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Deal negotiations between Exxon and Pioneer are advanced but have not yet led to an agreement, Reuters reported on Thursday. These transactions were eventually allowed to be completed, and the regulator has not sued to thwart an oil and gas production deal since 2000. The lawyers and experts interviewed said the FTC would face an uphill struggle in challenging Exxon's attempted acquisition of Pioneer. "The modern U.S. experience is that oil and gas deals of any notable size get a close look. It sued to block the merger and only agreed to drop its objections after BP offered to divest oil production acreage in Alaska.

Persons: Joe Biden, Janet Yellen, Leah Millis, producer's, Lina Khan, Andre Barlow, Doyle, Barlow, Mazard PLLC, Sheldon Whitehouse, William Kovacic, George Washington, consultancies Wood MacKenzie, David Kass, Diane Bartz, David French, Mike Stone, Greg Roumeliotis, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Treasury, White, REUTERS, Exxon Mobil, Natural Resources, Exxon, Pioneer, Reuters, Federal Trade Commission, Democratic, George, Companies, Activision, FTC, Atlantic, BP, RBC Capital Markets, Chevron, PDC Energy, University of Maryland, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Atlantic Richfield, Alaska, West Texas, New Mexico, Rystad, Denver, Julesburg, Washington ,, Atlanta

[1/2] A sign for the Royal Bank of Canada in Toronto, Ontario, Canada December 13, 2021. REUTERS/Carlos Osorio Acquire Licensing RightsNEW YORK, Sept 21 (Reuters) - A U.S. federal judge on Thursday said American cities may pursue class-action claims accusing eight large banks of driving up interest rates they paid on a popular municipal bond. Cities led by Baltimore, Philadelphia and San Diego accused the banks of colluding to raise rates on more than 12,000 variable-rate demand obligations (VRDOs) from 2008 to 2016. Cities accused the eight banks of conspiring not to compete for remarketing services, and artificially inflating rates by sharing information about bond inventories and planned rate changes. The case is Philadelphia et al v Bank of America Corp et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No.

Persons: Carlos Osorio, Jesse Furman, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Wells, San Diego, Banks, Furman, Dan Brockett, Jonathan Stempel, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Royal Bank of Canada, REUTERS, U.S, Bank of America, Barclays, Citigroup, JPMorgan, Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, al, Bank of America Corp, Court, Southern District of, Thomson Locations: Toronto , Ontario, Canada, Manhattan, Baltimore, Philadelphia, San, colluding, U.S, Southern District, Southern District of New York, New York

OTTAWA, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Canada is not trying to provoke India by suggesting it was linked to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader, but wants New Delhi to address the issue properly, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday. "The prime minister hasn't provided any facts. We need to have the evidence that allowed the prime minister to come to the conclusions yesterday," Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre told reporters. [1/5]Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada September 19, 2023. New Delhi, which urged Ottawa to act against anti-Indian elements, has long been unhappy over Sikh separatist activity in Canada.

Persons: Justin Trudeau, Trudeau, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, hasn't, Pierre Poilievre, Blair Gable, Balraj, Trudeau's, Mukhbir Singh, Stephen Brown, Singh, Nijjar, David Ljunggren, Steve Scherer, Susan Heavey, Jonathan Oatis, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Conservative, Ottawa, Conservative Party, Canada, U.S, Canada's, REUTERS, Canadian Broadcasting Corp, Indian, Sikh Organization of Canada, National Council of, State Department, Thomson Locations: OTTAWA, Canada, India, New Delhi, British Columbia, Canadian, Ottawa , Ontario, Ottawa, India's, Punjab, Pakistan, Australia, Britain

Its startup could add as much as $2 per barrel to prices paid by U.S. Midwest oil refineries that sit along Canada's existing main oil-export route. "They will be competing for barrels that no longer transit through their region," said a Calgary-based oil trader. That has left Canadian oil producers vulnerable to deep price discounts or "blowouts" whenever pipelines become congested or rupture. The start-up of TMX could add a "buck or two" to the cost of a barrel for Midwest refiners, he estimates. So far this year, over 200,000 bpd of Canadian crude has been re-exported from the U.S. Gulf Coast, up from about 73,000 bpd in 2019, Kpler data showed.

Persons: Rory Johnston, Matt Smith, Smith, Stephanie Kelly, Nia Williams, Laura Sanicola, Marguerita Choy Organizations: U.S ., U.S, BP, Citgo Petroleum, Exxon Mobil, Koch Industries, Flint Hills Resources, Canadian, Energy, Administration, TC, Keystone, refiners, Americas, Thomson Locations: CALGARY, Alberta, Coast, U.S, U.S . Midwest, Gulf Coast, Midwest, Flint, Calgary, Canada, Pacific, U.S . West Coast, Asia, Gulf, China, Kpler

☆ Factbox: US offshore wind projects facing inflation headwinds
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

One megawatt (MW) can power about 1,000 U.S. homes but since wind is an intermittent resource - 1 MW of offshore wind can power about 500 U.S. homes, according to offshore wind developers. SOUTH FORKDenmark's Orsted (ORSTED.CO), the world's largest offshore wind power developer, is building the 132-MW project off Rhode Island and Massachusetts. COMMONWEALTH WINDThe 1,232-MW project off Massachusetts, which was formerly a part of the larger New England Wind project, is also facing potential delays. ATLANTIC SHORES OFFSHORE WIND SOUTHThe joint venture between Shell and French EDF is developing a large offshore wind park off New Jersey. MARWINMaryland's first offshore wind project is expected to start operations in 2025-2026.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, Joe Biden's, GW, Lazard, Vineyard, Orsted, Eversource, NYSERDA, Norway's Equinor, Avangrid, MARWIN, Nerijus Adomaitis, Nichola Groom, Scott DiSavino, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Federal, State, White, REUTERS, U.S, U.S . Department of Energy, Reuters, Washington , D.C, U.S . Energy Information Administration, Avangrid, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Public Service Enterprise, Orsted, Eversource Energy, Rhode Island Energy, Dominion Energy, Virginia Beach, Dominion, NYSERDA, COMMONWEALTH, Shell, EDF, US, Italy's Renexia SpA, US Wind, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, New England, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington ,, Spanish, Copenhagen, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode, Connecticut, Orsted, VIRGINIA, Virginia, York, Long, Montauk, Massachusetts, French, ATLANTIC, Atlantic Shores, Italy's Renexia, Maryland

The logo of Calgary-based Enbridge, one of North America's largest energy infrastructure companies, is displayed during the LNG 2023 energy trade show in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, July 12, 2023. Analysts, however, were surprised at the timing, the scale and impact such a deal would have on the company's already leveraged balance sheet. "I don't see how you can keep piling more issuance - debt and equity - on this company at these rates. Enbridge shares provisionally closed down 5.9% at C$45.31, while the benchmark Canadian share index was off 0.9%. "While Enbridge paid a reasonable price, high leverage and funding gap could act as overhang," Wells Fargo analysts said in a note.

Persons: Chris Helgren, Ryan Bushell, Enbridge, Greg Ebel, Morningstar, Stephen Ellis, Ellis, Wells, Alan Armstrong, Mrinalika Roy, Nia Williams, Denny Thomas, Anil D'Silva, Alexandra Hudson, Devika, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Dominion Energy, Ohio Gas, Public Service Co, Newhaven Asset Management, Management, TC Energy, Williams Companies, Barclays CEO Energy, Power Conference, Thomson Locations: Calgary, North, Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada, North Carolina, North America, Newhaven, Enbridge, New York, Bengaluru

Alberta, the country's main oil and gas producing province, paused approvals on Aug. 3 of new renewable electricity generation projects over one megawatt until Feb. 29, chilling investment in the fast-growing industry. The pause is necessary to address concerns about renewables' reliability and land use, said a spokesperson for Alberta's utilities minister. A second company has paused design work on its first Alberta project, Dye added. Along with domestic firms, foreign companies like Berkshire Hathaway's (BRKa.N) BHE Canada, EDF Renewables and Enel Green Power generate renewable power in Alberta. The pause directly affects 15 projects in the approvals queue, the government spokesperson said.

Persons: Todd Korol, Danielle Smith, Smith, Justin Trudeau's, Jorden Dye, Dye, Pembina, Grant Arnold, Arnold, BluEarth, Dan Balaban, Rod Nickel, Steve Scherer, Denny Thomas, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Justin Trudeau's Liberal, Business Renewables, THE, THE ALBERTA WAY, EDF Renewables, Companies, Pembina Institute, Renewables, U.S . Alberta Utilities Commission, Greengate, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Thomson Locations: Rocky, Pincher Creek, Alberta, Rights WINNIPEG , Manitoba, Canadian, U.S, Calgary, THE ALBERTA, THE ALBERTA WAY Alberta, Berkshire, Canada, Winnipeg , Manitoba, Ottawa

☆ Has climate change made utilities a risky bet? What income investors need to know
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Michelle Fox | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The wildfires in Maui are just the latest example of severe weather and the peril facing utilities. However, investors can pick up about 4% yield on stocks that have dividends that are considered safe, which makes them attractive to investors seeking income. Climate change's impact Climate change is altering not only the Earth's temperature, but also precipitation patterns, said Zachary Zobel, risk associate director at Woodwell Climate Research Center. Climate change could impact utilities in other areas, like sustaining damage during hurricanes and floods. "You don't have to just rely on just one sector to get dividend income," said Cheng.

Persons: hasn't, Michael Lonegan, Neil Kalton, Kalton, Zachary Zobel, Zobel, Berkshire Hathaway, PacificCorp, Wells Fargo's Kalton, it's, Marguerita Cheng, Cheng, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Hawaiian Electric, Maui Electric, Electric, NBC News, Evercore ISI, Wall Street, Wells, Wells Fargo Securities, FEMA, Woodwell Climate Research Center, Gas & Electric, Blue, Global, CNBC, & $ Locations: Maui, Lahaina, Wells Fargo, California, Berkshire

☆ US FTC approves deal for natgas producer EQT to buy THQ Appalachia
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Signage is seen at the Federal Trade Commission headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 29, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsAug 16 (Reuters) - EQT Corp (EQT.N), the biggest U.S. natural gas producer, said on Wednesday that it had won antitrust approval to close a deal to buy Quantum Energy-backed THQ Appalachia I LLC and associated infrastructure. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Wednesday it had moved to resolve antitrust concerns over the transaction by hammering out a consent order that "prevents entanglements" between Quantum Energy Partners and EQT Corp. The agreement would bar Quantum from having a seat on EQT's board, requires Quantum to divest EQT shares and puts other restrictions on the deal to ensure competition in the energy market. Reporting by Diane Bartz, Rami Ayyub and Dan Whitcomb; Editing by Eric Beech and Marguerita ChoyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Diane Bartz, Rami Ayyub, Dan Whitcomb, Eric Beech, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Federal Trade Commission, Washington , D.C, REUTERS, EQT, Quantum Energy, THQ, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Quantum Energy Partners, EQT Corp, Thomson Locations: Washington ,

[1/3] U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm delivers a speech during the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston, Texas, U.S., March 8, 2023. REUTERS/Callaghan O'Hare/File PhotoWASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) - The largest U.S. solar power site and other clean energy projects could be built on lands owned by the Department of Energy, including where components for Cold War-era atomic bombs were developed, the agency said on Friday. The administration wants the U.S. grid to run on clean energy by 2035. The event included developers of renewable power and nuclear power, involving participants with experience implementing clean electricity projects generating at least 200 megawatts. Reporting by Timothy Gardner and Laura Sanicola in Washington Editing by Marguerita ChoyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Energy Jennifer Granholm, Callaghan O'Hare, Jennifer Granholm, Granholm, Joe Biden's, Hanford, Timothy Gardner, Laura Sanicola, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Energy, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Department of Energy, DOE, U.S . Energy, Washington , D.C, Idaho National Laboratory, Nevada Nuclear Security, Manhattan, Thomson Locations: Houston , Texas, U.S, Washington ,, Hanford, Richland , Washington, Idaho, Idaho Falls , Idaho, Nye County , Nevada, Savannah, Aiken , South Carolina, Carlsbad , New Mexico, Washington

A Biden administration source said such conversations with service providers about their requirements have been constant during the implementation of the caps. The price cap bans Western companies from providing services such as transportation, insurance and financing for the oil sold above the cap. Treasury uses a monthly average of prices to calculate the Urals price, which means it may be a while before the Russian oil price can be considered over the cap. 'POLICY PICKLE'The administration, however, is set to move slowly, wary of creating ripples in a market that could send rising global oil prices higher. "But there won't likely be a dramatic change unless oil prices stay high for a while."

Persons: Biden, We’ve, Joe Biden, Wally Adeyemo, Elizabeth Rosenberg, Adeyemo, Ben Cahill, Cahill, Timothy Gardner, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Group, European Union and Australia, Treasury, Foreign Assets, RUSSIA, The State Department, EU, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Thomson Locations: Washington, Ukraine, U.S, Urals, India, China, Russia, Europe, Russian, Eastern

The dismissal of Rohan Ramchandani's civil lawsuit by U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero was disclosed in a docket entry on Thursday in Manhattan federal court. Marrero plans to release his written decision after Citigroup and Ramchandani agree which information should be kept confidential. One year later, Ramchandani sued Citigroup, saying it fired him without cause in January 2014 amid a global probe into foreign exchange price fixing, and then shared false and "gravely derogatory" claims against him with law enforcement. Ramchandani accused Citigroup of entering its plea in part to shift blame away from senior managers and officers. The case is Ramchandani v. Citigroup Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No.

Persons: Rohan Ramchandani's, District Judge Victor Marrero, Marrero, David Lurie, Danielle Romero, Apsilos, Ramchandani, Chris Ashton, Richard Usher, JPMorgan Chase, Ramchandani's, Jonathan Stempel, Marguerita Choy Organizations: YORK, Citigroup, U.S, District, Ramchandani, Barclays, JPMorgan, U.S . Department of Justice, Citigroup Inc, Court, Southern District of, Thomson Locations: U.S, London, Manhattan, New York, Southern District, Southern District of New York

☆ Former Essence Magazine employees say they witnessed a 'hellish' and 'dehumanizing' culture at the leading publication for Black women in America
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Yoonji Han | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +34 min

On June 28, 2020, a group of women using the name Black Females Anonymous published a damning public letter that shook Essence magazine, the leading publication for Black women in America, to the core. Essence magazine was launched in 1970 at a time when Black business and civil-rights leaders called for greater self-determination and empowerment. The magazine was the brainchild of a group of four Black businessmen who identified a lack of publications for Black women in America. "And that is to serve Black women deeply, to serve women of color in a way that no one else has thought about." Essence CEO Michelle Ebanks, Dennis, and Essence chief content and creative officer, Moana Luu, at the 2020 13th Annual Essence Black Women in Hollywood luncheon.

Persons: Richelieu Dennis, Dennis, haven't, Susan Taylor, Taylor, —, Jason Kempin, wasn't, Michelle Ebanks, Rich Dennis, Arturo Holmes, Margarita Corporan, Forbes, let's, didn't, Sandra Okerulu, Ebanks, Luu, Moana, Rich Polk, Wears, Danielle Young, Julee Wilson, Candace Montgomery, Wilson, Montgomery, Martha, Martha Dennis, Rechelle, Sophia, Richelyna, Alan Lescht, bristled, Joy Collins Profet, Readers, Essence's, Collins Profet, Caroline Wanga, — it's, Wanga, unappreciated, Travis Montaque, cofounders, Lionel Hahn, Yesha Callahan, Rich, That's what's, Yoonji Han Organizations: Black, Time Inc, Vogue, Sports, Essence Communications, Entertainment, New York Times, Meredith Corporation, Essence, Inc, Brands, Ventures, Upfronts, Babson College, The, Depot, PepsiCo, Accenture, Unilever, Magazine, Magazine's, Penske Media, Getty, Essence Ventures, Afropunk, Vice Media, Black Entertainment Television, Digital, Sports Illustrated, Media, Fortress Investment, NASDAQ, Trace Media, texturism, Readers, Employees, Staff, BET, Culture, Democracy, Inkwell Locations: America, Black, Liberia, Queens, shea, Moana Luu, Martinique, France, Paris, Philippines, Hollywood, Industry City, Brooklyn, Cannes

☆ Essence Magazine was meant to be a place for 'Black girl magic.' Internally, some employees say it was more like 'Black girl tragic.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Yoonji Han | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +34 min

"Essence is the most deceptive Black media company in America. Essence Magazine was first published in 1970 at a time when Black business and civil rights leaders called for greater self-determination and empowerment. The magazine was the brainchild of a group of four Black businessmen who identified a lack of publications for Black women in America. "And that is to serve Black women deeply, to serve women of color in a way that no one else has thought about." Essence CEO Michelle Ebanks, Richelieu Dennis, and Essence chief content & creative officer Moana Luu at the 2020 13th Annual ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood luncheon.

Persons: Richelieu Dennis, Dennis, Susan Taylor, Taylor, —, Jason Kempin, wasn't, Essence Communications Michelle Ebanks, Rich Dennis, Arturo Holmes, Margarita Corporan, Forbes, let's, Black, didn't, Sandra Okerulu, Michelle Ebanks, Luu, Moana, Rich Polk, Wears, Danielle Young, Julee Wilson, Candace Montgomery, Wilson, Montgomery, Martha, Martha Dennis, Rechelle, Sophia, Richelyna, Alan Lescht, bristled, Ebanks, Joy Collins Profet, Readers, Essence's, Collins Profet, Caroline Wanga, — it's, Wanga, unappreciated, Travis Montaque, cofounders, Lionel Hahn, Yesha Callahan, Rich, That's what's, Yoonji Han Organizations: Black, Essence Magazine, Time Inc, Vogue, Sports, Essence Communications, Entertainment, New York Times, Meredith Corporation, Brands, Ventures, Upfronts, Babson College, The, Depot, PepsiCo, Accenture, Unilever, Inc, Magazine, Magazine's, Penske Media, Getty, Essence Ventures, Afropunk, Vice Media, Black Entertainment Television, Digital, Sports Illustrated, Media, Fortress Investment, NASDAQ, Trace Media, texturism, Hamptons, Readers, Employees, Staff, BET, Culture, Democracy, Inkwell, Essence Locations: America, Black, Liberia, Queens, shea, Moana Luu, Martinique, France, Paris, Philippines, Hollywood, Industry City, Brooklyn, Cannes

REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File PhotoNEW YORK, July 11 (Reuters) - Wall Street banks are expected to report higher profits for the second quarter as rising interest payments offset a downturn in dealmaking. Results for investment banking behemoths will also weaken, with EPS forecast to drop almost 59% at Goldman Sachs (GS.N). That offsets the doldrums in investment banking, where revenues have been depressed by rising interest rates and economic uncertainty. Reuters GraphicsBanking executives have also lowered expectations for the second quarter after mergers, acquisitions and debt offerings plunged in recent months. "We see higher credit risk ahead for lower to middle class families with higher credit card debt that cannot keep pace with higher living costs," Leon added.

Persons: Kevin Lamarque, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley's, David Konrad, Keefe, Goldman, Stephen Biggar, Wells, Morgan Stanley, Betsy Graseck, Kenneth Leon, Leon, Konrad, Nupur Anand, Saeed Azhar, Niket, Lananh Nguyen, Marguerita Choy, Andrea Ricci Organizations: Bank of America, REUTERS, JPMorgan, . Bank of America's, Citigroup, Universal, Argus Research, JPMorgan Chase, Reuters Graphics Banking, Federal Reserve, CFRA Research, Investors, Thomson Locations: Washington, Wells, Refinitiv, Wells Fargo, U.S, New York, Bengaluru

☆ Canadian farmer's thumbs-up emoji leads to $62,000 fine for undelivered flax
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Ismail Shakil | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

OTTAWA, July 7 (Reuters) - A Canadian farmer has been ordered to pay more than C$82,000 ($61,784) in damages over an emoji confusion that a Saskatchewan judge resolved by ruling that a thumbs-up image is enough to accept contractual terms. Chris Achter, the owner of a farming company in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, had sent a thumbs-up emoji in response to a photograph of a flax-buying contract sent to him by a grains buyer in 2021. Months later, when the time of the delivery arrived, the buyer - which had been doing business with Achter for several years - did not receive the flax. "In my opinion the signature requirement was met by the thumbs-up emoji originating from Chris and his unique cell phone," Keene said. ($1 = 1.3272 Canadian dollars)Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa Editing by Marguerita ChoyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Chris Achter, Rosetta Stone, Achter, Judge T.J, Keene, Chris okayed, Chris, Ismail Shakil, Marguerita Choy Organizations: OTTAWA, Swift Current, Thomson Locations: Saskatchewan, Israel , New York State, Canada, Ottawa

[1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden meets with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., September 24, 2021. Washington also wants to wean India away from its traditional defence partner Russia. Though Modi has made several previous visits to the United States, this will be his first with the full diplomatic status of an official state visit, just the third of Biden's presidency and third by any Indian leader. "It’s a milestone in our relationship...It is a very significant visit, very important visit," India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra told reporters on Monday. Modi will also meet American CEOs and lead an International Yoga Day event at the UN headquarters.

Persons: Joe Biden, Narendra Modi, Evelyn Hockstein, Modi, Vinay Kwatra, Kwatra, General, Ely Ratner, Biden, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, Raja Mohan, Krishn Kaushik, Sarita Chaganti Singh, David Brunnstrom Organizations: India's, White, REUTERS, Indian, . Congress, JET, General Electric, U.S ., Defense, Pacific Affairs, UN, Asia Society Policy, Rajesh, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, India, DELHI, WASHINGTON, United States, Washington, Washington and New Delhi, Pacific . Washington, Russia, New Delhi, Moscow, Ukraine, West, China, Cooperation, New York, U.S, Asia, NEW DELHI

REUTERS/Carlos OsorioWINNIPEG, Manitoba, June 11 (Reuters) - The number of wildfires raging out of control across Quebec dropped on Sunday as firefighters in the Canadian province gained the upper hand in some areas, a provincial minister said on Sunday. Quebec Natural Resources Minister Maite Blanchette Vezina said told reporters that the number of out-of-control fires in the eastern province dropped to 44 from 72 on Saturday, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp reported. By Monday, around 1,200 firefighters, including more than 100 from France and some from other provinces, are expected to be battling blazes across Quebec. A federal government meteorologist forecast on Saturday that Quebec could receive light rain on Tuesday in some burning areas. "Last Wednesday, we thought we could close down our emergency control center and come Friday, that idea went out the door when the fires went out of control very drastically," said Luc Mercier, chief administrative officer for Yellowhead County.

Persons: smokey, Carlos Osorio, Maite Blanchette Vezina, Blanchette Vezina, Luc Mercier, Karley, Rod Nickel, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Carlos Osorio WINNIPEG, Quebec Natural Resources, Canadian Broadcasting Corp, Canadian Interagency Forest Fire, Edmonton, Wildfire Service, Thomson Locations: Ontario, Quebec, Toronto , Ontario, Canada, Carlos Osorio WINNIPEG , Manitoba, Canadian, France, New Brunswick, Alberta, Edson, Yellowhead County, Pacific, British Columbia, Tumbler, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Companies Equinor ASA FollowBp Plc FollowWINNIPEG, Manitoba, May 31 (Reuters) - Norway's Equinor ASA (EQNR.OL) said on Wednesday that it will postpone its Bay du Nord Canadian offshore oil project for up to three years, due to rising costs. Ottawa backed Bay du Nord saying that it would produce relatively low emissions. "Bay du Nord is an important project for Equinor. "The (Bay du Nord) economics are positive but if you play around with costs and risk more, it's not going to be the best opportunity in their portfolio," he said. Bay du Nord would be so far from shore - 500 kilometers (311 miles) - that it falls in international waters.

Persons: Justin Trudeau's, ”, Trond Bokn, Equinor's, Equinor, Newfoundland & Labrador Premier Andrew Furey, it's, Mark Oberstoetter, Wood Mackenzie, Rod Nickel, Nia Williams, Marguerita Choy Organizations: ASA, Bp, Equinor ASA, Ottawa, Newfoundland & Labrador Premier, BP, Wood, Sierra Club Canada, Columbia, Thomson Locations: WINNIPEG , Manitoba, du Nord Canadian, Bay, Nord, Newfoundland, Norway, Brazil, Winnipeg , Manitoba

☆ The Life and Times of China’s Pirate Queen
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( E. Lily Yu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The book opens with Shek Yeung’s husband, Cheng Yat, receiving a mortal injury. To carry out that wish, Shek Yeung negotiates a marriage to his heir, Cheung Po, with the promise of a son. Despite the fearsomeness of the historical figure, Chang-Eppig’s Shek Yeung is pensive and passive. When Shek Yeung disembowels a man, we do not see, hear, feel or smell anything. Only in the last 100 pages, when the Qing emperor’s pirate hunter, Pak Ling, becomes a credible threat, does Shek Yeung blossom into her namesake and act with vitality and resolve.

Persons: Rita Chang, Ching Shih, Cheng, Sao, Yeung, Ching, Kuang’s, Bardot, ”, Larry Feign’s, ” Rita Chang, Shek, Cheng Yat, Shek Yeung, Cheung Po, Chang, Pak Ling Organizations: AS, SEA, “ Pirates Locations: South China, Caribbean

☆ Nepali sherpa sets Everest record with 27th ascent
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Gopal Sharma | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Nepali mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa waves upon his arrival after climbing Mount Everest for the 24th time in 2019, setting a record for the most summits of the world's highest mountain, in... Read moreKATHMANDU, May 17 (Reuters) - A Nepali sherpa scaled Mount Everest for a record 27th time on Wednesday, beating his own record, a government official and his hiking company said. Kami Rita Sherpa, 53, scaled the 8,849 metre (29,032-foot) mountain early in the morning along the traditional southeast ridge route, guiding a foreign climber. "Yes, Kami Rita climbed Sagarmatha for the 27th time," said Department of Tourism official Bigyan Koirala, referring to the mountain by its Nepali name. For now it's 100% confirmed that Kami Rita scaled for the 27th time,” Guragai said. Climbing contributed $5.8 million to state coffers this year, $5 million of it from Mount Everest, according to government data.

☆ Using Forensic Evidence to Solve Crimes
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Amanda Foreman | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Historian Amanda Foreman searches the past for the origins of today’s world. Read previous columns here. In February, police in Burlington, Vt., announced they had solved the city’s oldest cold case, the 1971 murder of 24-year-old schoolteacher Rita Curran. Taking advantage of genetic genealogy using DNA databases—the latest addition to the forensic science toolbox—the police were able to prove that the killer was a neighbor in Curran’s apartment building, William DeRoos.

☆ Princess Rita Jenrette Boncompagni evicted from villa with original Caravaggio in Rome
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Barbie Latza Nadeau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Rome CNN —Princess Rita Jenrette Boncompagni Ludovisi – formerly Rita Carpenter, the former wife of Republican US Rep. John Jenrette – has been evicted from the home she once shared with the late Prince Nicolo Boncompagni, after an inheritance dispute with his children. Princess Rita confirmed her eviction from the historic Casino dell’Aurora in central Rome to CNN on Wednesday. Princess Rita Boncompagni Ludovisi poses for a photograph outside Villa Aurora in Rome, Italy, November 16, 2021. A statue of Pan by Michelangelo is seen outside Villa Aurora. Princess Rita told reporters at the Casino dell’Aurora as she left on Thursday that she is writing a new book about her latest ordeal.

☆ Unstable markets drag Canadian M&A, debt issuance to four-year low
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Maiya Keidan | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The collapse of regional banks Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank in the U.S. tightened credit market making funding difficult for deals. As the banking crisis abate and many global central banks move to the sidelines to assess the impact of rapid interest rates hikes, bankers are, however, betting that appetite for dealmaking would return. Canadian M&A volumes totalled $34.7 billion in the first quarter, down 52.3% from a year ago, with dealmaking off to the worst start since the same period in 2020. Some market participants noted the second quarter is already off to a stronger start, with the mining sector gathering momentum. Abeed Ramji, head of Canadian Debt Capital Markets at TD, said the lack of issuance from banks impacted the corporate debt market, adding that global markets had become more expensive for financing.

[1/3] Flowers decorate the fence around the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs where 26 people were killed a week earlier on Nov. 5, 2017, as the church opens to the public as a memorial to those killed, in Sutherland Springs, Texas, U.S. November 12, 2017. REUTERS/Rick Wilking/File PhotoCompanies The United States Department Of Justice FollowApril 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Justice reached a $144.5 million settlement with survivors and families of victims of the 2017 mass shooting at a Texas church that killed 26 people, for which a judge had found the Air Force primarily responsible. Wednesday's settlement with more than 75 plaintiffs requires approval by U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez in San Antonio. It would end the government's appeal of Rodriguez's order that it pay approximately $230 million over the Nov. 5, 2017 massacre by former Air Force airman Devin Patrick Kelley at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. "No words or amount of money can diminish the immense tragedy of the mass shooting in Sutherland Springs," Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta said in a statement.

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