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Who killed Norman Edmiston?
China mandates 3-day Olympic torch relay amid virus concerns
China is limiting the torch relay for the Winter Olympics to only three days amid coronavirus worries, organizers said Friday.
The flame will be displayed only in enclosed venues that are deemed “safe and controllable,” according to officials.
No public transit routes would be disturbed and normal life would continue for the 20 million residents of the capital, where a handful of new COVID-19 cases have been recorded over recent days.
Beijing’s deputy sports director, Yang Haibin, said safety was the “top priority,” with the pandemic, venue preparations and the possibility of forest fires in Beijing’s cold, dry climate all factored in.
The relay will run from Feb. 2-4, taking in the three competition areas of downtown Beijing, the suburb of Yanqing, and Zhangjiakou in the neighboring province of Hebei.
The Games have already been impacted on a scale similar to that experienced by Tokyo during last year’s Summer Olympics.
China says only selected spectators will be allowed to attend the events, and Olympic athletes, officials, staff and journalists are required to stay within a bubble that keeps them from contact with the general public.
The opening of the Games comes just days after the start of the Lunar New Year holiday, China’s biggest annual celebration when millions traditionally travel to their hometowns for family reunions. For the second year, the government has advised those living away from home to stay put, and train and plane travel has been curtailed.
Participants in the torch rally will undergo health screens and be carefully monitored, starting from two weeks before the event begins, said Xu Zhijun, deputy head of the organizing committee.
Beijing reported its first local omicron infection on Jan. 15, and 11 cases had been confirmed in the capital as of Thursday afternoon, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.
Outside of Beijing, several million people remain under lockdown as part of China’s “zero-tolerance” approach to dealing with the pandemic that has been credited with preventing outbreaks on the scale of the U.S. and other countries.
Numbers of new cases have dropped substantially in recent days amid strict adherence to masking, travel restrictions and school closures, along with a vaccination rate that now tops 85%. Some medical experts worry a lack of exposure to the virus could harm the Chinese population’s ability to deal with future waves of infection.
The scaled-down torch relay is a far cry from 2008, when Beijing sent the Olympic icon on a global journey ahead of its hosting of that year’s Summer Games. The relay drew protesters against China’s human rights violations and policies in Tibet, Xinjiang and elsewhere, leading to violent confrontations and the cancellation of some overseas stages.
The Winter Games have been beset by similar political controversies, alongside medical considerations.
Six weeks ago, the United States, Britain and several allies said they would not send dignitaries to attend the Games as a protest against human rights abuses by the Communist Party regime.
Athletes have been threatened by the organizing committee with “certain punishments” for saying or doing anything that would offend their Chinese hosts, while several delegations urged anyone headed to Beijing to take “burner” phones instead of their personal devices because of concerns their personal information could be compromised.
The National Hockey League cited uncertainty caused by the pandemic to hold back all of its players from the Olympic tournament.
And earlier this week, American broadcaster NBC said it won’t be sending announcing teams to China, citing the same virus concerns raised when the network pulled most of its broadcasters from the Tokyo Games.
Source: click2houston
Pemex toma control de Deer Park; refinará crudo de Shell por 15 años
Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) tomó este jueves la operación de la refinería de Deer Park, en Texas, luego de concluir la compra de la mitad de este activo a la angloholandesa Shell, a quien le comprará el crudo para procesar en esta planta durante los próximos 15 años, como parte del acuerdo de adquisición del 50.005% mediante el desembolso de 1,192 millones de dólares pactados originalmente para esta adquisición.
El director general de la estatal, Octavio Romero Oropeza, acompañado de directivos de Pemex y de Shell Oil Company, informó este jueves desde Texas que se cerró la operación para que el Estado mexicano se quede con la totalidad de esta planta.
En tanto, Royal Dutch Shell suministrará por al menos 15 años crudo a la refinería Deer Park, según un documento en manos de Reuters y una fuente con conocimiento del tema. Como parte del acuerdo de venta, Pemex absorberá a la mayor parte de los actuales trabajadores de la refinería durante dos años, según el documento y una de las fuentes.
Se espera que Shell suministre unos 200,000 barriles diarios de crudo extranjero y estadounidense a Deer Park durante al menos 15 años, según la fuente y el documento, fechado en julio. Una unidad de Pemex prevé aportar hasta 115,000 barriles por día de crudo mexicano a Deer Park y recibir unos 230,000 barriles diarios de productos refinados que podrían destinarse al mercado mexicano. La estatal acordó por separado suministrar materias primas a la planta química adyacente de Shell, dijo la fuente citada por Reuters.
La transacción financiera para la compra de la mitad de la refinería se concluyó en los términos pactados y anunciados en el mes de mayo pasado: el valor de la operación por los activos de la refinería es de 596 millones de dólares, equivalente al 50% de la participación de Shell en la deuda de la sociedad.
Adicionalmente se liquidó la deuda remanente por los 596 millones de dólares que corresponden al 50% de la participación de Pemex; los recursos para la operación fueron cubiertos por el Fondo Nacional de Infraestructura (Fonadin). Como se tenía previsto, la adquisición se concretó luego de que el pasado 22 de diciembre se informó que el Comité de Inversión Extranjera de Estados Unidos (CFIUS, por sus siglas en inglés) autorizó la operación de compra-venta al no haber identificado riesgos en materia de competencia ni de seguridad nacional para los Estados Unidos de América.
La petrolera del Estado detalló que al concluir la operación y en presencia del ingeniero Romero Oropeza, se llevó a cabo la primera sesión del Consejo de Administración de Deer Park, el cual quedó integrado por los siguientes funcionarios de Pemex: Ulises Hernández Romano, director general de PMI Comercio Internacional; Victor M. Navarro Cervantes, director corporativo de Planeación y Desempeño; Marcos M. Herrería Alamina, director corporativo de Administración Servicios; Jorge L. Basaldúa Ramos, responsable de Pemex Transformación Industrial, y Manuel Flores Camacho, director general de PMI Norte América.
Deer Park tiene capacidad de procesamiento de crudo de 340,000 barriles por día. Puede procesar crudo pesado y ligero sin generar combustóleo.
Source: eleconomista
Texas pipeline company walks back threat to cut off gas to power plants
After threatening to cut off fuel to roughly a third of the power plants owned by Texas’ biggest power generator, a major pipeline company said Thursday it will continue selling natural gas to the plants through the end of March. But the companies have still not resolved their underlying financial dispute stemming from last February’s deadly winter storm.
Energy Transfer LP subsidiaries walked back their threat after Luminant, a Vistra Corp. subsidiary, on Wednesday asked state regulators to prevent the pipeline company from cutting off fuel to five Vistra power plants, which produce enough electricity to power 400,000 Texas homes, businesses and critical infrastructures such as schools and hospitals.
The pipeline companies had told Vistra that gas would stop flowing to the power plants on Monday unless Vistra paid Energy Transfer $21.6 million that they claim Vistra owes them, according to Vistra’s complaint to the Railroad Commission of Texas, which regulates the state’s oil and gas industry.
The “threat to terminate service in the middle of winter is illegal and grossly irresponsible and should be prohibited by this Commission,” Vistra said in the complaint. It called the move by Energy Transfer, run by billionaire Kelcy Warren, “a form of commercial extortion.”
Energy Transfer responded Thursday in a short filing with the Railroad Commission, saying it would continue selling natural gas to Vistra on the spot market — a one-time open market transaction for immediate delivery of gas purchased “on the spot.”
That would nullify the Monday deadline imposed by Energy Transfer. Vistra has been paying those spot market prices to Energy Transfer since Dec. 1, when its long-term contract for gas expired, and Energy Transfer said it would not negotiate another contract until Vistra paid the $21.6 million.
For Vistra, paying spot prices means buying gas from Energy Transfer at between $15 and $25 per million British Thermal Units (BTUs), compared to the average national price of $3.91 per million BTUs in 2021, according to the Energy Information Administration.
During last year’s winter storm — which caused the near-total collapse of the state’s power grid, left millions without power for days and caused hundreds of deaths — natural gas prices soared when a combination of freezing temperatures across the state and skyrocketing demand shut down natural gas facilities and power plants, which rely on each other to keep electricity flowing.
Vistra spent approximately $1.5 billion for natural gas during the dayslong crisis, “twice its planned natural gas cost to fuel its entire Texas fleet for a full year,” the filing said.
Vistra said in its filing that more than $600 million of that total was paid to Energy Transfer, “which is more than 96% of all amounts invoiced by [Energy Transfer].”
While many companies lost money during the storm, Energy Transfer made $2.4 billion.
The dispute between the energy giants had some elected officials expressing their concerns publicly.
Railroad Commission Chair Wayne Christian tweeted about it on Thursday: “I am paying close attention to this. @EnergyTransfer and @VistraCorp must come together to resolve this issue so that no Texans lose gas or electric service during cold weather. Do what’s right for Texans.”
Shortly after, state Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, criticized Energy Transfer: “Gas suppliers should not be able to take the grid and consumers hostage as a means to prevail in their commercial disputes.”
After Energy Transfer said Thursday that it would not cut off gas to Vistra, Christian added: “I am thankful both parties were able to quickly come together to reach a resolution that keeps Texans protected this winter.”
Source: click2houston
Royal Dutch Shell plc changes its name to Shell plc
Shell plc (Shell) today confirmed its name has changed from Royal Dutch Shell plc to Shell plc.
Shell announced the Board’s decision to change its name to Shell plc on December 20, 2021. This change has now taken effect.
Euronext Amsterdam, the London Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange have been informed of this name change and it is anticipated that Euronext Amsterdam and the London Stock Exchange will reflect the change of name on Tuesday January 25, 2022, while the New York Stock Exchange will follow on Monday January 31, 2022.
Shareholders should note that their shareholdings will be unaffected by the change of name and existing share certificates should be retained as they will remain valid for all purposes and no new share certificates will be issued.
The ISINs, SEDOLs, CUSIPs and ticker symbols of the company’s A shares and B shares and A ADSs and B ADSs will remain unchanged for the time being but will change in accordance with the remaining steps of the Simplification as set out in the announcement released on December 20, 2021. The Company’s Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) remains 21380068P1DRHMJ8KU70.
Notes to editors:
Use of terms
The companies in which Shell plc directly and indirectly owns investments are separate legal entities. In this announcement “Shell” is sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to Shell plc and its subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These terms are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular entity or entities.
Governor Abbott: Texas Again Sets Record High For Employment
“The Lone Star State has long led the nation in job creation as we attract more business investments and greater opportunity for working Texans each and every day,” said Governor Abbott. “Thanks to employers large and small, the future of Texas shines bright with the best workforce in America, and I look forward to continued partnerships with businesses and local leaders to keep our state the best place to live, work, build a business, and raise a family.”
CRIME STOPPERS OF HOUSTON FUGITIVE FRIDAY
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Houston Health Department expands air monitoring capacity with new mobile laboratory
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La violenta erupción volcánica en Tonga y sus consecuencias
El reino de Tonga no suele atraer la atención mundial, pero la violenta erupción de un volcán submarino el pasado 15 de enero ha propagado ondas de choque, literalmente, por medio mundo.
Normalmente, el volcán no parece gran cosa a simple vista. Consta de dos pequeñas islas deshabitadas, Hunga-Ha’apai y Hunga-Tonga, que se asoman unos 100 metros sobre el nivel del mar a 65 kilómetros al norte de Nuku’alofa, la capital de Tonga. Pero bajo el agua se esconde un enorme volcán de unos 1.800 m de altura y 20 km de ancho.
Earth, Wind & Fire – September
Love was changing the mind of pretenders
While chasing the clouds away
Our hearts were ringing
In the key that our souls were singing
As we danced in the night
Remember
How the stars stole the night away, oh yeah
Ba-dee-ya, say, do you remember?
Ba-dee-ya, dancing in September
Ba-dee-ya, never was a cloudy day
Ba-du, ba-du, ba-du-da, yeah
Only blue talk and love
Remember
How we knew love was here to stay
Now December
Found the love we shared in September
Only blue talk and love
Remember
True love we share today
Ba-dee-ya, say, do you remember?
Ba-dee-ya, dancing in September
Ba-dee-ya, never was a cloudy day
There was a
Ba-dee-ya, say, do you remember?
Ba-dee-ya, dancing in September
Ba-dee-ya, golden dreams were shiny days
Our souls was singing
Do you remember, never a cloudy day, yow
Ba-dee-ya, say, do you remember?
Ba-dee-ya, dancing in September
Ba-dee-ya, never was a cloudy day
There was a
Ba-dee-ya, dancing in September
Ba-dee-ya, golden dreams were shiny days
Ba-dee-ya, dee-ya, dee-ya
Ba-dee-ya, dee-ya, dee-ya, dee-ya
Ba-dee-ya, dee-ya, dee-ya
Ba-dee-ya, dee-ya, dee-ya
Ba-dee-ya, dee-ya, dee-ya, dee-ya