the announcement of the deal will be very soon," he said.

Persons: George Best, Denis Law, Bobby Charlton, Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad, Thani, Qatar's, Sheikh Jassim, Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber, Jim Ratcliffe, Fahad, Glazer, Ratcliffe Organizations: Manchester United, Watan, Premier League soccer, New York Stock Exchange, Twitter, Al, Al Watan Locations: Old Trafford, Manchester, England, Qatar's Al, Thani

Silvio Berlusconi, the billionaire media mogul who served as Italian prime minister multiple times between 1994 and 2011, has died. Berlusconi died at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, according to local media. Berlusconi's extensive political career included appointments as Italian prime minister from 1994 to 1995, 2001 to 2006 and 2008 to 2011. His Forza Italia party is currently a junior partner in Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's ruling right-wing coalition. The former Italian leader had promised — but failed — to sell his assets in the media company when he was prime minister.

Persons: Silvio Berlusconi, Berlusconi, Giorgia Meloni's, —, Karima Organizations: San Raffaele Hospital, CNBC, Forza Italia, Italian soccer, AC Milan, Italy's Locations: Milan, Italian

☆ Upstart News Site Has Youth on Its Side, and Albany in Its Sights
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Ginia Bellafante | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Out of these and other revelations came the notion for New York Focus, a nonprofit news site. But it would distinguish itself by concentrating on the way that power is exercised in Albany and how it filters down and affects almost everything. The order would have also prevented Mr. Lennon and writers like him from getting paid. A day after the New York Focus piece appeared, the corrections department rescinded the directive. In November New York Focus, with the Intercept as a partner, published the results of a yearlong investigation into allegations of physical and sexual abuse at Shawangunk Correctional Facility in Ulster County.

Persons: Mehta’s, Sam Mellins, Lee Harris, John J, Lennon, sodomizing Organizations: York, state’s Department of Corrections, Community Supervision, Sullivan Correctional, New York, New York Times Magazine, New, PEN America, Shawangunk Locations: City, Hell, New York City, Albany, Chicago, York, New York, Ulster County

☆ Ukraine's dam disaster is 'unlikely' to derail its plans for a counteroffensive against Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine accused Russian forces of blowing up the dam, while the Kremlin denied the attack and said Kyiv intentionally sabotaged the dam to distract attention from its counteroffensive. The dam breach comes amid months of buildup to Ukraine's counteroffensive, a phase of the war that many see as potentially pivotal in Kyiv's pursuit of victory. A spokesperson for the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Friday, however, dismissed reports that a counteroffensive had begun, according to Reuters. Ukraine's government has repeatedly said there will be no public announcement of the start of the counteroffensive. Andrius Tursa, central and Eastern Europe advisor at Teneo, a political risk consultancy, said the destruction of the Nova Kakhovka dam may alter Ukraine's offensive plans — but was "unlikely to derail" them.

Persons: Andrius, Tursa Organizations: Kremlin, CNBC, NBC, General Staff, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Reuters Locations: Donetsk region, Russian, Ukraine, Kyiv, Eastern Europe, Nova, Crimea

☆ 'Fight has only just begun': Climate activist Greta Thunberg holds her final school strike
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg on Friday took part in her final school strike, signing off after 251 consecutive weeks of demonstrations with a warning that "the fight has only just begun." "Today, I graduate from school, which means I'll no longer be able to school strike for the climate," Thunberg said on Twitter. "This is then the last school strike for me, so I guess I have to write something on this day." Just as she did in August of that year, Thunberg marked her final school strike by protesting with a handmade sign that translated to read, "School strike for climate." Initially a one-person demonstration, Thunberg's act would go onto inspire a global protest for climate action.

Persons: Thunberg, Greta Thunberg, Donald Trump, Scott Morrison Organizations: Twitter, Australian

☆ Not a question of money: Soccer legend Lionel Messi chooses Inter Miami in blow to Saudi Arabia
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Messi on Wednesday announced he will sign for Major League Soccer side Inter Miami, choosing the United States as his next destination over a Barcelona reunion or blockbuster deal to play in Saudi Arabia. Argentine superstar Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest soccer players of all time, has spurned a highly lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia, choosing to instead ply his trade with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami. It always appeared unlikely, however, given the club's longstanding problem of getting to grips with La Liga's Financial Fair Play rules. "I made the decision that I'm going to go to Miami," Messi revealed in an interview with Spanish news outlets Mundo Deportivo and Sport, according to a translation. He added: "Obviously, with the same responsibility and desire to want to win and to always do things well.

Persons: Messi, Lionel Messi, Germain, Unexpectedly, he'd, I'm Organizations: Wednesday, Major League Soccer, Inter Miami, Al, Paris Saint, Miami, Spanish, Mundo Deportivo, Sport, U.S Locations: United States, Barcelona, Saudi Arabia, Argentine, Spanish, Argentina, Hilal, Miami, Europe

☆ Oil giant Shell's UK ad campaign banned for being 'likely to mislead' consumers
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Britain's advertising regulator has banned an ad campaign promoting the green initiatives of Shell, saying the marketing of the oil giant's lower emissions energy products was "likely to mislead" consumers. All published in 2022, the ads sought to raise awareness of the range of Shell's energy products under a campaign tagline of "The U.K. is ready for cleaner energy." The Advertising Standards Authority said Tuesday that, following an investigation, it had concluded that the ad campaign may lead people to overestimate the firm's investment in clean energy. "We strongly disagree with the ASA's decision, which could slow the UK's drive towards renewable energy," a company spokesperson said. The ASA ruling noted that Shell believed the ads "accurately represented" the range of lower emissions energy products and services it offers and that any mention of the firm's high-carbon products would have been "counterproductive."

Persons: Shell Organizations: Shell, Shell YouTube, Standards Authority, ASA Locations: Bristol, England

☆ The destruction of a major Ukrainian dam could have grave consequences. Here’s what we know so far
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

A partially flooded area of Kherson on June 6, 2023, following damage sustained at the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam. "The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant dam only confirms for the whole world that they must be expelled from every corner of Ukrainian land. "As a result of detonation of the engine room from the inside, the Kakhovskaya [hydroelectric power plant] was completely destroyed. 'No immediate risk' to Zaporizhzhia nuclear plantThe U.N.'s nuclear watchdog said it was closely monitoring the situation at Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe's largest nuclear power station.

Persons: Dmitry Peskov, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Ukrhydroenergo, Nova Kakhovka, Peter Stano, Jens Stoltenberg, meanwhile, Rafael Grossi, Grossi, Carl Court Organizations: Anadolu Agency, Getty, Google, Tass, CNBC, NBC News, Internal Affairs Ministry, Afp, National Security and Defense Council, European Commission, Ukraine, European Union, NATO, Twitter, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Carl Locations: Russian, Ukraine's Kherson, Ukraine, Nova Kakhovka, Moscow, Nova, Crimean, Russia, Kherson, Ukrainian, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia

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