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☆ Germany-Japan World Cup match a big draw for viewers in Japan, less so in Germany
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN/TOKYO, Nov 24 (Reuters) - The Germany-Japan World Cup match on Wednesday prompted record access numbers for Japanese online streaming platform Abema, while viewership in Germany more than halved from the national team's opening match four years ago, data showed. Some 9.2 million people tuned in to German broadcaster ARD's coverage to see the match, according to data from audience measurement firm AGF. In the 2018 World Cup, 25.96 million viewed Germany's first match against Mexico. The match, in which Japan scored a stunning 2-1 upset over four-times champions Germany, took place at 2 p.m. local time in Germany, when many people were at work. Millions more viewed the match on streaming platform Abema, where access reached a record of more than 10 million on Wednesday helped by the match, according to parent company CyberAgent Inc. (4751.T).

☆ UN rights chief: full-fledged crisis underway in Iran
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

GENEVA, Nov 24 (Reuters) - The U.N. human rights chief on Thursday made a strong appeal to Iranian authorities to stop their "unnecessary and disproportionate" use of force against protesters in Iran in a speech to the Human Rights Council on the ongoing crisis. The meeting is seen as a key test of the West's clout within the council following a thwarted attempt to create greater scrutiny of China's human rights record last month. Newly appointed United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk gives a statement during a news conference at Palais Wilson in Geneva, Switzerland November 2, 2022. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse"We are now in a full-fledged human rights crisis," High Commissioner of Human Rights Volker Turk said in his first address to the council since starting last month. Reporting by Emma Farge; Editing by Maria Sheahan and Miranda MurrayOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Germany's Merkel says didn't have political strength for pre-invasion Ukraine talks
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"But I no longer had the strength to push through because, after all, everyone knew: she's leaving in autumn," she said. Merkel, who retired from politics after 16 years in power following Germany's September 2021 election, officially handed over the reins to Olaf Scholz of the Social Democrats in December that year. Referring to her farewell visit to Moscow in August 2021, Merkel, who speaks fluent Russian, told Spiegel: "The feeling was very clear: 'In terms of power politics, you're through.' It says the conflict will only end when Moscow withdraws its forces from all of Ukraine, including areas it has occupied since 2014. Writing by Rachel More, Editing by Miranda Murray and Philippa FletcherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Volkswagen sees China sales on par with 2021 as lockdown impact lingers - Handelsblatt
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Volkswagen (VOWG_p.DE) expects sales in China to stagnate at about 3.3 million vehicles in 2022, its China chief told Handelsblatt on Tuesday, as it struggles to make up the impact of coronavirus lockdowns and chip shortages in the first half. The carmaker had previously forecast sales of 3.85 million vehicles this year, on par with 2020, but adjusted its expectations in the middle of the year, Ralf Brandstaetter told the German daily. VW still expects to double its sales of ID electric vehicles in the country from last year's level as planned, he added. New coronavirus restrictions in recent weeks have not impacted Volkswagen's own plants, though some dealers have had to close, the China chief said. That was not possible until now because of coronavirus restrictions," he said.

☆ Almost one in five Germans dipping into savings to get by - poll
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Nearly one in five people in Germany have had to draw on their savings to cover everyday costs as rising inflation cuts into their purchasing power, a survey by the Kantar polling institute published on Tuesday found. According to the survey of 2,000 people, 19.4% of respondents said they were using their savings to get by. By contrast, 57.4% of respondents said they could manage without having to dip into savings. German consumer prices, harmonised to compare with other European Union countries, were up 11.6% on the year in October. Reporting by Klaus Lauer, Writing by Miranda Murray, Editing by Maria Sheahan and Nick MacfieOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Iran situation 'critical' with more than 300 killed -UN rights chief
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( Emma Farge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

GENEVA, Nov 22 (Reuters) - The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Tuesday that the situation in Iran was "critical", describing a hardening of the authorities' response to protests that have resulted in more than 300 deaths in the past two months. "The rising number of deaths from protests in Iran, including those of two children at the weekend, and the hardening of the response by security forces, underline the critical situation in the country," said a spokesperson for U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk at a Geneva news briefing. Later this week, the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva will hold a debate on the protests expected to be attended by diplomats as well as witnesses and victims. The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said that more than 300 people had been killed so far, including more than 40 children. Iranian state media said last month that more than 46 security forces, including police, had been killed in the protests.

☆ Rewe drops ads with German soccer association over armbands row
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BERLIN, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Major grocery chain Rewe has scrapped its advertising campaign with the German Football Association after soccer's global governing body cracked down on players wearing 'OneLove' armbands in support of diversity at the Qatar World Cup. Several soccer associations had said that their team captains would wear the armband in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal. The German Football Association said on Tuesday associations backing the armband were faced with "extreme blackmail," and it had dropped plans for players to wear it because it was unfair for them to shoulder the consequences. Separately, Deutsche Telekom (DTEGn.DE) on Tuesday said it planned to talk with the German Football Association about the armbands controversy. The German Football Association (DFB) is the world's largest, with more than 7 million active members.

☆ Energy supply improvements brighten Germany's economic picture -Ifo
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Germany's economic picture has become slightly brighter, with improvements in gas supply, in particular, having an effect, the head of Germany's Ifo institute told Reuters on Tuesday. Clemens Fuest said an unexpected month-on-month fall in producer prices and easing supply chain disruptions are cause for optimism, but "the most important point is that the gas supply situation has brightened considerably". Fuest highlighted a warm October, full gas storage facilities and plans for liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals as positive factors. Fuest said his statements were not a forecast for the upcoming Ifo business climate index to be released on Thursday. Analysts polled by Reuters expect the index to rise slightly in November to 85.0 after a reading of 84.3 the prior month.

☆ Germany's Scholz: must be prepared for Ukraine war escalation
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday Germany must be ready for the situation in Ukraine to escalate but that his recent trip to China was worth it alone for spelling out the two countries' joint stance against using nuclear weapons. "In view of the development of the war and Russia's visible and growing failures, ... we must be ready for an escalation," Scholz said at a conference in Berlin hosted by the Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper. During his visit to China earlier this month, Scholz and Chinese President Xi Jinping condemned threats to use atomic weapons in Ukraine. Scholz said the 100 billion euro ($102.76 billion) defence fund announced in the wake of Russia's invasion had been the result of a lesson learned to build up the German military's defence stocks. ($1 = 0.9731 euros)Reporting by Andreas Rinke, Writing by Rachel More, Editing by Miranda Murray and Paul CarrelOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Germany reaches compromise plan on landmark welfare reform - sources
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BERLIN, Nov 22 (Reuters) - Germany's ruling coalition parties and opposition conservatives reached a compromise on a major welfare reform on Tuesday, according to a proposal seen by Reuters, paving the way for new measures to support the unemployed in gaining vocational skills. Conservatives in the Bundesrat upper house had blocked the reform before wrangling with the governing parties to find a compromise that sources said they expect a parliamentary mediation committee to approve at a meeting on Wednesday. The welfare reform will introduce Buergergeld, or "citizens' money", to replace the Hartz IV system brought in from 2005, which sanctions people who reject job offers. A so-called trust period of six months, during which sanctions for lack of cooperation would have been waived, will be dropped altogether. Reporting by Holger Hansen, Writing by Paul Carrel, Editing by Miranda Murray and Tomasz JanowskiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Nov 23 (Reuters) - The United States is in talks with Mexico and other countries to facilitate the return of Venezuelan migrants to their homeland, a senior U.S. official said in a call with reporters on Tuesday. "We're in discussion with Mexico and other countries to see what can be done in that sense," said Blas Nunez-Neto, the acting assistant secretary for U.S. border and immigration policy. Nunez-Neto declined to provide details when asked which other countries were in talks with the United States. A U.S. federal judge invalidated Title 42 last week but then a Republican-led legal challenge was filed seeking to keep it in place. Return flights of Venezuelans from Mexico began last month, Mexican officials told Reuters.

☆ German producer prices unexpectedly fall in October
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Nov 21 (Reuters) - German producer prices fell unexpectedly on the month in October, due primarily to a dip in prices for electricity and distributed natural gas, according to data released on Monday. Producer prices of industrial products fell 4.2% on the month, theFederal Statistical Office reported, compared with economists' expectations for a rise of 0.9%. October marks the first month-on-month decrease in producer prices, considered a leading indicator for consumer prices, since May 2020. Electricity prices were down 16.9% across all customer groups compared with September 2022, while prices of natural gas were down 9.0%, according to the office. Germany's consumer prices, harmonised to compare with other European countries, were 11.6% higher year-on-year in October.

☆ Germany wants to boost gas trading hub credit line to 20 bln euros - document
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Nov 21 (Reuters) - Germany wants to give an additional 5 billion euros' ($5.1 billion) worth of credit to the nationwide gas market trading hub to enable forward sales from gas storage facilities, according to a finance ministry document seen by Reuters. That brings the total amount of credit for Trading Hub Europe (THE) to 20 billion euros, says the document seen on Monday. THE is a subsidiary of the country's gas network operators and is responsible for the gas market in Germany. Gas purchases were already being made through THE with loans secured by the federal government in order to fill the storage facilities in Germany. According to the note, the economy ministry had ordered in late September that 35% of stored gas volumes be sold via the futures market and 35% via the spot market this winter.

☆ American Music Awards 2022: See the winners list
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-20 | by ( Dan Heching | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The 50th American Music Awards are taking place on Sunday night at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Elton John, first nominated for an AMA in 1974, is now regarded as the longest-recognized artist in the awards show’s history. Taylor Swift led the pack with three AMA wins ahead of broadcast, including best female country artist. Below is a list of nominees for this year’s American Music Awards. The list will be updated with winners in bold throughout the broadcast, along with the winners from non-televised categories.

BERLIN/PARIS, Nov 18 (Reuters) - France, Germany and Spain have reached agreement over starting the next phase of the development of a new fighter jet dubbed FCAS, Europe's largest defence project at an estimated cost of more than 100 billion euros, two sources told Reuters on Friday. The three countries and their respective industries had struck a deal, said a defence source who spoke on condition of anonymity and did not give details. According to earlier information, the next development phase for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) is expected to cost some 3.5 billion euros ($3.63 billion), to be shared equally by the three countries. France's Dassault (AM.PA), Airbus (AIR.PA) and Indra (IDR.MC) - the latter two representing Germany and Spain respectively - are involved in the scheme to start replacing French Rafale and German and Spanish Eurofighters from 2040. ($1 = 0.9642 euros)Writing by Sabine Siebold, Editing by Miranda, Kirsti KnolleOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Germany watching developments at Twitter with growing concern
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

BERLIN, Nov 18 (Reuters) - The German government is watching developments at Twitter with growing concern, a government spokesperson said on Friday. "Of course, we are observing this with great interest and growing concern ... but at the moment there is no new (government) position," the spokesperson told a regular government news conference. Reporting by Paul Carrel, Editing by Miranda MurrayOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Deutsche Bank CEO warns of 'danger' of European reliance on foreign banks
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Deutsche Bank has long warned that Europe needs strong banks to counteract U.S. and Chinese competitors, but Friday's speech took on a greater sense of urgency. "We urgently need to change course here if we do not want to rely primarily on foreign banks to finance Europe's future," Sewing said at a banking conference. Sewing blamed European regulators for a heavy hand, the latest criticism by top bankers of its supervisors. "It becomes ever clearer that the current regulatory framework does little to strengthen European banks," he said. European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde, speaking at the same conference, warned of "undermining" regulation.

WASHINGTON — House Republicans' majority will be smaller than expected, but they're eager to use their new oversight powers and pass a spate of bills to draw contrasts with Democrats and give the Biden administration heartburn. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., joined by Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., left, and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, in Washington on July 21, 2021. A growing number of Republicans say they have their sights set on impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, bashing his handling of the border surge. LegislationDemocrats still occupy the White House, so any legislation Republicans pass on a partisan basis won’t be signed into law by Biden. But House Republicans say they will waste no time showing the parties’ stark differences as they battle for control of the White House in 2024.

☆ Volkswagen's $2 bln Trinity electric vehicle plant in doubt
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Jan Schwartz | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Volkswagen, the world's second-biggest carmaker, had planned to officially start production of its flagship electric sedan at the new factory in 2026. Manager Magazine reported that Blume wanted to delay this until 2030. The SSP model platform planned for the whole group will probably no longer be launched with the Trinity plant as originally planned, the magazine reported. It was too early for concrete statements as Volkswagen wants to decide on its revised investment plans in February, the source told Reuters. Volkwagen's supervisory board in March approved 2 billion euros ($2.07 billion) for the new Trinity factory, with construction due to start in spring 2023.

☆ Chile's Codelco trials fully-electric loader in bid to cut emissions
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Natalia A. Ramos Miranda | Marianna Parraga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] A LHD electric loader is charged inside the Codelco El Teniente copper mine, the world's largest underground copper mine, near Rancagua, Chile, November 16, 2022. REUTERS/Natalia RamosEL TENIENTE MINE, Chile, Nov 16 (Reuters) - A huge fully electric-powered 14-ton loading shovel has begun operating at Chile's century-old El Teniente copper mine, in what state miner Codelco (COBRE.UL) said on Wednesday was a first for South America. Codelco, the world's largest copper producer, said the equipment the loader and hauler, developed by Swedish manufacturer Epiroc (EPIRa.ST) is the first 100% electric machinery of its kind to operate in the region. El Teniente, located in the highlands some 76 kilometers (47 miles) southeast of Chile's capital, produced 459,817 metric tons of copper last year. Codelco plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030, as it looks to meet targets set by Chile's government in recent years.

☆ Mercedes-Benz cuts price of some electric models in China
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

BEIJING/FRANKFURT, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Mercedes-Benz said it had cut prices on some of its EQE and EQS models in China from Wednesday, citing changing market demand for top-end electric vehicles. Foreign carmakers are struggling to break into China's electric vehicle market, with only Tesla (TSLA.O) achieving higher sales figures. "The Top-End electric vehicle segment in China is still evolving ... Mercedes-Benz is repositioning certain EQ models in China," a spokesperson said. Mercedes-Benz sold 11,327 electric cars in China from January to August, according to the China Passenger Car Association, compared with Tesla, which sold almost 400,000, and China's BYD (002594.SZ), which sold nearly a million. Industry-wide sales are expected to slow into 2023, according to China Merchants Bank International, with some analysts expecting a price war.

☆ Zurich Insurance boosts ambitions with new financial targets
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

[1/2] Logo of Zurich insurance is seen at an office building in Zurich, Switzerland August 9, 2018. REUTERS/Arnd WiegmannZURICH, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Zurich Insurance Group (ZURN.S) aims to boost its business operating profit after tax return on equity (BOPAT ROE) to above 20% by 2025 and generate compound organic growth in earnings per share of 8% per year in new 2023-2025 targets it unveiled on Wednesday. It also aimed for cumulative cash remittances in excess of $13.5 billion and a Swiss Solvency Test (SST) ratio of at least 160% while keeping its dividend policy, it said ahead of an investor day. Reporting by Michael Shields, Editing by Miranda MurrayOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Germany's Scholz: Poland missile blast must be fully investigated
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

BERLIN, Nov 16 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Wednesday a missile blast in eastern Poland near the Ukrainian border, in which two people were killed, should be fully investigated before conclusions are drawn. In his closing statement following the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Bali, Scholz said it was a positive sign that the United States had offered to assist Poland with the probe. Ukraine has blamed the blast on Russia, while U.S. President Joe Biden said the missile was probably not fired from Russia. Wrangling over the Ukraine war dominated the world leaders two-day meeting on the Indonesian island, as Western countries pushed for a condemnation while Russia decried the summit's "politicization". The final declaration said "most members strongly condemned the war in Ukraine", while acknowledging "other views and different assessments of the situation and sanctions".

Siemens Energy owns 67% in Siemens Gamesa and has launched a 4.05 billion euro bid, expected to run until Dec. 13, to buy the rest in an attempt to better integrate the division and fix quality issues at a next-generation turbine model. "In a challenging year we managed to again deliver solid results in our Gas and Power business, while Siemens Gamesa did not meet expectations," Siemens Energy Chief Executive Christian Bruch said in a statement. "The integration of Siemens Gamesa will help to improve profitability at our wind business and allow it to deliver to its full potential." Fourth-quarter sales were up 5.9% at 9.2 billion euros, the company said, higher than the 8.8 billion Refinitiv estimate. The company added that, at 97.4 billion euros, its order backlog had reached a new record.

☆ Factbox: Key nominations for the 2023 Grammy Awards
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-15 | by ( Danielle Broadway | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Nov 15 (Reuters) - Nominations for the music industry’s Grammy Awards were announced during a livestreamed program at the Grammy Museum on Tuesday. The following is a list of nominations in key categories. RECORD OF THE YEAR“Don't Shut Me Down” - ABBA“Easy On Me” - Adele“BREAK MY SOUL” - Beyonce“Good Morning Gorgeous” - Mary J. Blige“Woman” - Doja Cat“Bad Habit” - Steve LacyALBUM OF THE YEAR“Voyage” - ABBA“30” - Adele“Un Verano Sin Ti” - Bad Bunny“RENAISSANCE” - Beyonce“Good Morning Gorgeous (Deluxe)” - Mary J. Blige“In These Silent Days” - Brandi Carlile“Music Of The Spheres” - Coldplay“Mr. (Let's Go)” - Hitkidd & GloRilla“The Heart Part 5” - Kendrick LamarBEST ROCK PERFORMANCE“So Happy It Hurts” - Bryan Adams“Old Man” - Beck“Wild Child” - The Black Keys“Broken Horses” - Brandi Carlile“Crawl!” - Idles“Patient Number 9” - Ozzy Osbourne Featuring Jeff Beck“Holiday” - TurnstileBEST COUNTRY ALBUM“Growin' Up” - Luke Combs“Palomino” - Miranda Lambert“Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville" - Ashley McBryde“Humble Quest” - Maren Morris“A Beautiful Time” - Willie NelsonThe 2023 Grammy’s will take place in Los Angeles at the Crypto Arena on Feb. 5. Reporting by Danielle Broadway Editing by Bill BerkrotOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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