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China receives fourth cargo from Arctic LNG 2 project
LSEG ship tracking data revealed that a fourth LNG tanker from Russia's Arctic LNG 2 project, sanctioned by the United Nations, discharged its cargo in a Chinese port four days after a previous LNG vessel left. LSEG data revealed that the sanctioned Russian tanker Buran, which arrived at the Beihai LNG Terminal on September 12 in China's southwest region of Guangxi with more than 166,000 cubic metres of LNG from the Arctic LNG 2, Gydan facility in northern Siberia, on August 22. Since late August, China has received more than 552,000 cubic metres of LNG from four of the first cargoes of the sanctioned Russian Project. According to LSEG ship tracking data, a fifth cargo, the U.S. sanctioned vessel Iris is currently underway, carrying more than 166,000 cu m of LNG that was loaded at Gydan, on June 28. Arctic LNG 2, owned 60% by Russia's Novatek and with a production target of 19,8 million metric tonnes per year, was expected to be one of Russia's biggest LNG plants. However, Western sanctions have hampered its progress. (Reporting and editing by Eileen Soreng in Beijing, Sam Li in Beijing, Lewis Jackson).
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The young activists who overthrew Nepal's government are now choosing new leaders
Former DJ and his Nepalese nonprofit used an obscure social media app popular among video gamers to spark massive protests, and became the unlikely power brokers that installed the country's interim leadership. Sudan Gurung, 36-year-old founding member of Hami Nepal (We Are Nepal), used Instagram and the Discord messaging application to mobilize massive protests that forced K.P. Sharma Oli resigned in the deadliest crisis of politics to have hit the Himalayan country in decades. A dozen demonstrators said this. They said that the group used VPNs in order to access blocked platforms and to issue calls to action which reached tens thousands of young people. No one from Oli's team was available to comment. "I was asked to join a Discord group with about 400 members." The group asked us to take part in a protest march just a few kilometers from the Parliament," said 18-year-old Karan Kulung Rai. Hami Nepal's first social media posts made on Discord were so influential, they were cited on national TV. The group shared phone numbers of hospitals and identified "fake" news as the protests became violent. Hami Nepal members who requested anonymity because they used proxy names for security purposes online, stated that Gurung and other group leaders are now central to important decisions. This includes the appointment of a new interim leadership until elections on March 5th. Three members of Hami Nepal said they had already convinced the president and army chief that former Chief Justice Sushila Karaki, who is known for her strong stance against corruption as Nepal's interim prime minister, would be appointed. Gurung's first press conference after the protest on Friday said, "I will ensure that the power is with the people and I will bring every corrupt politician before the justice." Hami Nepal members said that Gurung and his team met on Sunday to discuss key cabinet positions. They proposed the removal of some government officials who were appointed by the previous administration. Meetings between Karki, the members of the group and others are in progress. One of the group members stated that the cabinet would be finalised soon. Gurung and Karki didn't immediately answer questions sent via their mobile phones. Hami Nepal posted on Instagram that the "process" was being carried out carefully to ensure that there are only young people who are capable and skilled. From DJ to Revolutionary The Monday protests by young adults, loosely categorized as "Gen Z", as most of the participants were in their 20s at the time, quickly turned deadly and brought down government. Protests against perceived government corruption erupted after a ban was imposed on social media. This directive has since been reversed. At least 72 protesters were killed and more than 1,300 others injured in clashes between protesters and authorities. Gurung and his team, which is older than Gen Z, have pledged not to hold any cabinet posts but to remain involved in future decision-making. "We don’t want to become politicians." Sudan Gurung only helped the "Gen Z" group, and we're only interested in being the voice of the country and not taking on leadership positions," Ronesh Pradosh, a volunteer with the group aged 26 said. Gurung was a DJ prior to founding Hami Nepal. He organised civic relief during the COVID-19 epidemic and the 2015 earthquake, which caused the deadliest earthquake in Nepal history. The team running the Instagram account has over 160,000 followers. Ojaswi Raj Thapa, 24, is a cafe owner. Rehan Raj Dangal, a law graduate, also posts on Discord alongside Gurung. Thapa, a leader of the protest movement who rose to prominence quickly, said in an interview the judiciary wasn't independent and that ensuring its independence was a priority after the interim government had been put in place. He said, "We might need to make some changes to our constitution, but we do not want to dissolve it," on Thursday. Reporting by Aftab Ahmad in Kathmandu, Editing by Saad sayeed
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Irish Government moves to abolish passenger cap at Dublin Airport
The Irish government plans to remove a cap on passengers at Dublin Airport that, according to the aviation industry, prevents new routes from being added and hinders economic growth. The Irish Independent reported on Sunday that Transport Minister Darragh O'Brien will send a memo in the first weeks of October to Cabinet and will begin the process of writing legislation to remove the 32 million passenger limit at the airport. Dublin Airport, which is home to 80% of all air travel in the country, had a passenger limit of 32 million passengers when the second terminal was approved in 2007. This was partly done to reduce local traffic. The airport exceeded the limit by more than 1 million passengers by 2024. In April, the High Court extended an earlier ruling which prevented regulators from reducing the number of seats for summer travelers during the period between March and October with a temporary suspension. By the end of next summer, Dublin Airport will be free of the cap if the legislation is passed.
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Citi's bill for London Tower renovation hits $1.5 billion
Citigroup, the Wall Street bank, has revealed that the cost of refitting the tower at its London headquarters is $1.5 billion (1 billion pounds). This highlights the high costs associated with updating outdated offices as companies try to attract employees back to the office. Citi confirms the figure for the first. It is very close to the 1.2billion pounds that the bank spent in 2019 to purchase the 42-storey Canary Wharf building. Citi executives declined to reveal the original budget, but said that the bank increased its budget after deciding to upgrade the tower and take up more space to accommodate a larger workforce. Citi said that the investment showed the company's commitment in Britain where it employs 14000 people, with 10,000 of them in London. Citi CEO Jane Fraser, along with other U.S. executives, will travel to Britain during the state visit of U.S. president Donald Trump. Fraser and her colleagues will meet with Trump as well as British ministers. The renovation of the tower at 25 Canada Square will include new gardens and amenities. It will also link teams between multi-leveled "villages" and upgrade energy and water systems. In January of this year, The Financial Times reported that the cost of the entire project exceeded 1 billion pounds. Citi, under CEO Fraser, has defied Wall Street's trend and adopted a hybrid work policy that allows staff to work from home up to two days per week. The bank stated that London-based employees will begin moving in during the second quarter next year. Citi reported that the project, which was originally scheduled to be completed in 2025 was still on schedule according to their latest schedule. Office property prices plummeted after the COVID-19 epidemic led to an increase in home-based work. Property owners were forced into rethinking older buildings located out of town, and business districts such as London's Canary Wharf were particularly hard hit. Canary Wharf Group, a landlord in London's Canary Wharf, has revealed plans to renovate a 45-floor tower that HSBC is vacating. Citi's competitor JPMorgan is considering options for its tower in Canary Wharf. These include renovating the building, building a tower nearby or moving to central London.
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Il Sole 24 Ore reports that Snam's acquisition Open Grid Europe stake has been delayed.
Il Sole 24 Ore, a financial newspaper published on Saturday, reported that the acquisition by Italian gas grid group Snam of a stake held by Germany's largest independent transmission operator Open Grid Europe would not be completed as planned at the end of September. Snam, a subsidiary of Snam Group, signed an agreement in April with Infinity Investments in Abu Dhabi to purchase a stake in OGE owner Vier Gas Holding for 920 million euro ($1.08 billion) in equity. This marked the entry of the group into the German Gas Market, the largest in Europe by volume. Reports state that the agreement signed by former CEO Stefano Venier, and expected to be closed in the third quarter, is being reviewed now by the new CEO Agostino Scrnajenchi, and the shareholders of the company. The financial daily reported that it was "hard to predict where these assessments will go" without citing any sources. Snam declined comment. Reports also stated that the German government's concerns over the share of CDP Reti (which owns a little over 30% of Snam) held by China’s state grid weighed on the decision. The German Economy Ministry declined to comment on this report.
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Modi launches development projects in Manipur and calls for peace
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for peace in Manipur, the state that has been the scene of ethnic violence for two years. He unveiled development projects worth $1 billion. Since May 2023, when clashes broke out between Manipur’s dominant Meitei and Kuki tribes over economic benefits and employment quotas, more than 60,000 people have been displaced. Modi's government has been criticized for failing to maintain order and security in Manipur, where he met with members of the two communities who were displaced by the violence. "The land is Manipur a land full of aspirations and hope." He said, "Unfortunately, violence has cast a shadow over this beautiful region", addressing residents of the Kuki-dominated Churachandpur Hills. He said: "I appealed to all organizations to take the road of peace in order to realize their dreams and ensure the future of their kids." Modi opened women's hostels and indoor stadiums as well as road infrastructure projects, totaling $963 million, during his visit to Imphal and Churachandpur. He said that the government is doing everything possible to restore peace. Modi announced in Imphal, a city with a majority of Meitei people, that the government would support the construction of 7,000 homes for families who had been displaced due to the conflict. He encouraged both sides to engage in dialogue. He said, "We need to strengthen the brotherhood bridge between the hills and valley." Manipur's government is led by Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. Biren Singh resigned as the state's top official in February, despite mounting pressure by the Kuki, who accused him of favoring the Hindu Meitei community. He also faced opposition from his own BJP supporters. Since then, the state is governed by a federal governor who has been appointed by New Delhi.
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Il Sole 24 Ore reports that Snam's acquisition Open Grid Europe stake has been delayed.
Il Sole 24 Ore, a financial newspaper published on Saturday, reported that the acquisition by Italian gas grid group Snam of a stake held by Germany's largest independent transmission operator Open Grid Europe would not be completed as planned at the end of September. Snam, a subsidiary of Snam Group, signed an agreement in April with Infinity Investments in Abu Dhabi to purchase a stake in OGE owner Vier Gas Holding for 920 million euro ($1.08 billion) in equity. This marked the entry of the group into the German Gas Market (the largest in Europe by volume). Reports state that the agreement signed by former CEO Stefano Venier, and expected to be closed in the third quarter, is being reviewed now by the new CEO Agostino Scrnajenchi, and the shareholders of the company. The financial daily reported that it was "hard to predict where these assessments will go" without citing any sources. Snam declined comment. Reports also stated that the German government's concerns over the share of CDP Reti (which owns just under 30% of Snam) held by China’s state grid influenced the decision. The German Economy Ministry did not respond immediately to a comment request.
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Nepal holds elections in March after the interim premier is named
Ramchandra Paudel, the president of Nepal, has dissolved the parliament and announced new elections for March 5. This follows a week-long period of violence which culminated with the appointment of Nepal's first female Prime Minister. Paudel made the announcement just hours after he appointed former Chief Judge Sushila Karaki as the new leader of the country. This was in response to the violent anti-graft demonstrations led by "Gen Z", which forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli resigned. According to a press release from the President's Office, the president "dissolved" the House of Representatives and set the date for elections on March 5, 2026. Karki's appointment came after two days intense negotiations between Paudel and Ashok Raj Sigdel, the army chief, and protest leaders who were behind Nepal's most violent uprising in years. At least 51 people died and over 1,300 were injured. India, Nepal's southern neighbor, expressed its hope that these developments would foster peace and stability. "Heartfelt congratulation to the Honorable Sushila Ji for assuming office as Prime Minister of Nepal’s interim government. India is committed to peace, progress and prosperity for Nepal's sisters and brothers," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote in a X post. The protests across the country were ignited by a ban on social media, which has now been lifted. Violence subsided after Oli's resignation on Tuesday. Since 2008, Nepal has been plagued by political and economic instabilities. A lack of employment is driving millions of young people abroad to find work, such as in the Middle East, South Korea, and Malaysia. On Friday, the country of 30,000,000 people nestled between China and India began to return to normalcy. Shops reopened and cars were back on the roads. Police replaced the guns that they used earlier in the week, with batons. (Reporting and editing by Aftab Ahmad and Himani Sarkar; Reporting by Gopal Singh)
German energy transition powered mainly by nonrenewable fuel source cuts: Maguire
Germany's power sector is relying on cuts made to nonrenewable fuel source usage for the lion's. share of recent decarbonisation efforts, but will require a. continual jump in clean generation to make sure a long lasting shift in. power production away from contaminating fuels.
German power generators cut fossil fuel-powered output by. 19% through the opening half of 2024 from the very same months in. 2023, data from LSEG programs.
That compares to simply a 2.1% increase in clean power generation. from the first half of 2023, and suggests that power firms are. mainly counting on cuts to nonrenewable fuel source usage to make progress. against energy shift goals.
Those cuts to nonrenewable fuel source use have actually helped slash German power. sector emissions, which amounted to 70 million metric lots of. co2 (CO2) for the first 5 months of 2024 compared to. 88 million lots throughout January to May of 2023, data from think. tank Coal programs.
However slow industrial activity has actually implied that overall. power need overalls are also down so far this year, which has. allowed power suppliers to minimize total generation by more than. 6% compared to the very first half of 2023.
If Germany's production and industrial activity picks up. momentum over the remainder of 2024, overall power requirements might climb. in tow and could put pressure on power providers to increase. output from fossil fuels to satisfy that extra need.
COAL CUTS
Coal-fired generation took the impact of the fossil fuel. output cuts, coming by simply over 17% in the very first half of 2024. from the exact same months in 2015.
To make up for lower coal-fired generation, output from. natural gas plants increased by 5% in January-June 2024 from the. initially half of 2023, while generation from oil-fired plants rose. 12% and coal-derived gas plants increased output by 3.7%, LSEG. data programs.
Entirely, overall generation from nonrenewable fuel sources contracted by. 19% throughout the first half of 2024, and follows a 24% contraction. in the whole of 2023 from the year before.
CLEAN BULK
The drop in nonrenewable fuel source generation has resulted in tidy. source of power protecting a bulk share of Germany's power. generation mix monthly given that December 2022.
The share of tidy power in Germany's power generation mix. reached a new high of 64.6% throughout the first half of 2024,. compared to 59.3% during the same months of 2023 and an average. share of 61% for 2023 as a whole.
That stated, power firms have actually been not able to offset all the. cuts to nonrenewable fuel source usage with development from tidy energy sources,. specifically after Germany shut its national atomic power plant fleet. in April 2023.
Atomic power plants had actually represented around 8% of total power. generation in 2022, so the complete cessation of such a noteworthy. source of tidy energy has actually been tough to replace.
Wind farms have emerged as Germany's largest source of clean. power, and accounted for a typical share of 37% of overall power. generation in 2015, according to LSEG.
Solar is the 2nd biggest source of German tidy power,. and produced around 17% of all power in 2015, while hydro. possessions created around 4%.
SEASONAL SWINGS
During the very first half of 2024, wind power generation climbed. 7.6% from the exact same duration in 2023, while solar generation increased. by 12.8% and hydro output climbed up 5.4%.
Solar output is accountable to climb up further throughout July and. August throughout the height of summer season, and could account for around. 30% to 35% of overall power generation during those months.
However, generation from wind farms and hydro dams. historically dip during the summertime due to slower wind. speeds and lowered water flows from reservoirs.
For power manufacturers who need to keep power supplies. around the clock, the drop off in wind and hydro output may set. the stage for higher generation from natural gas plants,. particularly if German manufacturing activity gets steam.
And any such increase in gas-fired output could in turn open. the German power sector to accusations of backsliding on power. clean-up dedications.
To guard against that in the future, power firms will need. to considerably increase total generation from clean sources. and likewise considerably raise the storage capacity that can. bridge durations of lowered clean generation.
The build-out of a completely tidy power generation system. may take numerous more years and continued high levels of annual. financial investment in tidy generation and battery building and construction.
Up until then, further periods of tidy power growth followed. by flare ups in fossil-fired output look likely.
<< The opinions expressed here are those of the author, a. writer .>
(source: Reuters)